Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise

CAC River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady

A 90-minute boat ride past the city's best buildings, with stories

⚠ Sells out; book ahead

Hours

Several sailings a day in season, paused in winter; check the official schedule

Tickets

About $56 per adult (Expedia listing, Oct 2026); book via architecture.org or cruisechicago.com

Address

Riverside dock down the steps at the southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge, in front of the Chicago Architecture Center (111 E Wacker Dr)

As the boat slides out from under the Michigan Avenue Bridge, cliffs of buildings rise on both banks. A docent trained by the Chicago Architecture Center takes the mic and walks you through Marina City's corncob twins, the green glass curve of 333 Wacker that bends with the river, and the 1920s Gothic towers, one by one. You head up to where the river splits three ways and come back with a sore neck from looking up the whole time. Ninety minutes in, you get why people call this an architecture city. It's the activity visitors most often rank first here.