Go Visit Chicago Let's Discover the Windy City
Best way to experience Chicago’s skyline is by taking one of the available Shoreline architectural cruises. Shoreline Sightseeing offers exciting boat tours in Chicago River and Lake Michigan to help you experience the world famous Chicago’s architectural landmarks. Boat tour guides are very knowledgeable about the Chicago’s history starting from the great fire of 1871 to till date. You will learn about the modern architectural skyscraper transition after the destructive great Fire of Chicago. Top renowned architects have played major roles in building the Chicago’s beautiful skyline that includes architects such as Mies Van der Rohe, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Helmut Jahn. Shoreline architectural tours are more fun on Wednesday and Saturday nights due to fireworks celebration at Navy Pier. Yup, Shoreline offers Architecture Fireworks Cruises in the evening which departs from the Navy Pier dock station.
Shoreline Architecture cruises depart from Navy Pier’s Ogden Slip dock station. Tour includes one hour (60 minutes) of cruise in three branches of the Chicago River. This architecture cruise will take travelers through famous buildings such as Chicago Tribune Tower, Wills (Sears) Tower, Marina City, the Wrigley Building and Trump Tower. Cruise guides will tell you stories about each famous buildings during entire journey. Overall, Shoreline Architecture cruise is one of the wonderful experiences in Chicago. You can buy tickets online or call Shoreline Sightseeing for more information.
| Daily | Saturday | |
| Spring – Autum | Every 90 minutes from 10:45 am | Every 45 minutes from 10:00 am |
| 4/30 – 6/11 | Every 45 minutes from 10:00 am to dusk | Every 30 minutes from 10:00 am to dusk |
| 6/12 – 8/21 | 10:00 am, 10:45, every 30 minutes 11:30 am to 5:30 pm, 6:15, 7:00, 7:45 | Every 30 minutes from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, 6:15, 7:00, 7:45 |
| 8/22 – 9/30 | Every 45 minutes from 10:00 am to dusk | Every 30 minutes from 10:00 am to dusk |
Shoreline Architecture Fireworks Cruise
During summer season, Navy Pier has fireworks celebration in Chicago. Watching fireworks at Navy Pier is always a great experience but through Shoreline architecture fireworks cruises, visitor can have the best views of Chicago downtown and Navy Pier’s fireworks at night from the boat. This Architecture Fireworks cruise journey includes sailing in Chicago river in downtown which ultimately ends with Navy Pier’s fireworks celebration. Usually, Saturday night Fireworks cruises start from June 4 departing at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday night Fireworks cruises start from June 15th departing at 8:30 p.m.
| Wednesday | Saturday |
| 6/15 – 9/1 | Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day |
Chicago By Night Chicago River Architecture Tour
Shoreline’s ChicagoByNight tour is designed for the 60 minutes duration. This nighttime architecture cruise starts from Shoreline’s dock at Ogden Slip in the Chicago river. Tour will take you down the Chicago river through Chicago’s world famous skyscrapers and historic buildings. Be ready to know the history of the Chicago starting from Great Fire of 1871. You will pass through world famous building such as Wills Tower, formerly known as Sears Tower, Tribune Tower and Marina City. Boat features cash bar for guests refreshment. So having couple of drink during cruise is not a bad idea at all.
| Daily |
| 8:30 and 9:15 pm from 6/17 – 8/28. Except fireworks nights Wednesdays and Saturdays Tours depart after sunset, weather permitting, spring and fall. |
