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Wendella Boat Tours
Boat or Ferry
Streeterville, Chicago
"Take the architecture tour - fantastic views of the city!"(11 Tips)
"Tour guide was knowledgeable, funny and friendly"(12 Tips)
"Highly recommended the river and lake tour!"(5 Tips)
"Fantastic boat tour."(4 Tips)
79 Tips and reviewsFilter:
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- scenic views
- river
- lakes
- great value
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Phillip GoldJuly 5, 2013Make the tour one of your first things to do. The rest of your stay in Chicago will be greatly enhanced by your new found knowledge and awareness of significant landmarks.
Upvoted 4 weeks ago
M Aldoss ♏May 19, 2015Great River and Lake tour !!! The tour guide was full of information and stories. Take the River and Lake Tour and Enjoy Chicago from different view !!! Highly Recommended 👍
- SooFabJuly 28, 2015Fantastic boat tour. Tour guide was very knowledgeable and funny. It was a lovely cruise up and down the river as he described all the beautiful architecture in Chicago. Well worth the money.
Jacky AJuly 6, 2019This was AWESOME, definitely worth it! Do this as one of your first things to do in Chicago- the tour guide Joe was soooo great! You learn quite a bit about the city’s history and architecture.
Andrea GallegosAugust 5, 2017Usually I end up disappointed when I take tours but this tours give you all you expect and more! I took the fireworks tour and It was lots of fun, tour guide have us interesting tips and even sang!- Carolina GuerreroSeptember 27, 2016Highly recommended the river and lake tour! You can jump in at the Trump Tower Wendella docks. English only
Craig ProsserAugust 26, 2013Go downstairs and go to front bow of boat for great view and some shade with less people. Plus closer to bar and bathrooms.
jiresellAugust 2, 2017The Architecture Tour is outstanding! You get a historical perspective of Chicago and a real sense of the architecture. And the tour guide is hilarious!
Angelica DongalloMay 15, 2014Sit on the left side of the top deck of the boat to get the widest shots of all the buildings being pointed out on the right side. Good architecture/history lesson!
Aaron CruzMay 14, 2012Hit up the architecture riverboat tour on the Chicago River. Learn a lot of history about the Windy City. Lot's of great photo opportunities.
Fabio Rodrigues da MottaOctober 2, 2016Good sightseeing of the building architecture in Chicago. It's worth the money
Crystal HJune 10, 2013If you sit below, sit on the right side! The tour guide rarely spoke about buildings on the left - probably because they were on the right side on the way back.
Kathleen NemecSeptember 14, 2011This is a must see in Chicago! Seeing our beautiful skyline by day or night. When taking a boat ride on the Wendella boats it's informative, fun, and refreshing!
- Angelica DongalloMay 15, 2014Take in the Chicago skyline when you get to the part of the tour that takes you nearest to the Navy Pier and Lake Michigan
Dave FloydSeptember 14, 2012The architecture tour is a lot of fun. Take it early in your trip, so you'll know more about buildings as you wander around downtown.
Doug CouchSeptember 9, 2015Pluses - great value, highly knowledgeable staff. Minuses - Dock can be confusing to locate, and spiders.
amy millerMay 28, 2014Our tour guide was super cool and funny. The bloody Mary from the bar downstairs was yummy!
Gerhart Hauptman-DiazSeptember 9, 2013A very informative boat ride. Make sure to do it at sunset so you can see two sides of the city.- Mayuresh HajirnisSeptember 29, 2018Every penny worth. Tour guide was knowledgeable, funny and friendly
Priya TungrusAugust 22, 2015A really interesting tour, lots of good information about the skyscrapers of Chicago.
katieJuly 23, 2013Architecture tour of this amazing city is a must. They'll tell you cool facts about how people used rollerblades to get from one end of the Merchandise Mart to the other.
B. SalAugust 17, 2013Get there early, and get the top of boat on the port side. 75 minutes is perfect
Paula AOctober 11, 2011Don't miss the river tour by evening, it's breathtaking - and also freezing cold. You should take a really warm jacket along.
Dave KaufmanJuly 12, 2010Agree with sitting on left side. Good advice. If taking architecture tour, try and get Phyllis. Smart, knowledgeable and just the right amount funny. She knows her stuff.
Kara EdieMay 26, 2012If you sit on the lower level, sit on the right side of the boat, as everything they point out is on the right-hand side.
Leila SamiiOctober 29, 2014Take this architecture tour. It is really thorough and you learn so much about Chicago!
JW CogmanJune 23, 2012Of the 90 minutes on the combined tour you can spend 45 minutes waiting for the lock to get in and out of the lake.
Travel ChannelDecember 7, 2010We end the Chicago episode doing my favorite thing: the river architecture tour. This will make it my third time, and it never gets old. – Samantha Brown Read more
KyleAugust 24, 2013there are a lot of boat tour options in Chicago. Wendella is heads and shoulders above the rest.
Adam HickeyNovember 5, 2011Had a great time and learned a lot about the city, even as a local! Perfect for summer weather and visitors.
The Breast Cancer Awareness CampaignOctober 3, 2011Wendella is Chicago's original tour boat company – hop on a cruise down the Chicago River and make sure to look up and see Trump Hotel and Tower illuminated in pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Read more
#RezOctober 26, 2013When you've had just about enough of the nonstop tour guide jabber head down to the galley for whiskey.
The boat ride was great!! I highly recommend it to everyone!!! Especially if you are in the Chicago area for a short time.
TugsMay 6, 2014The river + lake trip is longer than the river trip, and the lake is great. Wrap up warmly!
Brian JarvisOctober 10, 2011Loved the river & lake tour! Great views and an excellent, professional narration.
Araceli ArroyoFebruary 3, 2012One of my favorite tours to get great views of the city and a good history.
ᴡ BowmanJune 4, 2011Take the architectural boat tour down the river. No matter the weather it is a great experience!
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Wendella Boat Tours
400 N Michigan Ave (on the Chicago River)
Chicago, IL 60611
United States
Chicago, IL 60611
United States
None listed (See when people check in)
People tend to check in during these times:
- Today
- 2:00 PM–4:00 PM
- 6:00 PM–7:00 PM
- Thu
- 10:00 AM–7:00 PM
- Fri
- 10:00 AM–8:00 PM
- Sat
- 9:00 AM–9:00 PM
- Sun
- 9:00 AM–8:00 PM
- Mon
- 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Tue
- 1:00 PM–7:00 PM
(312) 337-1446
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Yes (incl. American Express)
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Places inside Wendella Boat Tours
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Dan Moyle
Places people like to go after Wendella Boat Tours
"The lock was designed and built in 1936 and is part of project that reversed the flow of the Chicago River, away from Lake Michigan."
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"One of the best coasts in America. Try a swim at the beach in the summer or the polar plunge in winter. Get up early and try to catch a sunrise, it's stunning."
John Hankus- 9.5
"It's an amazing place, perfect to go with friends and have fun, and the park has free WiFi!"
Jose Hernandez
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