Why you should do a Chicago architecture cruise AND walking tour

Do an architecture walking tour in Chicago to see inside the buildings and get more depth. Do an architecture cruise for the magnificent views.

• To skip the explanation and choose from a range of Chicago architecture tours, head this way.

Getting to know Chicago’s architecture

No city has more impressive architecture than Chicago. The birthplace of the skyscraper has an extraordinary skyline. And for visitors, enjoying Chicago’s architecture should be priority number one.

You can do this by simply walking around and looking up. But to truly enjoy Chicago’s architecture, it helps to know what you’re looking at. And, hopefully, the story behind it.

Why do a Chicago architecture cruise

This is why my top piece of advice for anyone visiting Chicago is to take an architecture tour. The question is whether you should do that Chicago architecture tour by boat or by bus?

If pushed, I’d argue the priority should be doing an architecture cruise. From a boat on the Chicago River, there’s more space either side than on the street. You can see everything rising around you, and there are dramatic differences in the buildings.

The Woolworth Building, Trump Tower and the corn cob-esque Marina Towers, for example, come in quick succession. They’re all radically different from each other.

Which is the best Chicago architecture cruise?

There are several Chicago architecture cruises to choose from. They’re fairly similar, and all fairly good.

However, if picking just one Chicago architecture cruise, go for the one aboard the First Lady.

The First Lady Chicago architecture cruise is best because:

• It runs for 90 minutes, rather than 60, so has more depth.
• It is jointly run with the Chicago Architecture Foundation, so you get expert guides.
• It runs hourly throughout the day.
• Tickets give you discounted entry into the Chicago Architecture Center.

Why do a Chicago architecture walking tour?

However, I would argue that you should do an architecture walking tour as well as the cruise. I’ve done both, and I’m very glad I did.

Below are the main reasons I encourage you to book a Chicago architecture walking tour, too.

5 reasons to book a Chicago architecture walking tour

1. Many of the most impressive buildings aren’t visible from the river.
2. You get to go inside the buildings. Look solely from the outside and you’ll miss the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed lobby in the Rookery Building or the Tiffany glass mosaics in the Marquette Building, for example.
3. There are several different themed tours available. You can pick the one that most interests you. For example, one focuses on building interiors, another on art deco skyscrapers, another on the great buildings in chronological order.
4. The commentary is more personalised, rather than essentially read from a script.
5. You get to ask questions about what you’re seeing.

Which Chicago walking tours to pick?

The themed tours above are all run by the Chicago Architecture Center, and they’re the gold standard in Chicago. These are the ones I would pick, and honing in on a niche is far more satisfying than a general overview.

The prices are reasonable, too. Most of the Chicago Architecture Center walking tours cost $35 (at the time of writing).

More Chicago travel

I fell instantly in love with Chicago, but enjoyed it even more on my third visit. I’ve written about kayaking on the Chicago River, gangster heritage tours and Millennium Park’s public art.

On the architecture front, I’ve covered the wonderfully weird Tribune Tower and the best Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in Chicago.

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