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    Chicago Fireboat Tours

    4.9 (64 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Alana E.

    The Chicago Fireboat Tour was one of the highlights of our trip. The captain and crew were all incredibly kind and accommodating. We loved the narration by Cliff, our tour guide--his voice is perfect for the job (think radio DJ!)--and we enjoyed a refreshing beer from Magic Manny, the bartender. Seeing the city's iconic buildings up close was truly magical. There was plenty of seating, including several tables toward the back of the boat for families who wanted to enjoy lunch during the tour. I highly recommend this experience--you won't be disappointed!

    Going through the lock
    Chris C.

    Took the family for an afternoon tour. Two teens and my spouse. Everyone enjoyed it. Smaller than other tour boats but it gives it a different feel which I appreciated.

    Panoramic views
    Andra T.

    If you want to spend a lovely afternoon and learn something about the architecture of the buildings in downtown this it's the best way. Take a sit ,relax and enjoy. It's nice cuz on the back side of the boat it's covered but unfortunately you can't hear very well because of the noise of the engine so in a hot summer day,that's the best spot if you don't come prepare with had ,sunscreen etc.:) There it's also a small lovely bar that provide snacks and drinks ,2 tinny restrooms service ,a lovely entrance where you can admire some beautiful and tragic moments in the history of firefighters and of course the front side of the boat that it's having chairs to sit and enjoy.

    Janae J.

    Loved the Chicago fireboat tour. It's a smaller tour boat than some of the others. My friend and I found them on Groupon the deal was super easy to use and book. We got there with plenty of time to spare before boarding. Austin the tour guide gave an awesome satirical history of chicago and the unique architecture and stories that makes up the city. Loved seeing the buildings from the vantage point of the river. I was glad I dressed warm because the wind gets pretty strong coming out back onto Lake Michigan! There were also refreshments to purchase at the bar but my friend and I just stayed in our seats the whole time except to move around a bit to take pictures!

    Carl B.

    Had a great time. Learned a lot about the area and architecture. Was pretty chilly out but the Irish coffee warmed us right up.

    At the dock.
    Dave L.

    This tour was one of the highlights of a recent trip to Chicago. We had a great time learning about the locks on the river, the river itself, Lake Michigan, Chicago parks, and the architecture. We arrived early, so we got our choice of seats. They have a little bar, so you can sip a cocktail, beer, wine, or soda while during your cruise. The boat is an old fire boat that has quite a history. It has been very well restored and modified for its current use. The pricing is very reasonable for the tour. I will definitely recommend this tour to anyone traveling to Chicago.

    View of city
    Victoria V.

    It was a lovely night. My son and boyfriend loved the whole experience since it was their first time on a boat

    View from the front seats on our way back.  Assuming these retro objects on the deck don't work anymore, but they look really cool.
    Clojangles H.

    Loved this tour! Great architecture tour. Cool historic fireboat. Much better than the huge touristy boats. Small bar for beer, wine, soft drinks, water. Can sit outside or inside. Great staff. Veteran owned.

    Kyle B.

    Really enjoyed this tour. Was initially going to go with the Wendella which most people do. I like this one because the vessel is smaller, so not as many people like the Wendella and priced better. It was informative, fun, and you get some AMAZING views and pictures. Wasn't too happy that they don't accept Groupon on weekends and holidays. But got over it and purchased from them directly. Based on the experience, glad that we went with them.

    Bessy T.

    book this for your visiting friends/family around @chicagofireboattours Lakeshore, Chicago This was a fireboat that ran for 45 years. Starting in 1936. Owners were in the navy and are starting a nonprofit to train veterans to work these tours and unique historical boats in Chicago, isn't that cool? They'll have a navy boat coming up, so stay tuned! It's $45 for 2 hours in the lake + river for a sunset tour. Firework cruises and architecture Tours also available

    Patrick O.

    So, I check out Groupon whenever I'm traveling to a new city and sure enough, I stumbled across a Groupon for the Fireboat Tour. It had good reviews and I figured "why not give it a try?" Turns out, the positive reviews are well deserved and I'm happy that I can add one more. I took the afternoon daily river tour and was not disappointed. First of all, the boat itself is pretty darn awesome. It has a ton of personality and plenty of room to move around accommodate large groups. Second, they have a very nice selection of adult beverages from which you can partake while you cruise around. Finally, the running commentary was fantastic. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and really breathed life into the whole experience. He brought the city of Chicago alive with a combination of stories, anecdotes, and facts about the about the city's architecture and history. If you find yourself looking for something to do in the Windy City, consider taking a cruise on the fireboat. You won't be disappointed.

    Andrew W.

    There are many boat tours and cruises that you take on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. However, none are quite like Chicago Fireboat Tours. For starters, the boat itself is very historical. According to the owners, the boat dates back to 1936, and was an operating Chicago fire boat for 44 years . Yes, this is one of the actual boats used to fight fires and patrol Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. I went for what might be considered a sunset tour in June of 2023. The boat left from Du Sable Harbor, and went out into Lake Michigan. It went North to Navy Pier, and then turned back South again. We then turn West to head into the Chicago River. After passing through the Chicago River locks, we went West and turn into the South Branch of the Chicago River. We went South to about River City before returning to Du Sable Harbor along roughly the same route. The course itself was mostly at a leisurely pace. We did pick up some speed after we entered the Chicago River. The total time of my cruise was about two hours. You have two options for enjoying the cruise. You can sit up front and feel the speed of the boat and be outside. The other option is to stay in the back and remain inside and under a covering with plastic covered openings if you want a slower paced experience. I moved back and forth to both spaces throughout the course. While this course does not have the commentary of the architectural cruise, I still enjoyed viewing the iconic building along the Chicago River. In sum, this was a fun cruise on a very cool boat.

    Chicago Fireboat day!!
    Rachel W.

    Great time out with my girls and an amazing historical tour lead by Austin who not only made it enjoyable and informative, but also very engaging. The weather was perfect; boat wasn't crowded, plenty of options to sit, and just a great day overall.

    The boat

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    5 months ago

    Went on the Santa Cruise this past weekend and took my nieces. It's great for smaller kids and so festive.

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    10 months ago

    Just had a wonderful time. So much info from the tour guide. So worth it crew kind and very informative. Don't miss this if visiting Chicago

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Chicago Fireboat Tours

    Review Highlights - Chicago Fireboat Tours

    Nothing better than an historic boat run by Navy veterans with a sense of humor and great Chicago back story.

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    Family Secrets Tour - Frank Jr

    Family Secrets Tour

    (66 reviews)

    Near North Side

    This was probably one of the best tours I've been on, and my fiancé (who has very high standards…read moreabout these things) agrees. We booked a tour for Saturday at 2 pm. There were some technical difficulties and the TV system on the bus ended up not working. Mr. Frank Calabrese Jr was very professional and good-humored about the situation. He offered everyone on the bus the opportunity to come back free of charge so that we may have the full experience with the photos he had been intending to show us. He proceeded to do the tour without the presentation, which honestly was great in itself. He is a very good story-teller, and had a great narrative. He had notes with him but only referenced them a few times to make sure he wasn't forgetting anything. Everything was super authentic and off the cuff. I loved that we went around Chicago and we were able to get glimpses of how the city was like in the 60s-90s. What made this tour so great was that these stories were first-hand. It didn't come from someone who spent hours studying the history; this was his real life. He was very genuine about his experiences, and his anecdote about his kids at the very end of the tour made me tear up a bit. He even invited us to stay for happy hour at the Chop House to have a drink with him to talk. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone, regardless of whether you know the mob history or not. I personally didn't know too much, and still was captivated by his stories. He does have a book (which I definitely intend to read) and a movie in the works!

    I'm a huge fan of true crime and Chicago history, so I'm surprised to say that this was my first…read morecrime tour ever. But everything happens for a reason, and it seems that reason was that I was meant to wait until the perfect one came along -- that, my friends, happened to be the Family Secrets Tour. I met Mr. Calabrese Jr. weeks ago when he presented some of his intriguing life stories at an event at Chicago Chop House, and I knew that evening that I had to book and experience the real deal, aka his bus tours. My friend and I booked a tour for a Friday afternoon recently that started at 2pm, and though there was a bit of a delay because our bus's TV monitors weren't working, Mr. Calabrese Jr. smoothly filled the time with some behind-the-scenes stories he said he usually doesn't share on the tour. I was hooked immediately. To be honest, before this tour, I had no idea the stories his family was involved in were so high-profile (I even talked to my family afterward, and they ALL knew every detail and were mad I didn't invite them! Sorry family!). But even while he showed us news clips, a lot of photos, and told all of his stories, he remained modest, which made the entire experience endearing. Mr. Calabrese Jr. is super charismatic and a great storyteller, and you can tell he genuinely loves telling his story and showing everyone around the neighborhoods where he grew up, and where big moments happened in history to people who were in "the life." I truly enjoyed this tour and I recommend it for anyone who wants an real, honest, non-theatrical recap of Chicago's mob history. The Family Secrets Tour is engaging and delightful. Thank you so much for captivating us, Frank! Can't wait to bring my family along some time!

    Chicago Architecture Center

    Chicago Architecture Center

    (811 reviews)

    The Loop

    Chicago Walking Tour - Elevated Architecture Downtown 'L' Train…read moreWe have previously taken the CAC boat tour and one of the surface walking tours (both of which were great), but this time we wanted something with a slightly different perspective while staying downtown. We chose the Elevated Architecture Downtown 'L' Train tour led by Andrew, our CAC docent. As no one else had signed up for the tour that morning, it became a private tour. Andrew was not only very knowledgeable about the architecture and friendly, but also, given that he works in planning at the Chicago Metro, was able to take us on an even deeper dive concerning the "L", its history, and some of the current challenges. As we were about 35' about street level for the tour, we were also treated to a different perspective of the building and their design/decoration, something that cannot be readily observed from street level. Thans again to Andrew for an information and entertaining tour above the streets of downtown Chicago-truly a unique experience.

    If you're in Chiago you have to do the Architecture tour at least once. If you're in Chicago…read moreduring the Summer as I was you can seek sanctuary in the air conditioned lower level. I wish the audio was a little bit louder on that level due to the sound of the fans and people talking. If you like my reviews, consider "following" my profile for reviews all across the SF Bay Area . Why "follow" someone? It causes the person you follow's reviews to tier to top when you pull up a business. I find this very handy when researching venues. Rod's Review grading scale explained. Essentially I personally base it on the likelihood of a return visit and I try to be stingy with 5 star reviews since they should be "special" in my eyes. Price/Value also play a role obviously but there are $ and $$$$ littered across my grading scale. 5 stars - "I'll go out of my way" (approx 6 % of my reviews) 4 stars- "If I was in the area I'd go here and would recommend", (approx 38% of my reviews) 3 stars "Maybe if was nearby", (approx 37% of my reviews) 2 stars -"Would likely not return, Only if you want to go", (approx 16% of my reviews) 1 star -"No thanks, even if I was hungry", (approx. 3 % of my reviews)

    Chicago River Boat Architecture Tours - Our boat

    Chicago River Boat Architecture Tours

    (281 reviews)

    Near North Side

    Every person I asked for a suggestion about what to do when in the city and everyone said to take…read morean architecture tour. They were right. I paid for the Gropuon which made our tickets half price. The one thing Is will say is that the parking directions for were confusing to me - I could have parked much closer but ended up going to the wrong location. This was something the tickets warned about but I just didn't figure it out. There was a bar and food on board but I didn't partake. We decided to do the nighttime tour per the suggestion of those who told me about the tour and I'm happy to have done so. The buildings were so beautiful and the lights were great. Next visit I will try the day time tour. It was an excellent way to spend 90 minutes and learn some really cool facts about a great city. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Chicago.

    Chicago riverboat architectural historical tour on main branch of river. Time to cruise…read more Nonstop 90 minutes. Talk about the architectural sky scraper wonders. foremost. Mind blowing enormously tall. Alot of humor and details on rental price @$400,000 a year. Famous people like Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey lived here. Willis seats tower 100 stories tall 1,052 in the Windy City Sky! It's the tallest! there are 37 drawbridges on the main branch river. That's all the facts in my head could remember. The river is alive! The buildings taller than Sequoia redwood trees or Oregon Douglas Fir. Glass, concrete and steel in assorted shapes - seemingly alive like a living tree. I feel the energy of the river and the buildings standing tall. Worth the moolah.

    Charnley-Persky House

    Charnley-Persky House

    (6 reviews)

    Gold Coast, Near North Side

    One of the many Frank Lloyd Wright houses on our list, we bought tickets while in town…read more I will say apart from the house being somewhat contradictory to many attributes that make up a Wright design, the house was very nice. The tour however was probably one of the weakest I have been to. Our guide was forgetful and really didn't go over the basics with the house as we are accustomed to with Wright tours: commission of the home, Wright himself, change of hands with home, and while walking thru it- design aspects chosen inside the home. There's three levels - you only get to see two, and the second floor is currently an office so it is hard to get a real feel for the place. Easily the weakest tour we have been on

    I love the work of Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, so touring this house made perfect since…read moreas both were involved in its design. The mansion is located in a gorgeous corner of the Gold Coast and represents an important part of the city's architectural story. That being said, it's not the most impressive historic house I've ever been in. In fact, it wasn't the most impressive one I went in on that day. For me, the things that made this tour worth doing were the small details like the windows, doors, wood screen in the hallway, and the fireplace surround. There aren't many rooms and the furnishings are not original. The textured walls seem odd and the lighting has been altered in several places (like he sconces). The tour guide was very knowledgeable, but they don't know much about the original owners due to their private nature. The building is now used as offices, so the upstairs bedrooms contain desks and bookshelves rather than being set as they were intended. It takes some imagination when you walk though them. The house is only open two days a week - Wed and Sat. I bought tickets I advance, but you can probably get them in person most times. I'm glad I went, it the friend who accompanied me thought it wasn't as impressive as the other houses we toured that afternoon.

    Chicago Fireboat Tours - boatcharters - Updated May 2026

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