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    Chicago Riverwalk

    4.6 (266 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Chicago Riverwalk Photos

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    Max S.

    The Chicago Riverwalk is very cool. It's not only an opportunity to get your steps in, but to take in all the sights, and grab lunch during. Because you're downtown, the Riverwalk is lined with tall buildings on both sides of the river. You can't miss the Trump building with all the glass windows reflecting the sun! It's also a sight to see when the drawbridge goes up. You hear the alarms going off for a while before it finally does. Because I walked here from my hotel, I can't comment about parking. I'm pretty certain it's not easy though. The majority of people on the streets are walking. The sidewalks are crowded.

    Aaron O.

    A gorgeous walk along one of America's coolest skylines. This place is seriously awesome, and I got here just at the beginning of the season - lucky for me! You could see people running, cycling, and just enjoying getting out all along the walk. It was an excellent way to engage with Chicago and get to know the loop area a bit better. Highly recommended!

    Irene E.

    A wonderful 1.25-mile pedestrian path along the Chicago River, from Lake Michigan to Lake Street. Vibrant multi-use public open space, filled with bars, and cafes. There are also boat tours, kayak rentals and the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum. Many waterfront restaurants on the north side of the river.

    Andrea U.

    The Chicago Riverwalk is a1 1/4 mile pedestrian path along the south bank of the Chicago River, extending from Lake Michigan to Lake St. It's a popular destination for walking, dining & enjoying views of the city's architecture and the river. The Riverwalk features a continuous path with access points at various street intersections. There was music playing & many dining outdoors. I was impressed that there were clean bathrooms, lots of garbage receptacles and even water fountains along the river walk. The Riverwalk is accessible from various street-level intersections along Wacker Drive. Visitors can enjoy walking, running, and even kayaking on the river. It provides unique perspectives of downtown. There are elevators for those that are physically challenged.

    Celebrating St. Patrick's in Chicago.
    Michael H.

    Spent all day today on the Riverwalk as the great city of Chicago turned it's river green to celebrate their annual St Patrick's festivities. Amazing!! This is always my favorite part of downtown, but was exceptionally beautiful today as the entire river turned green. It also snowed!!! Being from Florida, we don't see snow and being able to walk around in it and eat great food and drink great beers was so much fun. Can't wait to come back.

    Ramesh A.

    Chicago riverwalk is a beautiful place to catchup city architecture and also have a good relaxed stroll along the river. There are restrooms along the walk. There are lot of cafe, bars, quick eateris along the walk and some of them have great activities. One of the must do while visiting Chicago, you can join and exit along the route but would worth doing the full city walk.

    Anjali G.

    Best part of chi town. Just a walk beautiful walk. Love to see the different buildings. You can stop along the way to eat some ice cream or coffee. Just a fun experience to walk to talk to friends and family. People watching experiences are plentiful. Lots of cute dogs along the walk aswell and people enjoying there days in the boats floating along aswell. 12/10 must see in Chicago. Staying along or very close to riverwalk is recommended!

    07.04.25 view of the Chicago River and the RiverWalk from Michigan Avenue Bridge
    May A.

    The Esplanade [Chicago IL] We made our way down to the RiverWalk from the northeast corner of N Wabash Ave and E Wacker Dr. where immediately below is O'Brien's Riverwalk Cafe. We saw a lot of activity going on at the Chicago River including boat tours and cruises, leisure boats, water taxis and, of course, kayakers and paddle boarders. On the riverfront patio are seasonal shops, cafes, public art, wine and cocktail bars, and plenty of dining options while enjoying stunning views of the Chicago skyline, We walked through the crowded riverfront taking in the scenery and the cool vibe... this is similar to the San Antonio River Walk. Unfortunately, we were not able to complete the 1.25-mile path due to an evening boat tour we were trying to catch at another meeting point location and not at the Riverwalk. We ascended back up on Michigan Ave. Review #3827

    Brad G.

    Great area in downtown Chicago, and another thing that bugs me about Louisville, KY. Architects and city developers in Louisville have vision, but not an elaborate vision of what our downtown and waterfront could be. Back to the riverwalk. It's another place I always walk every time I'm in Chicago. Whether it's above ground walking down the river or down next to the river... you're sure to have a good time. You can walk, eat somewhere, look at all the architecture, take a cruise, rent a kayak, or whatever. It is full of people, and tourists are all around the riverwalk, to the north and the south, but it's still always an entertaining and relaxing place to be. I'm not sure if I can add anything here that others haven't talked about, but if I could add just one thing, it would be to take a walk during the day and again in the evening. The reflections from the buildings vary wildly. I can't choose the best time because they both have their benefits.

    Wrigley and Tribune buildings.
    Navin K.

    If you're in Chicago, you must take a stroll along the Riverwalk. Last night, I left my hotel as the sun was setting and spent a blissful hour people watching, visiting places that meant something to me from previous visits to the city, taking pictures of the gorgeous buildings, and simply sitting by the river and reflecting on life. Refreshing! Can't wait to return!!

    Ultima M.

    I was in Chicago for St Patrick's day weekend and I was fortunate enough to stay at a hotel that had a view of the river and the Riverwalk. I got to see the river turn green for the holiday YAAYY The Riverwalk was a total VIBE everyone was out walking and partying and thoroughly enjoying themselves Before leaving Chicago I was able to enjoy a nice walk alone along the river, the views are amazing, the architecture is breathtaking A must do when in Chicago!! I love it here, and I cant wait to come back

    map of the area
    Janice K.

    This is a great area to walk around in downtown Chicago. There are so many bars and restaurants to pick from. There are also plenty of seating areas to watch the tour boats and water taxis go by. I did notice that in the morning there was no adverse smells, but later in the day there was a strong fish smell. There were a couple people fishing, but I think they were doing catching release. Well, I hope they were doing catch and release because the watercolor is not good.

    Katie R.

    The Riverwalk absolutely exceeded my expectations. It's such a nice place to walk while enjoying the beautiful city skyline. From its starting point at Lake Street, you can take it all the way to Lakeshore Drive, and even end up over by Navy Pier. There are quite a few restaurants and bars along the riverwalk, most of which have plenty of outdoor seating. There's also a bunch of areas you can stop to sit, including an area with adirondack chairs over by the Lake street entrance. We ended up sitting there for 30 minutes watching the boats and kayakers pass by, and taking in the amazing architecture. While we didn't stop at any of the bars or restaurants this time, we'll definitely be doing that on our next visit.

    Map of the path.

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    Very beautiful at night. Always worth a stroll and there are many nice restaurants nearby.

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    Where are the accessible wheelchair entrance?

    You can access it from: - Lakefront Trail - Wacker Dr between N Wabash Ave and N State St (near… 

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    Review Highlights - Chicago Riverwalk

    It's great if you just want to walk alone, go on a romantic date, or stroll with your friends and family.

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    Skydeck - NEVER FORGET (look closely)

    Skydeck

    3.5(952 reviews)
    0.7 miThe Loop

    Skydeck Chicago is one of those attractions that absolutely lives up to the hype. Whether it's your…read morefirst time in Chicago or your tenth, seeing the city from 103 stories up is an unforgettable experience. The views are breathtaking, and stepping onto The Ledge is both terrifying and exhilarating. Standing on a glass floor 1,353 feet above the streets of Chicago definitely gets your heart racing! On a clear day, you can see four different states, which makes you realize just how incredible the view really is. I also loved that the experience begins long before you reach the top. There are interactive exhibits and fun facts about Chicago and Willis Tower that make the wait enjoyable and help build the anticipation. Fun fact: The glass boxes of The Ledge extend 4.3 feet outside the building and are made of multiple layers of laminated glass strong enough to hold up to 10,000 pounds. Knowing that didn't completely calm my nerves, but it certainly helped! If you're visiting Chicago, Skydeck is a must-do. The combination of stunning views, fascinating history, and an adrenaline rush makes it well worth the visit. Five stars without hesitation!

    The overall experience and the downstairs museum detailing the city's history (with its great…read moredisplays and model train) are wonderful. However, the operations leave a lot to be desired. While a 90-second time limit makes sense on a packed day, on a slow day with only 10-20 people in line and 4 decks available, they should easily extend it. Instead, they cram multiple groups into one deck--forcing our party of four adults to share tight space with two strangers--and strictly require everyone to enter simultaneously. By the time you get settled and overcome any nerves, your 90 seconds are already up. We would have rated our experience much higher, but an employee soured the end of our visit. When we politely asked him to take a photo, he rudely and repeatedly barked that he would only do so if we left immediately afterward, even though we had timed our visit and were barely over the limit. Great attraction, but better customer service and flexibility are desperately needed.

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    Skydeck - Our friend living his best life

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    Our friend living his best life

    Chicago Riverwalk - landmarks - Updated August 2026

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