Would've been a nice tour... 1) If we could actually see anything. No one told the people in the back to find seats, so they blocked our view of buildings for 60+ min. of the 75 min. tour. (See pic) 2) If we could hear anything. (See video of bar line around us and screaming child.) When I could actually hear & see the tour guide, I could tell he was terrific. 3) If they had notified people in advance that they had moved the pickup location over 10 min away down the Navy Pier. We were walking with a senior citizen, so couldn't make it in time. Fortunately, they were able to book us on the very next tour. Unfortunately, the above happened. I'll be requesting a full refund. read more

Shoreline Sightseeing - Our view for the entire 75 min. Architecture Tour - Architectural Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had a lovely afternoon architecture cruise with Shoreline Sightseeing. Our guide was Ashley- who gives tours in English and Spanish- and I thought she was wonderful. She clearly loves Chicago, knew lots of great info, and told funny jokes. There is a cash bar and snacks available on board, though we did not partake. Really the only negatives were some of the other passengers- never sure why you would pay for an experience and then talk the whole time the guide is talking- but other than that- it really was a perfect Memorial Day Weekend experience. I had not gone in over 10 years and I loved hearing how much as changed in that time. read more

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In the back of my head, I'd been planning the architecture boat tour for a while now. I've been here cumulatively for 13 years and seeing as how my days in Chicago are numbered, figured it was about time to do the tour! I was at the Apple Store on Michigan Ave earlier that day and talked to (Andrea or Angela) at the kiosk near the street and she was happy to chat and gave me a little discount for being so cool. The starting point is just a few steps away from the Apple Store along the riverwalk. Jim was our tour-guide extraordinaire and I guess we lucked out and got the coolest guide? The ebb and flow of his meticulously constructed script was on point, complete with bad puns galore. The length of the tour felt very appropriate. Any longer and boredom was likely to seep in, any shorter and I would've felt ripped off. There are a couple 'awkward' U-turns in the middle of the tour, but it works because you get to see the buildings again from a different angle. We lucked out with the weather. Sunny but not too hot and not too crowded with tourists. read more

Shoreline Sightseeing - Architectural Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Our tour guide Megan was fantastic! Very enthusiastic and passionate and drew us into the wonderful history of Chicago. Considering I'm a native and long time resident...we don't DO these kind of things. But I had friends in from out of state and this was the one touristy thing we did and I am so glad!! This city is absolutely beautiful and it was a great way to spend 75 minutes. Here are the cons though: You board on the OPPOSITE side of the river walk. It's a total bitch to get there from the river walk. You have to go back up 2 levels of stairs, over a bridge and back down 2 levels of stairs. So don't make the mistake like I did! Another thing that sucks is THIS IS NOT AN ADA ACCESSIBLE TOUR. Despite there being an elevator down to the docking area, you still have to descend a small narrow flight of stairs to board the boat. One thing I really appreciated was they were able to look up my ticket at the little ticket booth because my phone died. But after all that...we just barely made it on the boat by the skin of our teeth! Lastly, the seating is not very comfortable. Not fat friendly at all. You have a choice between flimsy plastic folding chairs or a hard bench which is fine for width but not great for comfort, sadly. After all the walking to get to the boat, my lower half was screaming. We took the last tour at 7:30 and it was perfect timing to see sunset and the beautiful lights at Navy Pier. I wish it had been st 7:35 though so we could have gotten a glimpse of Art on the Mart, but we were literally 5 minutes too early for it. Other than that, we could not have asked for a more beautiful night! read more

Jim was excellent! Funny and knowledgeable about all things architectural and engineered!. Highly recommend.

In just an hour, you get a jam packed lesson about the history of Chicago and the architecture along the river. We made our reservations on Expedia for free cancellation. Just in case of rain or COVID cancellations. Per person, it's a little under $40 so it's kind of pricey and not something I would do multiple times. The boat that we got had an open air seating on the top deck, with a bar on the bottom. I don't think there's a better side to sit on since all the buildings tower over the river. You won't miss anything. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, spoke clearly, and even threw in some jokes. The only downside was that there was so much information that it was a bit hard to keep up. He talked non stop and sometimes I just zoned out a bit. It's definitely a tourist thing so if you've never done it, give it a shot! read more

Shoreline Sightseeing - Architectural Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great way to start my first visit to Chicago. There's such a great story behind the buildings that's worth hearing. Sadie was extremely knowledgeable, and made the tour fun with her cute, cheesy humor. Highly recommend you figure out when she's doing the tour. read more

Shoreline Sightseeing - Architectural Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Awesome boat tour with Mary Kate? We did the sunset tour and sat on top which was COLD! Make sure you bundle up! It did help that they sold hot tea on the boat plus alcohol and some snacks. They take card too so disregard the website! You also have the options of sitting below where it's covered but then you can't see it all! Tour guide was lovely. She shared a lot of nice information about the architecture and made it fun and enjoyable. Boar was clean as well as the bathroom. Stacked seats weren't too bad to sit on. Tour was about 1.5 hours. Easily to find pick up spot right by the Apple Store. Would highly recommend. Kid friendly too! read more

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Educational and funny! We learned a lot about the history of Chicago and different styles of architecture. Thanks to our tour guide and diva Mary Rose read more

Fantastic informative experience. Sadie the guide was also fantastic. Very knowledgeable and fun. She helped make it a great experience for me. I absolutely highly recommend taking this tour. read more

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We came here on a Sunday morning just shy of 11:30. I've live in Chicago a very long time but never took a boat tour so I was excited. The tour guide (I think his name was bill or will?) was great! Especially after two drinks his jokes really start to hit. He was super informative and just seemed nice. Also respect to him for calling the Sears Tower, the Sears Tower. A true Chicagoan can appreciate that If you get hot easily, try to sit toward the back especially on a sunny day because it is HOT up there. Bring sunglasses and a hat if possible, I had neither and wish I did LOL wear sun screen because I got a very nice tan line from my shorts . Definitely would do again. read more

Shoreline Sightseeing - Sear's tower - Architectural Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Michael was a funny and informative tour guide. We enjoyed our river tour of Chicago architecture and it is a must do!

The tour was phenomenal. Ashley was so lively, funny, and kind. Her voice is hella soothing and the pace was great!! 10/10 recommend read more

Shoreline Sightseeing - Skyline - Architectural Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If I could give more stars I would. From start to finish, staff, the boat, tour guide, the scenery it was all perfect. It made such a great tour. Highly recommend. read more

Shoreline Sightseeing - Architectural Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We had a great time! Kyle was a wonderful docent. Beautiful sights. We learned lots and had a few laughs along the way. It was totally worth it! We did the architectural tour. read more

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it is a touristy thing but a really great experience. go when the weather is nice, i went when it was raining and cold and that was the only part that wasn't nice. the tour is really cool and informative. lots of great views and tons of great architecture. read more

Antonio was great! He clearly knows his stuff and presents an accessible, informative and entertaining narrative for the tour. I've taken this tour before and would take it again. I learn something new every time! read more

Shoreline Sightseeing - Skyline - Architectural Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Lovely tour. I love the architecture building of Chicago but never have a chance to know about their history. Thanks to Mary Rose, our tour guide, we learn a lot of new things about the city. She is so energetic, passion, and friendly. read more

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Jim was very informative and such a sweet guide for our river tour!! We love ya Jim!!!!

We visited Chicago for the first time in August and booked this tour to learn more. Our overall experience was excellent! Shoreline Sightseeing is Chicago's favorite tour boat agency and you can view over 40 Chicago landmarks during the tour. Our guide was fantastic and knowledgeable. He told us briefly how Chicago's buildings and engineering made the city famous. The entire stuff was nice and friendly. The boat was comfortable. read more

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Despite the cold and rain, we enjoyed the Shoreline architectural boat tour today. Zach was our guide and was enthusiastic, had a strong clear voice, and told some really unique and interesting stories. He even played us a little blues song on his harmonica at the end of the trip. COVID precautions are in place so wear your mask and sit in the designated chairs, which are set up in a careful socially distanced manner. Don't move them, as several groups did, and please don't talk throughout the tour... also as the two groups near us did. I won't fault Shoreline for that, but it made it difficult to enjoy Zach's stories. There is a bar below. I was able to get some hot tea, $3, to help with the chill. There are also bathrooms below deck, very clean. Dress warmly, bring a blanket, and perhaps an umbrella. It's a cool way to learn about Chicago and get out in the fresh air. read more

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I cannot speak highly enough of Eric and the customer service with this company! We quickly learned on our trip that there are multiple water taxi companies, but we would choose Eric and Shoreline every time! read more

This was soooo fun! Victor was our tour guide and he made it so amazing. That man is so smart and passionate about Chicago's architecture. He really knows what he is talking about, and it was incredibly entertaining to listen to him. Thank you Victor and Shoreline Sightseeing for such a fun tour! read more

Shoreline Sightseeing - Architectural Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Jim is the best and extremely knowledgable, this made our vacation. go and request Jim! Tour is well worth it in general

We took an architecture tour on a beautiful Saturday afternoon and it was surprisingly worth it. My family and I weren't huge on the background of the architecture but rather, wanted great views of the city and we definitely got that on the tour! There were plenty of photo opportunities and the guide was very informative. Not just on the buildings but also the pop culture around the buildings and chicago itself. We had the city pass so it was totally worth it for us, but while planning our trip to chicago, there were a lot of sites that stayed this tour was a MUST do while in town. Well, I really don't think it's necessary. Lol, it was a fun experience the first time but would I do it again? Probably not. read more

Jim wad a fantastic tour guide! Very informative . The tour is a great way to see the city from the water - highly recommend!

While In Chicago we had the chance to take the Architectural tour. We enjoyed every moment, very educational yet fun and entertaining for the young and old. We have a young artist/designer so she enjoyed seeing all the designs and the history behind the art of Chicago River. The tickets were a little high to me: 4 tickets, 2 adult 2 child came to $150 including taxes and the surcharges worth the money. Treat yourself read more

Shoreline Sightseeing - Shoreline of Chicago : Learn the history of some of the most impressive buildings in the world - Architectural Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Guided architectural tours of Chicago are offered by this shoreline at the current moment when weather permits. We ordered tickets online and walked to the dock a few mins before take off. Really easy online process and highly recommend it. On the boat there is a guide who will tell you about the buildings, a bar and restrooms toward the bottom ( wasn't a big fan of the drinks but I won't take off for that bc it was a perk) , and plenty of photo ops for your social media. The tour was 60 mins and very informative. Great place to sit back and take a second and enjoy the sights around you. read more

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We took an architectural tour on 4/28/25. Jeremy was the tour guide and did a wonderful job. He was very knowledgeable about all of the buildings along the shoreline. He explained the architecture and the history, all unscripted and with a sense of humor. The following day, we took another architectural boat tour with a competitor, and there was NO comparison. Shoreline and Jeremy were far superior and it is well worth your time and money to do this excursion. read more

loved the tour! i went last Tuesday morning, and it was very hot, but Jeremy was a great tour guide. he shared many interesting parts of Chicago's history, rumors, and local knowledge. he also recommended a show to watch while i was in town ("Iraq, But Funny"), which i was able to make time for, and i'm glad that i did! read more

Great way to spend 75 minutes on the canals, river and water ways that are Chicago while learning not just about the buildings downtown but also about the history of Chicago. Docent Dan did a great job relaying the when, why and how of the buildings downtown. The best views of the city are from this vantage point in my opinion. And on a beautiful sunny late summer afternoon why not take in the view on a boat with the breezes off the water to keep you cool! read more

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Tried the small boat architectural tour and really enjoyed the experience. Knowledgeable guide and different perspective viewing the buildings from a smaller boat. Loved the docking area as well. read more

When we planned our trip to Chicago I noted there were several architectural tours available and was told it was not to be missed. I asked someone from Chicago for a recommendation and they referred me to this company. We were not disappointed. We expected it to be cold (and I am sure it can be) but it was a very hot day and we got some seats under the shade cover (only about 1/3 of the seats have it). It was closer to the back but it didn't matter; we still had a fabulous view of the buildings and had no trouble hearing Sadie, our guide. Sadie was amazing - so vibrant about the information, and able to hold our attention for 1.5 hours! We were blessed with a beautiful day so it was easy to appreciate the variety of buildings and the beauty of the river, but we learned so much about each building, their history and the history of Chicago and the river. Really well done and definitely a good value! read more

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If you are visiting Chicago, the Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture Tour is a must, no exceptions! The boat can fit plenty of passengers and they depart from multiple locations at different times. You do not need to book in advance as we went to the counter on the day of on a weekend. It was over an hour and you learn so much about Chicago and the history, while viewing beautiful buildings and seeing the city by the river. It is great for all ages. read more

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I would give this tour 6 stars if possible. Very nice architectural tour. Very informative and exciting. I would take this tour back to back. Sooo many things to see. Gave me extra excitement and made me fall in love with Chicago again. read more

Shoreline Sightseeing - Great seating - Architectural Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Jeremy was a great tour guide we enjoyed out tour of the Chicago river! all of the buildings history was extremely interesting and beautiful! read more

Kevin was great! Very informative and he we could tell he really loved his job which made the experience better

I was recommended to go on the architecture boat tour by a friend. I had some time to kill before my work conference started and she highly recommended it. I remembered that I was on this tour 18 years ago - and I was sure that a lot had changed! The tour is 75 minutes long and does run throughout the day! I went online to purchase a ticket but before I did, I made a fast call to Shoreline. She did tell me that if you purchase online you get a 10% discount. I also asked if you were allowed to bring food and water onboard and she said yes (I brought water which I highly recommend). They do have a full bar and of course, restrooms by the way. So that is what I wanted to do- I wanted to pick it up by the Riverwalk. You board on the northside of the Riverwalk, just east of Michigan Ave. Well, of course, the internet would not let me purchase it. I did ask the employees who were assisting those looking for the boat to see if I was doing something wrong- I was not. They assured me that the ticket window could help and give me the 10% off. Nicole was a pleasure to deal with at the window and certainly did make it right! I thanked her! It was a warm sunny day and I thoroughly enjoyed Nathan, the tour guide's talk on all of the buildings around the riverwalk. In the last 10 years so much has been built up! I sat outside - learned a lot about Chi-town. Took a lot of pictures and talked to some other people as well. He also gave a good recommendation of where to see a great view of Chicago without paying for that - you go to the Signature Room and buy a drink and there will be a great view! (Unfortunately, I didn't get there but I appreciated the tip!). If you can bring a hat and /or umbrella to cover yourself from the sun! The boat did exit the lock and goes out to Lake Michigan- that was very cool! read more

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we did the architecture river tour. we left on time, good boat, comfortable seats and good beer! Richard! the tour guide- was great! he was funny and very informative. very interesting. i would definitely recommend them to friends and family. read more

Terrible customer service from the guy checking people in. Could've been way more helpful and less rude. But customer service among Gen Z is a dying art. read more