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Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour

Shoreline Sightseeing's award-winning Architecture Tours are led by knowledgeable, entertaining guides and showcase the city's rich architectural heritage, from hidden gems to world-famous facades. Enjoy the journey on a state-of-the-art tour boat. See more than 40 landmarks in the iconic Chicago skyline, including the Wrigley Building and Marina City, and hear stories of ambition, redemption and innovation that make the Windy City famous.

Chicago CityPASS includes:

Architecture River Tour — Ticket includes a 75-minute cruise with live narration.

Chicago C3 includes:

Architecture River Tour — Ticket includes a 75-minute cruise with live narration.

Guides on Shoreline Sightseeing's Architecture River Tour explain how engineers famously reversed the Chicago River’s flow in 1900, along with other details about the Windy City's history.

Shoreline Sightseeing operates 11 touring boats on the three branches of the Chicago River, with personable guides who tell the stories of the city's famous landmarks and history.

Highlights

  1. 01.

    Learn how the three branches of the Chicago River helped establish the city as a trading outpost for French explorers.

  2. 02.

    Celebrate Chicago's resilience as it became the "Second City" in the aftermath of the Great Fire of 1871.

  3. 03.

    See Chicago's innovative approach to fight gravity and reverse the flow of the Chicago River.

Shoreline Sightseeing's Architecture River Tour cruises past Marina City, providing a spectacular view of the famous “corn cob” towers, whose rounded balconies were designed to give every resident a private outdoor view.

Chicago showcases a range of architectural styles, from the Beaux-Arts period and art deco to modernism and contemporary high-rise design, most of which can be seen in this view near the State Street Bridge (formally known as the Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Bridge) on the Chicago River's main branch.

Visit Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour with CityPASS®

CityPASS® tickets offer multiple great ways to see Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour. No matter which you choose, you'll save.

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Advice for Visitors

Tips

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your reservation time.

Learn more on the CityPASS Blog about what you'll see on a Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour.

Attraction Features

Amenities

Dining: Beer, wine, spirits, nonalcoholic beverages and light snacks are available for purchase on board.

Accessibility

Navy Pier is the best boarding location for guests with mobility concerns. Visit Shoreline Sightseeing's website for more information on services for guests with specific needs.

Parking/Transportation

Get information on parking for the Michigan Avenue location and parking for the Navy Pier location.

Offers & Upgrades

20% Off Water Taxi Passes

CityPASS guests receive 20% off Shoreline Water Taxi passes; show your CityPASS tickets at Shoreline ticket booths to redeem. Water taxis run primarily May-September.

Contact Information & Hours

  • Shoreline Sightseeing — Navy Pier
  • 124 N. Streeter Drive
  • Chicago, IL 60611
  • Right before the entrance to Navy Pier

Departure times vary seasonally; check the upcoming schedule when planning your visit.

  • Shoreline Sightseeing — Michigan Avenue
  • 401 N. Michigan Ave.
  • Chicago, IL 60611

Departure times vary seasonally; check the upcoming schedule when planning your visit.

Many of Chicago's 37 operational drawbridges date to the early 20th century, when city engineers perfected the trunnion bascule design, allowing roadways to lift efficiently for passing river traffic.

Read reviews from CityPASS® travelers.

Chicago CityPASS
Vacationing with a family of 5
We have purchased CityPASS now for three cities: Southern California, New York and now Chicago. We have a family of 5 and this makes planning so easy and affordable!! Not to mention not standing in line for tickets!!!
Chicago CityPASS
The CityPASS was the perfect way to plan our stay in Chicago. I was able to show my daughter my favorite places in Chicago, and a few others as well. The CityPASS provided a better price, and skipping to the front of the line was like icing on the cake!.
Wonderful week in Chicago!
After doing much research about CityPASS and other group admission passes of the like, I knew I had to get the CityPASS. Chicago CityPASS gets you into 5 of the top sightseeing places - with an upgraded admission!
Great Price
My family came to visit us from Colombia. It was their first time in the states and I wanted to make sure their first vacation was more than what they expected it to be. When I came across the Chicago CityPASS online I knew it was just what I needed to make their trip memorable.
CityPASS Saved My Vacation and Marriage
We used Chicago CityPASS recently and it was a not only a vacation saver but a marriage saver. My husband and I would typically argue about which way to go and what to do next. The CityPASS was easy to use and offered detailed information as well as discounts.
Chicago CityPASS is rated 4.7 out of 5 by 14653.
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great way to experience Chicago! We had a great experience using CityPASS in Chicago! It made visiting some of the city’s most popular attractions easy, convenient, and more affordable. The pass was simple to use, with clear instructions about which attractions required reservations and how to make them. One of our favorite perks was the VIP/priority access included at some of the attractions we visited, which made the experience even more convenient and helped us make the most of our time. We also loved having the flexibility to choose the pass option that best fit our interests and itinerary. We loved the Shoreline architectural boat tour, the industry & science museum, Skydeck, the art museum, and Shedd Aquarium! If you’re planning a trip to Chicago (or any city pass location) and want to experience several major attractions without the hassle of purchasing individual tickets, I’d definitely recommend CityPASS! I previously used it in Atlanta and had the same positive experience.
Date published: 2026-09-16
Rated 5 out of 5 by from So easy It was so easy from the start. From purchase to reserving our attractions online. Redemption was also really easy when we arrived. Helped narrow our choices down as well because time was limited. Worked out great for us.
Date published: 2026-09-16
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Worth It My family and I recently took a trip to Chicago and bought the 5 event city pass. It was well worth it! It also came with hidden benefits I didn't know about like fast pass for the ledge in Willis Tower's Skydeck
Date published: 2026-09-15
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great Value! We purchased the CityPASS for our recent vacation to Chicago and we're so glad we did. It is a great value and saved us quite a bit of money versus buying individual tickets to different museums and attractions. We highly recommend it.
Date published: 2026-09-15
Rated 4 out of 5 by from First Time User This was our first time using CityPass & while yes, it did have some very good perks & save us a few $$$$. There is area for improvement. the 1st being mandated visits. Do away with this, yes, we did plan on going to the locations "picked for us" by CityPass, we would like the freedom to go as we please. And while we could have passed by the line to buy tickets, because school was back in session, we didn't have the crowds to deal. 2nd: more locations to visit. add the zoo, other museums & think about a Kiddie CityPass, For add-on for the younger kid. Like the Ferris Wheel on Navy Pier. Also just for Adults like $20 off a Second City Show? And now yes, I ill look for where I go if CityPass has a Pass for that town.
Date published: 2026-09-14
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