Trade the city streets for the water on this live, GPS-guided architecture cruise from downtown Chicago to Chinatown. As the Water Taxi glides south down the river, this page follows along, telling the story of each landmark as it slides past your window. Tap any building to hear how it was built and why it matters.
The route, in order
- Wrigley Building & DuSable Bridge The gleaming white "jewel of the Magnificent Mile."
- Tribune Tower A neo-Gothic tower studded with stones from around the world.
- Trump International Hotel & Tower A sleek glass giant, one of the tallest buildings in America.
- Marina City The "corncob" towers — a whole city in the sky.
- AMA Plaza (330 N Wabash) A crisp black-glass tower by a master of modern architecture.
- The Merchandise Mart So enormous it once had its own zip code.
- Wolf Point — The River Splits The birthplace of Chicago, where the river splits three ways.
- Civic Opera House A grand opera house shaped like a giant throne.
- Willis Tower For 25 years, the tallest building in the world.
- 311 South Wacker The tower with the glowing white crown.
- River City A curving concrete "snake" along the river by the corncob architect.
- St. Charles Air Line Bridge Once the longest and heaviest bascule bridge of its kind on Earth.
- Ping Tom Memorial Park — Arrival A riverside Chinese garden welcoming you to Chinatown.
Do the river for less
A guided architecture cruise runs $36–52. Ride the same river yourself for $10 — this guide does the narrating.
Affiliate disclosure: The cruise and Shoreline links above are affiliate links — if you book through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The Chicago Water Taxi link is a direct link to the operator, not an affiliate link. Any “stay nearby” hotel links are also affiliate links — if you book through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are typical rates and change with the season — check the operator for the current fare.
In your language
Narrated in English and Spanish — pick your language up in the header, any time.
How it works
- Follows your GPS. Each landmark's narration cues itself as you pass it — no tapping through a list.
- Works offline on the water. Once this page has loaded, the whole tour keeps running without a signal.
- Nothing to install. It's a website, not an app — add it to your home screen if you'd like a shortcut.