This small group tour pairs a Willis Tower Skydeck visit with a guided architecture walk and a narrated river cruise, so you see Chicago's skyline from the top, from the street and from the water in a single afternoon.
What makes this Skydeck and river cruise tour different
Most visitors treat Skydeck, a downtown walk and a river cruise as three separate bookings. This tour sequences all three with one guide, so the architecture you see from the 103rd floor gets explained up close an hour later, and the river cruise at the end gives you a water level view of buildings you were just standing in front of. The small group size, capped around 12 people, keeps the pace reasonable for a four hour day.
What is included in the price?
Admission to Willis Tower Skydeck is included, along with the guided architecture walk past the Rookery Building, Marquette Building, Palmer House and Reliance Building, a stop at Millennium Park for Cloud Gate, and the Shoreline Architecture Cruise ticket at the end. Gratuities are optional and not included in the ticket price.
Want a closer look? Small Group Tour with Skydeck and River Cruise, from $189 See timesIs the Willis Tower Skydeck and river cruise tour worth it?
If you were planning to do all three activities anyway, booking them separately usually costs close to the same amount once you add up individual Skydeck and cruise tickets, minus the guide and the logistics of getting between stops on your own. The real value is in not having to plan the route or time the cruise departure yourself.
Short on time? Small Group Tour with Skydeck and River Cruise, from $189 See timesWho should book this tour
First time visitors with one day to spend downtown get the most out of this, since it hits several must see stops without requiring a car or a lot of advance planning. It is less suited to travelers who already have a Chicago river cruise booked separately, or anyone who prefers a slower, unguided pace.
Ready to see prices? Small Group Tour with Skydeck and River Cruise, from $189 See timesWhat to expect on the day
The day runs about 4 hours total: roughly an hour at Skydeck, 45 minutes to an hour of walking through downtown architecture, and about 75 minutes on the river cruise. Wear comfortable shoes, since the walking portion covers a meaningful stretch of downtown, and dress for the weather since the tour runs rain or shine.
Want a closer look? Small Group Tour with Skydeck and River Cruise, from $189 See timesPrices and what is included
This combo tour runs around $189 per person, which includes Skydeck admission and the Shoreline Architecture Cruise ticket alongside the guided walk. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before the tour, with the option to reserve now and pay later.
Short on time? Small Group Tour with Skydeck and River Cruise, from $189 See timesGetting to the meeting point
Meet in front of the Fifth Third Center near Willis Tower, arriving 10 minutes early so the group can head into Skydeck security together. The tour finishes at Navy Pier, which has rideshare pickup points and bus connections back downtown.
Ready to see prices? Small Group Tour with Skydeck and River Cruise, from $189 See timesInsider tips for this tour
Bring water and sunscreen in summer, since a good portion of the day is spent outdoors walking between stops. If you tend to get cold on the water, pack a light jacket even on a warm day, since the breeze on the river cruise deck is noticeably cooler than the street.
Want a closer look? Small Group Tour with Skydeck and River Cruise, from $189 See timesHow this compares to other Skydeck options
If you only want the view without the walk or the cruise, the standard Skydeck ticket is the cheaper option. Travelers who prefer an evening version with hotel pickup should look at the night driving tour with Skydeck and river cruise instead.
Short on time? Small Group Tour with Skydeck and River Cruise, from $189 See times