Must-Do in Chicago: The Chicago Architecture Cruise

Chicago’s architecture is simply remarkable: a wide variety of modernist styles mix wildly with one another here. Even those not interested in architecture will quickly notice this. The best way to see the ornate skyscrapers is from a boat: I’ll tell you which boat tour you shouldn’t skip on your trip to Chicago!

Boat tour in Chicago: architecture in fast-forward

Regular water cabs operate on the Chicago River, which flows through the middle of the city – but there are also boat tours from various providers, where you can take a leisurely look at Chicago from the water. Especially recommended is the architecture boat tour through Chicago, where you will get a lot of interesting insights about Chicago’s architecture!

Welcome to my travel blog

Hey, I’m Tatiana and I’m the blogger behind The Happy Jetlagger. Since 2014, I’ve been sharing my personal travel stories on this blog. I don’t have a big team behind me, so I’m pretty much a one-person show: I’ve researched and tested all recommendations myself.

I have almost perfected my talent for speed sightseeing, but a half day in Chicago with a huge jetlag was a real challenge. I like to explore cities on foot or by bike (if I can). But after long-haul flights, I’m so exhausted that I often end up in some red Hop-On Hop-Off tourist buses. But in Chicago, a colleague recommended the architecture boat tour to me – and that sounded very relaxing, too.

Chicago: Architecture in the Second City

I knew little of Chicago itself. But as I learned, many people underestimated Chicago. Thus Chicago’s nickname: The Second City. Second, because always in the shadow of New York. Somehow, Chicago and New York are in the same ballpark: big city, steeped in history (by American standards), huge skyscrapers. But somehow there is nothing distinctive in Chicago: No Empire State Building, no Statue of Liberty, no Big Apple. Or can you think of just one world-famous sight in Chicago?

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And yet Chicago has so much to offer! Lake Michigan, which is actually more sea than lake. The famous Pan Pizza (which I didn’t try a slice of this time, shame on me!). Gangster stories from the old days. Art! Art! Art! And: architecture. And the best way to see the architecture is on a boat tour.

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Chicago’s architecture by boat

I’ve already hinted at it: the long haul makes you lazy about sightseeing. How are you supposed to get around when you fly halfway around the world in two and a half days and spend most of it working? I highly recommend a boat tour. In good weather, of course. Which, admittedly, can get a little difficult in Chicago – because Chicago has another nickname: The Windy City. And the wind there can really blow you away. In our case, the Chicago wind just swept away the last little clouds and rewarded us with an absolutely fantastic blue sky! No wonder my enthusiasm for Chicago was ignited immediately.

Book the Architecture Cruise through Chicago here*

The boat trip was enticing. And it didn’t disappoint. We chose the aforementioned architecture boat tour through the high-rise canyons of Chicago. I’m not sure I would have been so engaged with each of the giant skyscrapers if I had just been wandering the streets. Many of the buildings are simply imposing, as Chicago was the cradle of skyscrapers over a hundred years ago. New York my ass! Ha!

The famous Buckingham Fountain

A little anecdote to end on: On the way back to the hotel, our driver raved about Chicago as his hometown, and we realized how much we hadn’t seen of the city despite the great day. He listed all of Chicago’s attractions with dedication. None of this looked familiar to us. Until we drove past Buckingham Fountain, a huge freestanding fountain, where we immediately sang the theme music from “Married… with Children” – and our driver could not believe that this television series was such a huge success back then in Germany.

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Tip:

The architecture boat tour can be booked on site or online:
Book a Chicago architecture boat tour here*

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More articles about Chicago:

• 8 Amazing Stops for a Road Trip on the Route 66 through Illinois
• Chicago Food Guide: 6 Really Good Locations
• Chicago CityPASS: Experience, comparison & prices