Lake Michigan Sunset Cruise in Chicago
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Chicago, USA
+5
- 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Drink in a one-of-a-kind perspective on the Windy City when you go for an evening cruise, perfectly timed to coincide with the sunset. Hop aboard your open-top vessel (with an enclosed and climate-controlled lounge) in the heart of the Magnificent Mile, and cruise along the Chicago River. Then, see the skyline from a distance, and watch the skyscrapers light up, when you continue to Lake Michigan for a sunset viewing.
- Admire a perspective of Chicago that most visitors miss on this boat tour
- Explore after dark to see the city's glittering lights come on
- Spy the Wrigley Building, Willis Tower, Hancock Building, and more
- Snacks and drinks are available onboard to purchase
What's Included
- All Fees and Taxes
- Restroom on board
- Enclosed climate-controlled lounge
- Local Expert Guide
- Alcoholic, non-alcoholic drinks, and snacks (available to purchase)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 400 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Arrive at 400 N Michigan Avenue 30 minutes before your departure and you will be directed to your boarding dock. Please allow yourself plenty of time to arrive if driving. We do not have parking. It is recommend that you book parking in advance.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Make your way to the meeting point in downtown Chicago to board the sightseeing cruise, and set sail along the Chicago River. As you cruise through the heart of the Windy City, you’ll pass landmarks, including the Magnificent Mile, the John Hancock Building, the Wrigley Building, the Aqua Tower, and the Willis Tower.
Listen to the on-board commentary to learn more about Chicago’s historic sites and striking architecture as you admire the city skyline from the water. Cruise all the way to Lake Michigan, where you’ll watch the sunset from the open-air top deck or climate-controlled lower deck. While on board, you can also pick up some drinks and snacks from the full-service bar (own expense).
After about 1.5 hours on the water, return to the starting point where your tour ends.
Listen to the on-board commentary to learn more about Chicago’s historic sites and striking architecture as you admire the city skyline from the water. Cruise all the way to Lake Michigan, where you’ll watch the sunset from the open-air top deck or climate-controlled lower deck. While on board, you can also pick up some drinks and snacks from the full-service bar (own expense).
After about 1.5 hours on the water, return to the starting point where your tour ends.
Chicago Skyline (Pass By)
John Hancock Center (Pass By)
Aqua Tower (Pass By)
Lake Michigan (Pass By)
1
Chicago River
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your departure time
- Contact tour operator for wheelchair & ADA access
- Indoor and outdoor seating is available on a first come, first served basis
- Special requests entered at checkout cannot be guaranteed
- No Coolers
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 300 travelers
Supplied by
Frequently Asked Questions (10)
Q:Where do we meet for the Chicago Sunset Cruise?
A:We are located at 400 N Michigan Avenue at the historic Wrigley Building. Wendella has four dock locations that extend west from the Michigan Avenue (DuSable) Bridge to Wabash Avenue.
Apr 2021
The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.5
based on 1,687 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Not an architecture tour so don’t take this if that is what you’re looking for. A great way to see the sites at night. A very enjoyable evening and Bobby are guide was knowledgeable and available to everyone for any question they may have had! Highly recommend this tour!
Great tour—the scenery, the sunset and the Chicago skyline were beautiful! It was a lovely way to end the day.
It was beautiful. The guide did give us information on the buildings before heading into the lake to see the sunset behind the city lights.
The Sunset Cruise was fabulous. Our tour guide was very informative and provided great music. It was very relaxing and very memorable!
It was a beautiful day! The tour guide was fun and my girl and I loved it! Chicago is a beautiful city!
It was the best of both worlds. I highly recommend doing the sunset since you get the day and night. It was magical. Got amazing views and photos. The boat also turns around so everyone can get a nice picture.
Arrived at 6:29 and was refused entry for the 6:30 departure. Dismissed with a "you missed it, here's a number to call to rebook tomorrow." Boat didn't pull away until 6:35. Will absolutely be disputing this charge with Amex.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
We Always try to depart on time, and boarding closes before departure for safety reasons. Unfortunately, once the boarding ramp is pulled, we can no longer let anyone on. While the boat may remain at the dock briefly after boarding closes, departures occur at the scheduled time. We regret that you were unable to join the cruise.
Amazingly beautiful views of the skyline from Lake Michigan. Not quite as romantic as the boat will be filled with people talking solo shots of themselves for their IG story but beautiful nonetheless. Find a spot near the entrance door on the top level and pay up there. You will get the best views.
Such a beautiful way to see the skyline during sunset, informative on history and buildings. Relaxing, and gorgeous - def a must
The cruise was easily accessible and very professional. Loved the views of the sunset from the water!!
The sunset cruise in Chicago was such a cool and enjoyable experience! The timing was perfect, as we were on the cruise right around sunset and got to see the entire city during golden hour. The views were absolutely incredible, with the skyline glowing in the evening light. It was a beautiful and memorable experience that I would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Chicago!
Very good experience overall nicely organized and good customer service. Hughly recommend to everyone
Comfortable ride with beautiful sights. Great view of the moon, sunset, and skyline. Would do it again
Amazing experience definitely worth it! Gaby was a great host and very patient with my son who is on the spectrum and kept asking questions and she was so kind and attentive
It was very relaxing and affordable I would definitely do it again 🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾
A wonderful casual experience that showcases the magic of Chicago.
Our 7:00 pm cruise gave us both a beautiful sunset view and the twinkle of the city skyline at night. We bonded with other passengers who were equally taken by the view, all while listening to a perfectly matched playlist.
It was obscure to find the dock. Arrived at 7pm on the dot. The bridge to the boat had already closed. We were left behind. I’m suggesting the boat leaves at 7:05 if the event time is at 7pm.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
We always try to depart promptly at the advertised departure time, and the boarding ramp must be secured before departure. While we appreciate the suggestion of a five-minute grace period, delaying departure would impact the schedule for all guests aboard and subsequent cruises throughout the day.
However, as courtesy, if you contact us directly, we would be happy to reschedule your tickets.
Worth the time for sure! Got to see Chicago from the river and the lake at sunset and learn about the skyline.
A unique view of the skyline. Expect the boat to be busy so photo opportunities not always great. Sunset was lovely. Our tour guide, Jay, was great. Informative and entertaining.
It was nice the sunset was amazing! The lock experience was great! Didn't go that far into lake michigan, overall it was a great cruise experience! Will do again.
We didn't get to the lake...we just sat for almost an hour waiting to get to the lake which was disappointing. At no time did the captain explain anything going on.. he hid in his cabin and left all the questions to the poor tour guide
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We are aware of the lock delay issues that occurred on this tour and are taking steps to help ensure a situation like this does not happen again.
The nearly hour-long wait at the lock was highly unusual and was caused by circumstances beyond our control. We understand how disappointing it was to spend so much time waiting, especially when your goal was to reach the lake.
There is no food on a sunset cruise so eat before arrival it’s crowded and uncomfortable and depends on what side of the boat you’re seated you may not see the sunset extremely long waits for the boat to move based on traffic in the water and I was told coast guard controls water gates
We loved the sunset tour! The views were immaculate and unforgettable. Would love to do it again and again!
Lovely experience, loved the views, architecture was interesting. The beverages were very expensive and the dont take cash
Great experience! Emma was very knowledgeable and friendly. Drinks are very reasonably priced and the music was great! Even though it was cloudy due to the rain, the views were still amazing!
The tour guide was very informative and engaging. I've been to Chicago many times, but this was my first river/lake cruise. I learned about the locks with how they worked and the history behind them. Although it was cloudy, the skyline of Chicago at night was breathtaking.
Nice but could be more food and space to sit
Workers could be more welcoming
Water was pretty , very calming
We were packed like sardines though ok the boat
Drinks should have been included I'll give the experience a 8
We started off on the boat while it was cloudy and raining, and towards the end of it, when we had the whole city in view, the sun came out and the rain had stopped. it was absolutely stunning! and the ride was so relaxing. definitely recommend
Learned quite a bit about the various buildings in Chicago from the friendly tour guide. Interesting to see the lock operations.
We booked a sunset cruise for Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 7pm. The tour was supposed to be one and a half hours long. We didn't get to see the sunset and didn't get off the boat until 10:00 pm. It was an absolute disaster. The boat sat for a full hour and by the time it started moving, we missed the sunset. I understand that things happen, but the way it was all handled was ridiculous. Even though the passengers were stuck on the boat until 10:00 pm, the servers closed all services at 8:30 pm and would not serve us drinks or snacks. There was also no offer of a discount or refund either for missing the SUNSET and making us sit at a stand still for the majority of the tour. Even once it started moving, it just went in circles for a while before sitting once again. For the 3 hours we were stuck, we may have moved for 20 minutes. Waste of money and time. Customer service was absolutely horrible.
Likely to Sell Out
From $45.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Lake Michigan Sunset Cruise in Chicago
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