Region
Chicago Riverwalk and Architecture
The Chicago Riverwalk and downtown architecture lane covers river tours, architecture cruise launches, Riverwalk dining, and water-edge walking. It follows visitor intent along the river rather than municipal boundaries.
- Guides
- 0
- Checked places
- 3
Image: Chicago Riverwalk and downtown towers | Photo by Roman Boed on Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 2.0
Visitor map
Chicago Riverwalk and Architecture in the Chicago visitor roster
Use the citywide map to compare this lane against the other downtown, neighborhood, dining, and lakefront choices.
Chicago visitor lanes
1 The Loop The civic downtown core: Millennium Park and Cloud Gate, the Art Institute, the Cultural Center, and Grant Park. 2 Mag Mile Michigan Avenue shopping, the Water Tower and 360 Chicago, the MCA, and Navy Pier on the lakefront. 3 Riverwalk The riverfront and skyline: Willis Tower Skydeck, the Architecture Center, and the river cruises. 4 River North Galleries, nightlife, and dining north of the river — the Merchandise Mart, Frontera Grill, and steakhouses. 5 West Loop Restaurant Row and Fulton Market dining, Union Station, and the city's hottest food-and-nightlife strip. 6 Lincoln Park The free zoo and conservatory, the lakefront and North Avenue Beach, Old Town comedy, and family north side. 7 Wrigleyville Wrigley Field and Cubs game days, the Southport Corridor, and Lakeview's bars and music venues. 8 Wicker Park The Damen-Milwaukee-North six-corners: shopping, tacos, breweries, music, and nightlife. 9 Logan Square Northwest-side dining, cocktail bars, and boulevards around the Logan Square monument and Blue Line. 10 Chinatown / Pilsen Chinatown's Wentworth Avenue and Ping Tom Park, plus Pilsen's murals, museums, and music halls. 11 Hyde Park The lakefront Museum Campus and, to the south, Hyde Park's Griffin Museum of Science and Industry and Robie House.
Planning categories
Checked category lanes
Checked visitor places
Checked places in this lane
Architecture museum Chicago Architecture Center The nonprofit home of Chicago's architecture story, with a scale city model of more than 4,000 buildings and the docent-led river cruise that is the definitive way to read the skyline. Observation deck Skydeck Chicago (Willis Tower) The 103rd-floor observation deck of Willis Tower, home to The Ledge — glass balconies that extend out over the street 1,353 feet up — with panoramic views across the city and lake. River cruise operator Wendella Tours & Cruises A family-run Chicago boat-tour company operating since 1935, with architecture cruises on all three branches of the Chicago River departing from the dock beside the Wrigley Building and DuSable Bridge.
Where to stay
Compare places to stay along the Chicago River
Staying by the river puts the Riverwalk, the Willis Tower Skydeck, and architecture cruises at your doorstep. This live map compares riverfront and downtown lodging prices for your dates.
This is a partner hotel map from Stay22, not an official booking desk. It shows live third-party availability around the Chicago Riverwalk and downtown; if you book through it we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Confirm exact location, dates, and cancellation terms with the property before booking.
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