Chicago Night Tours FAQs
Dark times, the docks, the lock, drinks, the weather, refunds and what stays open late, answered from the operators' own pages and the city's. Choosing between chicago night time tours? The answers below settle most of it.
Two answers matter more than the rest. First, a night cruise is only at night if it sails after sunset, and sunset moves from 4:19pm in December to 8:30pm in June. Second, only some cruises go out onto Lake Michigan; the rest stay on the river.
After that, it is the dock. The two are a block apart on opposite banks, so check which one your ticket names before you set out.
What time does it get dark in Chicago?
Sunset runs from 4:19pm in early December to 8:30pm in late June, and full dark follows about half an hour later. The clocks go back on 1 November 2026, which moves sunset an hour earlier overnight, from 5:46pm to 4:45pm.
Do Chicago night cruises sail in the dark?
Only when the boat leaves after sunset. A 7pm sailing is daylight in June, when the sun sets around 8:30pm, and dark from October. In summer, book the latest sailing you can; from November almost every evening sailing is after dark.
Which cruises go out onto Lake Michigan?
The By Night cruise and the sunset cruise pass through the Chicago Harbor Lock onto the lake. The Creepy Cruise and the 45-minute architecture tour stay on the river. On a busy evening the boat can wait its turn at the lock, which eats into your time on the lake.
How much does a Chicago night tour cost?
Cruises cost $28 to $50 a person, the Night Crimes bus is $55, and the 10-mile helicopter flight is $129.99 a seat. Drinks on the boats and tips are extra.
Can I cancel a Chicago night tour?
Yes. Every tour here refunds in full if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. If the operator calls off a cruise for bad weather, you are offered a new date or a full refund.
Where do Chicago night cruises leave from?
From two docks a block apart, on opposite banks of the river at Michigan Avenue. First Lady boards on the Riverwalk, down the stairs at the northeast corner of Michigan & Wacker; Wendella boards at 400 N Michigan Ave, by the Wrigley Building. Check which one your ticket names before you set out.
How early should I arrive for a cruise?
About 30 minutes before. Boarding starts around 15 minutes ahead, seats are first come, first served, and the top deck fills first. A missed boat is not refunded.
Is it cold on a night cruise?
On the lake, often, even in summer. Travellers who sailed in May, August and September all say to bring a jacket, because the wind picks up once the boat leaves the river. Every boat has an enclosed lounge below if you need to warm up.
Are drinks included on the cruises?
No. Each boat has a bar selling beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks, and Wendella's bar takes cards only. You may not bring your own alcohol on board.
Is there a Chicago night bus tour?
Yes. The Night Crimes Tour leaves from outside 163 E. Pearson St at 7:30pm on select weekdays and runs 2 to 2.5 hours, with stops off the bus at places such as the Biograph Theater. It is recommended for ages 10 and up.
Can you take a helicopter flight at night?
Fly Heli, which flies from Vertiport Chicago at 1339 S. Wood St, sells sunset and evening slots, and they fill fast. The listing prints no flight times, so pick your slot when you book. The 10-mile flight lasts about seven minutes, take-off and landing included.
Are the night tours good for children?
The cruises suit most ages: under-4s ride free, strollers are allowed, and the boats have restrooms on board. The Night Crimes bus is recommended for ages 10 and up.
Do the cruises run in the rain?
Yes, rain or shine, with an enclosed lounge below the open deck. Severe weather cancels a sailing, and you are then offered a new date or a full refund.
When does the night cruise season end?
First Lady sails its 2026 season from 15 March to 22 November. Wendella publishes no season dates, so check the dates offered when you book.
Is Buckingham Fountain on at night?
Yes, in season: Buckingham Fountain's light, music and water show runs from dusk to 11pm, spring through the end of fall. It stands in Grant Park at Columbus Drive and Congress Parkway.
What is the Chicago Harbor Lock?
The Chicago Harbor Lock sits between the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, at the river's mouth. The boat goes in, the gates close behind it and the water is brought level before the far gates open, and the same happens on the way back. On a busy holiday weekend boats can queue to get through.
What is the difference between the sunset cruise and the night cruise?
The sunset cruise is timed so you are on the lake as the sun goes down and the skyline lights come on, with light narration. The By Night cruise sails later in the evening and has a live guide the whole way.
Is the sunset cruise guided?
No. Wendella describes its sunset cruise as light narration from the crew, not a guided tour, and the time on the lake is for the view. If you want a live guide after dark, the First Lady By Night cruise has one.
Is the 45-minute architecture tour a night tour?
No: it runs through the day. Its last departures reach dusk and lit buildings, so book the latest one if the lights are the point, and arrive early for a top-deck seat.
What is the Creepy Cruise about?
It is First Lady's storytelling cruise about the city's dark history, from the Eastland disaster and the Great Chicago Fire to H. H. Holmes, told live on an open deck. It stays on the river and does not go through the lock.
What days does the Creepy Cruise run?
Fridays, Saturdays and select Thursdays and Sundays, from March to November. It lasts 90 minutes and costs $46 a person.
What does the Night Crimes bus stop at?
It makes five stops off the bus of 5 to 15 minutes, including a mini mob museum, the former St. Valentine's Day Massacre site and the Biograph Theater. Other sights are pointed out from the bus.
Is the Night Crimes bus wheelchair accessible?
No. There are steps up into the bus and no lift, some stops have stairs, and you may walk up to a city block.
How long is the helicopter flight?
About seven minutes for the 10-mile flight, counting take-off and landing. Longer 16- and 30-mile flights cost more, and groups of more than three may be split between aircraft.
Is the Museum of Science and Industry open at night?
No. The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry opens 9:30am to 4pm daily, so it fits the day before an evening cruise, not the evening itself. It closes at 3pm on 3 and 17 October 2026.
Is the Chicago Riverwalk open at night?
Yes: the Chicago Riverwalk is free and open from 6am to 11pm. Both cruise docks at Michigan Avenue are on it, and it runs 1.25 miles from Lake Street to the lakefront.
When is Art on theMART?
Art on theMART plays Thursday to Sunday, for half an hour a night, across the Merchandise Mart's river front. From 10 September to 27 December 2026 it runs 7:30 to 8pm, and 2027 dates are not announced yet. It is free, and made to be watched from the Riverwalk opposite.
When are the Navy Pier fireworks?
Summer 2026's ran on Wednesdays at 9pm and Saturdays at 10pm from 23 May to 5 September. Navy Pier also lists a New Year's Eve show at 11:59pm, and summer 2027 dates are not announced yet.
Is 360 Chicago open at night?
Yes. 360 Chicago, the observation deck on the 94th floor of 875 N Michigan Ave, opens daily from 9am to 11pm, with last entry at 10pm.
Is Skydeck Chicago open at night?
In summer Skydeck Chicago opens until 10pm, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. Hours change out of season, so check them for your date.
Can I bring luggage on a cruise?
Not on First Lady boats, and neither dock stores bags. Leave your cases at your hotel before you board.
Can I bring my own food?
On First Lady's By Night cruise you may bring your own snacks. Outside alcohol is not allowed on any boat, and each one has a bar.
Is there parking near the docks?
Only in public garages. First Lady points drivers to the garage at 111 E. Wacker Dr, with validation at its ticket office, and Wendella has no parking of its own.
Is there step-free access to the docks?
First Lady's dock is two levels down by stairs from Michigan & Wacker; the step-free way is the ramp at State St and Wacker Dr, then east along the Riverwalk under the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Wendella boards wheelchair users from its West Dock, and asks you to call 312-337-1446 ahead.
Do I need to tip?
Tips are not included on any of the tours. The Night Crimes bus suggests about $5 a person, in cash or by Venmo.
Are the tours in other languages?
No. Every tour here is in English only, and the crime bus has no translations or headsets.
Which evening cruise is cheapest?
The 45-minute river tour, at $28 a person, whose last departures reach dusk. The cheapest cruise built for the dark is the Creepy Cruise, at $46.
Still deciding? The practical detail is in the visitor guide, and what travellers made of each tour is in the reviews. Every fare sits side by side on Chicago Night Tours.