★★★★★
On the water right around sunset, with the whole city in golden hour.
Krzysztof_S · Solo · August 2026
Lake Michigan Sunset Cruise as a Chicago Night Begins
River, then the lakeSails for sunsetLight narration, no guide400 N Michigan dock
Ninety minutes on a Wendella boat from 400 N Michigan Avenue, by the Wrigley Building. You cruise the river first, then head out onto Lake Michigan to watch the sun go down behind the skyline and the towers light up. The crew gives light narration, not a guided tour, and there is a full bar on board.
The sun going down, and the lights coming on
$45 a seat
Fees and taxes are in the fare; drinks and snacks are sold at the bar, by card only.
4.5 from 1,702 reviews
More travellers have reviewed it than any other sunset or night cruise here.
Watched from the lake
The boat leaves the river so you see the sunset with the whole skyline in front of you.
Timed to the sun
The departure moves with the sunset through the season, so check it for your date.
Light narration
The crew points things out and answers questions; it is not a guided tour.
A lounge below
An enclosed, climate-controlled lounge for when the lake wind gets cold.
From the Wrigley Building dock
You meet at 400 N Michigan Avenue, on the north bank of the river beside the Wrigley Building, where the staff direct you to your boat. Arrive 30 minutes before your departure; boarding begins 15 to 30 minutes before it. Indoor and outdoor seats are first come, first served, so if you want to sit together on the top deck, be early.
This is not the First Lady dock. That one is across the river, down the stairs at Michigan and Wacker, and it belongs to a different company. Travellers who mix the two up arrive at the wrong bank with minutes to spare. Both docks, and the bridge between them, are on the meeting-point map. There is no parking of its own; the nearest garages charge.
Timed to the sunset, not the clock
The cruise is set to meet the sun on the lake, so the departure is not the same time all season. It moves earlier as the evenings shorten. You see the time when you choose a date, and it is worth comparing with the sunset below. In mid-June the sun sets at about 8:27pm; by mid-October it is about 6:09pm.
| Mid-month | Sunset | Fully dark |
|---|---|---|
| May | 8:04pm | 8:36pm |
| June | 8:27pm | 9:02pm |
| July | 8:24pm | 8:57pm |
| August | 7:50pm | 8:20pm |
| September | 7:00pm | 7:28pm |
| October | 6:09pm | 6:37pm |
Times are the U.S. Naval Observatory's for the Michigan Avenue Bridge in 2026. "Fully dark" is about half an hour after sunset. A 90-minute sunset sailing ends close to that point, so the city lights come on in the last part of the cruise. One traveller in August found the sailing so early that the lights were not on yet. If the lit skyline matters most to you, the night cruise from Michigan and Wacker sails after dark.
Light narration, a full bar and two decks
This is not a guided tour. Wendella calls it light narration: the crew shares highlights and stories along the way and answers your questions, but no guide talks for the whole hour and a half. If you want the stories of the buildings, book a cruise with a live guide instead.
What you get is time to watch. Most people stay on the open upper deck. Below it is an enclosed, climate-controlled lounge with a bar selling beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks and snacks. The bar takes cards only, no cash. Restrooms and changing tables are on the lower deck, and a folded stroller can come aboard.
When the lights come on
The boat runs up the river past the Wrigley Building, the Hancock tower and the Aqua tower, then passes through the Chicago Harbor Lock onto Lake Michigan. Out on the lake you watch the sun drop behind the skyline, and then the towers light up one by one. The route depends on the lock, the weather and the captain, so it can change on the night. On a busy evening the boat can wait its turn at the lock, and a long wait cuts your time on the lake.
That wait is the thing to know before you book. What happens in the lock, and why it queues, is on what to expect on the night.
Useful tip. Bring a layer even on a warm evening. The
wind on the lake after sunset is cold, and the top deck is where you want to be when the lights
come on. Evening lows by month are on Chicago weather at night.
Your ninety minutes, from the river to the lake
- 30 minutes before. Check in at 400 N Michigan Avenue; staff send you to your dock.
- 15 to 30 minutes before. Boarding; choose the top deck or the lounge.
- Departure. Along the river past the Wrigley Building and the towers.
- The lock. Through the gates onto the lake, with a wait on a busy evening.
- On the lake. The sun goes down behind the skyline, then the lights come on.
- About 90 minutes after you left. Back at the Michigan Avenue dock.
Who this suits, and who should book something else
Book it if
- You want the sunset over the city with a drink in hand.
- You are a couple, or a group of friends, who want to watch rather than listen.
- You want the lake as well as the river, for less than the night cruise.
- You are travelling with a pushchair: it folds and comes aboard.
Book something else if
- You want a guide telling the city's stories. The night cruise from Michigan and Wacker has a live guide the whole way, for $50.
- You want full dark rather than dusk. That same night cruise sails later, and from September it is night from the dock.
- You want something shorter. The 45-minute architecture tour leaves from the same address, for $28.
- You would rather compare all the night boat tours side by side first.
What $45 covers, and what it leaves out
In the fare
- All fees and taxes
- Restroom on board
- Enclosed, climate-controlled lounge
- Light narration from the crew
Not in the fare
- Drinks and snacks (sold at the full-service bar, card only)
- A guide: the crew gives light narration only
- Parking
Know before you go
- The right bank. It is 400 N Michigan, by the Wrigley Building, not the stairs across the river.
- Arrive 30 minutes early. Seats are first come, first served, and the top deck fills first.
- Cards only at the bar. There are no cash sales on board.
- Bags are screened. Outside alcohol and coolers are not allowed.
- Wheelchair users, call ahead. Ring Wendella on 312-337-1446 before you book, so the crew can plan boarding.
- Bad weather. If the captain cancels, you are offered a new date or a full refund.
What travellers said after the sun went down
★★★★★
Sailings fill up, so arrive half an hour before boarding to sit together; the river first, then out onto the lake for the sunset.
Lesley_H · Friends · July 2026
★★★★★
A friendly crew, fairly priced drinks and good music; the views held up even under cloud.
Jonnece_W · Couples · August 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is the sunset cruise guided?
No. The crew gives light narration and answers questions, but there is no guide talking throughout. For a live guide, the night cruise from Michigan and Wacker is the one.
What time does it leave?
It moves with the sunset through the season, so the time shows when you pick a date. Check it against the sunset times on Chicago weather at night.
Do we always reach the lake?
That is the plan, through the lock after the river. On a busy evening the boat can wait at the lock, and the route can change with the weather.
Can I pay cash at the bar?
No, the bar takes cards only. Drinks and snacks are not in the fare.
Where do we meet?
At 400 N Michigan Avenue, by the Wrigley Building, on the north bank of the river. Arrive 30 minutes before your departure.
Is it good for a first evening?
It is good for a relaxed one. If it is your first night and you want the city explained, pick the cruise with a live guide instead.
Other ways to see the city after dark
Ready for sunset on the lake?
Check the evenings still open for your party, with a full refund up to 24 hours ahead.
Check availability