The Chicago Architecture Center is the best entry point into the city's extraordinary built environment. The centre runs boat tours along the Chicago River that pass beneath the canyon of skyscrapers in the Loop -- these 90-minute tours are one of the finest urban experiences in America and genuinely worth the price. Walking tours cover the Loop, the North Side, and specific architectural movements.
Inside the centre is a large scale model of downtown Chicago that lets you understand the density of the skyline before heading out. Staff are architects and architecture enthusiasts who know the buildings intimately. Buy boat tour tickets in advance for summer visits -- the popular tours sell out.