Chicago Windmill Island Day Trip - Image 1
Chicago Windmill Island Day Trip - Image 2
Chicago Windmill Island Day Trip - Image 3
Chicago Windmill Island Day Trip - Image 4
Chicago Windmill Island Day Trip - Image 5
Chicago Windmill Island Day Trip - Image 6

Photo 1 / 6

Chicago Windmill Island Day Trip

TourTruth score 6.9 out of 10

Average

3,040 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score

  • Chicago
  • 1 day
  • Updated November 4, 2026

Explore Windmill Island’s historic windmill, Dutch-inspired Holland, and lakeside Saugatuck on a guided day trip from Chicago.

About this tour

Leave Chicago behind for a day among Dutch heritage, garden paths, and Michigan shoreline. This Chicago Windmill Island day trip visits Windmill Island Gardens, Holland, and Saugatuck, with a bilingual guide to bring the journey to life in Chinese and English.

At Windmill Island Gardens, see De Zwaan, an authentic windmill brought from the Netherlands, and take in gardens that change with the seasons. The itinerary allows about 60 minutes here. Continue to Holland for roughly two hours, including time for lunch, and explore its Dutch-inspired character. Then head to Saugatuck for about an hour to enjoy the lakeside town, browse galleries, or stroll along the shore before returning to Chicago. Timing and seasonal experiences may vary.

Travel by a vehicle selected for the day’s group size, with bottled water and sweet snacks provided. Guests also receive a Local Exploration Travel Passport to collect tour stamps. Windmill Island Gardens admission is offered as an add-on when booking. Choose this Chicago Windmill Island day trip for a relaxed mix of history, gardens, and small-town scenery.

Highlights

  • Admire the historic De Zwaan windmill and seasonal gardens
  • Explore Holland’s Dutch-inspired streets during a lunch break
  • Stroll through lakeside Saugatuck and browse its local galleries
  • Enjoy bilingual guiding, bottled water, and sweet snacks
  • Collect a stamp in the Local Exploration Travel Passport

What's included

Included

  • Professional vehicle transportation
  • Bilingual tour guide and driver
  • Local Exploration Travel Passport
  • Unlimited bottled water
  • Twice-daily sweet snacks and candies
  • Guide and driver service fee
  • Taxes and fees
  • Windmill Island Gardens admission, available as an add-on when booking

Not included

  • Meals, food, and beverages beyond those provided
  • Expenses not listed as included

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

What reviewers mention

Themes that come up most in this tour's reviews.

Often praised

Important information

  • Windmill Island Gardens admission may need to be purchased as an add-on when booking
  • The itinerary includes Windmill Island Gardens, Holland, and Saugatuck, with return to Chicago
  • The vehicle used depends on the number of guests attending
  • A 50% child discount for ages 3–11 was advertised for July and August 2025; this offer has expired

Frequently asked questions

What languages are available?

The tour offers live guiding in Chinese and English.

Is Windmill Island Gardens admission included?

Admission is available as an add-on when you place your order.

What stops are included in the itinerary?

The itinerary lists Windmill Island Gardens, Holland, and Saugatuck, followed by a return to Chicago.

Are food and drinks included?

Unlimited bottled water and twice-daily sweet snacks and candies are provided. Other meals, food, and beverages are excluded.

Can I cancel for free?

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour.

How this score is calculated

This score is based on one provider. GetYourGuide rates it 4.60 from 3,040 reviews. We place that rating among all GetYourGuide ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.

How the score works and rating distribution in Chicago
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 6.9.

Provider rating distribution in Chicago

How many tours in Chicago have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

More Day Trips & Excursions in Chicago

from $112

on GetYourGuide

Check availability