Architectural Styles

Step aboard the teak decks of elegant 1920s style yachts, Manhattan or Manhattan II, and enjoy a 2.75 hour cruise while learning about NYC's architectural landmarks from the water. The "Around Manhattan" tour narration, provided by members of the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) NYC chapter, is general enough for visitors yet detailed enough for the locals. Experience a comfortable and unique tour through the Hudson, East, and Harlem Rivers from a glassed-in observatory cabin, which has sliding windows for a fresh breeze, or wander to an open bow for more unobstructed views of the surrounding sites. On this cruise, guests will circumnavigate the island of Manhattan, passing under all 18 bridges, while taking in monuments, architecture, parks and infrastructure with narration throughout the cruise. Important note: select departures on Friday afternoons will focus on Climate Change in and around New York City. Please call the operator directly for questions on the tour theme.

The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) was founded in 1966 as the Chicago Architecture Foundation to save the historic Glessner House. Since then, the CAC has grown to become one of the largest cultural organizations in Chicago. Visit the CAC to view our 4,250-building scale model of Chicago, shop in our award-winning store or participate in a fun family event in our ArcelorMittal Design Studio. On the Chicago Model, view more than 4,200 buildings in one spectacular room at the cinematic and interactive Chicago City Model Experience. At the Chicago Gallery learn how Chicago became the "city of architecture," with a look at its fascinating neighborhoods, housing styles and famous architects. As a certified nonprofit, all CAC ticket purchases directly support our education efforts and community engagement projects.

Helsinki is a gem for architecture enthusiasts. It is difficult, if not possible, to find another urban space that houses a wide range of architectural styles like Helsinki; neoclassical, gothic revival, (largest collection of) Art Nouveau, Jugendstil, Nordic classicism, modernism, functionalism, and contemporary styles in a compact city centre. Different historical periods left their marks on Helsinki, however it is easy to miss these great works of world renowned architects, from Engel to Saarinen, from Aalto to Siren and Revell in ordinary city tours. Join us in a great architecture tour with a small group to visit and enjoy the architectural wonders Helsinki offers, such as the National Library of Finland, Central Railway Station, new public library Oodi, Chapel of Silence, Kiasma modern art museum, The Rock Church, Finlandia Hall and more.

Join me on a self-guided GPS audio tour that’ll open your eyes to the full range of Philadelphia’s architecture, spanning every American style from the 1850s to the present. One of the richest periods artistically, it was also one of the wealthiest. Mark Twain called these years the “Gilded Age” because America’s economy boomed and vast fortunes were rapidly made. Gilded Age styles like Second Empire Baroque, High Victorian Gothic and Romanesque all compete for your attention on this tour. The styles they gave way to as we entered the 20th century are eye catching too, like Beaux Arts, Art Deco, and International Style. Then from the 1970s we enter the Postmodern era, where almost anything goes architecturally – and that’s where we still find ourselves today. Along the way, I’ll tell you plenty of interesting but not strictly architectural stories about Philadelphia and its buildings too.

The Queretaro's old town is a UNESCO's World Heritage city, it is located in the middle of Mexico and therefore, it has been the geographical and historical crossroad of the country. Join me to know the most important and beatiful architectural landmarks of this colonial and baroque city, while you hear and learn about Mexican history from the pre-Hispanic to the 20th century times.

Join our team on a guided walking tour through vibrant Midtown Manhattan for quintessential New York City! Art Deco, Beaux-Art, & International Style architecture await along its picturesque avenues and streets. The neighborhood is a treasure of clustered renowned landmarks with astonishing histories, pioneering styles and enduring impact on the life of the city.

​This tour is the unique experience of exploring the architecture of Brussels by a local architect. Jamal will lead your way through over 500 years of architectural styles, history, art, and legends. We will discover the sophisticating of Brussels since it was the capital of the Spanish Netherlands til it became the Capital of Europe. The influences of architecture from the Netherlands, Spain, and France will be pointed out, and stories behind the styles changes will be told. By the end of the day, your eyes will catch and explore details that you never noticed before, even back in your home town.

Since European settlement 180 years ago the city of Melbourne has benefited from the remarkable skill of many talented architects. Join MELTours on the Architecture Tour of Melbourne and discover some amazing architectural styles from the 1850s to the present day. You will see buildings that are incredibly symbolic to ones that have sustainability at the core of their design.

Sarasota is home to an amazing architectural legacy. On this 105-minute air-conditioned tour, guests will visit some outstanding examples of architecture and design, with tours featuring three of the city’s most distinctive styles: Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival, and Mid-Century Modern (featuring the "Sarasota School" of architecture, a regional adaptation of 20th-century International Style modernism that flourished in Florida from the 1940s to the 1960s.) These tours sell out weekly so book early!

Raleigh's historic Oakwood and North Blount neighborhoods are famous for their array of fascinating historic houses, displaying a multitude of historic architectural styles from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Travel through Oakwood with a professional historian guide and experience the evolution of American architecture, from the elegant Second Empire style to the playful Queen Anne style and much more.

Explore the architecture of Santa Fe with your local guide on this 3-hour walking tour with up to 8 people. Spend your Thursday or Friday morning walking Santa Fe’s historic eastside neighborhood, exploring the distinctive architecture, and enjoying the warm interiors this region is known for. Discover three different style of architecture, including Pueblo, Spanish Territorial, and Northern New Mexico. Our walk is 2-2.5 miles in duration throughout historic Santa Fe. We end our tour at Gruet Tasting Room inside of Hotel St. Francis. 

Take an extraordinary journey through the heart of Paris with app guided tour, where every step reveals the city's rich tapestry of culture, history and architecture. Throughout your journey, engaging puzzles will test your wits and knowledge, adding an element of excitement and challenge to your exploration. Guided by the web app, you'll have a wealth of information with detailed text and vivid images to enrich your experience every step of the way. Whether you're a history buff, architecture enthusiast or just a curious traveller, this tour promises an unforgettable adventure into the soul of Paris. On this tour you will discover: Who made Paris the centre of European culture and tourism. The main architectural styles and how they followed each other. How philosophy influenced architecture and the role of the Turks. How a book and a computer game saved Notre Dame.

Like any city that has gone from medieval-to-modern, Stockholm has “interesting" architecture too. We’ll see controversial constructions like Slussen, and the tower at Sergels Torg where hooligans skinny-dip in the fountain, as well as more adventurous projects like the KTH School of Architecture and the greener-than-green Waterfront Centre. What do you think, ugly or awesome? Whatever your preference is, agree with us that it's amazing architecture?! Whether your style is medieval bricks or modern beams, we’ll journey through Stockholms architecture of the past and present.

Discover Melbourne’s fascinating Art Deco architecture on this small-group, 2-hour walking tour. Learn about the history and culture of Melbourne while admiring fine examples of the city’s most famous Art Deco buildings, including the Manchester Unity Building and Majorca Building. Learn fascinating details about the tiles, patterns, and designs that were popular in the 1930s, and discover how the 1934 Centenary of Melbourne, as well as Mayan, Spanish, and Egyptian art, influenced the city’s architecture.

The city of Sao Paulo is a melting pot of colonial, modern, contemporary and art deco buildings; discover all of this and more on this architecture tour. Delight the lines, curves and details of well-designed pieces art that may seem common in the eyes of some, but in the company of an expert guide can be mind-blowing. Start at Higienopolis area, one of the best places to observe the contrast between old and new. Admire old colonial houses and modern architecture that coexist without altering the harmony of the landscape. Walk through the center of Sao Paulo and see how the 19th-century European styles combine with more recent architecture. We can't finish without mentioning Paulo Mendes da Rocha, an architecture master and winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Or Oscar Niemeyer, whose modern designs can be found all over São Paulo. Continue along the Paulista and Faria Lima ave. to see their modern and iconic skyscrapers and Jardim America, the first planned area in town.

Venture into the heart of New York City’s iconic Financial District with a Downtown Manhattan Architecture Tour! Whether you're an architecture enthusiast, history buff, or simply curious about the city's iconic skyline, this tour highlights the stories behind iconic landmarks like: – Trinity Church: A Gothic Revival masterpiece shaping NYC's early skyline. – Stone Street & Fraunces Tavern: Colonial-era gems amidst cobblestone streets. – 20 Exchange Place: An Art Deco skyscraper symbolizing NYC’s vertical dreams. – 40 Wall Street & NYSE: Beaux-Arts and neo-Gothic grandeur in the financial heart. – 28 Liberty Street: A Modernist icon of mid-century progress. – World Trade Center: Contemporary architecture reflecting resilience and innovation. With a small, intimate group, enjoy personalized attention while uncovering the unique styles, design features, and urban influences of each site. Plus, get tips for capturing stunning photos of these architectural gems!

Let's visit together the wonderful Art & Nature of Lecce, noticed as the Capital of Baroque. Lecce is a fascinating town that you will always remember for the luxurious private palaces, with their courtyards and gardens, that we will admire inside, as well as for the precious symbols represented on the facade of many of the magnificent churches, that I will describe you. Passing together through its hidden streets, we will explore the labyrinthine old town, feeling the air of "slow life", typical of southern Italy, enjoying the authentic atmosphere of everyday life. We will discover together the amazing collection of sacred art, visiting the most ancient workshops of ceramic and papier-mache. Of course, you could not miss tasting the best local food like "puccia" (local bread with vegetables), or "pasticciotto" (sweet with custards), in one of the most traditional pastry shops in the town that I will suggest to you!

Without a doubt, in the Heroic Cartagena, remains the moorish architectonic legacy brought from the south of Spain; and we can state that this one is the richest legacy in America. Today, with the help of a specialized guide, you can still see the formal elements that constitute this architecture. By the end of this tour we will conclude the city is a domestic arquitecture compendium: the houses with the balconies and their hallways, their inner yards and wells, etc; Civil Architecture: the goverment buildings of the time located usually in front of a square; militar architecture such as the city walls and forts; the troops quarter and strongholds, etc; and the imponent religious architecture: monasteries, convents, churches, etc. In this architecture a overlapping of styles happended, the republican over the colonial, which brings us to conclude that architecture in Cartagena is prominently Eclectic.  

Without a doubt, in the Heroic Cartagena, remains the moorish architectonic legacy brought from the south of Spain; and we can state that this one is the richest legacy in America. Today, with the help of a specialized guide, you can still see the formal elements that constitute this architecture. By the end of this tour we will conclude the city is a domestic arquitecture compendium: the houses with the balconies and their hallways, their inner yards and wells, etc; Civil Architecture: the goverment buildings of the time located usually in front of a square; militar architecture such as the city walls and forts; the troops quarter and strongholds, etc; and the imponent religious architecture: monasteries, convents, churches, etc. In this architecture a overlapping of styles happended, the republican over the colonial, which brings us to conclude that architecture in Cartagena is prominently Eclectic.  

Explore Ginza's captivating blend of history and modernity on our 3.5-hour architecture walking tour led by a local accredited guide. Discover architectural marvels ranging from a historic Buddhist temple dating back to 1934 to the newly revitalized Louis Vuitton Namikidori completed in 2021. Marvel at works by renowned architects like Renzo Piano, Toyo Ito, and Shigeru Ban. Our knowledgeable guides share intriguing stories about the buildings and their visionary designers. You'll gain insights into how historical events, such as the era of the Shogun and subsequent earthquakes and fires, have influenced architectural styles throughout the district. Whether you prefer a daytime exploration or the enchanting twilight experience, we offer tours that cater to your schedule and interests. Join us to see Ginza transform under enchanting lights, offering a fresh perspective on its vibrant energy and unique architectural landscapes.