1-Apr-19 – Of all the travel experiences available worldwide through TripAdvisor, the second-most-booked last year was the Chicago architecture boat tour, according to the travel website.

The 75-minute architecture-oriented cruise along the Chicago River was more popular with global tourists last year than a “skip-the-line” ticket at One World Observatory in New York, a hop-on hop-off bus tour of Paris, and a one-day sightseeing tour of Tuscany.

The only experience more popular than the architecture cruise was a tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and Saint Peter’s Basilica.

Chip Collopy and Matt Collopy, owners of Shoreline Sightseeing, operator of the Chicago architecture boat tours, say TripAdvisor has been a good partner for Chicago tourism in general, sharing many Chicago tours with its global audience.

“Chicago’s architecture is justifiably world-famous, and our guides are dedicated to showcasing the city’s amazing landmarks and majestic skyline on our Chicago River tours,” said brothers Chip and Matt.

(Left) City View, one of eleven vessels used by Shoreline Sightseeing for its Chicago River tours, seen near River Point last September.

While visiting iconic sites is still popular, TripAdvisor says travelers are increasingly tailoring trips to suit their unique interests.

“Whether that means bringing the whole family along or booking rejuvenating wellness experiences, travelers have so many options to really customize their trip and immerse themselves in the local culture,” said TripAdvisor spokesperson Molly Burke.

The ranking, published on February 13, is based on TripAdvisor’s own bookings.