Through the internet, popular culture, and just basic osmosis, we are often a bit overexposed to the “have-to-see” sights around the world. As travel becomes more common, people have gotten better at recognizing the tell-tale signs of a “tourist trap.”
But one netizen wanted to know if some of these locations were actually worth the hype, so they asked the internet and got a whole lot of advice. We also reached out to veteran traveler and blogger Will Hatton, from the Broke Backpacker to get his insight on approaching travel. So get comfy as you scroll through and be sure to upvote your favorites and comment your thoughts below.
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Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. I remember loudly gasping once I walked inside. It’s a special place.
Maybe a bit specific to a certain type of person, but Hobbiton movie set in New Zealand. If you even remotely like the movies or Tolkien's work, getting to actually stand in Hobbiton makes you very happy
Hop-on and hop-off buses in big cities.
Super touristy, but it’s a great way to get a good overview of a new city. I usually do this on my first day in a new city, without getting off at all. I then decide which places I want to go back to for the rest of my stay.
Be sure to sit outside in the top, preferably next to the window/rail for the best view.
Bored Panda got in touch with Will Hatton, from the Broke Backpacker, and he was kind enough to answer some of our questions. The first thing we wanted to know was what would be his number one tip or resource for a novice traveler looking for advice.
“Be brave! Real adventures, and real growth, begins at the edge of your comfort zone so be prepared to get uncomfortable… hitchhike, camp, Couchsurf, get off your phone, and have genuine interactions. Travel is the ultimate teacher and as long as you are pushing out of your comfort zone every day, learning new skills, seeing new places, encountering new points of view, you will have an incredible opportunity to grow.”
Niagara Falls is one giant tourist trap, but it’s still awesome. I love Maid of the Mist.
The Roman Colosseum but it was an absolute blast. Was able to see the lower levels as well too.
Kyoto was fullllll of tourists but easily one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Fushimi Inari is 100% worth the visit, yes, it's always packed with tourists at the base of the shrine and the "tunnel of Torii gates" but once you hike some way up the mountain, it's much quieter and incredibly peaceful, and the views are beautiful!
Many people do turn to blogs or influencers for advice, so we wanted his input. We asked if he thought the idea of “travel tips” is overrated and people should just learn from experience, or if is it best to go prepared. “I do think it’s well worth speaking to ’those who have been when traveling further off the beaten path.”
Venice. Soo amazing.
I had (sob) 1-1/2 days there in 1983. That's like getting one lick of gelato and having to give it back. Hope to go next year as a 75th birthday present for myself.
Jordan’s Petra and Wadi Rum - So much is already documented in film, press, and internet. You will be joined by bus load of tourists, but they don’t take away from the breathtaking scenery.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany.
It's very touristy but there's no doubt it's impressive and iconic. If you skip the tour of the interior (which isn't particularly remarkable), you can see the outside entirely for free.
I've toured two of King Ludwig's castles. The interiors are decorated with a lot of gold and gaudy colors. He single-handedly almost bankrupted Bavaria. He was taken out on a lake to fish, but he never returned.
“Certainly, for my more far-flung adventures in Pakistan, Iran, Venezuela, etc I always tried to get some information through the Couchsurfing community before I hit the road. Ultimately, it is good to just go and if you’re heading somewhere a bit more vanilla, you can totally figure it out on the fly and on your own but it does help to be prepared; It’s good to have a plan yet be flexible with that plan.”
The Grand Canyon. The crowds are insane, especially on weekends and holidays, but you’d be surprised how quickly they drop off once you get a little ways down the trail. I’ve also heard the north rim is beautiful and much less crowded, but it’s very far to get to.
People drop off a little ways down the trail? At the Grand Canyon? Drop off?
Machu Picchu was this for me. If you don’t do the full blown hike, the buses to get up to the entrance feel like Disneyland. Its one of the types of places that pictures don’t do it justice.
Tourist traps generally just mean something somewhat disappointing and perhaps a few costs that are higher than they are worth. But as Will is a true travel veteran, we wanted to learn about more harrowing experiences. So we asked if he had horror stories from traveling and ignoring advice. Alternatively, any time things went unexpectedly well? “Hitchhiking is really the best example - Many times I was trying to get from A to B and folks told me it was too dangerous or I should just book transport instead.”
The Pyramids. Touristy af, no question. Some of the most awe inspiring things I've ever seen, also no question
My hubby and I got to go INSIDE one of the pyramids on our honeymoon! We also had to stand in line to get our pics with the pyramids / sphinx in the background .. AND there was a KFC across the street! Crazy Cairo .. totally worth it
Louvre and Versailles in Paris. Full of people but still amazing.
Pike Place Market in Seattle. Ton of tourists but there is really good food and lots of local artists.
Kyoto, all of it. Deal with the people, be amazed at the beauty and history.
The Louvre. I remember walking in, stopped in my tracks, stunned, looking up at Nike. Everything else faded into the background. An awesome moment I revisit again and again.
Oktoberfest. Thought it was going to be overpriced and tacky, complete opposite. Felt very authentic.
“Very often I would end up having the most wonderful serendipitous connections and being taken from A to C, instead of A to B. C would often be WAY better and I’ve had folks pick me up, drive me hundreds of miles out of their way, put me up in their house, share their life stories with me. I think ultimately it IS wise to follow advice but ONLY from folks who have actually DONE what it is you are trying to do; many folks have fears, biases, and anxieties and will push these on to you even though they have no experience in the part of the world or the way in which, you are traveling.”
Cinque Terre
I remember a guy on PBS, named Rick Steve's that toured the cities there, and I fell completely in love with this area. Still haven't been in person, but if I get to go, I think I might find a little piece of my soul there waiting for me. Breathtaking.
Pantheon. Pompei. Colosseum/forum/palatine. I mean they're tourist traps, but they're also world famous, unesco heritage sites or both so it's not surprising. But they're 100% worth it.
Visiting Pompeii was one of the highlights of my trip to Italy. Luckily I was able to visit when Covid restrictions were slowly being lifted, so missed the massive crowds. It was fascinating to see the ruins of temples, the amphitheater, bath houses, beautiful frescoes, and intricate mosaics. A significant portion of the city has yet to be excavated, so hopefully I’ll visit again several years from now and brave the crowds then…
Golden Gate Bridge…bonus if you can walk a bit of it!
Walked halfway... I need crutches to walk so was really proud of myself... If we go back I'm walking the full thing!
Will left us with this thought: “Be brave, be kind, travel far, and keep a journal of your experiences! If you’re looking for some guidance, check out the broke backpacker manifesto on how to travel more awesome.” If you would like to learn more, you can find his personal Instagram here, the Broke Backpacker Instagram here, and the blog itself here.
According to my brother, Athens Greece. He said he was blown away by how old and visually impressing the ruins were and that Athens was a fun city in itself
Spent three weeks in Athens in 2019 - Best trip of my life. Stayed at an AirBnb in Athens central, could see the Acropolis from our balcony. LOTS to do and see. The ruins are breathtaking as are most off the beaten path coffee shops. Spent quite a few days people watching having coffee on the "resturaunt row" leading up to the Plaka.
I loved everything about Greece, but my favorites were Mykonos and Santorini. I would give anything to live on Santorini.
Oh Athens in Greece, thanks for clearing that up, I was thinking of Athens in Tennessee, which isn’t as notable
Banff in Alberta Canada
I'm from Calgary, Alberta and when I meet people who haven't been to Banff I tell them it's just as beautiful as it is in the pictures. It's hard to see a picture of Banff and believe it's a real place. But it actually is that beautiful, no photoshopping.
The Spice Market in Istanbul.
It is very touristy but there is so much history there and by US standards it is still incredibly cheap.
I was amazed by how large it is! Easy to get lost in this maze, certainly not for people with agoraphobia
Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris. There were tourists everywhere but it didn't take away from its aura. You can pay a few Euros to climb the 300ish stairs to the observation area at the top. The views were incredible!
Trevi Fountain sucks to be at but it’s seriously amazing…totally worth the crowds just to see it
We stayed in an apartment two blocks away and went early in the morning before the crowds. Really worth seeing
the blue lagoon in iceland. yes there are cheaper places. yes there are more low key places. i've been to a bunch but i'd still go back 100x.
Las Vegas - but you have to go in the right mindset. It’s supposed to be kitschy, excessive, even crass. That’s the whole point. If you can embrace it, it’s a blast. When people go and hate it, I never can quite figure out what they were expecting.
Biggest tip is that as a tourist it’s not about the gambling at all - go to a bunch of weird shows, walk the strip and downtown Fremont street, drink from ridiculously tall plastic cups, and experience the crowds instead of judging them. Hot tips are to stay in the nicer hotels (to have a peaceful place to retreat from the chaos), do some research on best buffets and secret food deals around town, and visit at least one cool non-casino attraction, maybe the Pinball Hall of Fame or the Neon Museum.
The Maldives. The resorts are (obviously) touristy but it’s truly breathtakingly beautiful.
Best diving I've ever done was on the house reef, Kuredu island, Lhaviyani Atoll. Not a lot to see other than resorts, palm trees, perfect white sand beaches and azure ocean to the horizon. Absolute paradise
Vatican is very touristy but a must visit (don’t get me started on Vatican Museums). Pretty much most of major Rome attractions are the same but you got to see them.
they say that famous squares are always underwhelming when you see them in real, and for me this was the first and only time i was blown away. So gorgeous!
a Safari in Africa. sure it's touristy and probably cost a fortune these days (I was at the serengeti ages ago) but it's still magnificent and even more so if you catch the migration
Santorini, the whole place gets overwhelmed with tourists but it actually surpasses all the hype as it is so beautiful and stunning and worth it! Go on the shoulder season and it will be much more pleasant
The giant Buddha on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. I’ll never forget that whole day. I became unexpectedly scared shitless when we were in the glass-bottomed gondola high above the water, and the buses full of Russian tourists were annoying but also hilarious and therefore memorable. It was gorgeous, even on a cloudy day.
Note: this post originally had 37 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
theres a difference between "tourist traps" and "very famous places" Also, dont forget, you are a tourist yourself. (unless you are a local showing someone around)
Yeah, if it's "worth the hype," it's not a tourist trap by definition. Tourist traps basically trick people into visiting so they can collect their money. Think roadside "museums" touting two-headed snakes and the like, or big balls of string. Not Venice, Italy.
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I really enjoyed Stonehenge, even though it is touristy, but I think it's worth it. They have added a museum telling the history of the stones, and it is so incredible how it was made. Not to mention the countryside itself is gorgeous
If you visit London, go look at Big Ben (yes, I know it's the name of the bell) and at Houses of Parliament from the outside. It's very central and you can do a lovely walk down the river (south bank is best) and look at the iconic buildings on the other side.
All of these, for sure. Any historical site or site of natural wonder despite its popularity. These places are popular for a reason. A big N-O from me would be any Disney place. I avoid those like the plague. I went to Disneyland as a kid and loved it - but in the 70's the lines were short or manageable. Or a cruise ship - you couldn't pay me to get on one of those bacteria farms.
St. Peter's Basilica was the one that took my breath away. The pure size of the building, the art works and the vibe of the place even though I am not religious person. Loved to visit it again some day.
Vatican museum and Sixtin chapel are worth it. Pro tip: visit them wednesday morning, when the Pope appears at St Peter's place (i.e. the opposite side), you won't even have to wait to get tickets (otherwise it's like 3-4 hours). But maybe it has changed after COVID?
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Universal Studios- I've gone thrice and it blows me away each time, particularly their miniature replicas of famous cities as well as HP World. The people who designed it knew wtf they were doing.
honestly, I cross the blue ridge mountains every day in Virginia on my commute. I've been all over the world, but it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen and I see it constantly (pun intended). There's a couple of overlooks that I drive past almost always, but every once in a while I stop to take it all in again. I can't believe I live here, it's just so gorgeous. It's a wonder I haven't driven off a cliff watching the mountains yet.
Funny how this list is similar to the one I read on here, where the travellers were disappointed for the same places.
Pike place is very pretty, but for the love of God do not buy anything it's so overpriced and you can go to way cooler and cheaper places in the actual city. Go check out Broadway or Seward park or golden gardens beach or Magnuson. They're all very not touristy and really cool places
If you like nature I'd say seeing the Redwoods in northern California are truly spectacular. You feel like you're on another planet. I could say that about most parks here but the Redwoods are insane.
Surprised the Eiffel tower wasn't mentioned. Awesome views and you will lose a lot of time taking it in.
I'd say the original "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" Odditorium in St. Augustine, Florida. Definitely qualifies as a tourist trap in the purest sense of the word that I found super cool! In fact, the whole historic part of the city is super touristy, but there's something cool or interesting at every turn! North America's oldest permanent settlement. Probably not an international destination, but if you're in the SE US it's definitely a must see!
John Hancock building, now Willis? tower. Sunday brunch buffet is only slightly more expensive than the viewing tickets 1 floor higher. Same view, nice meal and cost worthy.
theres a difference between "tourist traps" and "very famous places" Also, dont forget, you are a tourist yourself. (unless you are a local showing someone around)
Yeah, if it's "worth the hype," it's not a tourist trap by definition. Tourist traps basically trick people into visiting so they can collect their money. Think roadside "museums" touting two-headed snakes and the like, or big balls of string. Not Venice, Italy.
Load More Replies... I really enjoyed Stonehenge, even though it is touristy, but I think it's worth it. They have added a museum telling the history of the stones, and it is so incredible how it was made. Not to mention the countryside itself is gorgeous
If you visit London, go look at Big Ben (yes, I know it's the name of the bell) and at Houses of Parliament from the outside. It's very central and you can do a lovely walk down the river (south bank is best) and look at the iconic buildings on the other side.
All of these, for sure. Any historical site or site of natural wonder despite its popularity. These places are popular for a reason. A big N-O from me would be any Disney place. I avoid those like the plague. I went to Disneyland as a kid and loved it - but in the 70's the lines were short or manageable. Or a cruise ship - you couldn't pay me to get on one of those bacteria farms.
St. Peter's Basilica was the one that took my breath away. The pure size of the building, the art works and the vibe of the place even though I am not religious person. Loved to visit it again some day.
Vatican museum and Sixtin chapel are worth it. Pro tip: visit them wednesday morning, when the Pope appears at St Peter's place (i.e. the opposite side), you won't even have to wait to get tickets (otherwise it's like 3-4 hours). But maybe it has changed after COVID?
Load More Replies... Universal Studios- I've gone thrice and it blows me away each time, particularly their miniature replicas of famous cities as well as HP World. The people who designed it knew wtf they were doing.
honestly, I cross the blue ridge mountains every day in Virginia on my commute. I've been all over the world, but it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen and I see it constantly (pun intended). There's a couple of overlooks that I drive past almost always, but every once in a while I stop to take it all in again. I can't believe I live here, it's just so gorgeous. It's a wonder I haven't driven off a cliff watching the mountains yet.
Funny how this list is similar to the one I read on here, where the travellers were disappointed for the same places.
Pike place is very pretty, but for the love of God do not buy anything it's so overpriced and you can go to way cooler and cheaper places in the actual city. Go check out Broadway or Seward park or golden gardens beach or Magnuson. They're all very not touristy and really cool places
If you like nature I'd say seeing the Redwoods in northern California are truly spectacular. You feel like you're on another planet. I could say that about most parks here but the Redwoods are insane.
Surprised the Eiffel tower wasn't mentioned. Awesome views and you will lose a lot of time taking it in.
I'd say the original "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" Odditorium in St. Augustine, Florida. Definitely qualifies as a tourist trap in the purest sense of the word that I found super cool! In fact, the whole historic part of the city is super touristy, but there's something cool or interesting at every turn! North America's oldest permanent settlement. Probably not an international destination, but if you're in the SE US it's definitely a must see!
John Hancock building, now Willis? tower. Sunday brunch buffet is only slightly more expensive than the viewing tickets 1 floor higher. Same view, nice meal and cost worthy.
