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You know the feeling when you anticipate something so much that you tend to idolize the picture and when it actually happens, it turns that your expectations surpassed the real thing by miles? Yes, it's called a disappointment, and it happens way more often than it should when traveling to the most famous vacation destinations and places to visit. These days most people don't wear rose-colored glasses, they opt for an Instagram filter instead. Which is why traveling has become so disheartening—where are those idyllic beaches that you saw online? It was better when we could only read about those exotic places to travel and imagine them; now, ruined by Instagram, your travel ideas will never match up to reality.
So come, join us—pull back the veil and see the Truth of travel impressions for yourself. Bored Panda has collected this list of travel expectation VS reality. Which false advertising photo has the best let-down photo? You can also check out these famous places to go zoomed out to show their surroundings.
More info: (h/t: traveltriangle)
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Visiting The Great Wall Of China
RELATED:
#2
Taking Photos With Leaning Tower Of Pisa In Italy
#3
Admiring Mona Lisa In Louvre Museum, Paris, France
ElnetoCibrian 9 years ago
I was there, totally true There was people waiting only for the selfie, nobody was even looking Lisa :(
#4
Having A Picnic Near The Eiffel Tower In Paris, France
#5
Learning A New Hobby On A Ski Trip
#6
Sunbathing In The Famous Beach Of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
LucaGiordano 9 years ago
that is not quite fair :-) that is during a concert on that beach :-)
#7
Taking A Peaceful Gondola Ride In Venice, Italy
#8
Relaxing On The Gorgeous Beaches Of Maldives
NataliaBerowska 9 years ago
Actually the difference between this images is simple. One was taking in expensive hotel where probably someone cleans the beach and other was taking on the public beach where inhabitants don't give a sh*t about it.
#9
Walking Around Santorini Island, Greece
VassilikiKotzia 9 years ago
Hahaha. No, this is just what happens in one particular spot, where everyone goes to see the sunset. The rest of the island is not even half as crowded. Don't change your mind. Go to Santorini. Just make sure you pick a slightly off-season time to visit (ideally May or September).
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AngieWalker 9 years ago
That's when people watch the famous Santorini sunset. The island is known for that so of course you'll have people sitting around to see it especially in high season. The good thing with the island is that it has different levels so everyone can see the view.
Mayuko 9 years ago
Yeah I went there last year to take pics of sunset. It was totally like that! lol
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PanagiotisGkrs 9 years ago
The flipped picture is NOT from a "usual day" in Santorini. It's from the annoual "Red Bull Art of Motion" Parkour world championship! Get your facts straight. Cheers
BronwenHarris 9 years ago
It all depends on the season. I went in early June and it was AMAZING!
Vojislav Ristivojevic 9 years ago
Been there, totally true :( For a peaceful sunset, climb onto remains of the old castle Skaros.
Polyxeny Nemecic 9 years ago
santorini is a great place to visit. this particular pic is at a small village, during sunset, because they say that the sunset there is magical. so its very crouded. its NOT like that while talking a walk or anything
VilyZacharaki 9 years ago
This is Oia on sunset time .. But Caldera is about 11km and are different levels and spots that you can see the sunset with privacy.. A tip ....Imerovigli is better spot to see the sunset and all the beautiful colors.. I live here all my life ...Santorini has wild beauty .. Is a MUST place to visit at least once
heidi_inga_aalto 9 years ago
This picture may be true only on July just 5min before sunset...that isn't that special anyway :)
JannieNguyen 9 years ago
This crowd was for sunset in Oia. You could casually walk in the rest of the island. Take the trail from Fira to Oia, its so worth hiking.
IrinaKurilyak 9 years ago
This is only in the evening, when everyone is rushing to one spot to see the sunset. And it's not that bad. Santorini is amazing, you should still go !!!
АлександраЧикиш 9 years ago
It looks like the expectation photo at 7 o'clock in the morning :) nobody around
FloorMathilde 9 years ago
The second pic is people watching the sunset... It's not that crowded.
LauraGrosso 9 years ago
I worked in Santorini and its not like this all the time!! This photo is taken in Oia, during the sunset time, at the most popular place to see the sunset in Oia. Everybody goes there like sheeps but there are many other nice places to enjoy the same view...even better!! Just explore more and follow the guides less...
JuudyScrimger 9 years ago
They are all waiting for the sunset... we went in May many years ago, pre-tourist-season.
MichaelKoegel 9 years ago
It was nothing like the pictures of the crowds when I was there, it felt as if I were alone.
LaurenStearley 9 years ago
Ok this is inaccurate. It's people waiting for the sunset in the village of Oia, which is supposed to have the best sunset on the island. So one small part of the island for one time of the day. The whole island gets an amazing view of the sunset. You'd be crazy to pass up Santorini.
AntiopiMastrogiannopoulou 9 years ago
this is not realistic. I've been in santorini a lot of times, the most were as in the first pic. In the second something happens
BridgetHeathcote 9 years ago
This is only at sunset at certain spots in Oia. Easy to avoid. Beautiful island, I have been there twice.
KimberleyLeanne 9 years ago
This is hardly accurate. I was there in June 2015, not even close to that busy. It was beautiful!
VasvatekisIoannis 9 years ago
This only happens during August. So pic another month. September for instance is the best!
HeatherWatson 9 years ago
It wasn't that bad. If you get a local tour guide they can take you to quieter places to see sunset.
AngelaTilyard 9 years ago
I was just talking about this yesterday, I'd love to go but it would be hard to move with all the other tourists around.
RominaAste 9 years ago
This is not true! I have been in Santorini in the summer and you can get the same pic, easy with no people
KateBishop 9 years ago
I was there in 2014... It's not all like this. There is one spot that during sunset is for about and hour.
DinaAkladios 9 years ago
i have been there, this is not true. its only like this during the sunset in Oia specifically
DesireaNavarro 9 years ago
I've been to santorini, it was not that busy lol this was in February it's a wonderful place
TatianaTasaOrolínová 9 years ago
but you can find place for shooting sunset with less people :) mlyn.jpg 
#10
Checking Out The Breathtaking Glory Of The Taj Mahal, India
#11
Enjoying Your Private Moments On The Beaches Of Thailand
NotchimineMette 9 years ago
This place was way more crowded when I was there. And the petrol fumes were stifling... I was sooo upset.
#12
Admiring The Trevi Fountain In Rome, Italy
#13
Watching The Stonehenge During Sunset, United Kingdom
#14
Visiting Pyramids Of Giza In Cairo, Egypt
Ada-LeeQuirk 9 years ago
Best to arrive either very, very early n the day, or later in the afternoon or evening. And bring a lot of bottled water, it's hot as blazes and waiting in one can be very overwhelming. Plus I wouldn't advise going up in the pyramid if you have any claustrophbia. It's hot, dark, and has no air flow.
#15
Climbing Mount Everest, Nepal
ArekCzuchraj 9 years ago
Hillary Steps always crowded , beside there is 4-6 weeks weather window and from it only 2 weeks for summit attack , as well sinc 90's commercial tour operators took over this rock , from first climb in 53 numbers of 'climbers' went ballistic , you have money , you go everest ... Fukcud up a bit
#16
Hanging Out At The Spanish Steps In Italy With Your Sweetheart
YanayTsabary 9 years ago
Who is this model?? I swear to god I see her everywhere it's starting to get creepy
#17
Admiring Little Mermaid In Copenhagen, Denmark
JesperBové 9 years ago
No matter what, the first one is photoshopped, she is not sitting with open water in the background but in the harbour of CPH. And yes she is tiny, hence the name, Little Mermaid.
#18
Enjoying St. Peter's Square Before Entering The Beautiful Basilica In Vatican City
#19
Walking In Sheep Meadow, In New York's Central Park, United States
DanielGagliano 9 years ago
its not even the same day wtf lol one is winter and one is summer what a joke how many of these are lies like this
#20
Visiting The Acropolis Of Athens, Greece
VaggelisKaradimas 9 years ago
Well, the photo "after" shows Propylaia of Acropolis and not Parthenon. The temple is at the back of the photographer.
#21
Visiting Hall Of Mirrors In The Palace Of Versailles, France
LenkaSmejkalová 9 years ago
I was there and hall wasn't full like that, just few groups of people
#22
Admiring The Glorious Niagara Falls, Which Marks The Border Between Canada And USA
#23
Exploring Arashiyama Bamboo Forest In Japan
ClaudiaLandry 9 years ago
It really isn't that bad actually. Quite a pleasant walk and not that much people, especially in the morning.
#24
Camping In The Himalayas
#25
Walking By The Howrah Bridge In Kolkata, India
#26
Exploring Antelope Canyon Arizona, USA
#27
Having Family Fun Time At The Water Park
DavidGallagher 9 years ago
The family appears to be in a hotel, and swimming pools in hotels are often empty enough. As for public pools in China...I'm sorry but no amount of heat would ever make me want to dive in there. How is that remotely enjoyable? I'd have a panic attack.
#28
Admiring Wat Rong Khun Temple In Thailand
ClarPanganiban 9 years ago
We've been here on a touristy season and there's not this much people. Maybe it just depends on the time and season? These two photos are not even the same angles! lol. So one-sided.
#29
Enjoying James Bond Island In Thailand
#30
Getting Goosebums In Front Of The Ancient Temple Of Abu Simbel In Egypt
LauraGary-Domingue 9 years ago
I don't know if I'd want to get the "goosebums." Is that like the chicken pox?
#31
Walking Across The Capilano Suspension Bridge In Vancouver, Canada
#32
Visiting The Forbidden City In Beijing, China
#33
Swimming With Dolphins
#34
Visiting The Sydney Opera House, Australia
#35
Tasting Thailand’s Exotic Food In Bangkok, Thailand
DanielBonadiman 9 years ago
These two photos are from different places, one photo is from a floating market outside of Bangkok way less crowded than the one close to the city.
#36
Anytime You're Admiring The Blooming Sakura Trees
DanielBonadiman 9 years ago
These two photos are from different places, one in in Kyoto and the other probably Ueno park in Tokyo. This comparison makes no sense.
#37
Exploring The Amazing Architectural Details Of Gaudi's Casa Mila In Barcelona, Spain
JuliaKalcheva 9 years ago
Casa Mila was covered for restoration in 2014, that's old news! Last October was amasing and fully uncovered!
#38
Admiring The Breathtaking Machu Picchu Scenery, Peru
WendyMargarita 9 years ago
GO EARLY! I was there before the influx of tour buses came in! And it was sooooo worth it!
#39
Exploring The Pristine Temples Of Angkor Wat, Cambodia
#40
Enjoying A Hike In Yosemite National Park, United States
LillianBlackburn 9 years ago
Having spent considerable time at Yosemite I can say the second photo is of a very touristy 'scenic view', but there are plenty of places to be all alone, if you are willing to get out into the woods.
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What do you think ?
VictorVakaras 9 years ago
Come to Lithuania - there's a lot to see and like 14 people live here.
.gas. 9 years ago
These are funny, but not entirely accurate. Of course it will be more crowded during events. And does any tourist honestly expect to be the *only* one visiting a famous landmark?! I can also say from experience that it's possible to get that "perfect" shot, but you can't expect to do it at Noon. I have some great "quiet" photos, but I had to get up at 5am to get them!
sebaschan 9 years ago
exactly. and most times if you get up early the sights can be amazing. I was driving back to Telford after a holiday, and the sunrise at half four was stunning, just wish I had photos
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AntoineTapin 9 years ago
If you look at lights, most of the expectation pictures are taken very early on morning... So yes, wake the f*** up and you'll enjoy nice places before the crowd...
CarmenChacónOrtiz 9 years ago
If you wake up early, you really have gorgeous pictures! I have them! no people around.
MatthewHorne 9 years ago
I think these expectations are a bit far fetched, but the reality doesn't have to be as bad as they make out. For example - Yosemite - going in the summer, to the most popular viewpoint at sunset is going to be busy - but there's plenty of wilderness and other times of the year to feel like you're the last person on earth.
LuisMilian 9 years ago
Thailand Floating Market it True. I was just there a week ago. Thailand still has many other Amazing places.
Person2638 8 years ago
I've traveled to many of these places, and a lot of them were taken during festivals or tourist seasons. It's very misleading.
CynthiaLacasse 9 years ago
I have been to Greece and Paris, and some other European countries and can relate to all of these images. Great to be able to visit all these beautiful places and historic sites but love the take of this.
ManiuMadalin 9 years ago
So true about Roma and Vatican, I con confirm at least that with one exception. At Vatican, the people standing in line are a lot fewer then what I experienced when I was there. In the picture the line is composed of a row of 2 people, well when I was there that row had 8 people. Ofc I said 'f**k this', I wasn't going to wait like 4 hours to visit the Vatican church. Instead I went to the Vatican museum and it was awesome, spent like 4 hours there and didn't manage to visit all the museum. Also as a tip if you ever want to visit places that require a ticket, "BUY THE TICKET ONLINE". The best example I can give you is when we went to visit the Coloseum, and there was a huge, huge, bloody monstrous line for people who wanted to buy a ticket, and the line for the people who already bought their ticket online was empty :D. Imagine I just passed by a 1km + line to visit the Coloseum :)
AjdaBoksicFilipovic 9 years ago
Some "before" pics, like being alone on the Spanish steps here in Rome, are kinda silly.. So it makes look the "after" pic worse.. Not agreeing with half of these.. Mona Lisa is true tho.. You have to push people to come to see it near..
guess 9 years ago
Welp, sorry, but we are on a heavily populated planet. There are... Get this... PEOPLE here. You may actually see them enjoying the same things as you, at the same time. If you want to go somewhere and enjoy things alone, maybe you should go hang out where not nearly everyone in the world has heard of and would want to visit?
odiporikon.nl 9 years ago
Well duh, all touristic places have tourists.. Did anyone expect to be at the Eiffel Tower all alone?!
Anthony The Master 2 years ago (edited)
To sum this up you need Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet to set all things right Thanos: "Fine I'll do it myself"
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Chandan Rai 6 years ago
Thanks for given information about above Article all the details are very useful.
Rebecca Bathory 7 years ago
You can take the nice photos with no people, you just have to time your photos and get there before the tourists, thats what makes a good photographer, someone whos willing to go the extra mile
Corey Martin 7 years ago
So the takeaway from this article is that people=ugly photos and a good camera angle and filter=pretty photos?
Dennis Cox 8 years ago
I've been to most of these places, some with very few people around such as the Great Wall. If you go to the busiest pass, Beidaling, you go at dawn. Or go to one of the other passes such as Jinshanling that group tours are not taken to. High season should be avoided in cities like Venice and Rome. Summer weekends are not the time to go to popular beaches. And never go anywhere on a holiday, especially in China.
Daniel Gendre 8 years ago
You show the glass half empty. It is your vision I saw several of this place half plain. Tku for keeping it free by your Work
Jakub Wang 8 years ago
Most of those pictures of a "reality" are exacerbated b******t taken out of context. You can do better Panda. Having said everyone with a bit of brain should realize that.
Franco Davi 9 years ago
Why I always travel during Off Seasons...and get up before Opening times.
Michael Price 9 years ago
So, basically, almost all of them are that "it's actually really crowded". Got bored by about the fifth image.
Aurelia Utami 9 years ago
Hello sir, can you tell me what plug-in do you use in the image? so it can flip like that.. Best regards
ClaudiaMauti 9 years ago
this article/gallery is utterly stupid. I can't even begin to tell why.
ThomasParpoulas 9 years ago
Lucky to have been in some of these places, the post is very accurate. But ok what can you hope for when visiting a popular destination in hot seasons? Smart tourism nowadays is all about exploring any city that can give you access to it's local people, off season, if you are trully interested in knowing more and exploring the beauty. Last, as a photographer I gotta say that it has to be sunrise for a magnificent capture.
sebaschan 9 years ago
hello, popular holiday destinations, please, just get over it. it's immature to think that old photos are what reality is. reality is a distortion of dreams and dreams distort our reality... honestly. how immature. I think that we need to stop distorting reality with our dreams. I keep a low standard so I'm always going to be impressed by anything.
CassandraMisale 9 years ago
A great one would have been Dunns River Falls you climb in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. In every brochure or photo there's like 3 couples walking up it. But it was PACKED you could barely see the falls and everyone holds a rope and it's like a giant human centipede walking up the falls.
DavePaquette 9 years ago
Victor Vakaras your comment on this is just hilarious. Best laugh i have had in a while. thanks.
SilviaZuccheri 9 years ago
you have forgotten Machu Picchu: that site is Always in my nightmares
FlávioJayme 9 years ago
As a brazilian I can say: Rio is ANYTHING like the pictures. It's crowded and insecure
MarinaFrancavilla 9 years ago
Vous auriez pu mettre le Mont Saint Michel. ça ressemble à la murail de chine. If you go to the Mt Saint Michel, you'll think you are as the China wall.
KiraThesloth 9 years ago
I like all of the tips like go at 6 am or autumn etc. I will bookmark this page for when we travel. :-)
JaniceFoster 9 years ago
I loved this - was very interesting, even if the 'reality' pics weren't taken on typical days
CarlaMarroquín 9 years ago
This photos not only show places in different seasons, but they show them from different angles. It's not the same to take a picture of Niagara falls behind the sidewalk, where there are all the tourists, and from the handrail. In the first one it's obvious you're going to have people in your photo, while in the second one, you probably won't.
AdeleMaestranzi 9 years ago
I live in Salem Massachusetts, and have taken photos from the same vantage point on October 31st (Halloween), and November 1st, when the masses of people have magically faded away!
StefaniaLoppo 9 years ago
I usually love BoredPanda articles, but I have to disagree with this one. Really, whoever goes to Greece in summer, or choses to visit a metropoli like Rome or NY City, and excepts to find no traffic is beyond naivety. Come on guys. Be realistic. If you want isolation, you don't go to most of these places. It's as simple as that. That said - I don't like crowded places too, but I don't expect to find empty beaches in Thailand either.
OksanaArutyunova 9 years ago
These shots was taken by me at Santorini in July 2013 at peakhour... More on my blog http://www.shoponista.ru/2013/09/santorini-probably-in-recent-years-this.html If you want to see or imprint the beauty of any place you'll do it ))) Never mind ;) IMG_05181.jpg 
StephanieSousa 9 years ago
Even if all of those were actually realistic, I'd still love doing all those trips. Just because I really wanna meet new places.
DarrinTodd 9 years ago
Load of c**p. I've been to a large number of these locations. I was in the military overseas and served as an attache' and advisor during a large portion of my 24 year career. Yes, if you visit Pisa at the peak time in August, it will be more crowded, but come mid-day in June and it's much more like the first picture. I dined in a restaurant on the edge of a canal in Venice, and in the hour and a half that sat there, only one gondola came into view. I visited the Eiffel three times, and never saw the crowds you see in that picture. Can it happen? Sure, if you go at the wrong times, during the peak months. That's when it pays to do your research. Don't pay these pics too much mind.
DarioCavallini 9 years ago
I've been in most of thees places and I can say that most of this photos are exagerated. However you miss Aurora borealis Photo.
ThomasSchnuppelhase 9 years ago
most of the "expectation" pics are HDR, reality almost N E V E R looks like HDR. and stop bitching about too many tourists when beeing a tourist.
MartinSalib 9 years ago
Most of these are nonsense. Taken during special events or peak times. You can usually see many of these without the crazy crowds shown here. Either way just take it as it comes. It's all part of the experience :)
MizLynaIbrahim 9 years ago
Well those landmarks are FAMOUS and tourist must check-list so what do you expect? private and intimate?
TishaShelley 9 years ago
So basically if you don't like people don't go to any of the big tourist spots.
AliceShockley 9 years ago
The only place that disappointed me in Rome was the Sistine Chapel. I expected a crowd, but for them to be standing there in hushed reverence and awe at the beauty of the place. Instead, it was SO noisy! Even with guards telling everyone to be quiet in a sacred place...they'd quiet for a moment then get loud again. So rude.
LauraLeFay 9 years ago
what do you expect from some of the biggest tourist destinations in the world? you think are going to be the only one there and able to take a photo that almost replicates what is obviously an istock image? lol come on.
PanagiotisGkrs 9 years ago
The one from Santorini Island is NOT from a usual day but from the Red Bull Art of Motion (e.g. Parkour championship). Get your facts straight!
FéssalRajab 9 years ago
Okay so I'm one of those who adore BoredPanda.. But this new clip to flip/slide to flip.. It does not allow me to look at both photos at the same time.. Fine use new controllers.. But keep two windows side by side for comparison.. Takk
PhilBarton 9 years ago
I think someone did not read the title and just posted a load of holiday pics.... Supposed to be Expectations vs Reality , not just someones reality.
DeborahRamirez 9 years ago
You people are taking this post so seriously. Can't anyone see this is just poking fun at tourist and tourism? It's just making fun at travel agencies photos or instagram profiles who post these awesome photos about their trips, but when one experiences it is nothing like those pictures. It's just an ironic post, gee. It's like the dog post where you see your Facebook profile picture is awesome and your ID photo is really ugly. It's just a joke. Chill.
LynnThompson 9 years ago
This is really quite disappointing to find that a traveller has purposefully mislead the audience. If you're silly enough to travel in peak.
LynnThompson 9 years ago
Totally disagree. I've been to loads of these and they've been great. Clearly these were taken peak time peak season or just as a bus arrive
AnandaSarro 9 years ago
The Rio one is just not true at all. You can see by the many stages set in the sand it was a festival, usually it's not that crowded. I've been there many times and it usually looks like the first pic
hugo_chevassus 9 years ago
Hahaha what a bad article. Really really bad paper. And the writer knows why! Shame. Lies. Easy way to make fun, worst one. Keep going...
KajvandenOord 9 years ago
This article is so misleading on almost every single one of them... You need to get up really early before everybody wakes up, just need to go at the right time of day and year.
DavidLazar 9 years ago
So the problem is too many people, when was the last time you thought I wish it'd be more crowded here...
ArunaMatata 9 years ago
I don't see anything wrong with the before or after on this photo. This is why people hate tourists. It's called living and culture not going somewhere just because you want your life to feel like a postcard. This is one of the most ignorant posts I've ever seen from you guys.
Arty 9 years ago
You just chose the moment and the place and most of the time you can have perfect places everywhere! Of course it's rare to have a place with nobody...but don't visit it at rush hours during hollidays and it will be fine!
DariaB 9 years ago
Good luck convincing your boss to give you days off when s/he needs you the most. Well, depends on your work, but you should get my point....
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MerryMarjie 9 years ago
These are examples of what people never plan for. You plan your trip thinking you'll be the only one(s) on the premises, and a romantic image emerges of the wonderful time you'll have, the beautiful sites and the perfect weather. Your mind gives you the "real" trip of the gorgeous scenery, and then things happen that you never expect. I remember researching motorhomes for five years before my husband retired, trying to get the perfect model for us, plus I received all of the travel brochures of the places we'd go and the fun we'd have. On our first trip, we nearly froze to death until we found the right switch for the furnace; on the second trip, we drove into a massive hail storm, with hail the size of softballs. They cracked the windshield, tattered the rubber roof, dented every part of the front of the truck. I never once thought of the bad weather we might encounter as we were planning. Still, it did not deter us a bit, and we visited all 48 contiguous states joyously!
DarrinTodd 9 years ago
Load of c**p. I've been to a large number of these locations. I was in the military overseas and served as an attache' and advisor during a large portion of my 24 year career. Yes, if you visit Pisa at the peak time in August, it will be more crowded, but come mid-day in June and it's much more like the first picture. I dined in a restaurant on the edge of a canal in Venice, and in the hour and a half that sat there, only one gondola came into view. I visited the Eiffel three times, and never saw the crowds you see in that picture. Can it happen? Sure, if you go at the wrong times, during the peak months. Same goes for Giza, the Acropolis and Stone Henge. The Everest pics are a joke. That second location is near Hillary Step, which has only one way up or down. Consequently, crowds of climbers gather there to await their turn. It pays to do your research prior to your vacation!
RashaelNunley 9 years ago
These are very famous tourist spots. So it makes sense that what you think you should expect could be very different than when you get there
RashaelNunley 9 years ago
Thank you for sharing realistic images of what it could be like to travel. I think a lot of people do expect it to be quiet. But in reality.
DirkDeBeer 9 years ago
I think we should go ahead with the American dream.............kill every body untill there is only 500,000,000 people on earth. then the elite and high sociaty can vissit all these places without a problem of us poor bastards that also just want to see it. 1 Flying over FEMA site - YouTube 2 NASA_ The End Of Mankind _Leaked Document_ 2013 3 The Illuminati And The Depopulation Agenda part 1 - YouTube_3
VictorVakaras 9 years ago
Come to Lithuania - there's a lot to see and like 14 people live here.
.gas. 9 years ago
These are funny, but not entirely accurate. Of course it will be more crowded during events. And does any tourist honestly expect to be the *only* one visiting a famous landmark?! I can also say from experience that it's possible to get that "perfect" shot, but you can't expect to do it at Noon. I have some great "quiet" photos, but I had to get up at 5am to get them!
sebaschan 9 years ago
exactly. and most times if you get up early the sights can be amazing. I was driving back to Telford after a holiday, and the sunrise at half four was stunning, just wish I had photos
Load More Replies... AntoineTapin 9 years ago
If you look at lights, most of the expectation pictures are taken very early on morning... So yes, wake the f*** up and you'll enjoy nice places before the crowd...
CarmenChacónOrtiz 9 years ago
If you wake up early, you really have gorgeous pictures! I have them! no people around.
MatthewHorne 9 years ago
I think these expectations are a bit far fetched, but the reality doesn't have to be as bad as they make out. For example - Yosemite - going in the summer, to the most popular viewpoint at sunset is going to be busy - but there's plenty of wilderness and other times of the year to feel like you're the last person on earth.
LuisMilian 9 years ago
Thailand Floating Market it True. I was just there a week ago. Thailand still has many other Amazing places.
Person2638 8 years ago
I've traveled to many of these places, and a lot of them were taken during festivals or tourist seasons. It's very misleading.
CynthiaLacasse 9 years ago
I have been to Greece and Paris, and some other European countries and can relate to all of these images. Great to be able to visit all these beautiful places and historic sites but love the take of this.
ManiuMadalin 9 years ago
So true about Roma and Vatican, I con confirm at least that with one exception. At Vatican, the people standing in line are a lot fewer then what I experienced when I was there. In the picture the line is composed of a row of 2 people, well when I was there that row had 8 people. Ofc I said 'f**k this', I wasn't going to wait like 4 hours to visit the Vatican church. Instead I went to the Vatican museum and it was awesome, spent like 4 hours there and didn't manage to visit all the museum. Also as a tip if you ever want to visit places that require a ticket, "BUY THE TICKET ONLINE". The best example I can give you is when we went to visit the Coloseum, and there was a huge, huge, bloody monstrous line for people who wanted to buy a ticket, and the line for the people who already bought their ticket online was empty :D. Imagine I just passed by a 1km + line to visit the Coloseum :)
AjdaBoksicFilipovic 9 years ago
Some "before" pics, like being alone on the Spanish steps here in Rome, are kinda silly.. So it makes look the "after" pic worse.. Not agreeing with half of these.. Mona Lisa is true tho.. You have to push people to come to see it near..
guess 9 years ago
Welp, sorry, but we are on a heavily populated planet. There are... Get this... PEOPLE here. You may actually see them enjoying the same things as you, at the same time. If you want to go somewhere and enjoy things alone, maybe you should go hang out where not nearly everyone in the world has heard of and would want to visit?
odiporikon.nl 9 years ago
Well duh, all touristic places have tourists.. Did anyone expect to be at the Eiffel Tower all alone?!
Anthony The Master 2 years ago (edited)
To sum this up you need Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet to set all things right Thanos: "Fine I'll do it myself"
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Chandan Rai 6 years ago
Thanks for given information about above Article all the details are very useful.
Rebecca Bathory 7 years ago
You can take the nice photos with no people, you just have to time your photos and get there before the tourists, thats what makes a good photographer, someone whos willing to go the extra mile
Corey Martin 7 years ago
So the takeaway from this article is that people=ugly photos and a good camera angle and filter=pretty photos?
Dennis Cox 8 years ago
I've been to most of these places, some with very few people around such as the Great Wall. If you go to the busiest pass, Beidaling, you go at dawn. Or go to one of the other passes such as Jinshanling that group tours are not taken to. High season should be avoided in cities like Venice and Rome. Summer weekends are not the time to go to popular beaches. And never go anywhere on a holiday, especially in China.
Daniel Gendre 8 years ago
You show the glass half empty. It is your vision I saw several of this place half plain. Tku for keeping it free by your Work
Jakub Wang 8 years ago
Most of those pictures of a "reality" are exacerbated b******t taken out of context. You can do better Panda. Having said everyone with a bit of brain should realize that.
Franco Davi 9 years ago
Why I always travel during Off Seasons...and get up before Opening times.
Michael Price 9 years ago
So, basically, almost all of them are that "it's actually really crowded". Got bored by about the fifth image.
Aurelia Utami 9 years ago
Hello sir, can you tell me what plug-in do you use in the image? so it can flip like that.. Best regards
ClaudiaMauti 9 years ago
this article/gallery is utterly stupid. I can't even begin to tell why.
ThomasParpoulas 9 years ago
Lucky to have been in some of these places, the post is very accurate. But ok what can you hope for when visiting a popular destination in hot seasons? Smart tourism nowadays is all about exploring any city that can give you access to it's local people, off season, if you are trully interested in knowing more and exploring the beauty. Last, as a photographer I gotta say that it has to be sunrise for a magnificent capture.
sebaschan 9 years ago
hello, popular holiday destinations, please, just get over it. it's immature to think that old photos are what reality is. reality is a distortion of dreams and dreams distort our reality... honestly. how immature. I think that we need to stop distorting reality with our dreams. I keep a low standard so I'm always going to be impressed by anything.
CassandraMisale 9 years ago
A great one would have been Dunns River Falls you climb in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. In every brochure or photo there's like 3 couples walking up it. But it was PACKED you could barely see the falls and everyone holds a rope and it's like a giant human centipede walking up the falls.
DavePaquette 9 years ago
Victor Vakaras your comment on this is just hilarious. Best laugh i have had in a while. thanks.
SilviaZuccheri 9 years ago
you have forgotten Machu Picchu: that site is Always in my nightmares
FlávioJayme 9 years ago
As a brazilian I can say: Rio is ANYTHING like the pictures. It's crowded and insecure
MarinaFrancavilla 9 years ago
Vous auriez pu mettre le Mont Saint Michel. ça ressemble à la murail de chine. If you go to the Mt Saint Michel, you'll think you are as the China wall.
KiraThesloth 9 years ago
I like all of the tips like go at 6 am or autumn etc. I will bookmark this page for when we travel. :-)
JaniceFoster 9 years ago
I loved this - was very interesting, even if the 'reality' pics weren't taken on typical days
CarlaMarroquín 9 years ago
This photos not only show places in different seasons, but they show them from different angles. It's not the same to take a picture of Niagara falls behind the sidewalk, where there are all the tourists, and from the handrail. In the first one it's obvious you're going to have people in your photo, while in the second one, you probably won't.
AdeleMaestranzi 9 years ago
I live in Salem Massachusetts, and have taken photos from the same vantage point on October 31st (Halloween), and November 1st, when the masses of people have magically faded away!
StefaniaLoppo 9 years ago
I usually love BoredPanda articles, but I have to disagree with this one. Really, whoever goes to Greece in summer, or choses to visit a metropoli like Rome or NY City, and excepts to find no traffic is beyond naivety. Come on guys. Be realistic. If you want isolation, you don't go to most of these places. It's as simple as that. That said - I don't like crowded places too, but I don't expect to find empty beaches in Thailand either.
OksanaArutyunova 9 years ago
These shots was taken by me at Santorini in July 2013 at peakhour... More on my blog http://www.shoponista.ru/2013/09/santorini-probably-in-recent-years-this.html If you want to see or imprint the beauty of any place you'll do it ))) Never mind ;) IMG_05181.jpg
StephanieSousa 9 years ago
Even if all of those were actually realistic, I'd still love doing all those trips. Just because I really wanna meet new places.
DarrinTodd 9 years ago
Load of c**p. I've been to a large number of these locations. I was in the military overseas and served as an attache' and advisor during a large portion of my 24 year career. Yes, if you visit Pisa at the peak time in August, it will be more crowded, but come mid-day in June and it's much more like the first picture. I dined in a restaurant on the edge of a canal in Venice, and in the hour and a half that sat there, only one gondola came into view. I visited the Eiffel three times, and never saw the crowds you see in that picture. Can it happen? Sure, if you go at the wrong times, during the peak months. That's when it pays to do your research. Don't pay these pics too much mind.
DarioCavallini 9 years ago
I've been in most of thees places and I can say that most of this photos are exagerated. However you miss Aurora borealis Photo.
ThomasSchnuppelhase 9 years ago
most of the "expectation" pics are HDR, reality almost N E V E R looks like HDR. and stop bitching about too many tourists when beeing a tourist.
MartinSalib 9 years ago
Most of these are nonsense. Taken during special events or peak times. You can usually see many of these without the crazy crowds shown here. Either way just take it as it comes. It's all part of the experience :)
MizLynaIbrahim 9 years ago
Well those landmarks are FAMOUS and tourist must check-list so what do you expect? private and intimate?
TishaShelley 9 years ago
So basically if you don't like people don't go to any of the big tourist spots.
AliceShockley 9 years ago
The only place that disappointed me in Rome was the Sistine Chapel. I expected a crowd, but for them to be standing there in hushed reverence and awe at the beauty of the place. Instead, it was SO noisy! Even with guards telling everyone to be quiet in a sacred place...they'd quiet for a moment then get loud again. So rude.
LauraLeFay 9 years ago
what do you expect from some of the biggest tourist destinations in the world? you think are going to be the only one there and able to take a photo that almost replicates what is obviously an istock image? lol come on.
PanagiotisGkrs 9 years ago
The one from Santorini Island is NOT from a usual day but from the Red Bull Art of Motion (e.g. Parkour championship). Get your facts straight!
FéssalRajab 9 years ago
Okay so I'm one of those who adore BoredPanda.. But this new clip to flip/slide to flip.. It does not allow me to look at both photos at the same time.. Fine use new controllers.. But keep two windows side by side for comparison.. Takk
PhilBarton 9 years ago
I think someone did not read the title and just posted a load of holiday pics.... Supposed to be Expectations vs Reality , not just someones reality.
DeborahRamirez 9 years ago
You people are taking this post so seriously. Can't anyone see this is just poking fun at tourist and tourism? It's just making fun at travel agencies photos or instagram profiles who post these awesome photos about their trips, but when one experiences it is nothing like those pictures. It's just an ironic post, gee. It's like the dog post where you see your Facebook profile picture is awesome and your ID photo is really ugly. It's just a joke. Chill.
LynnThompson 9 years ago
This is really quite disappointing to find that a traveller has purposefully mislead the audience. If you're silly enough to travel in peak.
LynnThompson 9 years ago
Totally disagree. I've been to loads of these and they've been great. Clearly these were taken peak time peak season or just as a bus arrive
AnandaSarro 9 years ago
The Rio one is just not true at all. You can see by the many stages set in the sand it was a festival, usually it's not that crowded. I've been there many times and it usually looks like the first pic
hugo_chevassus 9 years ago
Hahaha what a bad article. Really really bad paper. And the writer knows why! Shame. Lies. Easy way to make fun, worst one. Keep going...
KajvandenOord 9 years ago
This article is so misleading on almost every single one of them... You need to get up really early before everybody wakes up, just need to go at the right time of day and year.
DavidLazar 9 years ago
So the problem is too many people, when was the last time you thought I wish it'd be more crowded here...
ArunaMatata 9 years ago
I don't see anything wrong with the before or after on this photo. This is why people hate tourists. It's called living and culture not going somewhere just because you want your life to feel like a postcard. This is one of the most ignorant posts I've ever seen from you guys.
Arty 9 years ago
You just chose the moment and the place and most of the time you can have perfect places everywhere! Of course it's rare to have a place with nobody...but don't visit it at rush hours during hollidays and it will be fine!
DariaB 9 years ago
Good luck convincing your boss to give you days off when s/he needs you the most. Well, depends on your work, but you should get my point....
Load More Replies... MerryMarjie 9 years ago
These are examples of what people never plan for. You plan your trip thinking you'll be the only one(s) on the premises, and a romantic image emerges of the wonderful time you'll have, the beautiful sites and the perfect weather. Your mind gives you the "real" trip of the gorgeous scenery, and then things happen that you never expect. I remember researching motorhomes for five years before my husband retired, trying to get the perfect model for us, plus I received all of the travel brochures of the places we'd go and the fun we'd have. On our first trip, we nearly froze to death until we found the right switch for the furnace; on the second trip, we drove into a massive hail storm, with hail the size of softballs. They cracked the windshield, tattered the rubber roof, dented every part of the front of the truck. I never once thought of the bad weather we might encounter as we were planning. Still, it did not deter us a bit, and we visited all 48 contiguous states joyously!
DarrinTodd 9 years ago
Load of c**p. I've been to a large number of these locations. I was in the military overseas and served as an attache' and advisor during a large portion of my 24 year career. Yes, if you visit Pisa at the peak time in August, it will be more crowded, but come mid-day in June and it's much more like the first picture. I dined in a restaurant on the edge of a canal in Venice, and in the hour and a half that sat there, only one gondola came into view. I visited the Eiffel three times, and never saw the crowds you see in that picture. Can it happen? Sure, if you go at the wrong times, during the peak months. Same goes for Giza, the Acropolis and Stone Henge. The Everest pics are a joke. That second location is near Hillary Step, which has only one way up or down. Consequently, crowds of climbers gather there to await their turn. It pays to do your research prior to your vacation!
RashaelNunley 9 years ago
These are very famous tourist spots. So it makes sense that what you think you should expect could be very different than when you get there
RashaelNunley 9 years ago
Thank you for sharing realistic images of what it could be like to travel. I think a lot of people do expect it to be quiet. But in reality.
DirkDeBeer 9 years ago
I think we should go ahead with the American dream.............kill every body untill there is only 500,000,000 people on earth. then the elite and high sociaty can vissit all these places without a problem of us poor bastards that also just want to see it. 1 Flying over FEMA site - YouTube 2 NASA_ The End Of Mankind _Leaked Document_ 2013 3 The Illuminati And The Depopulation Agenda part 1 - YouTube_3
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