The Most Overrated Travel Destinations (and Where to Go Instead)
You are a smart traveler who knows how to plan every detail , how to avoid tourist traps, and how to be a tourist without being an asshole . However, sometimes even the most discerning travelers can’t resist the urge to bookmark the most popular tourist attractions, even if those attractions end up being overrated. When you are in Rome, you are going to visit the Colosseum. In Paris, you must see the Eiffel Tower. This is the logic that drives hundreds of thousands of tourists to the Great Wall of China, the Great Pyramids of Giza and all the other great tourist traps of the world.
After travel restrictions and security concerns due to the pandemic, any long-awaited travel plans for this summer should be worth every moment. The last thing you want as a traveler is to find that you have wasted your time and money only to be completely disappointed. There is even a name for the feeling of intense disappointment: the Paris Syndrome. Officially introduced as a way of describing the physical ailment experienced by Japanese tourists in Paris in 1986 , the term can now be seen as a severe form of culture shock, homesickness, and ultimately frustration when a destination cannot live up to the ill effects. high expectations.
Too often the hype is more than the attraction. This leads to overcrowding, scams and often unpleasant experiences that could be better spent in more underrated tourist spots. Here are some popular destinations that are overrated and a few travel ideas that are worth your attention.
Most Overrated Travel Destinations
About my reasoning: I believe that a smart traveler can make any city worth visiting, so I’m not really trying to condemn an entire city or region as “overrated” (although I love to poke fun at the French). You will hear people call many popular attractions overpriced due to “scams” on site, but I personally believe in the “tourist tax” factor where you can expect to lose a few $20 bills here and there for people who are somewhat take advantage of travelers .
And please don’t think that I’m an arrogant American who disdains cultural icons like the literal Taj Mahal. This is just my understanding of which tourist attractions are really worth your time, money and jet lag.
Mona Lisa, Paris
The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world and has a wealth of fine art to offer. However, if your main attraction is visiting Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, prepare to be disappointed. Not only is the painting much smaller in real life, but the crowds around it certainly don’t contribute to a better artistic experience. For less chaotic museums in Paris, try the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée Picasso.
Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud
Wild monkeys can be found all over Bali, so there’s no reason to contribute to this huge zoo-like park. It is crowded with tourists, and because the monkeys here are used to people, they are known for their excessive aggressiveness. In general, you want to learn the ethics of any animal-centric attraction (like elephant riding in Thailand). If you want to see wild monkeys in the region, consider Mount Batur or Uluwatu Temple .
Taj Mahal, Agra
While this structure is undeniably great, it’s another one of those attractions that gets so crowded that you won’t be able to appreciate where you are. From sunrise to sunset, there really isn’t a secret hour of the day when you won’t be overwhelmed. When I arrived, I wished I had missed this stop in Agra to spend another day exploring beautiful Udaipur instead.
Pisa, Italy
Once you’ve got your precious photo of you pretending to support a leaning tower, Pisa is usually considered too touristy and remote when the rest of Italy has so much more to offer.
Temple Bar, Dublin
Temple Bar, also known as Dublin’s nightlife capital, specifically refers to the oft-photographed pub with its iconic red walls. Worth a stroll through the cobblestone area, but the bar itself is a tourist trap with overpriced and overcrowded.
Djemaa el Fna (famous market of Marrakesh)
Marrakesh, Morocco is worth a place on your wish list. However, the iconic market is best passed quickly before exiting the main square into the old town. Chances are you look like a tourist, in which case this market will be a suffocating crowd of vendors yelling at you. Be sure to keep an eye on your belongings as you pass by as this place is notorious for pickpockets.
Stonehenge, England
I believe that Stonehenge has gained a reputation for being “overrated” because it’s quite difficult to visit. You will have to spend a whole day away from London, and once you arrive, you will find that tourists cannot get that close to the iconic rocks. And look, I don’t believe tourists should be allowed to climb rocks. But personally, I really want to be able to climb rocks. ME! (My American arrogance shows up there.)
Hobbiton, New Zealand
New Zealand is worth visiting for many reasons, but these trap house hobbits are not among them. Lord of the Rings fans should do their research to visit more of the natural beauties that New Zealand has provided as the main filming location for their favorite films. Unfortunately, Hobbiton tours are expensive, dynamic and crowded.
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kyoto
This bamboo garden is no doubt stunning, but again, the sheer number of tourists around you can make it difficult to perceive your surroundings. Consider visiting one of Kyoto’s smaller, underrated, bamboo-covered paths, such as the Kodaiji Temple .
Geneva, Switzerland
Although Lake Geneva offers stunning views and fun water activities, this city is so expensive that it’s hard to get more than a day here.
Hawaii
Okay, this is a technical feature. It’s not that Hawaii is overrated. You must not go because people are begging you not to come .
Where to Plan Your Next Vacation Instead
I could list alternative ideas for your next big vacation all day long. For now, here are some of my top picks to keep you interested.
Tourist places you can do right
- Angkor Wat, Cambodia. I’m biased as I lived in Cambodia for a while, but I think this popular place is worth your time if you do it right. These sprawling ancient Buddhist temples are large enough that you can easily veer off the beaten track and avoid the overwhelming crowds. Just remember to get there at dawn.
- Great Pyramids. Again, I am biased as I visited Giza during the tourist off season (late June). While many people will call the pyramids overpriced, I think these people are somehow spoiled or impossible to please. Book a private guide who will have a wealth of knowledge and will also protect you from aggressive sellers. Don’t forget to tip your guide generously at the end of the day.
- Ho Long Bay, Vietnam. It may not look quite like it does in the James Bond films , but this moody seascape is still an amazing cruise. I recommend booking a group tour that includes kayaking and caving.
- Amsterdam, Netherlands. Don’t feel bad about skipping the red light district in favor of the trendy Jordaan district. Also, the Van Gogh Museum is one of my favorite places in the world.
- Bangkok, Thailand: Skip the Grand Palace and spend time admiring Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. Be sure to try all kinds of delicious street food along the way.
Destinations to add to your wishlist
The following cities are not yet fully captured by tourists:
- Udaipur, India. A bit more peaceful and dispersed compared to other popular cities in India.
- Lima, Peru. A bustling capital that is overlooked but shouldn’t be.
- Brussels, Belgium. Be sure to book the chocolate tour.
- Valparaiso, Chile . This city is incredibly colorful, from street art to rainbow houses.
- Apulia, Italy. Wine, pasta and beaches.
- Budapest, Hungary. “Little Paris of Central Europe”.
- Dubrovnik, Croatia. Did you miss Hobbiton? It is the main filming location for King’s Landing in the HBO series Game of Thrones .
- Danish Faroe Islands. There are more sheep here than people, between 70,000 and 50,000.
- Java, Indonesia. Less visited than Bali, but just as beautiful.
- Petra, Jordan. Petra, known as the “Pink City”, is a series of caves, temples, tombs and ruins carved out of pink sandstone.
- Luang Prubang, Laos. An ideal place for a day trip to wonderful water falls.
- Taipei, Taiwan. This capital city has a culinary scene to die for.
It all comes down to research
As I mentioned above, you can get the most out of any trip if you do a little research first. I am not saying that you should plan every minute of your vacation. Just spend some time on the internet to find the best hours and seasons to plan your visit, and try to gather site-specific tips from all the travel blogs available for free on the internet. Make sure you manage expectations and understand what you’re getting yourself into wherever you go.