What tourist traps around the world are worth the visit?

In general, I've rarely been disappointed visiting a destination tourist trap. As long as I know to expect higher prices and larger crowds going into the experience, I usually enjoy the experience for what it is. For the most part, these destinations are famous for a reason (i.e. uniqueness, age, symbolism, architecture, etc.) and the tourist part of it doesn't take away from those positive qualities. In my travels, this includes The White House, Everglades National Park, Great Wall Of China, Tiananmen Square, Big Ben, Tower Of London, Vatican City, Colosseum - all were amazing for their own individual reasons, and I was thrilled to have visited each one in their own right. Would I go visit some of them again? Maybe. Some were worth only one visit. But all were great for that first time.

On the flip side, however, I am usually disappointed by a famous food destination. There is a lot more variance in whether a "touristy" restaurant is worth it. I feel like I'm let down more often than not, paying more money for what turns out to be mediocre food. In short, I'd rather fight for elbow room at a famous destination, and then afterwards find a hole-in-the-wall eatery that the locals frequent. 

Chichén Itzá for sure! you have to do it but man it is awful! they even do a laser show!? i went there on a trip to Tikal, we started in Cancun and backpacked through the Yucatan. i want to knock out the wonders of the world so it had to be done. it was truly amazing, the differance between Mexico's pyramids and Guatemala's.

The entire city of Venice is a tourist trap, but there's simply no other city like Venice.

Angkor Wat in Siem Riep:  

We encountered masses of tourists, bus loads. So many people, both children and adults asking for money. You can't cross the street without being approached by someone asking for money. it was heartbreaking.  

Having said this it was the most beautiful place, with the most beautiful people. I can't wait to return.

One of the great experiences of my life has been seeing Michelangelo's David in Florence, actually twice. Once when I was 14 and again when I was 18. I remember the first time, waiting in that ridiculous line with my parents outside the museum in the summer heat forever, and thinking, why are we doing this? I'd seen it all my life in photographs and never thought it seemed particularly interesting. And I just remembered being totally blown away when we walked down the hall and saw it in person. I didn't expect it to be so huge...and yet insanely lifelike.

And then I found myself in Florence again when I was 18, this time with two friends, and I clearly again remember thinking, this statue isn't that big of a deal, but I guess my friends haven't seen it, so fine, let's wait in this line in the blistering heat. And it was they who eventually had to say, "Hey man, it's been long enough. Let's go." I was mesmerized by it again. 

They have a replica in the square where the original once stood (and thus took away its once polished sheen) and yeah, it's a pretty good replica, and yet it just doesn't have that indescribable lifelike quality. Maybe my memory has embellished the drama of it, but I know that I couldn't stop thinking about it for a long time afterward both times. 

Also interesting to see are a bunch of unfinished Michelangelo works that line the hall as you walk to the epicenter where the statue is. They look like these muscular greek hero trying to escape from stone. Quite cool.

Would definitely have to say Angkor Wat.  Yes, you have to be there at crack of sparrow's to avoid standing in line for an hour to buy tickets, and even then you're going to have to deal with crowds inside and outside the temples and street hawkers trying to sell you postcards or hats - but it is all totally worth it.  The size and beauty of temples are simply breath-taking, as are the surrounding pathways and forests.  Fortunately, as it such a large complex containing many temples, the crowds tend  to thin out when you get away from the main temple.

Oh, and tried the baked eggs if you see a vendor selling them!

I would put Graceland on this list. It's almost impossible to describe the over the top style that Elvis loved and how the mansion is decorated. Also every August tens of thousands gather in Memphis for Elvis Week with the main attraction being the Candlelight Vigil on August 15.  Between the Elvis impersonators and just the overall number of people there to remember him is amazing. 

San Gimignano. I mean, jeez, look at this place. Yes, it is lousy with tourists, but most of them won't make it up the towers, and the town and surrounding Tuscan countryside are breathtaking. Things really aren't offensively pricey, but you won't want to stay long. One of the nicest surprises my wife and I ever experienced was taking some street hawker in Seville up on the evening of flamenco advertised in the cheesy flier he handed us. We went into this with very low expectations, but the evening was absolutely delightful. I have no idea how authentic an experience it was, but we left with a very strong sense of what makes the flamenco style of music and dance the brilliant art that it is. Sometimes you just have to shut down your reflex for sophistication and just say yes.

I just adore the Sacred Monkey Forest Ubud Sanctuary in Ubud.  I have been there before and plan to head back again next month.  It is not a large place, is set in a very attractive setting, and there are several lovely historic temples to see, but it is not a true view of monkeys in their natural habitat as these monkeys are very switched on, which to me is both the tourist trap aspect of this site, but also the whole reason to visit.  Signs are up warning visitors not to carry plastic bags with snacks or water bottles.  However, of course people do, and those monkeys scamper right up the visitor's leg, take whatever food is available, take the water bottles, and pop off close by for a snack and a refreshing drink.  The monkeys open the water bottle caps and upend the bottle right into their mouths, and then toss the bottle away for a poor park person to pick up later.  Bananas are for sale as well, but unless you are very intrepid, it is best to just hurl the bananas everywhere, or again, the monkeys crawl right up your body and grab all the bananas.  But as switched on as the monkeys are, they are also very comfortable living their lives under a human microscope, and you can see monkey mom's feeding their young, grooming their young, and swinging along with a load of baby monkeys hanging on for dear life.  And of course, monkeys get a little cranky with one another, and they do not hold back.  I just loved it, even with full knowledge that there is no group of monkeys that ever really live this way in the wild.  I plan to visit again in November of this year, and take photos to make into a calendar for my family members.

The marvelous monument to undying love, the Taj Mahal.  The detail is so exquisite that it has been described as “having been designed by giants and finished by jewelers.”  It is awe-inspiring, both for its breathtaking beauty, and for the love story that inspired it.

Despite never-ending offers of drinks, post cards, and donkey rides, as well as endless requests for money and personal effects, my one-day visit to Petra was worth it. The trick is to just stay focused on the unbelievable rock-cut architecture during your hike through the city, and to appreciate the majesty and history of all that surrounds you.

Old Faithful in Yellowstone is ridiculously busy, but in a way that makes it nice. Everyone is sitting in anticipation, chatting to fellow tourists, snacking out of picnic bags as if they're at the movies. Then when the geyser rises there is an audible gasp from everyone watching. People even clap when it's over, which I've come to realise is simply a sweet way of thanking nature. Because you have to wait for the geyser rather than see it non-stop, there is less competitive photo-taking between tourists, and I can imagine some people come away having made friends.

Yosemite National Park is easily my favorite tourist trap. It's always crowded, especially in early summer, but it takes my breath away every time.

In Lisbon go to the Portas Do Sol "Miradouro das Portas do Sol" and down the streets of the Alfama losing yourself within the alleys of the neighborhood.
Traverse if not all of it, a little part of the Mouraria "Rota da Mouraria" Route Moorish quarter and sample the flavors and aromas of this very diverse region of the city.

I Hope this helped a little bit, if you need to plan any other aspect of your trip, don´t hesitate to send me a e-mail.

izabel@tiptravelinportugal.com

The Eiffel Tower in Paris. The ticket to get to the second floor is expensive and the queue is usually long, but the panoramic view is so worth it! We lived in Paris for 8 years and still went up there several times.

Pearl Harbor was absolutely worth it. It's humbling, but intriguing. To see that the Arizona is still to this day, bleeding oil into the water in itself is striking.

Mackinac Island, the whole place could be considered a tourist trap. With its crowds of competive students on golf outings, or young bus loads of children on a field trip, not to mention the hundreds of people that come for honeymoons and vacations, it's a small island with very few to no cars, with horses, bikes and walking being the only modes of transportation. The streets are dotted with horse manure with local stores on either side of the street(s), the majority of them each being a little tourist traps with direct rip offs of apparel that would make a religious clothing brand proud.

There are gems though, such as the fudge shops where fudges and other candies are made daily in house, they are unavoidable as when you walk buy them they vent  out a sweet aroma that overpowers the strongest crap of a horse, and when you walk inside you're struggling to even lift up your arms in the flood of people, but the sight of fudgemakers making their products knowing exactly what they're doing as they move it around with instruments in the warm room, it makes it worth it. You're able to see the 5 foot long Mackinac bridge across a couple miles of lake, and seeing that coupled with a sunset that sits directly behind it, makes it great.

Yosemite National Park can be absolutely overrun with tourists, especially in the Summer, but it is still so worth it to visit this unspeakably majestic and gorgeous part of the world. I must agree wholeheartedly with others who have chosen the Eiffel Tower, Venice, the Accademia di belle arti where Michelangelo's breathtaking David stands, and AlcatrazIsland. Another place teeming with tourists but well-worth the visit is Amsterdam - Dam Square, the main city square is a great place to rest awhile, enjoy the architecture, people-watch, and eat frites with mayonnaise!

The observation deck Empire State Building.  The whole building is stunning piece of art deco architecture.  We went on a cold clear January evening and the lights across the city were spectacular.

Hi Andrew,

I've visited 4 continents and over 50 countries and lived in 4 of them...  I am saying this to let you know I've seen a little bit of the world.  For me the most amazing tourist trap was Maid of the Mist Niagara Falls.  I would put it in my top 5 experiences I've ever done...  Right up there with Hiking Southern Greenland, Santorini, the Alps, etc...  It's a quick experience, but still amazing...  If you go use the US side as it has less crowds.  And if you want something more exciting there is the Jet Boat Whirlpool tour as well.  Good Luck!  --  Also most tourist traps are worth a look there's a reason they are so popular, but don't build your vacation around them...  At least that's my opinion...  

Two I'm thinking of right off the bat are the Eiffel Tower and the San Diego Zoo. I wasn't originally planning on visiting the Eiffel Tower when I went to Paris, but my husband insisted. I'm glad he did; it's quite the sight! The San Diego Zoo isn't really a tourist trap in the typical sense, but it's definitely a tourist spot. But it's also an amazing place with really well cared for animals and reasonably priced souvenirs and food. 

Not sure it qualifies as a tourist trap, but seeing Ho Chi Minh's body in the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi was well worth the wait in line (I did it twice - each time I visited Hanoi).

I'd have to go with the Colosseum! I absolutely love this tourist trap. I've always had a love affair with Ancient Rome. When I visited this, it was overwhelming how many people were there. They were just swarming the place. Even though it was full of pushy tourists, I would go back in a heart beat. 

Venice. Way overpriced and incredibly crowded but it's a must see. Plan for two days, if you want a less expensive place to stay than in town, find a nice hotel on one of the neighboring islands (everything is so easily accessible by vaparetto). Lido is a decent choice with beach options in the Summer.

Manhattan, of course! 

It'll tire you and confuse you, but you'll get to eat a lot of great foods and have a great adventure.  

The subways are fantastic way to get around. If you get going in the wrong direction, hop off and jump on the one going back. No problem! If the subway system scares you, try Uber. It is just as fast as hailing a taxi and with the app you don't have to flap your arms around.  

You got to do the touristy things like go to Chinatown and hit Katz's Deli. Also, you got to try street pizza, too. Manhattan is a city where you can go high class or eat at hole in a wall a couple of doors down.  

Don't be afraid. Be bold! 

Remember, there is nothing wrong with being a tourist. It's kitschy and fun.  

http://youtu.be/8LmPBPWHJu4

There are a few places on my list that I always recommend to people despite my desire to avoid tourist traps whenever possible. In Rome, I loved the Roman Forum and Piazza Navona. They're both beautiful locations and have some phenomenal history to look through- I do always clarify these suggestions by saying that no one should eat anywhere directly around these areas. I also loved the Uffizi Gallery and Gallery of The Academy in Florence; it's a must-stop "tourist trap" for any art lover.

The other big tourist trap that comes to mind is right outside of Lisbon. The Pastéis de Belém has some amazing sweets and custards to try- and even though the line is ridiculous, the dessert is good enough to wait for.

Surprisingly, the one city that has a ton of "tourist traps" that I don't usually recommend to people is London- it's really a city better appreciated when you get away from the lackluster Big Ben and things like that.

Had to think about this one for a while. I would have to go with our nations capital Washington, DC. Everyone wants to go there so its always busy, theres plenty of street vendors selling god-knows what , food vendors, restaurants and of course the sites. The Smithsonian, Lincoln Memorial , ext ext, are all  very touristy spots but as an American I believe they are a must see thing. I would say the White House but unfortunately I don't believe they do tours there anymore. I am going to brag and mention  I was one of the last people to get in for a tour a few months before 9/11. I am pretty proud I got to see the place hence the bragging rights haha.  

Next I would have to say  Monaco. HUGE tourist trap and everything is soooo expensive. But its kind of fun to go see what the big hype is about the place and its kind of like Vegas is terms of the extravagance . The " Royalty" of Monaco like to think they are royalty but historically they are not hence the lack of recognition by most countries. Still an interesting place to visit and of course you must go into the Monte Carlo and play a quick game of blackjack pretending to be Bond ( I did haha) . But yea massive tourist trap besides Vegas which on another point would be my third pick.

Las Vegas probably the biggest tourist trap in the states. And that one is pretty self explanatory so I won't go into detail on that one. If you have never heard of Las Vegas then please do yourself a favor and look it up and you will see what I mean. 

Those are my three picks though starting from the best in my opinion.

I’m seeing some great answers on here! I typically try to avoid using the word “tourist traps” just because it has a negative connotation to it. I prefer saying, “touristy locations that are worth the visit”. For me, it is New York City. Skip the Empire State Building (boring) and the Statue of Liberty (boring) and hop on one of the Circle Line Cruises and ride around Manhattan!  This is such a fantastic way to see the city, you can bring a bucket of champagne or some crisp white wine with snacks and circle Manhattan while having a great time with friends or family. I highly recommend checking this out.

I lived in Barcelona for a number of years. Despite loathing the crowds of camera touting, combat vest wearing guiris who descended on my town every summer i could never pass by Parc Güell or the Basílica de la Sagrada Família without dipping in. Gaudi's architecture is so labyrinthine that I always managed to find a secluded place.

Pro tip - go to la sagrada familia for communion before they let the herds of toursits in. Similarly a run in the morning around Parc Guell is a great way to start a day of exploring Gracia. Just make sure to head back down into Gracia proper before eating, the food is better and cheaper down there. Check out the orxata at Sirvent after you run. it fueled my mediocre career as a full time athlete! 

Statue of Liberty. The crowds really aren't that awful if you get there first thing in the morning.I bought a ticket to climb to the crown and that was what made it worthwhile to me.

Westminster Abbey in London. Also the London Eye it's worth the lines to see London from that vantage point, get your tickets online to save a bit of the headache! Also, Harrods!!!  

Upstate New York; Cooperstown (New York), if you're into baseball hit up the hall of fame. Even if you're not into baseball it's worth the trip. If not head to the farmers museum (especially around Christmas!!).  

New York City, Ny; Museum of Modern Art, and Wollman Ice Skating Rink (in the winter).

I have to say the top two tourist traps for me that were worth the visit were the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. There was such incredible detail in all of the craftsmanship there - all of the intricately painted tiles in which every aspect of the design held meaning. It was simply incredible to be so overwhelmingly immersed in another culture's history - and the history itself was amazing! The fact that they tell the story of two different, opposing empires fighting for two different religion within the span of a few blocks is simply incredible.

Dublin Ireland. The people are very nice, the history is rich and the food can be good. 

The Louvre in Paris and Museum Island in Berlin..... so crazy with people but so worth it!

It's interesting to see what people list as tourist traps, some of which are certainly tourist sites but not what I'd consider a tourist trap.  The 1st thing that popped into my head was Niagara Falls, certainly it is overrun with cheap tacky tourist traps but the sheer beauty of the Falls overrides all of it.  One of the most amazing natural sights I've been to.

I would have to say the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in NY. Its emotionally overwhelming at first but to take in the history and significance of it all is just amazing.

Akihabara in Tokyo, Japan. An assault to the senses like many parts of Tokyo, but if you're looking for gadgets of all types this is where you go. While I'm at it, I'm throwing in the UFO catchers in all of the arcades in Japan (the huge, brightly lit claw machines). Try one or two, waste a few hundred yen, and if you're brave, ask an attendant to make it easier for you to grab an item. See if your childhood joy doesn't make an appearance!

Do you consider Bermuda a tourist trap? Been there many times. Love the people, the shopping and the beaches. Foods pretty good too.

Alcatraz

Now whenever I see the iconic SF skyline and the island on films and TV I can remember the experience of crossing the bay and exploring this amazing national park.  

Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok, Thailand.  It's a great place to see a cross section of Thai culture.   The food selection is varied and truly Thai - due to the fact that Chatuchak is visited by more locals than tourists.  There are also a huge amounts of varieties in the items that can be bought here.  Anything from clothing and souvenirs to pets and home furnishings are on sale.  It's hot so bring a lot of bottled water to keep cool.  Also, it's super crowded so keep your belongings close to you and always be aware of your surroundings.  

I define tourist trap as something tacky and intentionally created to draw people in to take their money (ahem Harry Potter platform at kings cross station). I don't consider seeing ancient ruins or fine art as tourist traps because although they are touristy things to do, they weren't created to milk the money from your purse. I can't say I have done many of these things as my husband tends to wallow in misery when waiting in line, so we tend to skip these things. But I will say that we did a jack the ripper walking tour in London that was so creepy and great it was well worth the money, along with doing a segway tour in dc (book when no one else does and its like a private tour). The craziest thing to do that should be considered a tourist trap and amusement ride would be a cab ride all over rome. This NY driver was scared to death.

I am sitting right now in a little jazz bar in Athens and I like being here despite Athens being very touristy and actually not that pretty, cause it has some really nice hidden corners if you take your time to explore them.

Praia da Pipa is a little touristy beach in Northeast Brazil but it bloody works even if it's touristy.

And love me or hate me for this but I actually love Venice Beach with all it's weirdos.

Mackinac Island is one big, beautiful tourist trap.  The town area has lots of restaurants where one can partake in pasties, fudge shops, and the required assemblage of tourist junk stores.  You can get away from all of that and explore the island on foot or bike and both are very worth it.  Climb to the top of Fort Holmes and you will be rewarded with panoramic views of Lake Huron.  A must-see is Arch Rock.  You can ride with the tourists on a horse-drawn carriage or walk from Mission Point Resort.  There are museums, bars, bands, but relaxing is the best part.  My personal advice, bring a kite to fly.  There are decent winds and open areas.

Pike Place Market in Seattle was the first place that came to my mind.  If you're a sucker for Starbucks you can visit the Original Starbucks but, for my time, the line you want to wait in is a few doors down at Piroshky Piroshky.  I ate a lot of GREAT food in Seattle but the beef and cheese Piroshky was the best thing I ate and well worth the wait.  I changed my schedule around so I could come back the next day for another.  The rest of the market is just as good as advertised and does a great job of encompassing what the Pacific Northwest is all about.  If there's one tourist trap to hit in the PNW, it's definitely Pikes Place. 

Hmmm... I would say Bourbon Street, but just once and then never, NEVER again! The food, the music, and the drinks as tall as you are great. However, I would avoid Bourbon St like the plague during Mardi Gras and go to one of the parades in the neighboring areas (or Mamou, get you a really Cajun Mardi Gras, cher!) Thieves and murderers from the area mixed with tons of people from outside the area thinking anything goes during the carnival season do not mix well.

I would have to say that one of the biggest tourist traps I have been to has to be Machu Picchu in Peru.  That is because there are so many people there and the cost to get there and to get in is some what high.  So many people go there and are willing to pay higher prices to see it because Machu Picchu is so well known and that leads it to be put on many peoples bucket lists.  Even though there are so many people it still is a cool place to see, even if it is just for the fact that it can be fun to tell people you went there because most every one knows it (and might even want to go).  It can be fun sometimes to tell people about a place that is so well known and liked, rather than talking about a place they might have no clue where/what it is or might not care about at all.Oh and it is pretty beautiful that makes it much more worth it.

1.The Eiffel Tower, maybe not going to the top but just seeing it in front of you is awesome. 

2. Sydney Harbour and Sydney Opera House. 

3. The Grand Canyon National Park 

4. The Temple Of The Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, Sri Lanka 

5. The Giants Causeway in Antrim, Ireland 

6. The Città Alta in Bergamo 

7. The Grand Canal in Venice

New york is always at the top of my travel destinations. It offers mesmerizing and captivating attractions in it. I visited Niagara Falls and The Corning Museum of Glass http://www.getbustours.com/2day-york-niagara-falls-corning-glass-center-tour.html along with my friends. I would say there is nothing like NYC..... Love to go there again and again.

I would have to say the Acropolis and surrounding Plaka neighborhood.  The heat, the crowds, the uninspiring skyline.  But, knowing what an important part of world history, Athens, and the Acropolis are, and remembering my studies of Greek Mythology when I was much younger, just left me in awe.  Plus, it beats the exact replica in Nashville.  ;)

Angkor What, without a doubt.

Ruby Falls Drive, Rock Mountain Drive, Hershey's Chocolate World, Cedar Point Drive

Pike Place Market, Seattle.  It does get its share of tourists, but it's also a working market popular with locals as well.  There are plenty of crowds and a ton of kitsch (e.g. the fish vendors playing salmon football) but prices aren't high. 

Beatles Magical Mystery Tour, Liverpool.  I'm a native Scouser, but I think this tour is the best way to learn about Liverpool's most important contribution to humanity.  I remember the first time Mum & Dad took me when I was around 7-8 and I thought it was pretty cool.  I've gone back and done it again a few times in the last few years when I was visiting relatives.

Colosseum, Rome.  It's full of fat, selfie stick carrying tourists in ugly shorts, and the touts dive-bomb you like mosquitoes, but once you get past all the bull feces on the outside and get in, it's an absolutely amazing site. 

Basílica de la Sagrada Família and Parc Güell in Barcelona

All of the ruins in Rome are worth visiting.  Colosseum, etc.  As is Pompeii.  I know it's questionable to call them tourist "traps" but they're tourist attractions for a good reason - you simply must see them in your lifetime and there really is no substitute for standing in a building like that - it's just the feel of history that one cannot quantify.  Same with Athens Greece.  I actually like the area that's called Plaka in particular, it has a lot of fascinating and beautiful ruins, and I like some of the replica ancient Greek goods that you can buy there as well.  Some of them is done very well and is of relatively high quality.  Just don't expect to eat any decent food in Plaka.  

Venice is worth all the hassle of climbing over tourists in Piazza San Marco (although it's much nicer in the winter) Glendalough is amazing and it's easy to leave the crowds behind.The northern part of Comer See is stunningand Verona is beautiful, even during Opera season, when it is crammed full of people

Ruby Falls is magnificant!!!!

Definitely, the Great Wall Of China (Great Wall of China). 

IF you go there on first week of October or May---the Golden Week--- it becomes the Great Wall of People. :) 

But, if you go in the morning before everyone comes (tourist buses), you'll be rewarded by a beauty like this.