Paris is a magical place. The smell of cigarettes and urine on the street creates the perfect ambiance for enjoying a croissant, and seeing the Mona Lisa through dozens of cell phone screens is exactly what every child dreams of. Times Square is just as enchanting, with hordes of Midwesterners pushing through to see screens of ads for Broadway musicals and people dressed up like Pikachu and Mario on the street…
While it’s inevitable for famous attractions to bring huge crowds, it’s important to have reasonable expectations when visiting some of the world’s most popular locations. So Reddit users have recently beensharing all about the “most disappointing, tourist infested” places they’ve ever been to. Keep reading to also find a conversation with travel expert King Siu of Solo Traveler, and be sure to upvote the replies you’ll keep in mind when planning your future travels!
#1
Ground Zero in NYC. It wasn’t so much the number of tourists, but rather the number of smiling selfies being taken. It felt like it was in bad taste.
IreCalifornia , ERIC SALARD Report
Final score: 99points 
cerinamroth cerinamroth Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
It’s like (usually tourist) kids posing on top of the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. It makes me so angry.
68 68points reply View More Replies… #2
My own city in the last 10 years. Amsterdam really took a nosedive. Lots of unique little shops disappeared in favor of approx. 10 million frozen yogurt/chocolate waffle stores. Tourists used to be a few chill, cheery groups interested in the city they were in – now they sometimes look like hordes of zombies hobbling from one tourist trap to the other. Painstakingly slowly, and of course taking up the whole sidewalk.
Final score: 98points 
Deleila Charlie Deleila Charlie Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
I’m Dutch myself and my then girlfriend booked us a room for 5 days in Amsterdam. We took the tram everywhere, went to all the museums except Anne Frank, went shopping in the Ijhallen and Waterlooplein. I loved it . I guess playing tourist in your own country makes it a better experience
39 39points reply View More Replies…
To learn more about which popular travel destinations might leave you feeling a little disappointed, we reached out to travel expert King Siu, of Solo Traveler. King shared that the first time he visited Paris and Niagara Falls, neither location lived up to his expectations.
“I had imagined that the Falls would be enormous. And, while it is big for a waterfall, it did not live up to the crazy image I had formed in my mind before I got there,” he told We. “Combine that disappointmentwith big crowds and a sea of touristy shops selling overpriced merch, and basically all my excitement about seeing Niagara Falls was drained out of me.”
“I hated Paris the first time I visited,” the travel expert continued. “I was turned off by the crowds, the clouds of cigarette smoke that seemed to follow me everywhere, how people seemed quite rude, dog poop on everysidewalk, and to top it off, I was there in the winter so the weather sucked.”
#3
Times Square, NYC It’s just a bunch of screens. I’m not joking, that’s *it*. New York City is an amazing place, but please avoid this giant tourist distraction that offers nothing. Side note: and for those who want to see the Statue of Liberty, since you can’t go up in the crown anymore, the trip isn’t really worth the unbelievable line, imo. Just take the Staten Island ferry, and you’ll get close to the statue and pass at a leisurely pace. Then hop on the ferry back! Unless… you know, you want to hang out in Staten Island… which is entirely your prerogative, I mean… you do you!
Schneetmacher , Vlad Alexandru Popa Report
Final score: 95points 
Maya Maya Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 3 weeks ago Report
Well just like Shibuya crossing …No need to spend a day there but definitely worth having a look. A massive iconic square with loads of screens and a hectic vibe is something quite uncommon for many of us.
28 28points reply View More Replies… #4
Egypt. So many scammers and thieves. Can’t check into a hotel without getting some miscellaneous upcharge. Can’t take a taxi without having 50 miles tacked on to the fare or driver goes in an incredibly roundabout way. Can’t report to the cops without paying a ~~bribe~~ fine for whatever fake penal code they make up. Then you go to the pyramids and its just a line full of more scammers. Fake tour guides, camel rides that will quote you a small charge, but end up charging you a ridiculous tab, miles of trinket shops, orphan pick pockets, the over population of tourist. Its just crazy. It’s one of the few tourist locations that if you visit, you better know a local or you will get scammed during your trip, multiple times.
WanderlustFella , Tim & Annette Gulick Report
Final score: 86points 
Aboredpanda Aboredpanda Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 3 weeks ago (edited) Report
All of egypt, anything tourist related, will be like this. Sharm el sheik is a whole town built only to make money off tourists. Like a hollywood set-town. Empty except where the tourists can buy stuff/be entertained. It’s the worst place I’ve ever been. And mysogynistic as hell.
48 48points reply View More Replies…
But King still believes it’s worth it to visit these locations, even if they may not be all they’re cracked up to be. “As much as I didn’t enjoy my first visit to Niagara Falls or Paris, it’s important as a traveler to experience many different kinds of destinations,” he shared. “I had made those trips early in my travel life, and they’ve taught me so much about what I shouldlook for ina destination, how to prepare for a visit to a new place, and how to make the most of any destination once I’m there.”
#5
Mount Rushmore, the land around it is 1000X more spectacular to look at then the f****n rock lol
YOSH_beats , Jim & Robin Report
Final score: 77points 
Daniel Yamada Daniel Yamada Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
45 45points reply View More Replies… #6
Yellowstone NP is fantastic when it’s just you or a few other people. However, most of the main sites are so full of people it really feels like Disney World at some points instead of nature. It’s also infuriating when I see so many tourist disrespecting the nature by walking off of the paths/board walks and leaving trash around.
Final score: 76points 
Michael P (Perthaussieguy) Michael P (Perthaussieguy) Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
Leaving trash in a National Park should be a dismissal and banning offence, IMHO.
78 78points reply View More Replies…
King was also kind enough to share his tips for how travelers can make the most of these crowded tourist destinations. “I highly recommend doing some research before you go for your visit,” he noted. “Whether it’s a city or a painting, the more you know, the more you’ll be able to enjoy it on your terms. To clarify, I’m not just talking about the general facts, such as the history of the painting. But, find out about the conditions around it that could affect your enjoyment so you can plan or prepare for them.”
“Such as, if you want to see the Mona Lisa at The Louvre, be prepared to be in a big room with giant crowds all trying to run you over for the best spot,” King explained. “This way, you’re not surprised when you arrive to see this circus, or you can become a ninja before you arrive so you can stealthily slip into the prime spots in the room. Also, try to find something that’s interesting to you about the place or thing so that you can arrive with a connection to it already and it’ll be like you’re going to visit an old friend.”
#7
Every cruise ship port in the Caribbean
Final score: 74points Maya Maya Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 3 weeks ago Report
Being stuck with 3000 people onboard a ship, and having to rush during the occasional land trips, is my personal definition of nightmare
71 71points reply View More Replies… #8
The Disney parks in Orlando, we paid an absolute fortune for tickets but the place was so overcrowded it just wasn’t fun
Final score: 72points Ace Ace Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
Any. Theme. Park Anywhere.
44 44points reply View More Replies…
While King understands that the reasons for avoiding popular attractions are usually quite personal, he urges travelers to at least see the most iconic spots in a city if they’re feeling up to it. Who knows when you’ll be able to come back?
“Cost is often an important consideration, so I can understand not wanting to spend $50 just to ride an elevator to the top of some building or tower just for a view of the city,” King says. “So, instead find other tall buildings in the city that you can access for free or at a lower cost. Often there will be restaurants or bars located at the top of buildings that you can go to where for the price of a drink you will often be treated to similar views.”
#9
Bourbon Street, New Orleans.
I don’t want to sell my shoes to you, and I don’t want to give everyone on the street a cigarette.
Just didn’t feel safe at all, and there wasn’t much jazz playing either – day and evening.
Lovely city tho.
CatFaceRocker , denisbin Report
Final score: 64points 
hitex hitex Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
Get ready for the strong smell of urine!
25 25points reply #10
I’m sure other cities have this problem, too, but there’s an epidemic in NYC of pop-up “museums” that are essentially just Instagram backgrounds. There are some great temporary exhibits in the city all the time that genuinely have cool artwork, or historical items, or just make for a neat experience. …and then there’s ones that just have a bunch of backdrops for people to pose in front of and maybe a placard.
Special shoutout to the ‘Museum of Candy’ that was hosted in a random warehouse and where you *didn’t even get any candy* with your ticket admission.
blueeyesredlipstick , Steve Jurvetson Report
Final score: 63points 
Nick (He/Him) Nick (He/Him) Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
No candy! sad.
25 25points reply
“I wouldn’t say there’s a right way to see popular attractions, but I would say try not to complain about them while you’re trying to experience them, as that will just put you in a bad mood while you’re there,” King told We. “I realize now that a big part of my bad experience with my first visit to Paris was because I was staying with a friend there who had just moved to the city and was not having an easy adjustment. I realized after the fact that her frustrations with Paris also influenced my impression of the city. I have since gone back multiple times, and while all the things that upset me the first time are still there, me and Paris are now good friends because I’m mentally prepared for them.”
#11
The room with the Mona Lisa in it.
Couldn’t get anywhere near it and it’s not that big of a painting to see from the back of the room when all the people in front of you had giant cameras. Maybe it’s better in the age of cell phone cameras – but I doubt it.
Edited to add I am so excited many of you agree with me! I saw the Mona Lisa when I was 18 back in 2005 and many other pieces in the Louvre partly led to my getting a degree in the history of art. But, damn, that was a crowded room!!
Appropriate_Panda467 , Matt Biddulph Report
Final score: 60points Maya Maya Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 3 weeks ago (edited) Report
Most iconic painting of the most visited museum in the world… I don’t know what this person was expecting in the first place.You can watch it with less crowd at the opening / closing of the Museum or even better, every first friday of each month, when Louvre opens exceptionally until 9h45 pm (and it’s free). Best moment to wander around the Museum
31 31points reply View More Replies… #12
Anything Disney! I grew up living near Disney, so we went a lot (80’s). It was still crowded and pricey, but nothing like it has become today. I went a couple years ago on a trip back home. I could not believe the prices and crowds. It was miserable.
Final score: 57points 
Annik Perrot Annik Perrot Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
Same for the Paris one. I live 20mn from it, but we never go anymore, the prices are outrageous and the park overcrowded.
12 12points reply View More Replies…
“Finally, don’t let anyone tell you where you should and should not go,” the travel expert says. “Everyone is different and we all experience the world in our own unique way. I have a friend who loves trains, and so he spends most of his travels going to places where he’s likely to see different types of trains. I would probably be tempted to throw myself in front of a train if that was my holiday, but the man is passionate about trains and it makes him happy. So, keep exploring and go find your train.”
If you’d like to read more travel tips from King and his colleagues, be sure to visit Solo Traveler!
#13
Hollywood blvd … literally a worse version of NY Times Square (which also sucks)
Phader24 , Shinya Suzuki Report
Final score: 54points Aboredpanda Aboredpanda Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 3 weeks ago Report
Times Square was noisy, over-crowded, full of overprized poor food establishments, scams and people trying to get their picture taken. 0/10, do not reccomend.
14 14points reply View More Replies… #14
This might get downvoted to hell but MILAN CATHEDRAL. Beautiful cathedral but whoever is running that as an attraction has utterly ruined it. They check the bags of everyone entering NOT looking for weapons, they’re looking for souvenirs that were not purchased at the official Milan Cathedral gift shop. The person has the choice to throw away the souvenir they bought or waste the ticket they had already purchased. I saw a trash can full of hundreds of dollars worth of souvenirs just because they were not purchased from the official store where you buy the entrance tickets. It was gut wrenching not only as a tourist, but as a Christian to see this. Beautiful cathedral ran by ugly and terrible people.
Final score: 53points Ace Ace Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
You got ripped off. Pretty sure there was no entrance fee when I visited the Duomo, except for the poky bit containing The Last Supper.
22 22points reply View More Replies… #15
Stonehenge. When I went: for some reason you couldn’t get within a hundred yards from it or so. Don’t remember why but I remember it was faaaar away. And there’s nothing else to do nearby. What’s crazy is they let people hop and dance all over the damn thing during summer solstice. I know because the peeps I went with had done so.
profanesublimity , Su–May Report
Final score: 46points 
CascadedFalls CascadedFalls Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago (edited) Report
Maybe it’s to prevent a group of numbskulls from pushing over the Stonehenges, and making them fall like dominos? Or from spraying graffiti art? I’m not exactly sure, just a guess.
56 56points reply View More Replies… #16
The Sistine Chapel. It was incredible to see in person, but it was literally shoulder-to-shoulder with people and they were trying to usher everyone through as fast as possible, so I felt like I was in the way and couldn’t stay long. I would have loved to just gaze quietly at the ceiling and take it all in for several minutes, but that wasn’t an option.
Atheist_Alex_C , Beyond Forgetting Report
Final score: 45points Maya Maya Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 3 weeks ago Report
Tourists flocking to see the most iconic pieces of art of a country during summer, being surprised by the presence of other tourists
49 49points reply View More Replies… #17
Dubrovnik after GoT. So many Khaleesies
ComfyHomonto , @pip_says Report
Final score: 45points Maya Maya Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 3 weeks ago Report
*Dubrovnik in the summer
13 13points reply View More Replies… #18
Never go to the Van Gogh “immersive experience” — it’s the biggest bit of malarkey I’ve ever paid $50 for. You’re just trapped inside a blurry, underwhelming PowerPoint presentation where the art is not even presented in logical sequence and the music is a**e.
elegantsweatshirt , Jeff Vincent Report
Final score: 41points 
FrogMan FrogMan Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
Went to one in Philly and really enjoyed it.
38 38points reply View More Replies… #19
The big Christmas tree at Rockefeller center NYC around Christmas… So packed I got just close enough to barely squeeze myself out.. Didn’t even really see the tree… That area always looks so nice in movies 🤷.Time square also.. straight up stressful just being there . An I still don’t understand why gridlock traffic everyone feels the need to beep their horn constantly as if there is anywhere to go?..I’m just to country boy I guess…
Wkdp1ssa86 , P a U L i u S Report
Final score: 41points 
Mark Fuller Mark Fuller Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
Agree. That whole experience nearly induced a panic attack.
13 13points reply View More Replies… #20
Any tourist destination in Bali. Beautiful place, amazing food, stunning vistas, friendly people, but the pushy salespeople on the street outside every tourist destination trying to extract every rupiah I had for tourist knick-knacks ruined a lot of the good vibe.
Final score: 40points David Andrews David Andrews Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
Yeah, inconsiderate local people trying to make a living from the rich people visiting their country 🙄
30 30points reply View More Replies… #21
I’ve been to Las Vegas twice and both have been very underwhelming.
Everything is basically a giant fake a*s tourist trap that tries to imitate the real world locations, with slot machines stuffed everywhere up to the eyeballs, manned by fat old people trying to p**s away their life savings.
Clubs were fun, but the rest is a solid 6/10.
Icarus-1908 , Manuel Ressel Report
Final score: 39points Aboredpanda Aboredpanda Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 3 weeks ago Report
Las Vegas is probably one of the last places I’d ever want to visit in the world, for the above reasons. Just a whole town/city built in order to make money off of people, for no other reason than that.
39 39points reply View More Replies… #22
Venice in August, I felt bad being there. Luckily was only a day trip but it was like something from a horror film.
luckybeee , Luca Sartoni Report
Final score: 27points 
Dominik Dominik Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
I guess big part of the problem are these day trips …
32 32points reply View More Replies… #23
Nassau, Bahamas. It was like being in a very expensive prison.
Final score: 27points seana lammers seana lammers Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
Details please
12 12points reply View More Replies… #24
Las Ramblas in Barcelona, what a pickpocket paradise!
Final score: 27points Donkeywheel Donkeywheel Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
Pickpocketing capital of the world!
16 16points reply View More Replies… #25
Sadly I live there.
Nashville, Tennessee
iwishiwereonabeach , Daniel Lobo Report
Final score: 27points 
Brett Layton Brett Layton Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
I was in Nashville about 2 years ago for the first time and really enjoyed it. I was in the middle of downtown at the Hilton or Hyatt walked around alot of the area and didnt see anything amiss. Folks were friendly , there was live music from several clubs ( and it mostly sounded top notch) , the food was good ( but when you order real Nashville Hot Chicken for the love of god go mild or medium they dont play around with the heat there). There is a homelesss issue here as well as in many metropolitan areas but I didnt think it was that bad and homelessness actually seemed worse in Salt Lake City Utah in the middle of January by comparisson.
8 8points reply View More Replies… #26
The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen was…underwhelming. To be fair though, I shouldn’t really have expected to be whelmed by a little mermaid statue.
Apprehensive_Jaguar , Rob Young Report
Final score: 26points 
Pernille. Pernille. Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
I grew up in København but haven’t lived there for the last twelve years and get to go back and play tourist. Don’t make the little mermaid your main goal, but take a walk along Langelinie and Kastellet, have an ice cream, and give her a glance in passing.
42 42points reply View More Replies… #27
Plymouth Rock
ImprovementUsual1361 , denisbin Report
Final score: 24points Stephanie A Mutti Stephanie A Mutti Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
It’s a rite of passage school field-trip if you grow up in Massachusetts but then we’d stop at the “make your own sundae” place that used to be on I-95 and it was AMAZING!
20 20points reply View More Replies… #28
Oxford Street, Central London. The place for you if you enjoy:
Claustrophobic levels of crowding, overpriced / borderline fraudulent retail, traffic that barely moves, groups of roadmen/hood teens everywhere
o1frmda4 , MallSecrets.co.uk Picture A Report
Final score: 22points Maya Maya Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 3 weeks ago Report
What ? It is crowded, but come on, it’s just a busy big shopping street like any other
38 38points reply View More Replies… #29
The leaning tower of Pisa.
A field of tourists trying to take a picture of the tower without other tourists in it and souvenir shops trying to sells those tourists stuff.
Korpikuusenalla , Boris Kasimov Report
Final score: 19points 
James016 James016 Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
Last time I was there you could actually walk up part of it. Which was a real headfuck as you really could feel how much the tower leans
22 22points reply View More Replies… #30
Niagara Falls, overrun during the summer. The Ontario side is the tackiest of tourist destinations, the NY side is a great place to get shot in the face.
buffaloeccentric , Ken Lund Report
Final score: 17points 
Jiska Veldhuizen Jiska Veldhuizen Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
I went to see Niagara Falls (Canadian side) during Autumn and I loved it. Yes it was busy but not too crowed and I really did enjoy the touristic boat tour that brought you close to the water.
31 31points reply #31
Rome. People complain about Paris, but I really enjoyed it. Rome, on the other hand, was horrible. Amazing art and architecture everywhere, ancient ruins, the opulence of the Vatican… it’s all there, but absolutely ruined by the thousands of tourists, the locals, and the overall dingy unkempt depressing nastiness of the city. Sorry, didn’t love it.
DonktorDonkenstein , Sakena Report
Final score: 16points Pernille. Pernille. Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
Never go to Rome during the summer months, but it is one of my favourite places to go in March or October, and I also have fond memories of being there in February and standing in the empty Pantheon on a dark evening, and then eating amazing food at a restaurant just in front, a place that is probably a tourist trap during summer.
42 42points reply View More Replies… #32
Cabo San Lucas. It’s certainly pretty, and the tourists aren’t the problem, it’s that you can’t go anywhere in town or on the beaches without being constantly hounded by people trying to sell you stuff.
ARandomPileOfCats , Kirt Edblom Report
Final score: 15points 
Caroline Nagel Caroline Nagel Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
That’s because the locals don’t get any profit of the tourists overrunning their city/town. All the money spent by tourists goes to multinationals.
13 13points reply View More Replies… #33
Dublin… nothing Irish about it. Every pub is Americanized to the max, to include a dude with a guitar playing the same American “hits” from the last 40 years.
Equal_Win , Laura LaRose Report
Final score: 8points Maya Maya Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 3 weeks ago Report
I guess this dude stopped at Temple Bar. Good news is there are other areas with pubs.
53 53points reply View More Replies… #34
Downtown Reykjavík. Any Icelander knows what I’m talking about.
Quirky cute little downtown area thats just overswarmed with tourists and stores selling cheap puffin trinkets
Final score: 6points 
Der Kommissar Der Kommissar Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
We loved Reykjavik. Nice people, charming town, lots of museums, interesting food, and one of the cleanest cities I have been to lately.
14 14points reply View More Replies… #35
All the hottest places in Tokyo. I spent 3 weeks in Japan and loved 90% of it but Tokyo was a massive disappointment. Even in March, when international tourism was still slow to pick up, places like Harajuku, Shibuya, and Kabukicho were way too touristy and boring for my tastes and every other tourist seemed to have no idea what they even wanted to do or see, there. On the other hand, I endured tourist-infested areas of Kyoto well because the sights to see were extremely worth it. Kiyumizu-dera? Gorgeous. Totally worth the 9am crowds. Probably would not have felt the same at 1pm, who knows. Dotonbori in Osaka? Totally f*****g worth every crowd, it was so much fun. Tokyo? Not even close.
Final score: 6points cerinamroth cerinamroth Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 weeks ago Report
Oh no! I adore Tokyo! There are plenty of smaller, less well-known places to get away from it all. Having said that, I prefer a smaller city generally, so really like Kobe and Hiroshima.
10 10points reply View More Replies…