Travelers Are Sharing The "Tourist Traps" That Are Actually Worth Your Time, And I'm Adding Some Of These To My Bucket List
When I travel, I often find that places off the beaten path are more fun and interesting to explore than the popular destinations. However, not all "tourist traps" are a waste of time.
Recently, redditor u/angry_koala_26 asked, "Which places felt like tourist traps but you would still absolutely recommend visiting?"
Here are 19 tourist traps people say are actually worth your time:
1."The Blue Lagoon in Iceland. Yes, there are cheaper places. Yes, there are more low-key places. I've been to a bunch, but I'd still go back 100 times."
"Agree 100%! Blue Lagoon was magical. Very glad we didn't listen to people who said it was not 'real Iceland' and too touristy (those can be true and it can still be magical at the same time)."
2."The Spice Bazaar in Istanbul. It is very touristy, but there is so much history there, and by US standards, it is still incredibly cheap."
3."Machu Picchu was this for me. If you don't do the full-blown hike, the buses to get up to the entrance feel like Disneyland. It's one of the places where pictures don't do it justice."
"Also highly recommend doing the four- to five-day Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu if you're into hiking. Made the experience so much more incredible and didn’t feel touristy at all."
4."The pyramids. Touristy AF, no question. Some of the most awe-inspiring things I've ever seen, also no question."
"I arrived in Cairo late at night and was staying in Giza. Just seeing their dark shape from afar as we approached them in the taxi was really emotional. It really felt like I was on an adventure, and I almost felt like an excited child."
5."The French Quarter in New Orleans...especially non–Bourbon Street. It's lovely, and there are so many good places to stop for food."
"I'll never get tired of it, even though it's lost a lot of local flavor."
6."Sacré-Coeur Basilica in Paris. There were tourists everywhere, but it didn't take away from its aura."
"You can pay a few euros to climb the 300-ish stairs to the observation area at the top. The views were incredible!"
"It's the best part of Paris, IMO. Those stairways are TIGHT! Not for people who get claustrophobic easily! The view from the top is incredible, though."
7."The Roman Colosseum, but it was an absolute blast. I was able to see the lower levels as well."
8."The Grand Canyon. The crowds are wild, especially on weekends and holidays, but you'd be surprised how quickly they drop off once you get a little ways down the trail."
"I’ve also heard the North Rim is beautiful and much less crowded, but it's very far to get to."
"My family got to the Grand Canyon just in time for sunrise. It was breathtaking, and the first few hours after that were super quiet because there weren't too many others around yet.
"That's my biggest advice for US National Parks: Pull through the gates by 6 a.m., and for the first four or five hours, it'll feel as if you have the place to yourself."
9."Go up and get the skyscraper view on the Sears Tower, or what it's called now: the Willis Tower. Chicago is a gorgeous city."
10."Alcatraz in San Francisco is brilliant. I did the evening tour and it was really creepy — plus, we got to see the sunset from the island. Highly recommend."
11."Cap de T-Rex on Nusa Penida in Bali, Indonesia. Pretty crowded, even in the off-season. The scale of it is wild, and it's super cool."
12."Sagrada Família in Barcelona. I remember loudly gasping once I walked inside. It's a special place."
"I visited yearly for five years, as my son lived in an apartment across the street while attending university. The crowds were incredible, but the spectacle of the building is unparalleled. Inside is pure teleportation. Don't miss it. I was just there again for work and will return next year. Astounding to see the progress."
13."Golden Circle, Iceland: Awesome. Beautiful. Amazing."
14."Banff in Alberta, Canada."
"The town itself is as tourist trap as they come — reminded me of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, or Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Banff PARK, however, is one of the most beautiful places I've been to."
15."Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Obviously the big one tourists are there for. Obviously you should go."
16."Jordan's Petra and Wadi Rum. So much is already documented in film, press, and the internet. You will be joined by busloads of tourists, but they don't take away from the breathtaking scenery."
"I second this. These were two of the most spectacular places I've ever seen. The thrill when you come out of the canyon and see the Treasury...chills. Plus, sitting under the night sky in the Wadi Rum...you will never feel such a sense of awe and your own insignificance. Both are moving experiences in different ways."
17."Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany. It's very touristy, but there's no doubt it's impressive and iconic."
"If you skip the tour of the interior (which isn't particularly remarkable), you can see the outside entirely for free."
18."Pike Place Market in Seattle. Ton of tourists, but I still love it. Plus, there are a lot of local artists and some really good food."
19.And finally: "Maybe a bit specific to a certain type of person, but the Hobbiton movie set in New Zealand. If you even remotely like The Lord of the Rings movies or J.R.R. Tolkien's work, getting to actually stand in Hobbiton makes you very happy."
Which tourist traps do you unashamedly recommend? What are your top tips for visiting there? Share your answers in the comments!
Note: Some entries have been edited for length and/or clarity.
