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Have you ever traveled to an insanely popular destination but found it extremely underwhelming, Pandas? For me, the Eiffel Tower seemed pretty overhyped. Perhaps I should've visited it at night? Still, nothing beats the disappointment one feels after a long flight and many months of expectations. Luckily, this time, we're talking about the opposite – the travel destinations and tourist attractions that are actually worth the hype.

Recently, one netizen went on to ask others: "What tourist attractions are NOT overrated?" Fellow travelers came through with answers from almost every continent. I personally have to agree with one commenter: pictures don't really do Yellowstone justice. It's considered the No. 1 National Park in the U.S. for a reason!

As summer is almost already here, dear Pandas, scroll down to see where you can plan your next vacation and not be disappointed.

Bored Panda also reached out to travel bloggers Kristin Addis and Matthew Kepnes. Kristin is the CEO of Be My Travel Muse and founder of Parenthood Adventures, and Matthew is a New York Times best-selling author who helps people travel more for less. We asked them what destinations they would deem totally worth a traveler's time and the psychology behind why we sometimes get disappointed by tourist attractions. Read their insights below!

Kristin Addis: Be My Travel Muse | Parenthood Adventures

Matthew Kepnes: Nomadic Matt's Travel Site | Ten Years a Nomad | Twitter | Instagram

#1

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype Mont Saint Michel in Normandy, France. It looks like the home of a particularly prosperous wizard.

chargethatsquare , Matt Hardy / pexels Report

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Marianne
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The picture doesn't even show the cool part: this is set on a tidal island. So sometimes, you can walk there, and some hours later, you take the boat back. There is also a similar place in Cornwall, it's called St. Michael's Mount.

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Professional traveler Kristin Addis shares some unique destinations that are, according to her, definitely worth the hype. Her first pick might surprise some people. "For me, Utah is not at all overrated," she says. "It's so beautiful, and those canyons are unique in the world. The American southwest, in general, has a natural beauty that's unlike anything else I've ever seen after visiting 65 countries."

Then she goes for a more international tourist attraction. "The rice terraces in China's YuanYang are just as extensive and impressive as they look in photos. No Photoshop there!" After Googling it, I can confidently say: wow! Definitely agree! However, Kristin has one more pick: "Norway was just as pristine and beautiful as it appeared in the photos," she tells us.

Matthew Kepnes, aka Nomadic Matt, says that there are too many destinations that are worth the hype in his opinion. But if he had to name just three, they would be Albania, Tbilisi, and The American South. "Albania (and the Balkans in general) [are] super affordable, few tourists. Tbilisi, Georgia [is a] lively city with a youthful and progressive vibe. And The American South – perfect for road trips and has amazing food."

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#2

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype The Duomo in Florence is freaking amazing. We went right before sunset when the crowd was basically gone, and it was incredible.

tralfamadoriest , Fede Roveda / pexels Report

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Bald Panda
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I recently visited Florence and the surrounding hills and it was simply stunning. Awe inspiring natural beauty with this gem of a city plonked in the middle. One of the places (alongside New Orleans) that truly exceeded my already high expectations.

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#3

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype Pompeii.

Disastrous_Total_503 , Tugce Turan / pexels Report

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Marianne
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes! I've been there both as a kid and as an adult and was stunned both times. Also the place is huge! And if you go there, don't miss out on Mount Vesuvius!

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Unfortunately, not all places can be as fascinating. Not all destinations and tourist attractions can look like they do in pictures. That's why lowering your expectations sometimes might do you some good. "I think it's easy to get disappointed when your expectations are high," Kristin agrees with that sentiment.

"I try not to have expectations when visiting a place, but it can be tough when we see such perfect pictures on social media. Some of the 'Instagram vs. Reality' trend has helped to uncover that, but when it comes down to it, if you want things all to yourself, you've got to wake up super early, go in the off-season, or make peace with sharing it."

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#4

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype Angkor Wat.

nolawnchairs , James Wheeler / pexels Report

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Panda Kicki
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That tree must be the most photographed at Angkor. I assumed the whole place was like that until I went there and realized that it is one preserved building with trees and the rest was restored. Of course I got the traditional pic with me between the roots :D

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#5

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype Machu Picchu. It’s truly breathtaking. Most of Peru is absolutely stunning.

The_Velvet_Bulldozer , Alex Azabache / pexels Report

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80 Van
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Peru is truly a beautiful country. The culture is so rich and the mountains are spectacular. Everyone should visit at least once.

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#6

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype La sagrada familia--especially the interior.

clydem , Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz / pexels Report

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Marianne
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, yes and yes! It's the most breathtaking church that I have ever visited. And it's also very different from every other church.

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Matthew agrees that the disappointment might come from the reality vs. social media phenomenon. "I think people all too often compare reality with what they see on social media or in the media at large. They are comparing imperfect reality with curated, edited photos and videos, and naturally come away disappointed."

"I think the best attitude to have when traveling is an open mind. Accept things as they are. People and places aren't there to appease you, so take them as they come and embrace them on their own terms. Do that, and you'll have a much more rewarding experience," Matthew tells us.

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#8

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype I fight with who ever says The Colosseum is overrated.

Paula_Sub , Ozan Tabakoğlu / pexels Report

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Lame Llama
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's amazing! Seems like the people who don't appreciate it, also like to nitpick on everything, at least from this whole post. :P

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#9

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia is a serene haven of cascading lakes and waterfalls that look spectacular no matter the season.

Suspicious_Badger375 , Igor Dudkovskiy / pexels Report

If we're talking about what's underrated, maybe let's cover a few overrated places? I already confessed mine, so it's natural I was curious to know what Kristin Addis, a professional traveler, had to say.

"For me, it was the Romblon sand bar in the Philippines," she confesses. "I'd seen so many pictures of it with just a single person walking out on the sand bar and thought it looked beyond dreamy, but when I arrived, it was positively crawling with people. I should have expected that since I was going midday, but it sort of ruined the magic for me," Kristin admits.

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#11

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype The Louvre in Paris has a well deserved reputation. There is SO MUCH in there that nobody ever talks about. When I visited, I spent hours just looking at sculptures and barely even got to any of the paintings.

The nearby Musée d'Orsay is also pretty dope. The museum itself was originally built as a train station in the late 19th century and I had a great time just admiring its architecture in addition to the art on display there.

Prank_Owl , Shvets Anna / pexels Report

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James016
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Louvre is a fabulous museum, you wont see everything in a day, it just so huge

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#12

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype I was worried I'd be let down by Venice, but it absolutely was everything it was made out to be. Actually, everywhere I've been in Italy has exceeded expectations - Lake Como and Milan as well.

juanzy , Magda Ehlers / pexels Report

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Matthew, in turn, says that some destinations are going to appeal to some but not to others. "For me, I wasn't much of a fan of Koh Phi Phi in Thailand," he tells Bored Panda. "It felt way too overdeveloped and overpriced. I've been three times now and I doubt I'll go back. But that's just me! Tons of people visit and love it. So, to each their own!"

#13

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype The British Museum in London is worth every bit of hype for history buffs, with artifacts that span the breadth of human civilization.

Glittering-State2225 , Laurence Print / pexels Report

#14

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype The terracotta soldiers in xian. Very unimpressive low key entrance and then you come around a corner and it’s just jaw dropping. Dunno if they’ve changed the entry but it’s very much “under promise, over deliver”. Quite awesome.

Costcorocks , 兴 罗 / pexels Report

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Penguin Panda Pop
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one that definitely gets more impressive as you go along. Each warrior is individual. I started off thinking "that's pretty cool" and by the end I was completely blown away by what an incredible feat it was to build. Pro-tip: be careful about the peddlars selling souvenirs outside, they will try to cheat you. They offer little statue replicas and you believe that you are negotiating the price for the set, but they insist it's the price for one after price is agreed.

Pickle (any pronouns)
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another tip: There's going to be people everywhere. Brace yourself for massive, tightly packed crowds. There's only one spot in the whole area where I could escape the crowds when I went last month. It's still definitely worth visiting, though.

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flower petals
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you haven’t already, look at photos of them right after they were dug up, before their painted colors faded away- beautiful! ❣️

Rachknits
Community Member
6 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I visited years ago, not long after they were discovered and the local town was just a provincial Chinese Town so the authorities had just put up billboards alongside the roads into the tomb to hide the poverty. All of the huge concrete buildings with flats didn't have electricity above the ground floor. It was like something out of the film Brazil (also years ago!). The warriors themselves were incredible and only a few had been uncovered at that point.

karen Young
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seen exhibit in Cincinnati's Children Museum when it was on tour. Massive bucket list check off.

Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I went in 1998, the farmer who discovered the soldiers on his property had a booth there, where he chatted, signed autographs and was just very cool to me. It was one of my favorite places I visited in China

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#16

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype The Vatican museum, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s basilica are all definitely worth it. The art is incredible, plus the scale of St. Peter’s is unreal .

Sneakys2 , Pixabay / pexels Report

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Marianne
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wasn't impressed by the Sistine Chapel. Yes, it is pretty, but so so so crowded. And when I was there, they had a person with a megaphone who shouted "SILENCE! SILENCE! THIS IS A PLACE OF WORSHIP!" without interruption, which was comical at best and cynical at worst. I've never been in a church that felt less devout.

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#17

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype Schloss Neuschwanstein and the castles around it too, like the one from his family. Its a little bit expensive but damn that dude built coloured lights into the backgrounds that he built in his castle of his favorite operas and theaters. COLOURED LIGHTS. That was 1869. If you're into gold and glamour, expensive s**t, history and a little bit architecture then its truly amazing.
Bavaria for the win.

Sure-Morning-6904 , IsMo / pexels Report

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WindySwede
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And some posts ago, it was the opposite? 🤷‍♂️ like "visit some real castles instead".. Lesson from this is,never fully trust someone's experience of things.. nor fully belive any BP post? 🤷‍♂️😅

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#19

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype All those museums in DC by the capitol. They’re free and range from pretty good to world class amazing.

Edit: The Smithsonians, can't believe I forgot the name.

GrimeyTimey , Maxim Kapytka / pexels Report

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Jrog
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The National Air and Space Museum is by far the best museum I have seen. Be sure to visit both the one on the Capitol and the one by the Airport.

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#20

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype Petra, Jordan. It’s insane. I’ve been all over Europe, but this was the only country I’ve been in the Middle East and it was nuts.

As a side note, safari in Tanzania was a scooch overrated. Still awesome, 100% would do again, but a little overrated.

ObviouslyAudrey , Vincent Pelletier / pexels Report

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Panda Kicki
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Petra is a lot more then just The Treasurey everone post pic of. Give it 3 days and explore at least some of the giant area. Skip the event Petra At Night, not worth it. Cleopetra Hostel was a fun and crazy place.

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#21

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype The Alhambra in Granada, Spain ... especially at night.

_jump_yossarian , Victor Lavaud / pexels Report

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Jrog
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The photo shows part of the Charles V palace, that is a later addition to the Alhambra built four centuries after the Islamic fortress.

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#22

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype Milford Sound and the drive to it from Queenstown New Zealand.

Aaargh-uughh , Gilberto Olimpio / pexels Report

#23

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype Mt Fuji.

BackgroundNo6319 , K K / pexels Report

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rullyman
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked on a horse ranch in Gotemba, so whenever I see Fujisan, all I can think about is the time I got kicked by a horse and got to see the inside of a japanese ambulance!

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#24

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype Since I mainly see US and Europe here I'm going to add some of my favourite places from my travels to Asia.

1) the peace memorial museum in Hiroshima is one of the most intense, emotional but beautiful experiences I have ever had. I personally think it is even better than the 9/11 museum in New York.

2) Ubud in Bali is an incredibly beautiful town surrounded by forest and rivers. It is a nature escape at its best. A stay there will definitely leave you feeling more relaxed.

3) Fo Guang Shan buddha museum near koashiung in Taiwan is the biggest and most beautiful temple I have ever seen. Just the scale of it is jawdropping and all of it is immaculate and stunning.

4) Gyeongbokgung palace in Seoul, South Korea is absolutely spectacular, it can get crowded, but the crowds are well deserved, I cannot possibly overstate how gorgeous it is.

5) Shiratani Unsui gorge on Yakushima island in Japan is an amazing place to go for a hike, there are several connected loops and you just pick the distance you are comfortable with.
The gorge, the mountains and the forest are all breathtaking. For those who have seen the Ghibli anime movie "Princess Mononoke" this place is the inspiration for the forest in that movie.

kaiyotic , Iurii Laimin / pexels Report

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cerinamroth
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

+1 for the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Rivalled only by Yad Vashem for me in terms of emotional clout and the sensitivity of its exhibits. There are so many beautiful places in Japan. I would go back again any day if I could.

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#26

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype Santorini was somehow more impressive to me in person than the social media/Instagram pictures made it seem. Something about being able to see the remnants of an absolutely huge natural disaster was really appreciable.

The part I shouldn't say is that other islands in the area that are less popular are equally, if not more beautiful and cheaper to stay on.

Everyone keep going to Santorini though. I'ma take my next vacation on another island for less money while I pull up pictures of the caldera.

shelvedtopcheese , Pixabay / pexels Report

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Marianne
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The problem is that they let in too many tourists, which is destroying the island. I was told that on some days, there are 8 cruise ships an the island. That means 15000 people every day, which is just too much for this small place.

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#27

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype I don't care what anyone says, the sheer power of niagara falls is worth visiting. It is incredible even if the town sucks.

UPSET_GEORGE , Pixabay / pexels Report

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General Anaesthesia
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6 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Iguazu Falls in Brazil are indeed very impressive, BP. Now, how about staying on topic and posting a picture of Niagara Falls? Here's one, American falls left, Canadian falls right: 3Falls_Niagara.jpg 3Falls_Niagara.jpg

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#29

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype Grand canyon.

snarkdetector4000 , Trace Hudson / pexels Report

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Teressa Reeves
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a photo of Monument Valley, not the Grand Canyon. Both are very worth spending time at

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#30

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Went for the first time last year and barely had time to see everything in a day. It’s like the Smithsonian crossed with Disney World, with creative exhibitions of actual spacecraft. We even got to speak with actual astronauts.

valandsend , Luis Bettiol / pexels Report

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James016
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Took my son there a couple of years ago. Saw most things, had a great day but in the end it got so hot we had to just get back in the car to go back to the hotel. Us Brits are not used to such heat

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#31

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York. Even if you're not at all interested in museums, or you find it's always crowded.

dyerohmeb , Amelia Cui / pexels Report

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William Teach
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Try the art museums in D.C. They are rarely crowded, and have stunning works, including lots of Monets

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#32

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype The Path of the Gods hike in the Amalfi coast. It's absolutely incredible, the views you get from there are some of the best in the world, also, the Road to Hana on Maui. Highly recommend the Shaka guide app to play on your trip it tells you when to pull off and go look at waterfalls.

rendeld , Silvia Trigo / pexels Report

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cerinamroth
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agree - the Amalfi coast is paradise on earth (apart from the driving on some of the winding roads!)

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#33

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype The Architecture Boat Tour in Chicago. Such a great time and something a little different from typical tourist activities.

Aggressive_Salt_4545 , Blue Arauz / pexels Report

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Marie Lane
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6 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And every time you go, it is usually different because different docents from the Architecture Foundation lead the tours!

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#34

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype I think that the underground tour in Seattle is worth the money, and I am a native of WA State. At least the last time that I went it was worth the price of the ticket. It is so unique and the guides do a good job. Also, Pike Place Market is a place that I as a local genuinely enjoy and visit for my own purposes. I go there to eat at the Sound View Cafe and buy incense at Tenzing Momo. There are some things that are overpriced but there are some things that locals love.

pancakecel , Postdlf / wikimedia Report

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80 Van
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve lived in Western Washington my whole life and have never done the underground tour, so I’m grateful for the recommendation. However, Pike Place Market is really worth a visit (and it had the novelty of being the location of the first ever Starbucks).

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#35

“What Tourist Attractions Are Not Overrated?”: 35 Places That Are Worth The Hype The French Quarter in New Orleans. Too many people associate the French Quarter with Bourbon St, and it’s unfortunate. The French quarter has amazing architecture, history, restaurants, and people. It’s not just one street with titty bars and drunks, and it’s also not a representation of New Orleans as a whole. There are so many amazing parts to the city that even a week won’t allow you to explore them all. However as a main tourist grab, I’ve gotta say my answer is The French Quarter.

A lesser known tourist attraction in that area is Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge. It’s absolutely beautiful. American wetlands are a rapidly decreasing ecosystem, and Bayou Sauvage is one of a few protected areas in Louisiana. With its proximity to the French Quarter, any trip to New Orleans should absolutely include a walk through the bayou’s boardwalks.

TheLazyLardon , Lindsey Flynn / pexels Report

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Jrog
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6 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After Katrina the place is rundown and dangerous. It did receive very little direct damage, but the effect of the city impoverishment on the Vieux Carrè is noticeable. Also, it became over-commercialized and the traditional music clubs gave way to touristic bars and clubs. *LOTS* of panhandlers and very easy to be pickpocketed. It is slightly better on Frenchmen Street, at the very edge of the Quarter.

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