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With the pandemic having put our lives on unprecedented hold, many are dreaming of returning to norm… Who are we lying to? The sole, okay, one of the little things, we truly miss badly is traveling. And I can bet that at any given opportunity, you’d be up and rolling with a fedora to any place in the world just to sip on a pina colada and forget the comfort-turned-hell of your four home walls.

And it’s no secret that many thirsty travelers have must-see travel bucket lists somewhere in the drawer waiting for the borders to open up. For some, it’s Times Square and Hollywood, for others, it’s all about dinner with a view at the Eiffel Tower, but as you’re about to plan your next big post-pandemic trip, you may as well take some good advice from people who have been to those places, but would likely travel back in time to not go there.

So below, ladies and gents, are the most overrated travel destinations shared in one r/AskReddit thread to help us reflect on our sightseeing must-dos before its too late.

#1

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) The Mona Lisa in Louvre in Paris. It's just a small painting hanging quite far away in a really crowded room full of tourists. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful, iconic painting, but it's not worth visiting the Louvre only for the Mona Lisa. The majority of the other artworks in that museum are more impressive than the Mona Lisa.

cheeseguy_ , Artotem Report

#2

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Dubai.
Unless you're really into spending all day in an air conditioned building, then going to the air conditioned basement to get in an air conditioned car to travel to the air conditioned basement of another air conditioned building in which case, do I have a city for you!

Invunche , themonnie Report

#3

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Hollywood. The most disappointing garbage and pee covered place on earth.

existentialism91342 , Shinya Suzuki Report

#4

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) The peak of Mount Everest. People just pay sherpas to carry all their gear, and navigate the dangerous areas. Many have heated tents. The line to wait to get a picture at the top can be extremely long, and dangerous because people aren’t used to the altitude.

jchanceh9lol , https://www.flickr.com/photos/hagleitn/ Report

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#5

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Pisa.

Besides the small square with the tower where everyone is taking the same stupid joke pic. And guys tryna sell you toys.

The rest of the town is pretty lame. You're in Tuscany, go to ANY small town and you'll enjoy it far more.

patch173 , Ed Webster Report

#6

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Hollywood walk of fame. Haven't seen a dirtier road.

mirgyasen , news.com.au Report

#7

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Japan has such a romanticized view of France that they actually have a term, "Paris Syndrome", for the sudden shock suffered by Japanese tourists when they see that France isn't how they imagined.

onlysane1 , Pedro Szekely Report

#8

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) I didn’t get anything out of Las Vegas. It was cool to see the themed hotels but besides that it was just an overpriced cultureless soulless city designed to entertain you.

viktor72 , matze_ott Report

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#9

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Egypt, all the beauty and awe of the ancient civilisation is completely outshone by how absolutely horrible the modern civilisation is. Think of all the worst parts of India and then add sand to it.

PublicOccasion , Michael Ravodin Report

#10

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Times square on new years. If you know, you know

LeSenpaii , Anthony Quintano Report

#11

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Bali. It was beautiful 10 years ago but now it's been ruined by influencers.

gitwiz89 , Uwe Aranas Report

#12

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Stonehenge. They don't let you get very close to it to help preserve it. Either way you get just about as good a view of it from the Highway going by it as you do by waiting in line and paying to go see it. I appreciate what it represents, but if you put on a youtube video of it you will get a more personal and close experience of it then if you actually go there.

anonymous , mari Report

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#13

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Oktoberfest

You can get the same brand and amount of beer for a third of the price literally anywhere else in Munich. The carnival rides are also overcrowded and overpriced, the food is decent but also overpriced... I could go on. Oktoberfest is over-everything.

TeaOnWine , 46137 Report

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Cupcake168
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I lived in Munich for a decade and haven’t ever been there. For a reason.

hobbitly
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you have never been there, are you the right person to judge it then?

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Bardhi's Dad
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But, you know, it's fest... In that logic, you can say "why to go to concert, when you can listen the same music on cd or on youtube"

Susanne Müller
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You could add that comment under every picture here. Also there are tons of other Beer and wine festivals in Germany that are much more relaxed and way less touristy/overcrowded and overpriced than the Oktoberfest. Cannstadter Wasn, Dürkheimer Wurstmarkt and a thousand local beer/wine fests in lots of villages all over Germany - Bavaria is only one small part of Germany and Oktoberfest is really not that amazing.

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lenka
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, overpriced but the atmosphere made it so much worth it. I loved Oktoberfest.

Michelle M
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think most people know this but go there for the cheer and spirit.

Anna Banana
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree, though I can imagine Octoberfest as a tourist trap nowadays. There are a lot of beer festivals around Europe which will give you a very fun experience, and probably much more laid-back.

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Beeps
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The thing is this: every decent sized town in Bavaria will have their own beer fest and carnival around that time of year. Go to one of those instead - much better!

Marianne
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the Oktoberfest! (Though is has got worse over the last 20 years.) When criticizing the beer price, think about the context: The host will invest 3 months to set up a temporary building to sell you beer and food for 2 weeks. (After that time, they will have to deconstruct the tent and store it for a year.) They will give you 12 hours of live music every day and hire about 400 security people to keep you safe. Also the licence/rent for a tent at the Oktoberfest costs a fortune. A restaurant does not have investments like that.

Alex the awful German
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I went to university in Munich, and for the most part I agree with you. Plus: The city is overcrowded with tourists, mostly drunk, and people trying to sell you s**t. Munich is a very, very beautiful city. I'd suggest anyone to pick another time to visit.

MauKini
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was born and raised in Munich. I love the Oktoberfest. Obviously not the rides but the Beertents are so much fun. We always book a few tables with a group of friends. Also most munich-based offices treat their employees to a day at the Oktoberfest. Also I love wearing my Dirndls. But we do that in bavaria on several occasions.

Pacer Three
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

lived in Kaiserslautern, & traveled to Munich a couple of times for Oktoberfest. thoroughly enjoyed it. the food, OMG! Schweinshaxe (roasted ham hock), Brezen (pretzels), Käsespätzle (cheese noodles) something like spätzle, Würstl (sausages) sautee'd with apple sauerkraut & bacon, and these remarkable steak sandwiches (the steak, I think ribeye, sits whole on the most delicious bun) I'll take Munich anyday!

Verena
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Living in Munich I can only partly agree. Yes everything is overpriced. Yes it is overcrowded and yes mostly everyone (especially tourists) is way too drunk. But they do brew a special Oktoberfest beer which is higher in alcohol and can only be bought either at the Oktoberfest itself or stores during that season (fall). But it is an experience on its own :)

Norah
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree! I'm so glad I went when I lived in Munich for a year. It's truly an experience, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Definitely not something to do every year, for me, but maybe again one day!

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Carmen Honacker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Especially since Germany has tons of Octoberfests all over the country that are equally fun and cheaper.

Kevin3475
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are many other but smaller Oktoberfest in Germany...not well known but much better!!!! "Ein Prosit, ein Prosit, der Gemuetlichkeit, Ein Prosit, ein Prosit, der Gemuetlichkeit, Ein...Zwei...Trei Gsuffer!"

Abraxas
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please: Oans, zwoa, droa - gsuffa. And there is no other Oktoberfest in Germany. They are called beer festivals.

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k1ddkanuck
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I grew up in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Home to the 2nd largest Oktoberfest in the world after Munich. And I have to say, if I avoided Oktoberfest in Kitchener, I have a feeling I wouldn't enjoy it in Munich either.

Nubis Knight
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Try the Wurstmarkt ("Sausage Market") in Bad Dürkheim/Germany, despite the name the biggest Wine Festival of the world.

ADHD
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

holy fothermucking Christ, i just googled how much is beer at Oktoberfest, the f**k,,,, like 11 euros, ye get a litre but still.

Tim Henson
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

Martha Higgins
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The best thing about Oktoberfest is the parade on the first day which is in September, two weeks before the first weekend of October. The decorated beer wagons pulled by magnificent horses and the people dressed in the lederhosen and drindls of their own area are really beautiful. You can keep the drunken idiots and overpriced everything, and the ubiquitous pickpockets.

Seabeast
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my relatives was working in Munich and stopped taking the train to work while Octoberfest was on because so many drunks were urinating in the cars.

Arthur Waite
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You don't really need Europe for Oktoberfest - Kitchener, Ontario, has a Great week of celebration; they have a large German-immigrant population there who remember how to Party! (City used to be called Berlin!)

olek olok
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...and as a german living in the north ist embarassing because of this fest everyone in the world imagines germans like shitload drunk with leather pants while eating sausages

Pungent Sauce
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Try LaCrosse or Milwaukee, just like being there, but they speak the language and take the money.

Pheebs
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel this way about living in a tourist town with a NASCAR track. Going to a race was fun when part of a vacation. Never went to one again after living within 5 miles of a track.

Oskar vanZandt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'll just get myself a pair of lederhosen and sit in my back garden drinking German beer... am especially partial to weissbrau/Weißbier.

Johanna
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would not go there. So much people are overdrinking and missbehaving .

Calyfan Yelood
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a Frühlingsfest (spring festival), which basically has all the Oktoberfest rides, but cheaper and less about beer. Also, anyone with an old car/firetruck can bring it in, leaving a cool exhibition! If you have to go, go then.

cassiushumanmother
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But Maibaumaufstellen is awesome! I did it a small town at morning/midday then in the evening in Munchen in the giant tents when i was in a foster family in Starnberg, that was epic! Beer is water!

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#14

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) If you're in Dublin, stay away from the Temple Bar area, it's ridiculously overpriced and is not at all what a real Irish bar is like at all

ois2400 , Heather R Report

#15

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) UAE, it's the most culturally deficient place you will ever see in your life!!

thatcoolgaydude , earthobservatory Report

#16

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) That wing mural in Nashville.. there is literally a line that takes an hour to go take a picture with a pair of wings on a wall.

nateisgreat1017 , tripadvisor Report

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#17

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) The Taj Mahal. Yes, it's beautiful but it's also overcrowded which ruins any serenity and every thing that there's to see is visible on the pictures you've seen a thousand times before. The inside is dark, surprisingly small and you're rushed through. Agra Fort, overlooking the Taj Mahal, by contrast is equally gorgeous, vibrant and teeming with history. I enjoyed it much more.

misringuette , Christopher John SSF Report

#18

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Brussels. If you're in Belgium, visit Ghent and Bruges.

HamiltonSlashLaurens , Sam Greenhalgh Report

#19

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Romeo & Juliet balcony & house in Verona, Italy. Pure tourism BS

CharlesBronx , Sarah Report

#20

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) South Beach/Miami

Over priced bars and clubs, if youre a dude and you dont have a fine group of women with you, be ready to drop serious cash for a night out if youre there. There are better beaches up and down the coast, that wont force you into the terrible traffic and parking SB has.

MrBoliNica , Piutus Report

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#21

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) definitely Mallorca - I'm German enough, I don't want to hear 90% German on holiday in Spain as well. The quieter, less central parts of Mallorca are gorgeous, especially for snorkeling and diving, but the Playa de Palma, or at least that part, is horrendously German lol

yeetaliano , Kyle Taylor Report

#22

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Disneyland. It's just a lot of waiting for bad rides.

anonymous , William Warby Report

#23

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Whatever expectation you have of Roswell, New Mexico- it’s worse

FrontiersWoman , Amy Meredith Report

#24

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Mount Rushmore. It's faces on a rock basically and smaller than you think.

chemaster23 , Jim & Robin Kunze Report

#25

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Bourbon Street, New Orleans. It's really just the same as any other bar district in any other large city around the world. Same old cover bands playing the same old songs that you'd hear anywhere. You can experience all you need just by walking down the street for an hour and not going in anywhere.

HappyTimeHollis , Chris Litherland Report

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#26

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Mall of America. It just a Mall with a lot of stuff in it. My opinion would’ve probably be different if I didn't live in Minnesota.

Zabboon , Runner1928 Report

#27

Blue lagoon in Iceland. Always super crowded and you have to book it super early. There are a lot of better lagoons in Iceland that are just as pretty (or even prettier), more isolated, definitely less crowded, and just as "blue".

sunnyy_4 Report

#28

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Bondi beach in Sydney. Overcrowded, everything there is way overpriced

koolkid131 , dronepicr Report

#29

I did a Mount Fuji tour in Japan in March. It was hands down the worst part of the trip. No point to go up the actual mountain. It was like 12 hours on a bus. Then I saw it from a train like 3 days later, and that was a better view than anything I got on the tour.

themancp Report

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#30

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Toyosu Fish Market. The one that replaced Tsukiji as the fish auction central of Tokyo in 2018. You get to watch the auction process, but only if you go early in the morning. And even then, only through small glass windows two stories above the auction block. If there are more than a couple dozen other visitors, you will not be able to see anything.

veotrade , 江戸村のとくぞう Report

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#31

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) The original starbucks store in seattle.

It's a recreation and the actual location is a few doors down. The design and decor doesn't really stand out.

They serve starbucks coffee there.

Large queue to get in and standing room only. Take selfies in front, order, buy some souvenirs and gtfo. The store interior is just a queueing place.

At least its in a decent tourist area and its low effort though.

sir-clicks-a-lot , John Tregoning Report

#32

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen.

It's just so... meh. And too far away from the city center, especially if it's freezing outside like the time I visited it. Just get a souvenir or a postcard or something.

Copenhagen itself is beautiful though, very highly recommended.

I_hate_traveling , Long Zheng Report

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#33

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Plymouth Rock, the only boat small enough to have landed on it would be for ants.

nsfredditkarma , Will Hart Report

#34

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Inside of the White House

The most common tour doesn’t let you see anything of importance, just a bunch of rooms that nobody knew existed.

rockbottomresidents , Radek Kucharski Report

#35

Honolulu, HI. It's just a huge and overpriced tourist trap. Sure it's pretty and obviously it's Hawaii, so great vacation spot, right? Do yourself a favor and go to a different spot like Maui or even Hawaii, Hi. But, Honolulu is kind of overrated imo.

Mr_Bubbles69 Report

#36

Seychelles. Super expensive trip, overpriced hotels, terrible food and underwater is not nearly as impressive. Also, if you are a woman traveling alone, you will be hassled with sexual advances at every turn by the locals.

revital9 Report

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#37

Blackpool, used to be a nice place but not anymore.

anonymous Report

#38

The Space Needle.

In Seattle, there are great tourist attractions...Pike Place is totally worth it, Post Alley is quaint, and the pier is fun on a nice day.

However, I don’t think going up into the Space Needle is worth it anymore. I haven’t been up since it’s been remodeled, but that’s because it’s so expensive now.

Chumkinpie Report

#39

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) 4 corners. Its hours away from anything notable and there isn't really anything to do there except a picture and buy native American crafts.

someinternetdude19 , Doug Kerr Report

#40

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur. SA Asia is full of karst caves. Many are bigger and aren't full of tourists. A-hole macaques are also everywhere.

anonymous , Marco Verch Report

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#41

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Anyone said Niagra Falls yet? Hear me out on this one.

The falls themselves are beautiful, and I guess if you're really into the history of a waterfall and its surroundings you can spent half a day there. But once you've seen it, you've got nothing.

Blarg4470 , Stacey Gitto Report

#42

The mermaid show at weeki wachee springs in FL. Their show looks great on their website, but the images you see with silicone tails were used or photo shoots or special occasions. Any normal day the show is very lackluster and I super disappointed.

troubled_tanuk Report

#43

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) The new York stock exchange

You can't actually go in and see the trading floor.

anonymous , vincent desjardins Report

#44

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) The Statue of Liberty. Takes forever to get on a crowded ferry.
Once you get there you have a great view of her back but there is no room in the front to get a good picture let alone be in the picture.

awerm , Finn Terman Frederiksen Report

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#45

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Tower of London

Expensive, cheesy, absolutely packed with tourists. I have been twice because the people I was with really wanted to go, and all I remember is kids running and screaming in the “torture chamber” themed room, and the ravens which were the only interesting part.

Ohmannothankyou , It's No Game Report

#46

People Share What Travel Destinations Are Absolutely Overrated (30 Pics) Oslofjorden. Please go anywhere else In Norway when you visit

MrMrRubic , Tomasz Sienicki Report