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31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community

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Even in our crazy and constantly changing world, there is one constant thing - people's passion for travel. Since the end of the pandemic, tourism, both domestic and international, has been growing for the third year in a row. No wonder - people want new experiences.

Today, almost the entire globe is available to travelers - the only question is money and the right choice of destination. Moreover, you may realize that some incredibly popular places of interest are actually greatly overrated. The corresponding online threads come to help tourists. Such, for example, as this thread in the AskReddit community.

More info: Reddit

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#1

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Amazed I haven't seen this mentioned yet but isn't Las Vegas' whole shtick being a tourist trap

No_Signal_6969 , Abi Skipp Report

Final score:

88points

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#2

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Hollywood Blvd is pretty junky. I always feel bad for people who make the trip to Los Angeles and end up there. They must be like wtf?

KevinDean4599 , Raoul van Wijk Report

Final score:

63points

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#3

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Don't go to England just to see Stonehenge. You will be bitterly disappointed. That being said, if you are in England, and you do want to see Stonehenge, spend time in Salisbury as well., enjoy the scenery on the way there and back. Spend time exploring the area around Waterloo station in London.

Be a traveler, not a tourist.

ProtNotProt , mari Report

Final score:

60points

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It will soon be two hundred years since Thomas Cook from England organized the first event that could be called a full-fledged tourist trip, and since then there have been many people who make money not only from organizing tourism, but also from rating various attractions and hotels, restaurants and other places that surround them.

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#4

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Disneyland

Nannydiary , Barry Mulling Report

Final score:

59points

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#5

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community If you come to San Francisco, Pier 39 is a tourist trap. It’s just a long outdoor mall filled with useless tchotchkes. Instead, opt for the golden gate bridge, golden gate park, ocean beach, or one of our various arts and science museums.

trainwreck42 , Guilhem Vellut Report

Final score:

55points

Couragetcd 11 months ago (edited)

And get ready for shin splints no matter where you go. Walking in SF hurts. If someone tries to encourage you by saying it will be downhill on the way back, they lie. There will still be uphill in that direction too.

31points

Janelle Collard Premium 11 months ago

Yep! Get the best walking shoes you can afford + make sure you break them in first.

3points

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Nicky 11 months ago (edited)

SF Native here - the sea lions at pier 39 are fantastic, and pier 45 has the free Musee Mechanique and the free Boudin sourdough bakery and bread museum. You can also take the ferry for $6 and go under the Bay Bridge. Best part of SF is sf cityguides - 70 free walking tours organized by library volunteers. SF Funcheap also has a list of all the free festivals and community events. It's the best city in the world!

10points

Patricia Steward 11 months ago

Thumbs up for the Musée Mécanique -- big fun, and FREE!

1point

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BarkingSpider 11 months ago

The Exploratorium is pretty cool and the Aquarium of the Bay is neat, but the Academy of Sciences up in the park and the surrounding area is cooler. And don't mess with the sea lions if you do go down to the pier, they can kill you.

6points

𝐆𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐦-𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 11 months ago

I disagree. That whole area is full of simple, fun things to do. And maybe there are a lot of tchotchkes, it's true. But I am one of those people that thinks cute, useless souvenirs are part of the joy of travel. It's just a way to remember the places you travelled and the fun you had there. And no one is obligated to buy any of them. But people must be buying them, or they wouldn't exist. OP sounds like they want to gatekeep what "proper tourism" should look like. (Landmarks, art and science museums.) And I love those places too, but OP comes off as "low brow vs. high brow".

5points

Janelle Collard Premium 11 months ago

Get recommendations on other places to eat cuz the ones on Pier 39 are overpriced + the food isn't that good.

4points

Michael Largey 11 months ago

Remember what Mark Twain said. "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."

3points

Patricia Steward 11 months ago

https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/california/articles/the-most-unusual-museums-in-the-sf-bay-area

3points

Dan 11 months ago

I loved going to pier 39 as a kid. They had the best arcades.

2points

Nancy Lynch Premium 11 months ago

The best thing to see at Pier 39 are the sea lions. They should be all over the docks on the left side of that picture.

1point

Dragons Exist 11 months ago

The golden gate bridge was so crowded it took us an hour to cross at 5 pm

1point

JayWantsACat 11 months ago

I've live here for about 20 years and I never understand when people on short visits spend their time at Pier 39. This city has so much to offer but they choose to spend it at a a tourist trap...?! Sure you can get essentially a summarized and compact experience of SF there: you can see Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, you're near on the bay, you see sea lions, you can each chowder in a bread bowl, you can buy tchotchkes, etc. But spend a little time researching and really see what this city has to offer. There's so much food, art, culture, etc here. Hell, you could spend a whole day just exploring Golden Gate Park and the museum, gardens, etc there. If anything, take one of the hop on-hop off buses and see and explore many of the parts of the city you would probably miss. And ignore the MAGA dipshits who've never even been here crying about feces, the homeless, etc. who obsses about this place. This city regular has issues like every other big city.

1point

JessieJ&LilyLovebug 11 months ago

I went there in the early 90's...it was very different, then, I think.

0points

tameson 11 months ago

There are good restaurants on Pier 39.

0points

Ivona 11 months ago

Isn't this the pier with the sea lions? They're gorgeous.

0points

Keith Lancaster 11 months ago

It is what it is. Worth a visit just to know that you have been there. Like Blackpool in England you know what to expect so not really much point complaining.

0points

nia not long 11 months ago

As someone from the bay area, DO NOT make a special trip out of seeing the golden gate bridge.... It's just an orange bridge😒

0points

Teufel Wulf 11 months ago

As a resident in 80's pier 39 was fun because it had a huge arcade so it was often popular with local teens. GG Park, you can easily spend a day there.

0points

David 11 months ago

This is a bit sad. In the 80s Pier 39 was sort of fun to look around. Also back then there were a ton of performing buskers. On just one visit we saw jugglers on tall unicycles, a magician, impressive break dancing, a few musicians on various instruments and some other stuff I am not remembering because it was 40 years ago.

0points

D. Pitbull 11 months ago

I like going to the waterfront just to see the massive carpet of sea lions... heheheh "ORK ORKORKORKORK!!!"

0points

Jeff L 11 months ago

The Exploratorium is an awesome interactive museum. We went regularly as kids on field trips

0points

JustSomeDude 11 months ago

Whatever you do, just don't park at Golden Gate. We Uber'd, and at least 2 different cars had their windows busted out while we were in the gift shop.

0points

Johnnynatfan 11 months ago

San Fran is a really cool city and worth a visit but as the poster said pier 39 is not really worth seeing

0points

PattyK 11 months ago

But oh! how people love useless tchotchkes!

0points

Brett Layton 11 months ago

Avoid San Francisco like the plague, unless you enjoy feces, open-air drug markets, and an almost certainty that your vehicle will be broken into. Fwiw I live about 40 minutes away and wouldnt go there if they were giving away free money.

-2points

JayWantsACat 11 months ago

Oh no! What will we do without you visiting?!?!

1point

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R.A. Haley 11 months ago

Any of the dedicated tourist spots are good, but stay there if you don't want to weave your way through homeless camps and step in sh*t.

-2points

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#6

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community That big a*s fake Noah’s Arc thing in Kentucky. It’s b******t stacked on b******t, that is stealing money from old folks and idiots. I’m good with them ripping off the idiots, but there’s lines of busses from retirement homes lined up there daily.

Edit: thanks folks, I was off a state. It’s still horrible

BlakeDSnake , Frederick Noronha fredericknoronha1@gmail.com Report

Final score:

51points

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“People have always loved travel stories, which were often incredibly detailed in the smallest detail,” says Valery Bolgan, a historian and journalist, editor-in-chief of Intent press agency in Ukraine, with whom Bored Panda got in touch for a comment here. “After all, the famous travel notes of the great travelers, starting from Marco Polo or Ibn Battuta, contained not only descriptions of unknown lands and customs of other peoples, but also detailed stories and assessments of lodgings and cuisine at inns.”

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“Today, almost any popular place on Earth can, to one degree or another, be considered 'a tourist trap'. Firstly, because people tend to try to take advantage of the slightest opportunity - so any beautiful or memorable place will soon be surrounded by numerous cafes and souvenir stalls, like the bottom of the ship is overgrown with shells and algae."

“Secondly, people’s tastes and opinions differ greatly, so if one of your friends or some popular blogger didn’t like this or that place, it’s far from a fact that you won’t like it either. In the end, many Parisians literally hated the Eiffel Tower for several decades and sought its immediate demolition - and today it is the true pride of all of France. So the best thing is to form your own opinion about everything, to see with your own eyes. If, of course, the budget of your trip allows it," Valery summarizes.

#7

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Mount Everest, garbage and dead people everywhere, extremely expensive too

tiltldr , Gunther Hagleitner Report

Final score:

51points

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#8

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community I've traveled to over 30 countries and all 50 states. It's less about a city and more about specific areas within one. You can find local chill areas anywhere just as you can tourist trap areas.

Example New Orleans: tourist trap - Bourbon Street. Local spots - magazine, garden district, Frenchman (though tourists are starting to find it).

Example Orlando: tourist trap- I drive, the parks, basically anywhere south of downtown. Local - milk district, Mills, winter Park, etc.

Example Dublin Ireland: tourist trap- Temple bar. Local- Stoneybatter, kilmainham, etc.

You get the point

ResLifeSpouse , Infrogmation of New Orleans Report

Final score:

50points

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#9

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community I don't think people understand what a "Tourist Trap" is. You can argue that Times Square is a tourist trap, but it's ridiculous to say that the entire city is a trap. The London Eye could be a trap, but not London.

neoprenewedgie , Theo Crazzolara Report

Final score:

47points

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Yes, many popular places on our planet today are totally overcrowded, but that, in the end, is the price to pay for popularity. Unfortunately, the level of service around such attractions sometimes decreases - because some owners and staff are often guided by the principle “you will still come here and visit us!” However, market competition also does its job, and over time, negligent business owners will be forced out of the best places.

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#10

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community The pyramids is a very uncomfortable experience you get f*****g harassed beyond belief

tighto , Jed Scattergood Report

Final score:

40points

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#11

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Myrtle Beach. It’s the most expensive trailer park by the beach. Everything is so expensive. But you’re surrounded by trailer park people. People harassing you to buy c**p.

Gladysfartz , Donald West Report

Final score:

40points

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#12

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Magnolia Market in Waco, TX. It's basically a giant gift shop for Chip and Joanna Gaines from Fixer Upper. Wife dragged me there and it was so busy you couldn't even do anything. It sucked.

Disgruntled_Beavers , David Fulmer Report

Final score:

40points

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Be that as it may, the list of places and locations in this collection is truly worldwide - from small towns to huge metropolises (although some do not agree that an entire city can be dubbed 'a tourist trap'). However, this is also a reason for additional discussion, so please feel free to join the comments section, but not before you scroll this list to the very end. Perhaps some of the opinions expressed here will be useful to you, saving you time and money, and maybe your own opinion will help someone too.

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#13

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community From what I’ve heard, Dubai is atrocious if you’re not a multi-millionaire+

ICPosse8 , Michaela Loheit Report

Final score:

38points

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#14

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community In Canada, the Capilano Bridge was rated as the country's worst tourist trap. Private park in North Vancouver with a swaying drooping pedestrian bridge across a small canyon. $80 admission. There is a similar bridge for free on a public park nearby. For that price I'd rather visit the Peak-to-Peak gondola ride between mountain tops in Whistler.

Grouchy_Factor , David Davies Report

Final score:

35points

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#15

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community If there is a rain forest cafe and a madame tousards, it’s a tourist trap.

shiftdnb , Josh Hallett Report

Final score:

33points

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#16

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Mount Rushmore is small.

tdfast , David FulmerFollow Report

Final score:

32points

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#17

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Times square for sure

Ok-Cry368 , JJBers Report

Final score:

29points

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#18

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Plymouth Rock. It’s likely not actually from 1620 and it’s a pretty small rock.

CommunicationHot7822 , Massachusetts Office Of Travel & Tourism Report

Final score:

27points

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#19

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Branson.

Take everything fun out of Vegas and put it in the middle of nowhere midwest. It’s a magnet for old people and f***y pack dads.

survivalmachine , Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau Report

Final score:

27points

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#20

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Gatlinburg, TN.

That place is a tourist hell-hole. Good luck actually finding historical buildings and monuments.

mrjbacon , Davey Borden Report

Final score:

24points

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#21

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Nashville. Come on down and see the one street just to get s**tfaced and listen to washed out, s****y country in a shoulder-to-shoulder honkytonk. Sure, there is plenty more to see and do down here but that seems to be the main attraction to a lot of folks

TheOrangeTickler , Dylan Tweney Report

Final score:

21points

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#22

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Wall Drug (but I think that's the point)

ProbablyHornyMaybe , Jeffrey Beall Report

Final score:

20points

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#23

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Half of the "attractions" in the Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville area in Tennessee. Outside Dollywood, there's not much worth a damn.

Wishilikedhugs , Olin Gilbert Report

Final score:

20points

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#24

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Ripley’s Believe it or Not’s

KingoftheGypsies , Late Boomer Report

Final score:

20points

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#25

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Istanbul! As a woman alone is a complete nightmare, you will get harassed and stalked. If you’re a male alone you have 90% chances of being scammed.

Istanbul is amazing but not a place for solo travel! Beware and mind your surroundings. Trust no one.

qiarafontana , Clive D Report

Final score:

17points

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#26

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Fisherman’s Wharf in San Fran.
Thousands of better things to do in San Francisco than see this unremarkable stupid wharf of pointless shopping.

Edit: Fisherman’s Wharf not Pacific Wharf.
And yes the seals/sea lions are def it’s only saving grace

Boguskyle , Adam Moss Report

Final score:

16points

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#27

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Wisconsin Dells. But it’s actually a fun one.

Bzz22 , Warren LeMay Report

Final score:

14points

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#28

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Certain parts of the city center of Amsterdam is the worst tourist trap s**thole I've been to.

dingbatyokel5000 , crash71100 Report

Final score:

14points

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#29

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community SF Giants game in SF.

You can tell who isn’t from the city because they are all heading to the store to buy hoodies and jackets half way through the game when the cold/fog/rain rolls in after it’s been warm and sunny all day.

PrimitiveThoughts , Dale Cruse Report

Final score:

10points

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#30

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community Niagara Falls, Ontario.

EscapedCapybara , Larry Koester Report

Final score:

8points

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#31

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community F*****g Paris. The Eiffel Tower is ao crowded. People pushing and shoving.

Go to nicer quieter areas outside of Paris where you can chill and breathe.

starshinedrop , Stefan Schmitz Report

Final score:

-8points

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Oleg Tarasenko

After many years of working as sports journalist and trivia game author and host in Ukraine I joined Bored Panda as a content creator. I do love writing stories and I sincerely believe - there's no dull plots at all. Like a great Italian composer Joaquino Rossini once told: "Give me a police protocol - and I'll make an opera out of it!"

After many years of working as sports journalist and trivia game author and host in Ukraine I joined Bored Panda as a content creator. I do love writing stories and I sincerely believe - there's no dull plots at all. Like a great Italian composer Joaquino Rossini once told: "Give me a police protocol - and I'll make an opera out of it!"

What do you think ?

Sugar Shack 11 months ago

If the reason that something is a tourist trap is that it is crowded, go in the off season. The Greek islands, for instance, are infinitely more enjoyable in May or October. Forget July and August.

4points

Steve Hall 11 months ago

I grew up in Cental Florida, if it isn't a "tourist trap", it isn't worth going to see.

2points

ElDiablo_562x666x3 11 months ago

If Hollywood Walk of Fame and Disney are on the list, Venice Beach / Santa Monica pier should be included also.

1point

Teufel Wulf 11 months ago

When I first moved to LA in 1991 the pier was fun, no too expensive, and the 3rd street was full of quirky shops and not chain - used book stores, record shops, etc.

0points

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David Jeffery 10 months ago

Bondi beach. It's ugly, dirty, s****y crowds and the surf is atrocious. Go to Dee Why, or somewhere along that coast for some spectacular surf.

0points

MarsFKA 11 months ago

Interesting that most of these tourist-trap places are in the USA...

0points

Daniel Atkins 11 months ago

I think the ROn Jon surf shop in Cocoa Beach FL t shirts and cheap souvenirs mainly. Cocoa Beach in general the beaches to the south are less touristy.

0points

PattyK 11 months ago

So many of these places are where people go for thrill rides and excitement. Too bad most people can’t or don’t see the value of parks, museums, and libraries.

0points

Sugar Shack 11 months ago

If the reason that something is a tourist trap is that it is crowded, go in the off season. The Greek islands, for instance, are infinitely more enjoyable in May or October. Forget July and August.

4points

Steve Hall 11 months ago

I grew up in Cental Florida, if it isn't a "tourist trap", it isn't worth going to see.

2points

ElDiablo_562x666x3 11 months ago

If Hollywood Walk of Fame and Disney are on the list, Venice Beach / Santa Monica pier should be included also.

1point

Teufel Wulf 11 months ago

When I first moved to LA in 1991 the pier was fun, no too expensive, and the 3rd street was full of quirky shops and not chain - used book stores, record shops, etc.

0points

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David Jeffery 10 months ago

Bondi beach. It's ugly, dirty, s****y crowds and the surf is atrocious. Go to Dee Why, or somewhere along that coast for some spectacular surf.

0points

MarsFKA 11 months ago

Interesting that most of these tourist-trap places are in the USA...

0points

Daniel Atkins 11 months ago

I think the ROn Jon surf shop in Cocoa Beach FL t shirts and cheap souvenirs mainly. Cocoa Beach in general the beaches to the south are less touristy.

0points

PattyK 11 months ago

So many of these places are where people go for thrill rides and excitement. Too bad most people can’t or don’t see the value of parks, museums, and libraries.

0points

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