10 Tourist traps to Avoid at all costs!

Don't fall for it

10 Tourist traps to Avoid at all costs!

Every destination has a few spots that look incredible in photos but feel underwhelming in person. Most of them aren't bad per se, but they're often overcrowded, overpriced, and in the way of more authentic experiences. Knowing which ones to approach with caution can save you time, money, and frustration while traveling. The key lies in knowing when and where to look, even if that takes you just a few steps off the beaten path. Here are 10 famous tourist traps, and some alternatives to experience the same destinations.

Times Square, New York City

Image: Andreas M

Bright Lights and massive billboards in the city that never sleeps. Times Square looks and feels like the center of the world, but the reality is that it's a loud place, packed shoulder-to-shoulder, and filled with overpriced stores and aggressive photo hustlers happy to separate you from your money.

The truth is that you can get the full New York experience by walking just a few blocks away. Neighborhoods like SoHo or Greenwich Village offer vibrant atmospheres without the sensory overload of Times Square.

Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy

Image: Ali AOUF

The tower itself is undoubtedly impressive, and it's one of the most photographed monuments in the world for a reason. However, the surrounding area has become a sea of souvenir stalls and tourists lining up to take the exact same "holding up the tower" photo from the perfect angle. The novelty wears off quite quickly.

If you are already in the Tuscany region of Italy, nearby cities like Lucca or Siena offer fewer crowds, rich history, and scenes just as memorable without the hustle and bustle of a rushed photo stop.

Hollywood Walk of Fame, Los Angeles

Image: Sasha Matveeva

Seeing the names of your favorite celebrities embedded in the sidewalk may sound exciting, but the reality remains that the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a crowded and chaotic area dominated by souvenir shops.

If you are interested in film history, places like the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures or a studio tour in Burbank offer a more complete and insightful look into Hollywood's past and present.

Eiffel Tower, Paris

Image: Amin Zabardast

Don't get us wrong: the Eiffel Tower is a must-see if you ever find yourself in Paris. However, the area immediately around it is crowded with souvenir sellers trying to sell you mass-produced trinkets at very inflated prices.

For a better view (and a much calmer atmosphere), head across the Seine to the Place du Trocadero at sunrise, where the tower can be admired without constant interruptions.

Loch Ness, Scotland

Image: Lāsma Artmane

Sadly, you'll find no legendary monsters here. Loch Ness is just as pretty as any other lake in Scotland, yet its natural beauty and mysterious reputation don't justify paying for an overpriced tour and a bunch of gimmicky souvenirs. Luckily, Scotland has no shortage of sightseeing opportunities for the enthusiastic traveler, from the rugged landscapes of the Isle of Skye to the vast number of medieval castles peppered throughout the region.

Gondola Rides, Venice

Image: Angelo Casto

Gondola rides are iconic, and they do offer some of that romantic film magic. However, they are usually in high demand and cost a pretty penny. A more budget-friendly alternative is the vaporetto, Venice's public water bus. It lets you enjoy the canals at a fraction of the cost while still soaking in the city's unique atmosphere, even if it's not quite as romantic.

The London Eye, London

Image: Krisztina Anna Berecz

Built in 1999 to celebrate the new millennium, the London Eye was marketed as a modern masterpiece that would redefine the city's skyline. In reality, it's a pretty mundane Ferris wheel that contrasts unfavorably with the quaint aesthetics of the surrounding Victorian architecture.

If you can spare the costly price of a ride, you might as well go for it, but we recommend taking a leisurely stroll instead. The Elizabeth Tower is right there.

The Mona Lisa, Paris

Image: Tarik

The Mona Lisa is a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, the magnum opus of Leonardo da Vinci himself. It's been called "the best known, the most visited, the most written about" piece of art in the world. And therein lies the problem: getting to actually see it is a pain.

The painting itself is small, only 30 x 20 inches, it's protected behind a glass wall, and the viewing area is beyond crowded at all times. Visitors spend hours fighting each other just to get a quick glimpse or snap a blurry photo of the Gioconda. If you ever visit the Louvre, we believe that your time would be better spent appreciating other galleries at a calmer pace.

Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls, Ontario

Image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1693823132605-6be395d58d52?q=80&w=1170&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D

Cashing in on its proximity to the Canadian Falls, Clifton Hills feels out of sync with the natural beauty of its surroundings: it is like an amusement strip filled with arcades, go-kart tracks, and wax museums at over-inflated prices.

For a more nature-oriented and complete experience of Niagara Falls, you can take a sightseeing boat tour of the area. The Maid of the Mist, for instance, starts and ends on the American side of the falls, but it also crosses briefly into Canada.

Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts

Image: jjron, GFDL 1.2, via Wikimedia Commons

Plymouth Rock carries tons of symbolic weight: It represents the beginning of National history, marking the place where the Mayflower Pilgrims landed to found Plymouth Colony in December 1620. Visitors often expect something monumental, and instead find… just a boulder.

As symbolic as it may be, the experience leaves much to be desired. What's more, there's no evidence that the boulder on display was actually there in 1620: the first documented record of Plymouth Rock's existence is from 1741, 121 years after the arrival of the Pilgrims. In any case, there are plenty of monuments and museums dedicated to early American history that are more worthy of your time.