30 Tourist Attractions We Actually Love
We're all for going off the grid at Traveler, but sometimes forcing yourself to join the crowds at major attractions is not only worth it, but necessary. After all, would you really go to Istanbul without visiting the Grand Bazaar? Or skip the Pantheon on a trip to Rome? Didn't think so. For all the over-hyped touristy destinations we avoid (sorry, Times Square), there are just as many that even the locals love. We asked our editors, contributors, and trusted team of travel specialists to tell us their favorites—scroll down to see what made the list.
GettyPetra, Jordan
"There’s always the fear that such a monumental site won’t live up to its hype. [But] this unfathomable 147-foot-tall façade chiseled into the mountainside is all the more remarkable when you learn that it dates back to the first century BC [...] Most visitors spend three hours in Petra. We allowed ourselves nearly a full day to explore the Nabataean tombs, amphitheaters, and aqueducts. The next day we entered, as most tourists do, through the Siq, a narrow gorge that’s just ten feet wide in some places. The Treasury’s two-story façade with its intricate Greek-inspired columns would still be awe-inspiring amidst selfie-sticks and bus tours, but we found ourselves eerily alone, sharing the moment with a few camels and a single tour group." –Jen Murphy, Contributor
Read the full story about Jen's hike to Petra here.
GettyVatican Museums, Vatican City
"You are miserable, hot, and drowning in a sea of people who are all inching in the same direction. But then you reach the Sistine Chapel and look at those frescoed walls and up at that ceiling, and you actually, for a second, forget about the mass of humanity around you. It sounds cheesy, but it really does feel like it's just you and the masterpiece. If you want a (relatively) uncrowded tour, get there at 8 a.m." –Erin Florio, Senior Editor
GettyVictoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe border
"There's something about standing in front of the largest waterfall in the world that makes you realize how small you are. Go sometime between February and May when the region's rainy season has ended, giving you the clearest view of the 500 million liters of water that run from the falls every 60 seconds. And if you're feeling daring, try a swim at the infamous Devil’s Pool at the top of Victoria Falls, where the only thing separating you from a 305 foot drop is a rock wall that makes it the world's most exciting infinity pool. (Just watch out for hippos and crocodiles.)" –Rachel Coleman, Social Media Director
GettyAngkor Complex, Siem Reap
"Since being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992, the various temples that make up the Angkor complex have drawn more and more tourists from around the world. (This year, it expects to host over 2.5 million visitors, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the crowds.) However, if you plan your visits for the off-peak times—first thing in the morning and late in the evening—or go during the summer 'green season,' it’s possible to find yourself walking alone through incredible structures dating back to the height of the ancient Khmer empire or witnessing monks silently going about their routines in the temples." –Andrea Ross, Director, Wild Frontiers USA and Founder of Journeys Within
GettyGreat Wall of China, Beijing
"The Great Wall is actually thousands of miles long, but the vast majority of people go to the sections nearest Beijing with the quickest driving times, such as Badaling. However, if you drive a bit farther to Jinshanling or some of the unrestored areas of the Wall, you will be rewarded with relatively few tourists (as long as you avoid Golden Week in the first week of October, and Chinese New Year in January and February, when Beijing traffic can be insane)." –Catherine Heald, Co-Founder & CEO, Remote Lands
GettyGalapagos Islands, Ecuador
"It's touristy in the sense that you have to go with a group, but when you're in the Galapagos and you inhale that unbelievably fresh sea air, and the only sounds you hear are birds singing (so many birds!) and the gentle barks of sea lions—you realize that on most of the islands, at any given moment, there are just a few dozen other people around. You're on another planet, one where wildlife rules. And you're blissfully aware of that every second you have the privilege of being there." –Lauren DeCarlo, Deputy Editor
GettyGrand Central Terminal, New York
"The magnificent Grand Central Terminal is such a stop-you-in-your-tracks work of Beaux-Arts architecture (and rare Spanish tile work) that locals often take a detour through the station when walking around Midtown—just to get a glimpse of it for the 139th time. Head there after 9.30 a.m. on weekdays for thinner crowds or two hours before sunset, when the light streams perfectly through the windows." –E.F.
GettyAcropolis, Athens
Walking around Athens, it's impossible not to feel the Acropolis's looming presence. The ruins stand, like a beacon, at the top of a rocky hill, keeping watch over the city. Get there early before the crowds swell and the temperatures soar (warning: there's zero shade up there), and you'll be taken aback by how affecting the place is. After all, those crumbling structures and sun-drenched monuments have stood firm through earthquakes and world wars, and witnessed entire civilizations come and go. Plus, the panoramic views are some of the best in the city. Crowds still not your thing? Fuel up with a koulouri (a ring of sesame-covered bread) from one of the food carts below, and climb up to the top of nearby Areopagus Hill—the Acropolis really does shine from afar." –Lale Arikoglu, Digital Lifestyle Editor
GettyMachu Picchu, Peru
"Although it continues to get more and more popular, sitting on a ledge overlooking Machu Picchu—taking in the surrounding mountains and reveling in the site's awesomeness—remains one of my favorite travel memories to date. Staying a second night in Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu, allows you to use the full time of both morning and afternoon permits: The morning, when it's busier, is the only time you can enjoy one of the two hikes within the site; meanwhile the afternoon, when there are fewer people, lets you find a quiet area to soak it all in. You lose any ego you have when you’re at Machu Picchu and become a kid again, full of eagerness to discover and a sense of wonder of those who once stood where you now do. Simply put: it moves you in the best possible way." –Jordan Harvey, Owner and Trip Specialist, Knowmad Adventures
GettyPyramids of Giza, Egypt
There’s a reason tourists swarm the Giza pyramid complex in Egypt: The Great Pyramid is ranked as one of Seven Wonders of the World, and dates back 4,500 years. When designer Cynthia Rowley visited with her family earlier this year, she couldn't help but say "pinch me" as she stood at the foot of it. “Egypt has been my dream destination since I was a kid staring into my View-Master's Seven Wonders of the World slide," she says. "Standing in front of the pyramids, knowing this is the only surviving ancient wonder, was sort of a spiritual experience.” –CNT Editors
Read more about Cynthia's trip here.
GettyTable Mountain, Cape Town
"Table Mountain has the most gorgeous view you can get of a gorgeous city. Skip the wait for the cable car at the bottom and just start hiking—there are several trails that will wind you up and across the mesa. At the top, you’ll be able to take in Cape Town and nearby Lion’s Head to one side, and the ocean and golden beaches on the other. Another way to shake your fellow tourists: Pack a picnic lunch rather than bothering with the mediocre restaurant on top. Or go at the end of the day: Most people wake up and head straight there, but it's quieter (and cheaper) in the afternoon, plus you catch the beginning of sunset." –Alex Postman, Features Director
GettyGreat Barrier Reef, Australia
"If you get all the way out to Australia and don't at least spend an afternoon snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, have you actually visited Australia? It's a true natural wonder: one that surprises you in person, no matter how many photos you've seen, and that's beloved and championed in a way few ecosystems are these days. Thankfully, you don't have to hop on a giant pontoon out of Cairns with 80 other tourists to see it. Cairns is one of the most popular access points—you barely need a snorkel to see the coral there—but you can also join a smaller sailboat trip around the Whitsunday Islands to see the southern stretch." –Laura Dannen Redman, Deputy Digital Director
GettyBerlin Wall (East Side Gallery), Berlin
"Going to the Berlin Wall—which for so long divided Germany in parts East and West—can seem unnecessary in a city with so many Really Cool Things that celebrate the present. But it’s a relic for a reason, and you’ll regret it if you don’t pay a visit. It’s powerful and emotional because of the negative thing it used to do, yes, but also what it’s been turned into: one of the world’s largest open-air galleries, covered with paintings by artists from all over the world, celebrating peace." –Katherine LaGrave, Senior Editor
GettyYellowstone National Park, Wyoming
"I love the diversity and sense of magic at Yellowstone National Park. This year, Steamboat Geyser—the world’s largest—started to suddenly erupt every few weeks after being dormant for years, and hot spring pools erupted in the Old Faithful area and nearby ground, giving way to a new thermal feature. While the scene at Old Faithful Geyser might be disney-esque, you can hike 20 minutes down almost any trail and see few other people—if any at all. If you’re lucky, you might even hear wolves howling." –Caroline Wood, Independent Travel Advisor, Caroline Travel
GettyForbidden City, Beijing
"When I first visited the Forbidden City in 1983, I was studying Chinese language and history, and spent three consecutive days exploring the halls and courtyards open to visitors. I was so struck by the ghosts of China’s imperial past that I even wrote a letter to one of my Chinese instructors who had left the country in 1949 and never returned, describing every building, courtyard, and garden. More than thirty years later, I still visit the palace each time I'm in Beijing. This is a palace that is called “the Great Within” for good reason—within its halls and galleries lies the lasting legacy of China’s remarkable cultural history." –Gerald Hatherly, China Specialist & Director, Abercrombie & Kent Hong Kong
GettyGardens by the Bay, Singapore
"No matter what you read about Gardens by the Bay—250 acres with three waterfront gardens, given major screentime in Crazy Rich Asians—nothing will actually prepare you for how, well, cool it is in real life. You’ll inevitably feel small next to towering walls of plants and “supertrees” that can stretch up to 160 feet, but where else in the world can you feel like you’re in FernGully?" –K.L.G.
GettyUffizi Gallery, Florence
"Uggh the Uffizi, I love it so much. It's one of those museums that soothes the soul—with its cool marble and shaded corridors, and elegant presentation of masterpieces like Botticelli's Birth of Venus. It may seem like every big-deal museum has a strong collection of Renaissance art, but there's something different about seeing it in Florence, where a Medici started some of the collections. Last time I went, I think I spent four hours there—with a wine and cheese break at the rooftop cafe. Be sure to book tickets to the Uffizi in advance, or ask your hotel concierge for help. The queue to get in can take an hour, sometimes two." –L.D.R.
GettyGolden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
"Yes, there will be tourist groups who have no business wearing matching windbreakers. There will be selfie sticks and the whiff of exhaust, and you can count on a downright freezing gust of wind or two. But, walking across the Golden Gate Bridge at dusk, with the sun setting over the Pacific, the Marin headland glowing gold, and Pelicans flying right at bridge level, is absolute magic. And for that small window before the fog totally rolls in for the night, you can't believe such beauty exists." –Rebecca Misner, West Coast Editor
GettySacré-Coeur, Paris
"The trek to get to the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre isn't so different from the approach to the Great Wall of China (hear me out). If you're on foot, you climb and wend your way past so many hawkers selling trinkets and mini Eiffel Towers—much like the vendors with their Mao souvenirs at the Wall—that you start to get discouraged. Will this be worth it? you wonder. Then you go through a security gate and get inside, and all is hushed, all is well. To be in Sacré-Coeur, with its soaring arches and mosaics, is a religious experience, no matter your take on spirituality. And the view out front of the church across Paris ain't bad, either." –L.D.R.
GettyNeuschwanstein Castle, Schwangau, Germany
"Getting to Neuschwanstein requires equal parts determination and exercise—you’ll have to hoof it from the village of Hohenschwangau, just below the castle, and once you reach it, it will no doubt be swarmed with tourists trying to recreate their own Disney fantasies. No matter. Get a good spot on Marienbrucke, over the Pollat gorge, and your cynicism will practically melt away as you look out at the castle, because it will dwarf anything you’ve ever seen—onscreen or otherwise." –K.L.G.
GettyGrand Bazaar, Istanbul
"As you squeeze past wide-eyed tour groups clustered near the entrance, there will be a moment when you think, why on earth did I come here? It will be hot. It will be crowded. Vendors will be yelling—at each other, and at you. But then you'll catch sight of an intriguing textile or a twinkling lamp, and you'll start mentally redecorating your apartment; the next thing you know, three hours have passed inside this 563-year-old labyrinth, where you'll find 4,000 shops selling everything from fine jewelry and hand-painted ceramics to kitschy ashtrays and knock-off handbags. To walk through the Grand Bazaar is to experience Istanbul in a nutshell: Ancient, frenetic, and overwhelming, yet utterly beguiling." –L.A.
GettyGrand Canyon, Arizona
"Growing up within road-tripping distance of the Grand Canyon meant countless visits with my family as a kid, but it was also a time when I didn't appreciate anything beside Disneyland. After returning as an adult, I can now confidently say there is no view that compares to watching daybreak over the Grand Canyon. As you stand on the ridge and wait for the first peeps of light to illuminate all those jagged rocks, there's a moment before the selfie sticks raise, when everyone collectively stops breathing and just watches in silence as the mile-deep, self-contained universe of the canyon is unveiled. If there is ever a time I've felt patriotic, it's been while staring at that view, knowing I'm of the same country as the Grand Canyon." –Megan Spurrell, Community Editor
GettyShibuya Crossing, Tokyo
"When people discuss Tokyo, at some point, they’ll refer to its energy and rush—and no place is this more emblematic than at Shibuya Crossing, which is one of the world’s busiest intersections. Sure, you may think that crossing the street with an estimated 2,500 other people at once may not seem like a good time, but boy, is it ever. There's nothing quite like moving with the fast-flowing current of Tokyoites and tourists to make you feel like you’re really part of the city—at least, for as long as it takes you to get to the other side." –K.L.G.
GettyTaj Mahal, Agra
"Although these days the Taj Mahal is hard to see without the crowds, it’s such a sublime and majestic building that it's well worth whatever frustrations you might encounter from your fellow visitors. Walking through the Mughal arch and into the garden, your eyes are drawn not by the other tourists, but along the central symmetric water channel and up to that magical creation at the end, which seems to float on its cloud-like marble base. Generally regarded as the finest piece of architecture anywhere in Asia, if not the world, it’s actually remarkable there aren’t more visitors. Go at sunset; you can also get a great view from across the river." –Jonny Bealby, Founder/CEO, Wild Frontiers Adventure Travel
GettyVictoria Peak, Hong Kong
"As residents of Hong Kong, we often balk at having to visit the Peak—the Peak Observation Area is now chock-a-block with shopping malls, restaurants, and even a Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. But on a mild November day when the sun is shining, there is no better place to experience the magic of Hong Kong. Take the touristy Peak Tram (the city’s oldest form of public transport) up from Central through a forest of high-rise apartment buildings, and then disembark 1,300 feet above sea level to take in the views: the busy harbor, the ever-growing skyline of Kowloon and, on a clear day, the frontier with China. The Peak is probably the most striking piece of topography in Hong Kong—beautiful by virtue of its setting, a fascinating reminder of Hong Kong’s controversial colonial past, and now home to a new generation of elites. Only in Hong Kong." –G.H.
GettyThe Pantheon, Rome
"You can happen upon Marcus Agrippa's epic ancient temple countless times, and always feel the awe of the first. Much of that is thanks to how out of place it feels these days among the crowded modernity of Rome's Piazza della Rotunda, but it's also due to its sheer marvel of engineering—perfectly round, with a hole on top to connect earth to the heavens, which allows the showers to pour right through when it rains. Get there before 8 a.m. to avoid the crowds." –E.F.
GettyTiger’s Nest, Bhutan
"It's impossible to go to Bhutan and not climb to Tiger’s Nest—but how best to do it? The trick for avoiding the crowds (and the horses that many people ride to avoid the arduous four-to-five-hour hike) is to go early. Very early. Last time, I arrived at 8.30 a.m. and was the first person there—in fact, the doors were still locked to all the sub-temples, and I had to ask the monks to open the temples to me. But then I had Tiger’s Nest all to myself—and it was unmissable." –C.H.
GettyTower of London, London
"If you're a history buff (and/or a major Tudors fan, like me), don't skip the Tower of London. You'll get to see the crown jewels, which have been displayed at the tower since 1661, and tour the prisons, where Princess Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn, and Guy Fawkes have all done time. The tour also stops at the torture exhibitions (the rack always makes me squeamish) and introduces visitors to the famous tower ravens—all led by the knowledgable "Beefeaters," or royal bodyguards. Plant yourself in line right when it opens (9 a.m. Tuesday - Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday - Monday), or better yet, go during off-season from November through March (with the exception of the holiday season), when crowds are generally thinner in Europe." –Bridget Hallinan, Editorial Assistant
GettySagrada Familia, Barcelona
"I wouldn’t take an elbow (or a selfie stick) to the face for most things, but an hour marveling at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s as-yet-unfinished masterpiece, makes the list. There’s something truly awe-inspiring about a place that not only defies architectural convention, but seems almost to defy nature, too. Highlights include the facades, one of which is propped up with massive, bone-shaped pieces of stone; interior columns that spring up into tree-like forms, using their ‘branches’ to brace the nave like some mythical forest; and psychedelic stained glass windows that put even the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany to shame. As with most other tourist hot-spots, it's best to try and hit it in the early morning, before the rest of the crowds have had their espresso and bocadillo." –Betsy Blumenthal, Associate Editor
GettyLas Vegas Strip, Las Vegas
"Nothing makes me smile as instantly as a stroll down the Las Vegas Strip. It has an unabashed, take-me-as-I-am brashness that delights me, and its unapologetic glitz is a tonic to my soul. I love the buffet of activities that spill out onto the Strip, whether the chance to ride a rollercoaster through a scale model of the Big Apple skyline at New York-New York or pausing for a few minutes to watch the dancing fountains of Bellagio, which are as likely to be pulsing to Diplo’s beats these days as a Beethoven sonata. Come in May or October for days that are ripe for sunbathing and nights that are warm enough to stroll around. If you’re looking for a bargain, the low season is coming right up just between Thanksgiving and Christmas: the hotels are at their emptiest and so the rates plummet, but the weather is still pool-worthy." –Mark Ellwood, Contributor