Travelers Reveal the Tourist Attractions That Are Actually Worth the Hype — From a Cemetery in Poland to the Grand Canyon

NEED TO KNOW

• A woman took to a popular community forum to ask real people what their all-time favorite tourist spots were

• She said she wanted to learn about places that “genuinely lived up to the expectations”

• The post received tons of comments, with people suggesting everything from Venice to a cemetery in Poland

A woman was curious about what famous tourist attractions are actually worth the hype — so she took to the Internet for answers from real people.

The woman shared her inquiry on a forum on the U.K.-based site Mumsnet.com, a place where people can go to get input and advice about a variety of topics. In her post, the woman asked her fellow community members “what tourist sites you’ve visited that have genuinely lived up to expectations and have gone beyond them?”

“For me, it was seeing Leonardo da Vinci’s [The] Last Supper in person in Milan,” the woman wrote. “I’m not particularly emotional, particularly about art, but it was genuinely moving to see the real thing. Visitor numbers were restricted, meaning you actually got a good look, and there were no distractions. The setting, in a darkened room in an old convent, really helped too. It felt really intimate and special.”

Other Mumsnet users were quick to chime in with their own recs.

“For me it was Venice,” one person said. “We expected super crowded, very expensive, too touristy. ... Thought it was breathtakingly beautiful and an awesome feat to build this stunning city out of marshland.”

They continued, “And by avoiding the tourist hot spots — literally by only a street or two, [we] didn’t find it too hectic or crowded [and] found plenty of delicious and reasonably priced places to eat and drink.”

Someone else suggested an ancient location in the Mediterranean.

“The ruins of Salamis in Northern Cyprus,” they said. “They’re on par with some of the most spectacular Ancient Roman and Greek monument sites across Europe, which would usually be full of tourists; yet when we visited Salamis, we saw five other people in an entire morning.”

The same person added, “Would also recommend Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw. I wandered it this morning, on par with Père Lachaise [in Paris], yet totally deserted. Only wildlife activity [breaks] the silence.”

“Grand Canyon — it was so awe-inspiringly huge and absolutely stunning,” said another person.

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Another commenter revealed their top travel memory was in Egypt about three decades ago, stating, “The Avenue of the Sphinxes in Luxor at night — no one else around and each sphinx [was] beautifully lit in the dark.”

“The Pyramids and everything in Egypt,” added someone else.

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Another commenter said, “The Taj Mahal for me. Yes, it was heaving with people and a bit chaotic, but still amazing. I didn't expect to find it as impressive as I did, and I can't imagine what it must have been like when newly built.”

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