Buzz
Slowly but surely, we're seeing a return to normalcy, even as the COVID-19 delta variant threatens to bring about more lockdowns. However, the world is gradually reopening, and one thing we could all really use is a getaway.
Yet with travel comes the inevitable downside: the infamous tourist trap. Here are ten you should steer clear of, even when visiting otherwise stunning destinations.
10. South Beach (Miami)
The issue with South Beach isn't its existence... it's that it stands as the most famous tourist destination in a city brimming with incredible attractions, yet it ends up being a tacky, overcrowded pitfall.
South Beach combines the worst of Florida – flashy, gaudy, and excessively drunken – with the worst of mass tourism: overpriced, disappointing dining spots, and visitors who mistakenly think they’re experiencing real South Florida culture.
Locals are well aware of how lowbrow South Beach can be; in fact, they actually enjoy it for this reason, as it helps keep tourists away from the city’s better beaches, restaurants, and nightlife. However, the area is now under scrutiny due to complaints from residents about constant noise, crowds, and, most recently, late-night COVID superspreader events.
If you absolutely need to see the spectacle firsthand, South Beach still holds onto a bit of class with one enduring gem: Joe’s Stone Crab, an upscale seafood spot that has been a staple since 1913. It’s pricey, but the food remains consistently excellent.
Alternative suggestions: Looking for a better beach? Visit Bill Baggs State Park in Key Biscayne, where you’ll find a picturesque lighthouse and bike rentals on shaded trails. For a delicious meal, head to Calle Ocho in Little Havana for some of the finest and most affordable Cuban food (a personal recommendation: El Exquisito, a humble diner serving superb Cuban dishes). On a rainy day? Explore Wynwood Walls, a vibrant art district with trendy shops and quirky restaurants.
9. Forbidden City (Beijing)
The Forbidden City stands out as a monumental treasure. Nestled at the heart of the bustling metropolis, this 72-hectare site is home to grand imperial palaces, lush gardens, and time-honored temples.
Named the Forbidden City because no one could enter or leave without the emperor's consent, it was built in the early 15th century. For over 500 years, it served as the residence of Chinese emperors and their courts, functioning as the political and ceremonial hub of the nation. Since 1925, the Palace Museum has managed the site, offering an extensive collection of art and artifacts primarily from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It earned its status as a World Heritage Site in 1987.
Despite the grandeur surrounding the Forbidden City, its allure can be somewhat overhyped. Though there are noteworthy objects, the numerous chalices, tapestries, and incense burners begin to blur together. While the city is beautiful, it can lose its charm quickly – especially for Western visitors, who may struggle to appreciate the deep historical context of these ancient treasures.
Alternative suggestion: Beijing is a city in constant transformation. While the Forbidden City remains a fixture, the city’s traditional hutongs – often neglected, crumbling neighborhoods nestled within a maze of narrow alleys – will soon vanish. Exploring these humble remnants of Beijing’s past offers a more compelling glimpse into the city’s soul than endless displays of ornate antiques.
Checkpoint Charlie (Berlin)
Few symbols in modern history represent the significance of freedom as powerfully as the Berlin Wall. After World War II, Berlin was divided among the four main Allied powers: the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union. Given that Berlin was located in East Germany, the Western sectors of the US, UK, and France became an isolated bastion of freedom, surrounded by the Iron Curtain.
The inevitable result was that East Germans flocked to Berlin as a means of escaping to freedom. By 1961, around million people, roughly 20% of East Germany’s population, had fled to West Germany. In response, the Soviets erected a 27-mile-long barrier, topped with barbed wire. Until it finally fell in 1989, Checkpoint Charlie was the most well-known crossing point for foreigners and military personnel.
But as any world-class city does, Berlin has evolved. Today, Checkpoint Charlie has become little more than an intersection with displays showing two soldiers – one American and one Russian – staring across from opposite sides of the now ordinary location. There's a museum detailing the Wall’s history, but beyond that, visitors encounter the usual tourist traps: cheesy souvenir shops and overpriced, unimpressive restaurants.
Alternative suggestion: Several bike tours around Berlin offer a chance to visit remnants of the Wall that still stand, including original guard towers. In addition, a notable section of the Wall features over 100 murals, many created in the immediate aftermath of the Wall’s official dismantling.
7. Old Town Montreal
Many cities around the world boast charming 'old towns.' The Alfama district in Lisbon, Gamla Stan in Stockholm, and the winding streets of Lower Manhattan all carry a nostalgic appeal that, though occasionally touristy, still manage to offer the authenticity that makes travel so fulfilling.
Sadly, one of North America's most vibrant cities, Montreal, has an old town that has frustrated many tourists. Its cobblestone streets, which seem to promise something quaint, are surrounded by a parade of souvenir shops, street hustlers sketching tourists in cartoon form, and shabby cafes offering overpriced, tasteless poutine. The area feels like a long-running disappointment, shattering expectations of an idyllic francophone experience, one disappointing street at a time.
Alternative suggestion: Montreal stands out as Canada's most diverse culinary destination. Beyond its French-Canadian roots, the city also embraces a significant Jewish heritage, with Schwartz’s Deli being a local favorite for smoked meat sandwiches – a rare tourist attraction that truly lives up to its reputation.
Montreal offers something truly unique: an extensive underground city, created to shield residents from the city’s harsh winter temperatures. Over 20 miles of tunnels connect subway stations, office buildings, and residential complexes, with a variety of high-end shops and restaurants lining the way. In the summer, Montreal hosts two prestigious annual events: a famous jazz festival and the internationally renowned 'Just for Laughs' comedy festival.
6. Guinness Brewery (Dublin)
Exploring breweries, wineries, and distilleries offers an exciting way to dive into a region's cultural and culinary delights. Whether it’s savoring wine in Tuscany, tasting whiskey in Scotland, or going on brewery tours in Belgium, these experiences are both inviting and thrilling.
Once you strip away the charm, what’s left often becomes a typical tourist trap. When a winery or distillery’s gift shop is bigger than its tasting room, the authentic experience quickly fades, just like the angel’s share evaporating during the distillation process.
Sadly, this is exactly what you’ll find at the home of Ireland’s beloved Guinness beer. Brewed at St. James’ Gate Brewery in Dublin, the sweet aroma of barley and hops can often fill the air, particularly when the wind carries it through the streets.
Visiting the 18th-century brewery feels like stepping into history… that is, until you reach the Guinness Storehouse. Inside, you’ll find a glitzy 'museum' housed in an atrium designed to resemble a giant pint glass. The whole experience turns out to be a €25, seven-story promotion for Guinness, disguised as a history of beer.
For a more authentic experience, Dublin offers a wealth of smaller, newer breweries with intriguing and affordable tours. One standout is Five Lamps, a promising Irish up-and-comer. For a truly historic pint, visit Brazen Head, Ireland’s oldest pub, serving since 1198.
5. The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Numerous travelers in Florence, Italy, have decided to take a day trip 100 kilometers west to the quaint city of Pisa, home to 90,000 residents. Upon arrival, they are faced with an old structure that's tilted ever so slightly. They gaze at it for a few minutes... and then what?
People don't take hilariously awkward photos with the Leaning Tower of Pisa because they are genuinely amusing; they do it because there’s literally nothing else to do in Pisa except stare at a 14th-century bell tower that leans at a mere four-degree angle.
Thinking about climbing it? Go ahead. For the modest price of €17, you can sweat your way up 300 steps to the top of a building that reaches... 18 stories. Not quite the heavens, is it?
Beyond that, there’s simply no reason to visit Pisa, especially when it’s so close—yet just far enough—from Florence. Anyone in the area should make it a point to visit Florence, with its must-see landmarks like the Florence Cathedral and its iconic dome, making a 100-kilometer detour for a 14th-century architectural blunder unnecessary.
Alternative suggestions: There are far more rewarding day trips available from Florence. For example, Tuscany is renowned for its wine, so wine tours are a must. Another great option is Cinque Terre, a historic coastal region consisting of five picturesque cliffside villages.
4. Times Square (New York City)
If you’re not attending a Broadway show or looking to pickpocket a tourist, you might want to leave Times Square as soon as possible. New York City's most iconic location is so lacking in appeal that a list of "Best Things to Do in Times Square" starts with Bryant Park... which is not even part of Times Square.
The tacky souvenir stores, unsavory chain restaurants, and Disney-like characters charging for overpriced photo ops make Times Square’s seedy past of peep shows and adult theaters look almost refined. And then there’s the guy, still hanging around since the late '90s, playing guitar in a cowboy hat, boots, and underwear. Can someone please do something about him already? #MeToo
Times Square has fallen victim to a classic problem: it began as a neighborhood focused on theater, which attracted other businesses that catered to the tourists drawn by the shows. However, nowadays, Times Square's crudeness is overshadowing even the arts, with mainstream musicals featuring acts dancing to the tunes of Billy Joel or Green Day taking center stage, while more deserving productions are left behind.
Suggested alternatives: Anything else, with the possible exception of Little Italy. Perhaps a few lesser-known museums? The Museum of the City of New York shows how Manhattan grew from its southern tip up. The Museum of Chinese in America is a great jumping off point to explore Manhattan’s last authentic ethnic neighborhood, Chinatown, while the New York Transit Museum is fittingly housed in an abandoned subway station in downtown Brooklyn.
3. The Eiffel Tower (Paris)
The official tagline for Paris’ skeletal skyscraper is “There’s no feeling like it.” And that’s true… if that feeling is abject boredom mixed with regret at wasting several hours better spent elsewhere in the City of Lights. Hell, the ashen ruins of Notre Dame are more appealing.
For starters, a single ticket providing top-level access to the Eiffel Tower is $30. But look! If you buy online, you can skip the line… unless some of the tower’s other 16,000 daily visitors stumbled open this newfangled thing called the Internet. Back of the line, mon ami (P.S., it’s a cliché to say “mon ami” to a Frenchman. Instead say nothing at all!) Rather climb 90 stories of stairs? Be my guest.
But of course, once the waiting is over and you’re up at the top, the view is breathtaking! Only it isn’t. It’s a park surrounded by endless, mostly gray buildings. But hey, just buy a flute of exceptionally overpriced champagne and take in the panoramic ennui.
Like many other urban 'viewing' experiences – such as the Circle Line boat tour around Manhattan – the Eiffel Tower encourages visitors to gaze at a city they should be immersing themselves in. After all, you’re in Paris. There are far more engaging things to do than simply stare at rooftops.
Alternative suggestion: The Musee Picasso Paris houses one of the finest collections of the Spanish master’s works, showcasing over 5,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, ceramics, prints, and engravings. It’s more manageable and less crowded than the Louvre, offering superior views compared to the Eiffel Tower.
2. The Blue Mosque (Istanbul)
With its storied history, the Sultan Ahmet Camil – more commonly known as the Blue Mosque – seems like a must-see on any itinerary. This 400-year-old, 13-dome, 8-minaret giant has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. As an active place of worship, entry is free. So take off your shoes, cover your head, ladies, and come on in.
Oh. Hmm. It’s just a large carpeted hall with walls painted in a Middle Eastern style, some of which are blue.
In contrast to the elaborate sculptures and intricate details found in many Christian churches, particularly those of the Catholic faith, mosques— even the most renowned—are much more minimalist in their design. There are no portraits or statues of revered Muslim figures, no grand pipe organs, and no ornate chalices filled with wine symbolizing divine blood.
The Blue Mosque, on the other hand, is primarily defined by its array of windows and geometric patterns. It may captivate for a short while, especially when marveling at the source of its nickname—its 20,000 hand-painted İznik tiles featuring a signature turquoise hue and the iconic Turkish tulip motif. However, once the initial wonder fades, the mosque’s appeal diminishes. (For those truly passionate about Turkish interior design, a visit to the Topkapi Palace Harem is recommended instead.)
For an alternative suggestion: After you've taken in the nearby Hagia Sophia (which is definitely worth a visit), consider exploring the Spice Market. This vast, enclosed bazaar in Istanbul is dedicated to the region’s rich culinary traditions, and many of its stalls offer the option to vacuum-pack spices for the journey home.
1. The London Eye (London)
The decision to build what is essentially a permanent state fair attraction along the Thames River in the mid-1990s likely unfolded as follows:
City official #1: “We’re a world-class city, and we need to do something memorable to commemorate the millennium. Any ideas?”
City official #2: (Uncomfortable silence) “Uh, what about a massive Ferris wheel?”
City official #1: “Great idea! Here’s £70 million. And by the way, make sure to mess with the iconic view of Big Ben and Westminster Abbey while you’re at it.”
Originally known as the Millennium Wheel, the London Eye, which first opened its doors on December 31, 1999, is technically a “cantilevered observation wheel.” In fact, it holds the title of Europe’s largest cantilevered observation deck—impressive, right?
Although the London Eye is essentially a £25-per-person amusement ride amidst some of the UK’s most historic landmarks, like the Tower of London and the British Museum, it has become a hit, attracting around three million visitors annually. It holds the title of the most visited paid attraction in the entire United Kingdom. So, are the British just fond of kitsch, or is it the tourists? Maybe they should start offering corndogs and deep-fried Oreos at the ticket booth?”
Suggested alternative: Skip the Ferris wheel and head underground to explore the Churchill War Rooms. This historical site served as the hidden nerve center where the British government orchestrated its World War II efforts. Alongside it, the Churchill Museum honors the legacy of Winston Churchill, offering a powerful reminder of Londoners during their most challenging and heroic times.
