# How many of the World's Best Tourist Traps have you visted? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 23, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669 "2012-10-23T21:46:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/21 "2012-10-24T00:57:40Z")
Only the Great Wall of China. Which is pathetic because I lived in DC for 24 years and never went to the Capitol. It was a “tourist thing.” Likewise, I have been to New York probably 10 times and never done the Statue of Liberty. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/22 "2012-10-24T01:03:12Z")
The only thing on your list I have done is the Culture center in Oahu. Frankly it was kinda sucky and we didn’t enjoy it very much. The Mormon influence is too over the top. Native dances by white guys wearing white shirts? Just silly. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/23 "2012-10-24T01:09:41Z")
Only one. Think I’ve gone BY the Capitol building, but not in it or anything. Only one I’ve actively gone to see was the Space Needle. Had lunch. Totally worth it. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/24 "2012-10-24T01:14:31Z")
None ☹ ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/25 "2012-10-24T01:42:04Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Only seven, but I’ve been to one of the most unvisited ones, Uluru. And I climbed it back in 1975, something I think tourists aren’t allowed to do anymore. Allowed, but not encouraged. The traditional owners of the land request that tourists don’t climb Uluru, a sacred site. Unfortunately, many/most tourists either don’t get the message, or don’t care enough to respect it. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/26 "2012-10-24T02:11:54Z")
1. I’ve been to New Orleans but not Cafe du Monde. I’ve been to Salzburg but didn’t take the bus tour. Did see some if the places that were on the tour. But I didn’t count either of them. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/27 "2012-10-24T03:26:50Z")
I’ve never been to any of them. I don’t usually go to cities when I travel, so the known tourist havens I visit have “National Park” or “National Monument” as part of their names. Of the sites on the list, I’d probably only be willing to visit the Roman Colosseum and Stonehenge, and somebody’d have to pay me a shitload of cash to get me to go anywhere that congested. When I travel, I’m trying to get away from you people, not find more of you! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/28 "2012-10-24T03:35:19Z")
Only eight, but (warning, possibly non-PC) I had the summit of Uluru all to myself for almost 15 minutes (and it was awesome). ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/29 "2012-10-24T04:30:06Z")
I’ve been to nine, plus I’ve been to a tourist trap Hawaiian luau (just not the one listed). ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/30 "2012-10-24T04:53:17Z")
**4** , nearly 5. I went to Checkpoint Charlie, but not into the museum. And of those 4, 3 were when I was quite young, possibly before they became too trappy. I’d like a little more info on the list. “Best” in what sense; are these the tourist traps that are actually worth visiting? I’m almost more interested in famous sites that somehow didn’t become touristy. I went to the site of the Hindenburg crash in Lakehurst, New Jersey, about twelve years ago. I was the only one there. It’s basically a huge field of gravel with a metal post in it. It’s on an active Naval Air Station, so probably even tougher to visit now. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/31 "2012-10-24T04:55:49Z")
15 of these mentioned: Eiffel Tower Leaning Tower of Pisa Palace of Versailles Acropolis of Athens Blarney Castle The U.S. Capitol building Gondola rides in Venice Roman Colosseum Statue of Liberty Trevi Fountain in Rome The Pyramids [of Egypt] Graceland Stonehenge The double-decker tour buses in Barcelona The Tower of London ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/32 "2012-10-24T05:28:48Z")
I’ve been within spitting distance of Stonehenge but never went. I didn’t want to be disappointed. Of all the tourist traps I’ve been to, Pisa was the worst. That city has no redeeming qualities. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/33 "2012-10-24T07:02:49Z")
Does the Statue of Liberty count if what you did was take a round-trip on the ferry to Staten Island, because it was a lot cheaper? I haven’t taken a double-decker in Barcelona - I’ve taken lots of regular subway and bus lines, though, and recommend the double-deckers to visitors. Then again, the Sagrada Familia is my grandmother’s parish, taking the double-decker to go there would be a bit silly :D. I did take the double-deckers from that same company in NYC and London. I love them, they make dropping by every Most Visitable Attraction in any of their cities so much easier than with regular public transportation. In Washington I saw the Capitol from a ways back and then went to visit The Wall, the Lincoln Monument and Arlington. I did not go to the science museum because I didn’t have enough time for it, that place warrants a couple of days at least. Read exactly as written, I only have 3 (Chichen Itzá, the Eiffel Tower - personally I prefer the view from the Sacré Coeur, the Acropolis). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/34 "2012-10-24T07:36:06Z")
Only 8. But I’ve been to a whole lot of places that should have been on that list. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/35 "2012-10-24T08:42:45Z")
Huh, I’ve only been to two. My wife has been to 4 or 5 more (I’d have to check where she did her luau) ---
**Author:** ![Ruby\_Slippers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/94ad74/32.png) [@Ruby\_Slippers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby_Slippers)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/36 "2012-10-24T10:30:38Z")
I’ve been to two but only checked one. I forgot about the culture center on Oahu. The only one I checked was the U.S. Capitol. I worked on Capitol Hill for 15 years and made many trips to and through the Capitol. When I first started working there in 1966, the Capitol Police were mostly college students, and you could enter almost any of the buildings through almost any entrance. I entertained myself a couple of times figuring out how to get from the Senate buildings to the House buildings through the basement of the Capitol. These days, there would be checkpoints all over the place and it’s doubtful that anyone without a staff ID could get through. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/37 "2012-10-24T11:00:57Z")
Eiffel Tower\* The U.S. Capitol building\* Roman Colosseum Statue of Liberty Trevi Fountain in Rome Stonehenge Space Needle in Seattle\* \*Didn’t pay/wait in line to do an official tour, but was either in the gift shop, or close enough to touch the actual structure. I’m saying that counts, but feel free to disagree. I’ve also been by the Tower of London but not gone inside, and explored Salzburg on my own, but I didn’t count those. Damn, I enjoyed Salzburg. All the cardboard Mozart cutouts pimping chocolate were a bit much, but the city is beautiful and the cafes were great. I wonder why all these were chosen, over so many others. They’re not all free, and they’re all pretty crowded, so that’s not it. Just another “25 random things/places/people in a slideshow” article for the hell of it? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/38 "2012-10-24T11:36:38Z")
How does Disney not make this list? They suck more money out of more people. I have been near many of these and seen several, probably more than ten, but as far as I know I’ve only been in the Space Needle, when I was a kid in Seattle in the late 60s. I may have similarly been in the US Capitol building. I’ve walked under or near the Eiffel tower, but didn’t bother going up it, and have seen the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island ferry, for example, but don’t “count” any of those. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/39 "2012-10-24T12:28:37Z")
I’ve been to these: Eiffel Tower Palace of Versailles Café du Monde (New Orleans) Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro The U.S. Capitol building Stonehenge The Tower of London Space Needle in Seattle I’ll probably hit all the Italian ones next month. Still haven’t been to the Statue of Liberty after 11 years of living ing New York. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/40 "2012-10-24T12:32:27Z")
I would call a lot of the items on the list tourist _attractions_ rather than tourist traps, the latter of which are usually developed out of thin air for the express purpose of making money. The US Capitol and Statue of Liberty, for example, are historic sites; the Statue of Liberty has an admission fee that pays for the boat ride to get there and for upkeep of the statue/island, but the US Capitol will give you a guided tour absolutely free. Tourist traps are places like Wall Drug or [House On The Rock.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_on_the_rock) Other places like Chichen Itza, I’m not so sure about. The sites themselves are of historical significance, but gadzukes, you have to walk by rows and rows of vendors hawking cheap crap molded in a factory in Mexico City. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669.md?page=3)