Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what tourist sites you’ve visited that met or exceeded expectations?

364 replies

VenerableFreed · 04/09/2025 23:33

AIBU to ask 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 Last Supper in person in Milan. 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.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
mouse26 · 10/09/2025 06:17

@Tiredofwhatabouterywe went in June this year. No sign of a cable car, there was a small area in sight as we walked down that looked like something was being built but it was quite a bit away.

They do sell noodles at the last waystation and hot drinks. But we didn't have any issues with intimidating men, they were all perfectly fine. There was a little bit of litter 😕 but most people were picking up.and putting in bins at the waystations as we came down

Tiredofwhataboutery · 10/09/2025 00:23

mouse26 · 09/09/2025 17:39

Mount Sinai. We went up on camel back at about midnight, we could see the milkyway and Venus. Watched the sunrise from the top then walked back down. It was truly beautiful 😍

I had been dreading it but would 100% do it all over again

Can I be ask when you went? Apparently the Egyptians are developing the site and are building hotels in view of the monastery and putting a cable car up the mountain. I posted sbout it and someone said they went ten years ago and it was awful, covered in litter, lots of intimidating men and they sold pot noodles at the top!

I went 25 years ago and thought it was amazing. Always wanted to go back but now think
it might ruin the memories.

mouse26 · 09/09/2025 17:39

Mount Sinai. We went up on camel back at about midnight, we could see the milkyway and Venus. Watched the sunrise from the top then walked back down. It was truly beautiful 😍

I had been dreading it but would 100% do it all over again

CarpetKnees · 09/09/2025 17:14

OnceLostForMillennia · 09/09/2025 11:52

Not a city as such but New Zealand, the place blew me away. The absolutely stunning landscape, mountains, lakes - just on a scale that seemed incomprehensible. I loved the laid back vibe, the food was amazing- the freshness of ingredients. I felt a great sense of peace there.

This, 100%.

Thoroughly recommend putting NZ on anyone's bucket list. But allow yourself at least 2 months (3 would be better)

OnceLostForMillennia · 09/09/2025 11:52

Not a city as such but New Zealand, the place blew me away. The absolutely stunning landscape, mountains, lakes - just on a scale that seemed incomprehensible. I loved the laid back vibe, the food was amazing- the freshness of ingredients. I felt a great sense of peace there.

kiwiblue · 08/09/2025 12:33

The Taj Mahal. We went at dawn and I nearly cried when I saw it. That sounds ridiculous I know. There weren't many people there and it was just incredibly beautiful.

YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt · 08/09/2025 12:05

Coba ruins in Mexico
also really loved Arundel castle in Sussex
buttermere in the Lakes
a lot of the Cornish coast path

i want to go to Italy, Rome and Florence

savethatkitty · 08/09/2025 12:04

Alondra · 05/09/2025 11:08

Ha Long Bay (Vietnam). We took a 2 day cruise which was very expensive compared to what we paid for a 2 weeks holiday trip, but boy, it was worth it. It was incredible to see some of the islets and natural beauty of the place. It's beyond magnificent.

While Ha Long Bay will always be a special memory, the whole Vietnam trip was fabulous.

Agree. Vietnam is wonderful

savethatkitty · 08/09/2025 11:59

Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Breathtaking.

JHound · 08/09/2025 11:56

Chichen Itza
Petra
The Eiffel Tower (off the top of my head).

Malbecfan · 08/09/2025 11:50

@VenerableFreed I had never been to either in my early 40s. I was around 48 when I first visited Venice, then went again a year or so later just before I was 50 on a school trip. I only visited Rome in May this year - DH had been working out there for a couple of weeks and I went to join him for 2 days. I'm 57! Both were fab so I hope you do get to visit.

Original poster
VenerableFreed · 08/09/2025 11:19

It’s interesting that a very large number of these are in Italy - it’s either very well visited or is full of interesting sites (or both)!

Despite my age (40s), I’ve never been to Rome or Venice but they’re on my list for the next couple of years.

OP posts:
TheaBrandt1 · 08/09/2025 09:03

Interrailing as a student got into Rome at 6am straight to St Peter’s. No one there but us and some nuns. Was 1997 so years ago but was incredible experience.

Also the Alahambra felt like crying on going in

TheaBrandt1 · 08/09/2025 09:01

An empty Venice summer 2020. Never forget that.

StickChildNumberTwo · 08/09/2025 08:59

Death Valley. We went on a road trip because my husband wanted to see it, and I had no expectations but was blown away by how beautiful it is.

amicisimma · 07/09/2025 20:45

Agree with so many of these. Also:

A concert in the Opera House in Manaus. 1500km up the Amazon.

Helicopter ride over Rio de Janeiro at sunset. Preceded by Mass in the Cathedral and a tram ride up to Santa Teresa for a lively Sunday lunch.

Isfahan in Iran.

The huge reclining buddha in Wat Pho, Bangkok.

St Marks cathedral in Arica, Chile. Made in Eifel's Paris workshops and shipped over.

The Panama Canal - what a feat of engineering, capital raising, disease conquering/understanding, nutrition understanding!

Aachen. Charlemagne's cathedral and an excellent museum describing the history of the Holy Roman Empire.

Varenna on Lake Como. Small but perfectly formed!

I can't believe no one's mentioned Savannah, Georgia. So atmospheric with the Spanish moss, historic cemetery, and the airport and airport bus stop seats are rocking chairs!

An aspect of the area around Uluru that struck me was the smell. The soil is red and there was a very strong smell of hot iron from the sun on it.

AliTheMinx · 07/09/2025 19:14

The Trevi Fountain at night - glorious.
Venice on a crisp, sunny December day.
Checkpoint Charlie Museum in Berlin - absolutely fascinating.
The Roman Baths in Bath by torchlight.
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
The Blue Lagoon, Comino.

AliTheMinx · 07/09/2025 19:05

Auburngal · 06/09/2025 20:58

Siena Cathedral. Stunning. The floors are the best I’ve ever seen. They are usually covered up for 42-45 weeks of the year. I saw them uncovered as usually this time of year they reveal them.

Agree! I.spent my year abroad in Siena. The Duomo is beyond beautiful and the Palio was incredible.

CarpetKnees · 07/09/2025 15:00

@MissAmbrosia - you absolute superstar.

Thank you SO much. Flowers

Sadworld23 · 07/09/2025 10:32

And St Johns co-Cathedral Valetta, Malta.

RoverReturn · 07/09/2025 10:30

The Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth is probably the best museum I've been to.

Saw the Mary Rose when it 1st came up in the mid 80s as dad took us there , and what they've done with it is impressive.

Sadworld23 · 07/09/2025 10:26

hrft
Richard3 burial museum in Leicester, loved it..
Also great cafe.

Malbecfan · 06/09/2025 22:04

Like @sonnybeaudelaire the Vasa Museum in Stockholm is amazing. We went there last month.

St Peters in Rome was also amazing.

Not sure anyone has mentioned the Chihuly Garden in Seattle. The glass there is just stunning. I took so many photos and each room was more impressive than the last. We only went because we had City Passes and it was raining heavily, so decided we needed to find an attraction included with plenty indoors. It was fabulous.

madnessitellyou · 06/09/2025 21:06

The Vatican Museum. Spectacular. You’re there because it’s en route to the Sistine Chapel but my goodness, it was incredible.

Jasper in Canada. Forget Banff. Go down the road and go to Jasper!

BerfyTigot · 06/09/2025 20:59

World of James Herriot in Thirsk

Metropolitan museum in New York

Swipe left for the next trending thread