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

Isle of Skye... stunning

The view of Matera's old town. When we first drove up to Matera it looked like a totally normal boring modernish town, and then we walked through the door of the house we were staying at and this absolutely incredible view just unfurled in front of us. I was not ready for it.

Walking through Kyoto at night, catching passing glimpses of geishas through warmly lit restaurant windows.

I also loved the cathedral at St Denis. You turn a corner and it's just there right in front of you. Beautiful. The inside is beautiful just for itself, then there's hundreds of years of French royal history.

This is up there as one of the best things for me. Studied history at uni so seeing it was really special. I was speechless.

What’s your favourite cathedral?

Neuschwanstein Castle, the castle is incomplete but it is fascinating and the surrounding area is so picturesque.

The Roman ruins of Jerash in Jordan.

Driving through Wadi Disah on the way back from Al Ula, Saudi Arabia.

All breathtakingly beautiful.

Taj Mahal, India, we weren't expecting much, apart from crowds and tourists, but we went early and it was spectacular and surprisingly few people. It really is breathtaking and moving.

Hay Long Bay, Vietnam, was scenic and tranquil once you get passed all the hustlers and tourists.

I agree on Venice.

Also Finland in the winter. An eerie light, everything snow-covered, muffled sound. It was beautiful and amazing.

Terracotta Army, but actually at the site in Xi'an, China, not just a touring 'selection'.
The scale of it, and the realisation of what went into making it, and why it was done, and how many died because of it, was both astounding and moving. Simply the most amazing human-made thing I've ever seen.
Plus, I was there on a work trip, and my Chinese guide for the day took me to the most amazing 'off the beaten track' restaurant afterwards (and I wasn't paying for it 😀)

Venice. I felt so happy and at peace there.

YABU.
you do know there's a travel forum on here, don't you?

Venice, Uluru in the Australian Northern territory, Jerusalem old town, Boat trip off the West coast of Ireland, Red Rock Colorado

Tikal in Guatemala.

And they have the largest pyramid in the world, which I didn’t get to but will one day!!!

Another vote for St. Peter’s Basilica & Vatican City. (Although I didn’t wail at the Sistine Chapel ceiling).
I really recommend going up to the top of the Dome to the viewpoint.

The Bund - Shanghai.

Right up the hill and behind the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles. Most of Los Angeles and Hollywood boulevard in particular are really rough and sketchy, but the view from the top of the sign is amazing. Santa Monica and Malibu were also my favourite parts of LA.

The Acropolis. I’ve never felt anything like it. The air was thick with history and the weight of violence. Absolutely mesmerising.

The Blue Lagoon in Iceland. Otherworldly. Especially as it was a snowy February afternoon and the juxtapositions were beautiful.

Seven Sisters waterfall in Norway. I half expected a pterodactyl to fly past.

Every single fucking thing in New York.

Sunrise over the Valley of the Kings in Egypts West Bank.
Dier el-medina and Colossus of Memnon , also West Bank.
Cleopatras Pool in Pammukale, also the Amphitheatre in Ephesus.
The Sphinx and Blue Mosque in Cairo.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Puerto Plata Cathedral in Dominican Republic.
Rouen Cathedral in Northern France.

so many beautiful places 🥰

Ooh yes I should add British Columbia too. Vancouver - lovely. And the drive from Vancouver to Whistler up the Sea to Sky Highway - absolutely breathtaking. Every bend we went round we ran out of superlatives to describe the view. Stayed at quite a small town called Squamish, and there’s a cable car you can take up the mountain and look down on the sound - beautiful.

I’m not sure this exactly fits the brief but I was lucky enough to visit South Georgia and Antarctica in January. One of the most emotional experiences of my life. Just completely ‘other worldly’ and jaw droppingly beautiful. What a privilege.

Another vote for Venice

Pompeii - mid-winter, sunny but cool, did a four hour guided tour with one of the on-site archaeologists. It was utterly fascinating and the whole family loved it. Several years later, we still talk about what an amazing experience it was.

Yet another vote for Venice - it was absolutely breathtaking. Went out of season but the weather was unusually warm and there were no big crowds or cruise ships. We stayed on Lido rather in the centre, and getting the vaporetto back and forth was a treat in itself. I don't want to go back in case it ruins the magic!

The Valley of the Kings in Egypt

The Taj Mahal

The Crand Canyon

The Empire State Building

Notre Dame

Krak des Chevaliers Syria

Persepolis - Iran

Great Buddhas of Bamiyan - Afghanistan

all exceeded my epectations

Grand Canyon was amazing and def takes your breath away. Loved Acadia national park in Maine.

rhossolli bay in wales in the most beautiful beach and glencoe is so tranquil

Rome as a whole was fabulous. St Peter’s was stunning tho I also loved notre dame in Paris.

such great places being mentioned by you all. Thank you

Mozart’s house in Salzburg. We went in November so it wasn’t busy and we could wander round freely. I was in tears standing in front of his actual piano where he composed. Salzburg generally was beautiful. Lovely people, lovely sites, good food.