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

Paris - especially Notre Dame, though all the Parisian churches I visited were also magnificent. I also trekked out to St. Denis to see the tombs of various French kings and queens, and loved it.

Connemara, west Cork, and Kerry - stunning.

Rocky Mountain National Park and Grand Teton National Park were sublime in summer visits.

I’m desperate to see Guernica in real life. I just studied it as part of my OU course and I found it so fascinating.

Agree about Venice, stunning. Unlike anywhere else as basically the roads are canals.
Uluru, Australia. The rock is all encompassing.
Lots of New Zealand, both North and South islands,
Iona, Scotland, however the weather was bad.

I'm not sure if it counts as touristy but Millau viaduct. I finally saw it on our honeymoon & honestly shed a little tear.

Also the Atomium! I've been twice but never inside (first time was during the revamp & the 2nd was late at night & it was closed). Got emotional seeing that too. My mum & late-grandad went when I was like 5 & sent a postcard of this crazy building & I couldn't believe it was really real.

The Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, at night. The Byzantine mosaics are simply beyond awe-inspiring. Quiet and uncrowded when we were there for 5 days and went to the Basilica every night. Likewise Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, though I've not been there since the re-conversion to a mosque. The Roman temples at Baalbek. Mt Ruapehu in eruption whist standing on its slopes.

Ha Long bay
Shibuya, Tokyo.
Lake District, Cumbria
Redwood trees, California
Central Australian desert

Edited to add the great wall of China.

Zakopane. Stunning covered in snow

If you love those try Fountains and Jervaux Abbeys too. Both are wonderful. And, while you’re in the Dales, Aysgarth Falls - best after a bit of rain when they’re in full flood.

You’ve missed Dunstanburgh castle!

@MrsAvocet
https://www.talbothouse.be/en/
If you go back to visit Flanders, I recommend staying at Talbot House. It was used as a place of respite for soldiers when away from the front line.

Rivieux Abbey, Bamburgh Castle, Alnwick Castle and Alnwick gardens. In Yorkshire and Northumberland.

Amazing and easy to get into, not crowded

I came to say Pammukale too. Absolutely beautiful, magical. Walking up with no shoes on int he sun with the blue water reflecting from the sky against the white backdrop isbeautiful

Paestum on a spring day before tourist season - fabulous Greek temples etc in a green flowery setting.

Grand Canyon…we did a 6 day raft trip when we lived in the US in about 1990

Athens …so many wonders, not too hot and busy in October . The archaeological museum alone needed 2 days (and I want to go back and spend longer)

Totally agree with @CarpetKnees, the salt mines near Krakow don't sound terribly interesting but it blew my mind, I've been 3 times now and still love it!

On a different note the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona was totally rammed with tourists but still really moved me, I'm not really religious but the scale and beauty of the place as well as Gaudi's story touched something in me.

Another vote for Venice, it has to be the most magical and unique place on earth.

Angkor Wat also blew my mind, the sheer magnitude of the place and all the trees twisted into the stone.

The sun rising over St Basils Cathedral and all the colours coming to life, saw that as a teenager and it was probably the first time I’d ever been awe struck. I’d love to see it again, but it seems unlikely,

I was blown away by the Alhambra. Absolutely beautiful.

Yes. Agree regarding the Basilica, although I became annoyed when I found out lots of the marble had been nicked from the Coliseum!

St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, an architectural masterpiece. Almost skipped the Vatican on a short trip to Rome, but booked a last minute walking tour and it was out of this world. Rome its self was fabulous, visited in November, cool, dry and minimal queues. Sorrento also is picture perfect.

The Great Barrier Reef.

Also - not that I want it to be seen as a 'Tourist site' - but if you want to talk about be moved, then Auschwitz is definitely a place to visit.

I was also very impressed by the Salt Mines near Krakow, although maybe it was because I didn't know much beforehand and was so stunned

The fjords - know as 'Sounds' in NZ, on the South Island

Guernica at the Reina Sofia in Madrid is a breathtaking piece of Art.

Sydney Harbour,Opera House,all the beaches,Blue Mountains.
Vancouver,Vancouver Island ,Whistler absolutely loved British Columbia.

A common denominator seems to be places when they’re quieter

Absolutely. Have been to Vatican twice. First time middle of the day, rammed, super hot, hated it. Second time did a tour at 7am, wow. The Sistene Chapel truly is a wonder of the modern world.

Came to say this. Ephesus is incredible.

Perhaps a bit strange,but I adore Napoleon's tomb in Paris, and also the Pantheons in high Rome and Paris

Pamukkale in Turkey was stunning, but I hear that it is underwhelming these days as you can't go in the pools.

Yes. The Grand Canyon was so much more breathtaking than I expected. It made me feel very small.

Wells Cathedral - absolutely stunning, it’s now my second favourite cathedral.

I love Venice too, I avoided the tourists and heat by going out at 4am and in the evenings then sleeping in the hotel during the busiest hours. Even in San Marco most tourists are gone by 6pm

I’ve never seen the Last Supper but it’s on my bucket list