Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Lordofmyflies · 05/09/2025 10:56

Petra in Jordan. We took the kids when they were younger and visited at sunset when it was cooler. Their feet were sore so we hired donkeys and led them through the Siq to the Treasury. Awe inspiring.

ThePure · 05/09/2025 10:57

Oh and the Prado is the best art museum ever.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 05/09/2025 10:58

ItsnotnearlyChristmas · 04/09/2025 23:37

Ha! I came on to say the Last Supper. Same reason as you.

I really liked Lincoln Cathedral as well. The town is pretty but I wasn’t prepared for such a massive cathedral in the middle. Good tour round as well.

How strange (though probably not strange as we're all different!) - but The Last Supper was something I found disappointing/distinctly underwhelming (but have been a bit ashamed to come clean on that).

As for the Sistine Chapel - wow!!

Wednesdaysotherchild · 05/09/2025 11:00

The Keswick Pencil Museum.

Swiftie1878 · 05/09/2025 11:00

VenerableFreed · 04/09/2025 23:47

A common denominator seems to be places when they’re quieter with fewer tourists (either because of the timing or because numbers are restricted).

I’d always been fascinated by Westminster Abbey but when I visited it was ruined by just too many other people - and I went at a quieter time of day!

I can’t complain obviously, I was visiting too, but the best experiences I’ve had have been in places that were emptier.

Edited

In contrast to that, Las Vegas.
A group of U.S. went, all celebrating a big birthday around the same time.
I was absolutely dreading it - not keen on USA generally, and thought it was going to be tacky and overwhelming.
But I absolutely LOVED it! It was so awful that it was great - like an adult Disney World. You have to suspend all your natural instincts and just go with it, but it was fab.

weareallcats · 05/09/2025 11:03

Alcatraz.

Yosemite.

Notre Dame (bells were ringing as I was waiting to go in, really atmospheric, did not however enjoy the Louve).

Starry Night (quiet and actually got to look at it).

Table Mountain and a beach near Cape Town where there are penguins.

Biggest let down for me was the bamboo ‘forest’ in Kyoto - it’s very small and full of people taking selfies. Was also really disappointed by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam - really anxious staff hovering around constantly and The Night Watch was miles away and behind a screen that reflected the light back at you.

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.

BananaWoman999 · 05/09/2025 11:12

Gingerbreadloony · 05/09/2025 00:45

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.

Agree. Salzburg is stunning.

We went on a trip to the lakes (Wolgangsee) in January. Everything was covered in sparkling snow and the lakes were frozen over. It looked like something from a fairytale! So so beautiful.

For me, Petra in Jordan was incredible.

And snorkeling near Boracay in Philippines. Like scenes from the little mermaid!

LancashireButterPie · 05/09/2025 11:17

CagerUmbonate · 04/09/2025 23:50

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

What's your fav cathedral?

MrsAvocet · 05/09/2025 11:18

I think sometimes it's places that you stumble upon almost unintentionally that are the most surprising. A few years ago DS had a sports camp in Leeds and DH and I went for a drive after we'd dropped him off and spotted a brown sign for Saltaire. I'd vaguely heard of it so decided to take a look and we absolutely loved it. We discovered Hartlepool Maritime Museum under similar circumstances and had a very good day out there too.
I've visited quite a lot of world famous places and yes, been really impressed by many, but some of my best days out have been to less well known places that we've stopped at to break a long journey or just seen signs for and decided to go and investigate.

Letshavetea1 · 05/09/2025 11:21

Another vote for Venice. Go for a minimum of. a week. Stay in Dorsoduro. Absolutely amazing and next year is the Art Biennale.

Hoardasauruskaren · 05/09/2025 11:22

MsVisual · 04/09/2025 23:53

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.

We went to Rome in late January & the Vatican was absolutely amazing! The Sistine Chapel, just awe inspiring. Wasn’t empty but definitely not busy. The Coloseum & Roman Forum were also fabulous! Definitely worth going at a quieter time of year.

Clearinguptheclutter · 05/09/2025 11:26

St Peter's Basilica, Rome.
Though I went a few years prior and wasn't that fussed at all.
For those saying it's important to go up the dome I totally hated that because the route up was so claustrophopic and at an angle. That was a very long time ago thuough it might have changed

On a more natural theme, Isle of Skye. Mind blowingly beautiful, Iv'e been all around the world but it totally stands out

On a rather different theme, I found Auschwitz profoundly moving, as well as Pompeii.

Clearinguptheclutter · 05/09/2025 11:27

oh another one which I don't think has been mentioned.
The monoliths at Carnac. So mysterious. Taking the kids next year.

Espressoicecream · 05/09/2025 11:28

I'm a Rome afficionado and the Pantheon, Forum and Colluseum blow me away. But yes it's very very busy!

NeedMoreTinfoil · 05/09/2025 11:29

So many of these I recognise and agree with, so many many more I haven't seen and would love to. I agree (with one exception) the quieter the place the better the experience. Some of the best are those stumbled on by chance and completely unexpected.

Throwing what I hope are some different ones into the mix:

Flodden battle field - utterly deserted when we visited on rainy afternoon - the landscape that shaped the outcome of the battle was still very clear.

Eastern State Penitentiary. We learned of this place from a flyer in the hotel lobby, wandered the neighborhood, had lunch at Jack's Firehouse and then went to one the creepiest places we have ever visited. It's in a state of eerie semi-ruin and was very deserted. Horrifying and very educational.

Vasa Museum in Stockholm. The sight of the looming ship as you walk in. Wow!

Delphi in Greece. Wow again. All those famous historical figures who visited, and the epic decisions they made based on the oracle. A stunning setting too.

Not really a tourist thing but an amazing experience - the botafumeiro at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. A huge censer weighing over 50 kilos, full of burning incense, swung on a thick rope by 8 men across the transepts during some pilgrim masses and other services. Since it doesn't happen every day it is really quite special to see it, we were lucky as someone had paid for it to be swung the day after we finished our camino. It gets fairly low at times and is a wee bit distracting as it whooshes over your head in the packed congregation. It's been done since the 12th century, and has only fallen off the rope a couple of times over the centuries.....

Ostia Antica near Rome. Like Pompeii, but without the tragic end and all the crowds. Has whole streets with blocks of flats still standing with corner cafes. The merchants' bourse, a theatre. Fascinating and almost empty when we went.

rainylake · 05/09/2025 11:30

Delphi. If you stay in the village, you can go in as soon as the site opens, and most tourists come on day trips from Athens so don't arrive till later. The setting is incredible in the morning light and you can understand why the ancients believed it was a holy place.

I've been to lots of classical sites in Greece/Turkey/Italy but Delphi has an atmosphere which is genuinely magical.

LindorDoubleChoc · 05/09/2025 11:30

La Sagrada Familia but in 1998, we didn't even need tickets.

When we went again about 20 years later it was too overrun with tourists to enjoy the experience.

LancreWowhawk · 05/09/2025 11:32

SirHumphreyRocks · 05/09/2025 08:26

A common denominator seems to be places when they’re quieter with fewer tourists (either because of the timing or because numbers are restricted).

I've been to so many it's hard to pick one, but I agree with this. Dawn at Machu Picchu for example - very quiet as most tourists haven't arrived yet. But one of my favourites was Abu Simbel, which most people see at a time overrun by tourists. But we were on Lake Nasser and the only boat tied up at the dock overnight there. Went to the sound and light in the evening, but next morning we got on the site as it opened. Literally the 40 of us were swamped by the place and we got to wonder through the chambers and corridors at liberty pretty much alone. Magical.

Abu Simbel was mine too, and in absolutely identical circumstances (small boat, docked overnight, only ones there). I'll never forget it.

NeedthatFridayfeeling · 05/09/2025 11:33

Lake Tahoe, every bit as beautiful as it looks in photos. Likewise Peyto Lake in Canada.

Alltheburpees · 05/09/2025 11:34

Iguazu Falls. The most breathtaking sight I’ve ever seen. The falls go on forever, and you are permanently soaked by the mist all around. The bridge taking you over the Devil’s Throat was awe inspiring as to the power of nature. We toured both the Brazil and Argentina side.

InMyOpenOnion · 05/09/2025 11:37

The Lion Monument in Lucerne. It's so poignant.

user1476613140 · 05/09/2025 11:38

Calton Hill after the Festival is over!

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 05/09/2025 11:38

The Treasurer’s House, in York.

In particular the cellar, where a tradesman working down there decades ago was petrified on seeing a line of Roman Soldiers - from the knees up only - appearing through one wall and disappearing through another. There was an old B&W film of him recounting his experience.

The house was later found to be directly on the path of a Roman route.

SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 05/09/2025 11:44

Eibsee in Bavaria.