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

[VenerableFreed]

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.

Go on your own, honestly I promise it's worth it, book online to skip the biggest queue and there's a lovely old pub b&b within 20 minutes walk that's almost like staying at Beamish itself, you really need 2 days to see it all properly - and you get to use your ticket for a year afterwards for free entry too!

The Spinx is in Cairo?

Florence - every turn in the city was met by a beautiful building. And Michelangelo's David statue in the L'academia gallery.

Luton Airport. I went with extremely low expectations and was pleasantly surprised by the experience.

More seriously, Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro were far less tacky and touristy than I feared. The Forbidden City in Beijing was so vast and peaceful the contrast with the rest of Beijing was incredible. And for sheer awe, Victoria Falls never disappoints.

The Chateau de Chenonceau in the Loire Valley, France. I've been many times and it never fails too impress me - so beautiful.

Chartres Cathedral - stunning stained glass windows.

The Peak in Hong Kong - just an amazing landscape.

Thanks I might just do that ☺️

Durham, I think it will always be my favourite for sentimental reasons. Wells was probably actually more impressive.

I came to say Picasso's Guernica. Very moving.

There's definitely Avenue of the Sphinx in Luxor it connects Luxor Temple with Karnak if I recall correctly. it's 20 years since I went so might 3my temples mixed up!

Quite. I visited Stonehenge in 1975 and was able to wander amongst the stones. There were only two other people there.

Ankor Wat in Cambodia. Just the sheer scale and the fact that it was covered for so long and just a play space for local kids.

Ellis Island, NYC.

Baan Dam museum Thailand

Da Nang night market near dragon Bridge Vietnam

Marakesh market at night

Tulemben Liberty ship scuba diving Bali

Chaing Mai water festival Thailand

Drift scuba diving along enormous coral walls in warm seas

Northern lights

Scottish landscapes & weather

Glow worm caves New Zealand & Hells Gate geyser site

Tinguley museum

Egypt historic sites

Too many to mention !

DD and I found the Goldoni museum quite by accident wandering the back streets (it's in the vicinity of Santa Maria Maggiori) and found it a gem. Strange and curious.
But we also loved St Marco and went to the basilica twice, going into the museum on the second visit. Awestruck by the bronze horses 2k years old - though not sure why Turkey isn't demanding them back as they were looted. Not that I think Turkey should have them btw.

The Alhambra in Granada and La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. As well as Park Guell. All stunning.

I always think cathedrals and churches are the most awe inspiring paces to visit. There’s so much of our history and culture in them. You can feel the spirits of all the people, all the events they have witnessed.

The one which took my breath away recently was in Santiago de compostela. All the gold - I can only imagine how it has impacted pilgrims over the centuries arriving there after their long journeys

Stunning!!!

I saw Guernica for the first time this year.
The painting is still relevant today & bigger than I imagined.

Wells Cathedral is spectacular

Velazquez´s room in the Prado Museum, there used to be a bench in front of Las Meninas, I sat there for ages looking at the painting, it seems you can walk up some steps and walk into it.
Burgos cathedral and Seville Cathedral
My first glimpse of the Parthenon in 1991, when you could buy a ticket after standing in a queue of 3 and walk up, just to spend some time on an idle afternoon.
Cape Sounion and it´s temple at sunset, also in the early 90s, you could roam about freely.
Toledo, Granada and Caceres´s old towns.

Definitely Venice - exceeded any images I’d seen - so much so that we’re taking our kids back there this October after 20 years.

Blist Hill Victorian museum near Iron Bridge
Huge site
Lots to see & do

St Patrick’s Cathedral New York
Taj Mahal
Both were busy but there was a serene atmosphere.

The Alhambra in Granada - such a beautiful place

Avenue of the Sphinx is different from the Sphinx that is Cairo.

Avenue of Sphinxes - Wikipedia

The Grand Canyon was even more spectacular than I imagined. Spent the money to fly down into it and take a boat down the Colorado and it was worth every penny.