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.

Venice. Oh my god I couldn't believe it, no photograph or film comes even close to the reality.

Off the top of my head... The Grand Canyon has to be up there. People are always "oh, it's just a big hole in the ground", but honestly, the sheer scope of it is incredible, and it just comes at you out of nowhere. It's hard to believe it's real.
My other one is Pompeii. It's been on my bucket list since I was a morbid little kid, who saw some of the plaster cast bodies in a book. We got there really early when it wasn't too busy, it was a lovely sunny day, and it was just incredible. I just walked around it the whole time thinking, "I can't believe I'm finally here."

I'm adding to my list from the posts here and will have to remortgage to do everything I want to do! Just shows you that experiences rather than "things" bring lots of joy.

My favourites for the jaw drops are -

The unexpected and stunning view of the Grand Canal when exiting Santa Lucia train station in Venice. OMG.

The Winter Solstice at Newgrange in Ireland. (Got tickets in a lottery).

The Hypostyle Hall, Karnak, Luxor (I saw it in Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile and swore I'd see it and I did, totally lived up to expectations).

Mont St. Michel. Seeing it in the distance peeking above the clouds was just, well.... something else. Went in late Autumn so quiet enough there.

The military cemeteries in Normandy. Words fail me.

The Mezquita in Cordoba, and the Alhambra, again in late Autumn, so easy to get a good look.

The Isle of Iona. So spiritual, even to me a total non believer.

The Forbidden City Beijing. Much better than the Great Wall.

1. Vatican
2. Great Barrier Reef
3. Nürnberg
4. Prado in Madrid
5. Melbourne zoo
6. Ningaloo reef in Western Australia
7. Hong Kong harbour views at night
8. Krakow
9. Sphinx
10. Kiyomizudera in Kyoto

Sigiriya in Sri Lanka, completely awesome.

Everything in Iceland - so beautiful and other-worldly

I've been to the Pyramids and Sphinx three times - always blown away by their mahoosiveness. Also love the way they're surrounded by very busy city.

Everyone goes on about how Santorini's overcrowded and I'm sure it is in high summer. We went in April, the weather was a bit dodgy but it meant we could do stunning long walks across the island without overheating and eat in any restaurant we chose without booking and faff. And some days it was really hot and we stayed by the pool, looking out at the caldera all day. I loved it, it was gorgeous.

Venice definitely - we stayed across the lagoon in Lido which was lovely and visited Murano and Burano - been twice and would love to go back again
Not a tourist attraction but Auschwitz moved me far more than I imagined - we got up very early and did a private visit before any of the tours arrived which allowed us to wander freely and take it all in quietly
Salt mines are unbelievable!
If anyone is interested in WW1 history the Thiepval memorial on the Somme is worth a visit - it’s the main memorial for those who have no grave

Cappadocia. It was a bucket list trip for me and didn't disappoint. Watching the hot air balloons go up at dawn was absolutely breathtaking - like being in the Microsoft screensaver!!

Malham Cove and the limestone pavements. 911 memorial pools and museum. The Colosseum. Most of the Cornish coast. Mont Saint Michel. The Menin Gate. The Silver Sands of Mallaig. The Edge NY.

Forgot about the crown jewels in Tehran. In fact most of Iran. Amazing place, or could be.

The Salt Mines near Krakow. They were unlike anything else I have encountered or am aware of, and it was well organised when I went this summer.

The Picasso Museum in Paris. I'm not normally a fan of Picasso. I don't like Paris. But even I have occassionally considered doing a day trip to Paris (I am in London) in order to see the Picasso Museum again with minimal contact with Parisiennes. It is an oasis unlike anything else I have experienced.

I can't wait to take my son to Park Güell in Barcelona and I am trying to plan a trip for next year. It would be good to see where they have got up to with Sagrada Família since I last went 20 years ago too.

Oh gosh yes Matera is absolutely wonderful. If you’ve not been go go go while it’s still not absolutely thronged. I think all of Southern Italy and Puglia is rapidly rising in popularity. Make sure you stay overnight because it’s absolutely worth seeing at night, dawn and dusk.

Macchu Piccu in Peru. It was many years ago that I went and trekked the Inca trail to get there but it was awe inspiring to see it rise out of the cloud forest

More recently I would agree Venice. I had low expectations but in fact it is magical. We arrived by train as the sun was setting and catching a vaporretto to the hotel was just gorgeous.

I’m definitely going to see this when the British museum steal it display it

The pictures make it look like a fairy city. Something from an Arabian dream.
I know the human consequences of war are much more important, but im really sad it must be getting damaged beyond repair.

Visiting the Mary Rose, I have to admit I didn’t realise how big the ship was. They really bought history to life.
I took the kids years ago visited London omg I loved Westminster abbey the workmanship I was in awe. The Tower of London &Crown Jewels it was quiet when we went it was amazing.

I first visited Venice when I was 19, way back in the mists of time.

I was studying Italian at uni at that time, and my teacher spoke of that moment when you exist Santa Lucia train station and the canals are right there in front of you. She was not wrong. It really is awe inducing.

Venice is glorious. Not even all the mobs of tourists (of which I am part!) can spoil it. I plan to next visit in autumn or winter. Not only will the crowds and prices be lower, but there is something wonderfully sinister about Venice and visiting at the darker times of years will highlight this. In a good way!

Wherever it was in Egypt, the remains of the colossal statue that inspired the poem, ‘My name is Ozymandias, king of kings…’. I took a pic of an adult dd sitting on a toenail! Nobody there but us and our driver/guide - and a young boy with his goats.

Ditto (ages ago) Castle Krak des Chevaliers in Syria, used by the Crusaders. Vast and so intact/untouched, you could almost smell the horses that had been tied to the rings inside. And hardly anybody else there.

Petra in Jordan
Hiroshima, Japan but recognising the human atrocities, it really is emotional

For me too. I absolutely love Barcelona and this just blew my mind. Amazing. Gaudi was a genius. 🥰

Jarlshof on Shetland, early-ish morning and eerily quiet. There had been thick sea fog overnight and the last of it was clearing/burning off. Some parts were already eroding into the sea (25 or so years ago) and it really brought home what a short time we have on this Earth. I keep saying that I'll go back some time.

I am loving this thread. It’s reminding me of lots of lovely places I have been and that I want to go to

Bamburgh and Alnwick castles and Hadrians Wall
Definitely Glencoe and also the far North and West coast of Scotland: Dunnet head and some of the amazing West Coast beaches
The Alhambra is magical.
Malcescine on Lake Garda and the views over it from the cable car
Pompei- went post Covid and it was a lot less busy. Definite sense of awe

Christ of St John of the Cross - Salvador Dali. I'd never heard of this masterpiece. Hoping now it's back after it's travels can see it again

I second Wells Cathedral so much history, absolutely stunning architecture

The Roman Baths at Bath, so much more than I thought

Stonehenge early in the morning in the days when you could touch the stones

Scottish Highlands especially Glencoe, Glen Etive and Glen Orchy

The Griffin Observatory in LA. The sunset from the summit is stunning as is the view of LA at night from their when it all lights up.

Versailles - both underwhelmed and overwhelmed.

I pre-booked tickets but the queues were far too long for my toddler. They were unacceptably long, despite the price. I'd have paid more for a more reasonable wait-time. So I skipped the palace and went straight into the gardens - which were truly amazing.