Every country in the world has a number of attractions that are especially loved by travelers. However, one must admit the fact that visiting some of them can be a real disappointment. Here are some popular travel destinations to ignore and not lose anything.
Sacred Monkey Forest, Bali
Photo: Sebastian Voortman / pexels
The sacred monkey forest in Ubud is one of the most talked about places, which often disappoints its visitors. It is packed with tourists trying to feed the monkeys and take the perfect selfie. In addition, since monkeys are used to human attention, they can be overly intrusive and aggressive.
In fact, wild monkeys can be found all over Bali, from the summit of Mount Batur to the Uluwatu Temple. Therefore, there is no great need to visit this park.
The Little Mermaid Statue, Copenhagen
Copenhagen has a lot of attractions that can impress tourists with their beauty, originality and history. But a small bronze statuette of Edward Eriksen can amaze, perhaps, only loyal fans of this fairytale character.
Times Square, New York
Ask any self-respecting New Yorker and they will tell you that Times Square is a place to avoid. Unless, of course, you are heading to a Broadway show and therefore have to squeeze through crowds of travelers and creepy costumed characters in neon fiery billboards.
The nearby restaurants and shops are always crowded and spoiled by the attention of tourists and do not really care about the comfortable rest of their visitors. Therefore, for good shopping and New York flavor, it is better to go to the West Village.
Empire State Building, New York
Photo: Matias Di Meglio / pexels
The Empire State Building is truly an iconic building in New York City. But this does not mean at all that the best view of the city can be obtained only from this building and for very decent money. After all, access to the 86th floor will cost $ 42, and on the 102nd it will already cost $ 72. Save your money and visit the 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar, for example, for an equally picturesque view of New York City.
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kyoto
If you have ever been interested in the Japanese city of Kyoto, you are probably familiar with the image of a densely planted bamboo grove. However, you will hardly be able to fully enjoy a walk through this unusual forest. After all, it is always crowded here.
Of course, you can arrive at the bamboo grove at five in the morning, while most tourists are resting. Better to go to the Kodai-ji Temple, which also boasts scenic bamboo trails and is clearly underestimated by tourists.
Red light district, Amsterdam
Amsterdam with its narrow canals, flower stalls filled with colorful tulips and rows of Dutch-style houses is one of the most picturesque cities in Europe. But the red light district is something different: it is squalid, filthy, smelling bad and completely devoid of charm.
Of course, you can drop by here and satisfy your interest. But this is not at all the place that deserves a lot of attention and to spend your time on it.
Stonehenge, UK
Photo: Stephen + Alicia / pexels
Stonehenge is far from the most comfortable place to visit. To get from London to Wiltshire, you will have to spend the whole day on the road. During the excursion, you will be required to adhere to a specific route, since it is prohibited to approach the stone structure. Therefore, it makes sense to combine a trip to the Stonehenge monument with a visit to the cities of Bath, Salisbury or the Cotswolds hills.
Painting "Mona Lisa", Paris
The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world. It receives approximately 10 million tourists annually. Obviously, if you hope to fully enjoy Leonardo da Vinci's creation, you are unlikely to succeed.
The painting itself in real life is much smaller than most museum visitors expect. In addition, she is almost all the time surrounded by a crowd of people trying to photograph either the painting or themselves against the background of the painting. However, the Louvre has many other incredible works of art worth seeing for travelers who find themselves in Paris.
Taj Mahal, Agra
The Taj Mahal, along with Machu Picchu and the Great Wall of China, is one of the seven wonders of the world created by man. But to be honest, a trip to this giant white marble mausoleum can be a huge disappointment and wasted time.
The Taj Mahal is located more than 160 km from Delhi, so you will have to spend several hours on the road. At the same time, the best time to visit the mausoleum-mosque is early in the morning, shortly before sunrise. In later hours, the Taj Mahal fills with pilgrims and tourists from all over the world. And you won't be able to enjoy the beauty and magic of this place. Much more positive emotions can be obtained while walking in Delhi, Jaipur and Udaipur.
Statue-fountain "Manneken Pis", Brussels
This bronze statue looks very funny and cute. But does it deserve special attention? Most probably not. A tiny and usually crowded attraction can be visited if it is on the route of the main route. Otherwise, you shouldn't set aside special time for this statue. In the Belgian capital, there are plenty of other attractions that can inspire awe even for the sophisticated traveler.
