Feeling burned out with architecture and cathedrals

Totally relate. We are getting on a bit with limited stamina, so much prefer to see only those things in which we have a particluar interest, which may include a museum or an art gallery, or sea life exhibit, or a short wander round a cathedral, hoping to hear some music.
Other than that, a gentle wander through the streets, with frequent stops for a drink, snack and people watching.

When it comes to travel, I listen to what other people say and then do what I want. I know what interests me and what doesn't. I know what I like to do when traveling and what I don't.

Remember, it's your time and your money. Do what you want.

We limit the number of churches, castles, monasteries, whatever, on our trips. Otherwise they all start looking the same and one doesn’t appreciate them.

As Frank stated, see what you want to see and do what you want to do on your vacation, not what some unknown person said is a must see.

As someone who likes cathedrals and architecture, good for you.

First, running from one must-see sight to another, checking off boxes, is more than emotionally challenging. It is also physically tiring, which is a reason that people too often get sick during their trip or, in my case, immediately after they return home.

Second, everyone's must-see sights are different. Of course, you sometimes don't know what you love until you visit. I have learned that I like churches (to a limit), organized walking tours, long random walks, food tours, time in pubs, and visits to museums and locations related to some peculiar historical and other interests (like visiting sites where favorite movies have been filmed). I don't particularly like castles, art museums (except the d'Orsay), general history museums that cover 15 centuries (though there may be a few sections that I can spend hours in), and meals at expensive restaurants.

For example, despite many trips to London over decades, I have never been to the Tower of London, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Galley, the National Portrait Gallery, the Tate Modern, or the Tate Britain. I see no need for a second visit to or for Westminster Abbey (well, perhaps one more visit), the Changing of the Guard, the British Museum, and the British Library. But I can spend nearly every day taking a London Walk and nearly every night at the theater, and I always visit and spend extended time at the Imperial War Museum and St. Paul's Cathedral.

So what's the common thread, other than indulging in some odd interests and admiring the architectural and natural beauty of some places. For me, it's playing anthropologist or sociologist--it's trying, as best I can, to get a "feel" for how other people live, for how they are different or how they are alike. It may be a glimpse of different worlds, but I find just walking through street markets and department stores and visiting bookstores and pubs can be a rich introduction.

I understand the feeling. I am totally burned out on churches. I now only go if it something truly special, in my eyes. My last two trips included no churches and in Spain we only visited the Mesquita which is spectacular. We did not enter any other churches on that trip. Maybe the fact that I grew up attending the fourth oldest church in Massachusetts which is quite beautiful in its own right (designed by the same architect, Keeley, who designed St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York) has something to do with it and I find most churches more or less look/feel the same.

I also no longer visit museums that only have art that does not appeal to me (Renaissance, Baroque). I find I prefer either Ancient art or the periods starting with Impressionism or later. I used to feel like I was missing out on something if I did not visit the must see sights, now I enjoy spending my time the way I like with no regret.

I love both categories, but my favorite thing in Lisbon was the aquarium. I also highly recommend the "wildlife" in the Largo Argentina ruins in Rome.

I don’t know if I ever got burned out on anything. But I realized early on that there are things that I enjoy and things that I do because … sometimes you must.

Basically, an ancient church as a monument to visit and admire is about a 5 out of 10 on my enjoyment scale. But an ancient church as the backdrop of a café where I am sitting talking to the guide from the morning, or the guide I met last year and just met up with just for a cup of coffee is a 10 on my scale.

The evening Danube boat tour is about a 7 for me, but make it a wine tasting tour where the representatives of the wineries are present to discuss their business, life and yes, the wine; well, that’s another 10.

Funny thing is that I am not comfortable with people, but they become a necessary evil for enjoyment of travel.

The architecture in places like Budapest is attractive and for that it gets a 7. But when I walk into a new retail establishment in a 150 year old building and thanks to crumbling plaster I can see some of the original construction technical details that were meant to be hidden, details hand crafted (how in the heck did they do that!) then it becomes a 10.

My most cherished memory from the Eiffel Tower was watching the pickpockets in action. I can still see the grin on her face as she tossed the empty wallet in the bushes next to me. My most cherished memory of Rome involves a small child and 6 cats, London the cheese toastie and the conversation with the young lady selling them.

I wrote something similar in response to a prompt about whether our travel preferences have changed as we age. Don’t need to go to every church, done with climbing bell towers, don’t need to visit a museum just because it has a vast collection. I love finding interesting places to visit, walking tours, food tours, wandering around markets and grocery stores, finding historical tours that tell stories not commonly covered in western history etc. Learning one’s own preferences and following those is a much more enjoyable way to travel for me than running around to check off the “must see list.”

Traveling is a privilege, and only those with disposable incomes can indulge in it. I say 'to each their own'. However, since you asked, I'll be a contrarian. I only want to see art and architecture. Secondary interest is aviation. When it comes to museums, paintings are all I want to see, bypassing everything else. Science museums - only if they have intact aircraft. Lastly, food - couldn't care less. A kebab and a supermarket salad are all I need. I will make an exception for a granita, foie gras, or a Liege waffle!

This is me. I am certain everyone here has tastes that they passionately pursue. The point is, as someone already mentioned, 'it's your money and your time'. Do as you please.

alomaker,

You like aviation? There is a place here in Budapest where you can do Tupolev flight simulators. I can look it up if you are interested.

There is the air museum at the airport https://aeropark.hu/en/museum/ which has some aircraft you wont often find in the US.

BUT the most enjoyable thing I have done in recent years was a 30-minute flight in a PO-2. In Budapest it’s affordable and with so few lawyers you can do a few things in that plane that might not be possible elsewhere. https://youtu.be/4KZoXHkDiuY?si=2J9JiiT6eoInK511

They also have a Li 2 that they take up a few times a month in good weather. http://www.goldtimer.hu/ On that topic Tan-SAHSA, not too many years ago, used a C47 for passenger service from San Pedro Sula to Roatan. That was a fun trip. https://imgproc.airliners.net/photos/airliners/2/9/1/0733192.jpg?v=v40

A bit more than 4 years ago I also had a blast in a 2-seat ultralight out of Odesa and over the Black Sea. Unfortunately, that plane has since been “repurposed” with remote control and a one-way ticket.