Tourist Attraction or Tourist Trap or Authentic Spot?

I count as a tourist trap any restaurant that has pictures of the food outside, and a bloke trying to entice you in.
Since being on this forum, I have become aware how many places in Europe are simply overrun with tourists and I now plan my holidays to avoid crowds.
I am lucky enough to live close enough to the south coast to be able to hop on a car ferry and go to somewhere quieter in my car.

how much of it is Rick’s fault

Two tourist traps that stand-out to me are Las Ramblas and Sorrento. I entirely blame Rick Steves for Sorrento. It boggles my mind that people that want to experience the views of the Amalfi Coast spend almost their entire Amalfi Coast time in Sorrento.

Personally most anyplace can end up as a “tourist trap”. I love visiting Rothenburg but it’s most definitely a tourist trap. Bruge is nice but for the life of me I don’t see the obsession here for it.

In the end….go where you want see what you want. You don’t have to come here for validation. (But suggestions sure are helpful) Your self satisfaction is paramount. Don’t worry about “best” or authenticity but do consider if you’ve had fun on your travels.

I know our natural bias on this travel board is to assume it’s Rick Steves and nobody else but there are other companies selling travel books. Google sites a survey that puts Lonely Planet as the number one seller, with Avalon (Moon and Rick Steves) as number two. I was a bookseller for 20 years, retired in 2012, and believe me, a lot of people going on trips had never heard of RS.

To me, a tourist trap is one that demands money (and sometimes offers little to no value in return). Madam Tussaud's comes to mind. Or the rug shop with the high-pressure sales pitch.
A tourist attraction can be a tourist trap or an authentic place. Pike Place Market is an authentic place that has become a tourist attraction. I haven't been recently enough to know whether this had made it inauthentic. But to me, it's not a tourist trap because a person can enjoy the Market for free and spend no money at all.
When a place becomes over-touristed, is it itself a tourist trap? Or just crowded with individual tourist traps? I felt that Kenmare, Ireland, was somewhat inauthentic, but I still wouldn't call it a tourist trap.

We have visited many tourist traps, including Pike St Market. They are hard to ignore if you go to popular places.

We have some simple “tricks” to avoid them. For example, while in Nerja when going out for dinner we walked away from the beach into a residential area and found a little tapas place with locals only. No view, only tourists being us, simple tasty food and great ambience. Once over the shock of us being there, the locals were warm and great company.

Another tip is to visit towns near the attractions. They often have a church fort etc that rivals the main city.

Finally, there are no secrets. Enjoy being a tourist.

Hi Fred, Pike Place is iconic even if it’s a tourist location! I used to work a few blocks from the Space Needle in a building along the monorail route.

The tourist trap that immediately came to mind is the Leaning Tower of Pisa - only because of the junk that was being sold by vendors when we were there in 2006 & so many tourists posing their goofy “holding up the tower” photo. I did enjoy the chance to attend the Luminara di San Ranieri at the river in Pisa in 2022, though, with the locals.

I think of Cinque Terre’s crowds being Rick’s fault, but it sure was a wonderful setting in 2006 during our RS 17-day Best of Italy trip! And maybe the Lauterbrunnen region of Switzerland, too - another popular spot now that we enjoyed on the GAS tour and stayed again another time. That was my husband’s favorite spot in Europe, so “Rick’s fault” can also be considered an advantage to even know about them.

I had planned to stay overnight in Giovinazzo last year (found it in a wonderful Puglia coffee table book) but changed plans and went back to Alberobello for a night. But, I made sure to go to Giovinazzo as a day trip from Bari during that trip after reading that some of the RS South Italy groups stay there. I wanted to see it before it becomes popular & ruins the atmosphere of the tiny winding lanes little village.

Per your comment about Sorrento, I remember having a FaceTime conversation with my husband back home when my daughter & I were staying in an old summer palazzo in Salerno in the historical section of the city. I was describing our day, and my husband said, “You know you’re having the true “back door” experience Rick intended for his audience.” That certainly resonated, and I’ve had many more since that trip - mainly trying to avoid the cities that tend to be in guidebooks.

I'd add - and this is often echoed by Rick - that visiting during the daytime is often worlds different than being there early morning and late evening/overnight. Many - if not most - touristed areas are at their maximum crowding during that mid-day period where day trippers are swelling the ranks.

Many sites are at their best in the off-hours, and many popular attractions like museums offer later hours (or going at opening) that folks who are able to spend more than a few hours in town can take advantage of.

I think, of all the tweaks we've made to our travel habits over the years, focusing and staying in fewer places for more time has been one of, if not, the best changes. Couple it with shoulder or off season visits, and the experience folks have in Rome, Barcelona, or Venice in peak season, peak time of day will be miles apart and completely different.

”…visiting during the daytime is often worlds different than being there early morning and late evening/overnight.”

Tom R, I heartily agree with you! Interestingly, the same issue has caused me to travel almost opposite of you. I stay at even more cities because I don’t do day trips. Giovinazzo was the huge exception. If there’s a small city I want to see, then I want to be there in the evening & morning - not just during the day because it does feel & look different. As an example, Alberobello during the day is a crowded zoo; Alberobello in the evening & early morning is magical.

I agree. Venice needs several days, though. A city I never get tired of visiting.

It is unfortunate that key sites in the World attract lots of tourists. Yes, the Trevi Fountain can be so crowded that you can't get close enough to throw coins in the fountain. Still, many sites are so awesome that they should not be avoided.

Sorrento was great in 1983 when I visited, but not sure these days.

I visited Pike Place Market in Seattle a few years ago, it was a bit crowded, but not so bad. Still, it was interesting, but not in a huge way. Not Sistine Chapel or Pompeii awesome.

The most crowded place that I have ever been was the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto. Of course, no one could go into the Pavilion, but the crowds were terrible. Still, I am so glad that I was able to see it.

Other places in the World where crowds show up but, still going there is awesome:

Venice- almost anywhere in that wonderful city. We visited once during the yearly festival were they have races on the canals with ancient looking boats and people in their uniforms of that period. It was awesome.
Sistine Chapel- Incomparable art surrounding you, amazing.
Coliseum in Rome
The Great Wall of China and The Terracotta Warriors in Xian- At Xian, we actually got to meet the farmer that discovered the Warriors.
Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx in Cairo.
Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem
The Parthenon in Athens, Greece

I've got more, but the list is too long.

Some places control who visits and demand is high.
A few years ago we visited Amsterdam and had to book the Anne Frank House at just the right time or not get a reservation. Not to be missed.
It is fortunate that many places now require a booking in advance. Otherwise, getting in past the crowded could be difficult.
It just takes planning and research in advance.

Yes, there are tourist traps, but not many key important places.

I count as a tourist trap any restaurant that has pictures of the food outside, and a bloke trying to entice you in.

Lin C. Absolutely agree.

Re Pike Market, I neglected to mention it’s our “go to” place for certain spices or herbs. As a local. But 50 years ago, it was our go to place for weekly shopping. Not since the 1970s, though.

In 1999, the market in the Ramblas was no tourist trap. Don’t know ‘bout now.

And in the last couple of years, I was shocked to learn that churches in Florence are charging admission. On one level, I “get it.” But I wonder if they still get the Italian state support that they used to receive.

One person's tourist trap is another person's trip highlight.

Do what you want to do, go where you want to go.

I had to laugh about "don't eat where they have pictures of the food out front". So many ethnic restaurants in Frankfurt do this, even on all of the side streets and neighborhoods, and I quite like it. It gives me an idea of what I might be getting, cause sometimes I would not have a clue. I walk by and think, damn, that looks yummy, and perhaps there is no need to cook tonight. So, perhaps don't completely write them off.

No, to the guys out front waving people in. A big no.

Tourist traps are places that only tourists go, like Neuschwanstein. I don't know any Germans that want to go there. They know it is not a castle, but a palace, and not much over 100 years old. Moulon Rouge? Tower of Pisa? l

Posted by Jean

only because of the junk that was being sold by vendors

This means tourist trap to me. Especially when getting to the exit involves going through the gift shop that is full of cheap trinkets made in China.

This is a thought provoking question! I think there’s big differences between the question of authenticity, a highly popular attraction and a tourist trap and it’s a bit of a moving target.

Like Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast as an example. They’re highly popular places, but still high value sightseeing. The big issue here is using your travel experience to manage these places. I agree, I’m always a bit perplexed when someone wants to day trip from Rome to Sorrento for reasons they can’t articulate. By the same token, I’ll always remember how the town square in Atrani was entirely occupied by locals in the evening. Few experiences have felt more authentic. And tour groups line up to enter Florence’s Duomo by the hundreds, when all the art is in the Duomo Museum, and the exterior is free. Maybe the dome is a tourist trap? You pay a ton and wait, when you can scale the tower at Palazzo Vecchio and get a great view of the dome. I’ve never quite understood this because when you’re on the dome you can’t see the dome!

What makes a tourist trap? Fees and crowds for a rock bottom experience. Ones that come to mind: the bridge (and “museum”) in Avignon. The empty Papal Palace in Avignon. The “yellow cafe” in Arles, from the famous Van Gogh painting (that was not actually painted yellow back then.) Every torture museum. The Sound of Music gazebo. Maybe I’ve gotten better at clocking these over time.

I entirely blame Rick Steves for Sorrento.

I spent 2 weeks in Sorrento in 2023 and rarely came across an American, it was well to wall Brits. In Mexico City in February I was talking with an American who was on her 40th Rhodes Scholar tour, and when I brought up Rick Steves, she'd never heard of him. I think you're giving Rick too much credit.

don't eat where they have pictures of the food out front".

Then don't go to Japan or you will remain very hungry.

Tourist Attractions: locations with cultural or historical significance. You could make an argument that Pike Place meets both.

Tourist Traps: Overpriced gift shops, predatory taxi drivers, and "pay-for-photo" characters that cluster around these landmarks are the traps. You could make the argument that Pike Place may have these as well. It's up to the tourists to determine how they're going to experience it.

I have pictures of Bruges I took in Januari 1997. It was cold, but sunny, there were almost no tourists at all. Lake of Love was completely abandoned. This will never come back. Nowadays crowds all year around, even with bad weather in Januari there are crowds. Bruges has always been a well visited place, but have seen it changing and actually seen loosing it's innocence. Nowadays visit it rarely, even it's only 40 km from my home.

I travel off the beaten path for decades and combine it with the hot spots. It’s the style I like. Off the beaten path places are not an alternative, they are a goal in itself. There are always overlooked places to enjoy and with a bit of luck you have the whole place to yourself. Nothing more rewarding than having your own discoveries.

It was not out of frustration starting this way of travelling, it happened spontaneous. It started in France driving around to look for a place to sleep and discovered in the meanwhile lovely hidden away places. Or followed the good advice of the B&B host for planning a daytrip. And so became more interested in an let’s say open style of travelling.

One person's tourist trap is another person's trip highlight. Do what you want to do, go where you want to go.

This

I count as a tourist trap any restaurant that has pictures of the food outside,

Probably one of the silliest things that I have read.

Tourist attractions, tourist traps or "authenticity" are all subjective and rely wholly on the eye of the beholder. I have visited places obviously a tourist trap and had some of the most enjoyable experiences in my travels, while having the most miserable time at some of the most highly rated tourist attractions.

On the theme of moving target: My first encounter with the term “tourist trap was as a child on a family trip to Altantic City after we conviced our parents to pay to enter a roadside large wood and tin elephant with, it turned out, absolutely nothing to see inside. My parents explained that even though no one was literally trapped, it’s a trap to get people pay for seeing nothing. I recently read that this same elephant is now a historic landmark and supposedly the oldest US roadside attraction.

Tourists traps are those places that people who imagine themselves to have superior taste like to sneer at.

Seriously, though, to me, a tourist trap is a place that exists solely to make money from tourists. So, a lot of those roadside museums come to mind. That said, even some of those can be enjoyable. In the mountains between Calgary and the Okanagan Valley, there's a place called "The Enchanted Forest." It has a fairytale theme. When I was a kid, my family would stop there whenever we travelled through on summer vacation. I adored it. When my kids were young, I took them there, too. It's still there, and maybe I'll have the opportunity to take my grandkids there someday. Tourist trap? Yes. But it has its charm.

Then there are places like the Opéra Garnier in Paris. It is absolutely overrun with tourists, some of whom go there dragging along photographers, equipment, and evening gowns for glam photoshoots. It's a human zoo. But is it a tourist trap? Well, the number of tourists certainly make visiting it less enjoyable, but it is a gorgeous building worth seeing nonetheless.

Las Ramblas in Barcelona? Shudder. I tried to avoid walking along there because of the numbers of hawkers accosting tourists along the way. But is it a tourist trap? Or is there an intrinsic or historical value to it?

I agree with the concept that a place can be overtouristed, but that doesn't make it a "tourist trap," per se, unless its sole reason for existing is to make money from tourists. A lot of places are overtouristed these days, and good for those who were fortunate enough to visit them in the halcyon days when they were less overrun, but that doesn't mean that they aren't worth seeing for those who have not yet done so.

BB, you made me smile, I loved The Enchanted Forest.

And in the last couple of years, I was shocked to learn that churches
in Florence are charging admission. On one level, I “get it.” But I
wonder if they still get the Italian state support that they used to
receive.

Some of those - Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella, San Lorenzo, Orsanmichele, for instance - have had admission fees for some time. Plenty of good ones are still free, though: San Miniato, Santa Maria del Fiore, Santo Spirito, Santa Trinita, Santa Felicita and Santissima Annunziata and probably some others.

....visiting during the daytime is often worlds different than being
there early morning and late evening/overnight.

That certainly was true for us in Sorrento, Bruges, the Cinque Terre, Città Alta in Bergamo, Capri and some other tourist-magnet places we've been. So far, we've also been able to find tourist-neglected corners during peak sightseeing hours.

I'm continually puzzled by Bruges being labeled as a tourist trap, and wonder if the visitors who felt that way spent any quality time poking corners and learning any of her stories. For instance, who are the people entombed in front of the high altar in the Church of Our Lady, and how did they/their offspring figure into the history of the city and some ruling families in Europe? Who was Blessed Charles the Good, and why are his remains kept in a golden reliquary in Sint-Salvators Cathedral? What's the legend of 't Brugs Beertje, emblem of the city? What UNESCO-recognized procession has taken place on Ascension Day since 1304 and why? What was the 'Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde', who lived there, and why was it and similar enclaves unique? You get the idea; there are lots and lots of interesting stories if interested enough to look! Had a great time.

A trap for me is an ROI calculation of cost/time spent to payoff in quality of experience: a 'worth it' thing. One that comes to mind is Grand Canyon West and their ridiculous high fees versus a quality canyon experience for much less $$ at Grand Canyon National Park. Then again, one person's hell can be another person's heaven!

I'm continually puzzled by Bruges being labeled as a tourist trap,

I think the words 'tourist trap' and 'touristy' are over used and misused. I've heard the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and Pompeii described the same way. Outside Pompeii is a tourist trap in my opinion but not the actual archeological site and I hope people would understand the difference. The Royal Mile is filled with souvenir shops and some tacky sites but if you take the time to look beyond those and learn about the history, it's is a significant and interesting street.

I am with VAP and Frank on this- so much of travel is what you make of it. Even things that are incredibly silly can be fun if you're in the right mood for it. And popular things are normally popular for a reason. I also agree with Allan that terms like "touristy" can get overused and misused. So many of the biggest sites in Europe- Versailles, the Vatican, Sagrada Familia- are full of tourists- but in my opinion that certainly doesn't mean they are not worth visiting! And if I only have limited time off I'm going to want to see those big sites when I am travelling. I can easily get "off the beaten path" close to home on the weekend if that's what I want to do. I think there is no need to worry about this (and frankly it can come off a little snobbish), just do what makes you happy, whether that be going to the most touristed sites in the world or to places where you are the only non local. As long as we are respectful to the places we do choose to visit I don't see why it matters.

I don't see how Pike Place market can be labelled as touristy, when it is still basically performing it's original function. Yes, it is doubtless full of tourists, but as I understand it people could still do their shopping there if they wanted to, they just prefer to go to the supermarkets now. So it probably isn't even a tourist attraction, just where a lot of tourists go to.

So the tourists are an adjunct, possibly even the saviour of the place, if most locals now do their general shopping elsewhere.

As I understand it (possibly wrongly) even the throwing of the fish around is derived from some real, practical purpose back a century or so ago. It may be a gimmick now, but possibly wasn't originally.

Certainly, when I was on the late night transfer bus from King Street station to our tour hotel many years ago, if one thing said exactly where I was it was funnily enough the Market.

I can say that if I was in Seattle this week I would certainly be going to the market (like I did in Rotterdam and Funchal as other examples) but my schedule doesn't explicitly have the space needle on. I've done a fair few tall buildings round the world, I'm not saying I wouldn't do it but it is sort of on a reserve list to slot in as and when. To me the needle feels that bit more of a tourist 'trap' [and, yes, I do know why I should really do it- the World's Fair and all that].

I sometimes wonder if we manage to make tourist traps on forums like this, where we send people by default to the most popular places.

At the same time as Mardee's thread there has been one running on Trip Advisor about Seattle's museums. I have no doubt that people have been expressing very sincere opinions, but I've been a bit flummoxed by it, because quite a few places I would be going to if I was in Seattle right now are not even on the thread, and a couple of others are rubbished. It all makes no difference at all to me, I'm going to places because they interest me, not because a guidebook or a forum says to (or not).

I've been watching Mardee's thread with great interest, packed full of what seems great advice. But equally I have been very much wondering if I had raised the exact same thread as an overseas (not domestic) visitor, as to whether the same advice would have been given, or if it would have defaulted more to a "greatest hits" type of thread.

Stuart, did you see where the Space Needle is offering a pint and pie special after 4pm? Might be interesting to see whether they can pull off the pie. We know Seattle can produce a good pint (by American standards, anyway).

I’ve eaten at a few places that have pictures outside and the menu in a few languages. Maybe the meals weren’t the most ‘authentic’ but all had decent food.

As Frank mentioned, pictures are the norm in Japan. Not only for tourists but also for the Japanese.

A tourist trap to me must be a place that charges a fee that is much higher than the attraction is worth.

We live only about twenty miles from Lancaster PA and sadly most of a certain area is a tourist trap on steroids. Without doing some research to find off the beaten path I would never recommend anyone to visit this "authentic " area. Years ago our tiny town had a large resort hotel with billboards proclaiming it Mickey Rooney's hotel in the heart of the PA Dutch country. Tourists came by the bus loads and then were driven another twenty miles to the Lancaster area. Sadly every one missed out on the true beauty of the area. I like this forum because we seem to get travelers who know how to make the most out of travel.and getting into the back roads a lot. Of course there are great must see places too that are "touristy" as well.

We do not travel from June through August when most US kids are out of school. No way. We've found it far less congested traveling in the shoulder seasons of April-May and September-October. We do go to a sporting event or concert for an overnight or two, but that's about it. It's worked for us. Enough of getting pushed around in a nearly comical crowd at Versailles.

Kate – Your post proofs that in Bruges is much more to see and do than the usual tourist stuff like beer, chocolate and boat trips. If you know the stories as you say than the whole place comes alive. You will see it more as it actually is: a historical place or a place full of history. So despite being overrun nowadays there is luckely room for those interested in history.

You can link the people entombed in the Church of Our Lady as you mention with interesting historical characters and events like Columbus, Henry VIII of England, Martin Luther, the Spanish Armada, Joan of Arc, Louis XIV and Louis XVI (French Revolution) of France and so on.

LOL, I do know those stories, Wil. In fact, you and I crossed paths in a thread back in 2017 in a chat about the Church of Our Lady! History fans, both of us, eh? :O)

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/belgium/bruges

Aha, you still remember it! Your knowledge still impresses me.

It are the stories that makes history interesting. Have to say that it has hibernating a bit in the meanwhile. But two years back I have visited Hever Castle south of LondonI and had a very interesting conversation there with one of the stewards and so triggered a renewed interest in history. This castle was once the home of Anna Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII. You know she succeeded Catherine of Aragon, close family of Mary of Burgundy, one of the two persons entombed in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges.

Last year I have visited in the Cathedral of Peterborough in England the tomb of Catharine of Aragon and this year hope to visit Hampton Court (and much more). Watch the drama serie The Tudors, so in short history revives at the moment.

I am a fan of history, but something must happen to draw my attention. Most of the time something unexpected like that visit to Hever Castle. So my interest is not directly permanent, it goes up and down.

Oh gosh, don't be impressed. I just like a good story so go digging for them.
We did drink our fair share of beer, and I ate too many doggone frites!

People flocking to those popular sites can't be blamed for their interest in them. They are all visually atrractive and interesting and most have some good stories behind them for those that dig a little deeper. I'm sure most of us are guilty of adding to the numbers. Nothing wrong with that.

Areas associated with 'tourist traps' offer the visitor comfort and familarity. The promise of authentic food and experiences, signage in english, familiar hotel names, lots of hot water, thick towels, nice beds and bedding, air conditioning, ice in the drinks, service staff speak english. This makes it easy to find these places, make plans, have an easy existence and move on. Areas that are not associated with 'tourist traps' can feel awkard, maybe even dangeorus or at least uncomfortable, and present challenges in understanding how to go about things.

But in the end, the 'tourist traps' are mostly still very visually appealing despite their sometimes inauthenticity, and will continue to draw greater numbers of visitors.

We are just wrapping up some time in rural Georgia (...the country, not the state), and sure looking forward to the comfort of a few Marriotts on the way back to Canada shortly.

When my kids were elementary school age, our family once spent a rainy afternoon at the ultimate tourist trap, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, in Panama City, FL. We were at the beach in a nearby town and needed something to do with two energetic kids when there was 100% chance of rain all day. Despite the extreme kitsch - or maybe because of it - we were all highly entertained and enjoyed our visit.

My travel time is limited because I still work full time, so I go plenty of places that are touristy on a first time visit to a place, but I do try to mitigate that by studying up on the history of the place and going very early to beat crowds.

I am puzzled by the popularity of things that I consider tourist traps in big international cities, like dungeons and torture museums and museums for your social media photos and whatnot. Near where I stayed the last time I went to Berlin was the "Berlin Dungeon." In a city filled with places that were actual dungeons in the not so distant past, people were lining up to enter this place.

One person's tourist trap is another person's trip highlight. Do what you want to do, go where you want to go.

This should be bolded, font 48 points, in bright red.

There's a reason some sites are popular. Don't fight it in some quest for "authenticity;" many sites that are called tourist traps are authentically beautiful and enjoyable.

I don't think you can blame Rick Steves for Sorrento - more like the ubiquitous "Come Back to Sorrento" song.

Picking up on Gail's comments about the Lancaster PA area, I lived there for a couple years in the late 1980s. It certainly was a case study of all the complications in defining tourist trap, attraction, and "authenticity." People visit to see Amish country but, for the most part, the actual Amish don't want to be visited or interact with tourists but do, in some part, need the tourist interest in their products. So you have some total tourist traps that market pretend Amish goods and experiences; but then you also have more legitimate intermediaries who sell farm and crafts products that may be made by actual Amish or may be in that style. And if you know where to look, it is (or was) sometimes possible to find a backroads store run by Amish people.

Lovin’ the exchanges. Wil and Kate’s about Bruges and their connections with one another. Frank II’s about go where you wanna go.

Still, there are places I want to go and those where I don’t. Beale St. In Memphis was great a couple weeks back. Broadway in Nashville, 1-1/2 years ago - not at all.

I was fine with castles we visited in the Mosel and in Alsace, last year and chateaux in the Loire in 2023. Tourist attractions - yes to all. But enjoyable in many respects from gardens to furnishings to architecture and exchanges with fellow travellers from all over, local and other countries in Europe and beyond. Our day at Versailles, however, was our least enjoyable day out of 30 in France that year. Giverny was second to that. Glad to have seen both, but the crowds, OMG

Cycling helps. We meet locals along the road and get to share. :-)