Not all popular tourist destinations live up to the social media hype. However, Redditors pushed back on that cynicism after u/Traditional_Use_7452 asked the people of Reddit, "What tourist place/s lived up to the social media hype?"
In response, folks turned up to share places that impressed them when they got to experience them in person. From natural wonders to big cities, the answers were sincere rather than snarky. Still, many posts stressed the scale and atmosphere of these places that photos failed to convey. As one user noted, the Grand Canyon felt impossible to process until standing there. Likewise, the Swiss Alps left visitors wishing for more time.
Others pointed to Amsterdam, Vienna, and Barcelona for beauty, history, and food at reasonable prices. Japan exceeded expectations after one traveler tried to temper their expectations. Together, the replies suggested hype sometimes told the truth, especially when travelers showed up curious and open to the experience.
Check out 18 of the best tourist destinations that lived up to their popularity online, according to Redditors, below...
1. Grand Canyon
"Just incredible landscape." —u/Trash_Sniper42
"As a Phoenix native, I’m BAFFLED by the number of residents I’ve met who’ve lived here for years or even decades without once taking the roughly 4 hour trip to see one of the most incredible natural landscapes on Earth." —u/eeviltwin
2. Banff
"I had the opportunity to visit Banff for a day during an international contest I participated in. One day was not enough. I needed much more time to see everything, including the lakes (they didn’t let us see the lakes). I definitely need to go back" —u/mikewheelerfan
3. Moraine Lake
"Moraine Lake in Alberta aka Reddit Lake. It doesn’t matter how many photos you’ve seen, it still is awe inspiring in person. It’s just such a magical beautiful place." —u/supercantaloupe
4. Swiss Alps
"Truly other worldly. It looks like CGI and your brain has a hard time computing that what you’re looking at is real." —u/HistoricalHeart
5. Lapland
"Lapland 100%. We did three days and four nights when our daughter was ten it was incredible." —u/foozyfelt
6. Iceland
"Absolutely incredible. Tent camped for 10 days via ring road around the island." —u/No-Whey-Hoezay
7. Petra
"You walk through a slot canyon, which is beautiful in its own right, and then you come out at the spectacular treasury building. But then there's a whole city of ruins behind it, and it keeps going forever and ever." —u/MaddingtonBear
8. New York City
"Well, this won’t be popular since ppl will complain about crowded expense stuff, but…
NYC in December. My wife loves Christmas and we just got back this weekend from a 4 day trip there. There’s so much to do in NYC we couldn’t get everything done that I wanted in 4 days between the Broadway shows, Christmas lights, food tour, Christmas bar crawl, holiday markets, museums, etc." —u/traws06
9. The Eiffel Tower
"Eiffel Tower is actually pretty great IF you can go in the off season. I've been twice and both times walked right in after a <5 min wait. I'm sure summer crowds make it miserable, but I wouldn't know." —u/FCAsheville
10. Japan
"Was gonna say, before I went to Japan, I was trying to lower my expectations and tell myself 'chill out, there’s no way it’s as cool as you’re thinking.' Turns out, it was as cool as I always hoped. Up north, you have these amazing historic castles and gorgeous cherry trees, while in Tokyo proper, you have hot springs, amazing food, and scenery straight out of a Persona game. :0 And everyone was so polite!" —u/SorryComplaint4209
11. Niagara Falls
"I live in Buffalo. I've been to Niagara Falls more times than I can count. The American side aside from the park and casino resembles a demilitarized zone and has as long as I've been alive, 39 years. The Canadian side is a delightfully tacky tourist trap. And yet I have NEVER once gotten sick or tired or bored of that view. Every time I'm there I see something different to marvel at. Whether it's the mist making a rainbow and pleasantly cooling the air on a hot summer evening, or the colored lights glinting off the snow and ice in winter at night when they're illuminated, or in a spring or fall morning, I can't help but be in awe if the pure beauty of it. I can only imagine what the first natives or the later settlers felt upon seeing it for the first time. I get why people come here from around the world just to see it. I live 20ish minutes from it. I still go regularly for weekend overnight "getaways". It's a literal natural wonder." —u/navikredstar
12. Death Valley
"I had no expectations going in, it was just kind of like we happen to be near it, let’s go. And, omg, nothing prepared me for how beautiful it was. I felt like I was an alien on another planet driving around out there." —u/Main_Composer
13. Biggest Ball of Twine
"The biggest ball in Minnesota. I just so overwhelmed by its sheer immensity, I had to pop myself a beer." —u/originalchaosinabox
14. The Great Wall
"Others may disagree, but I was overwhelmed at The Great Wall. As a kid growing up in the States, I'd always heard of The Great Wall of China, but could never imagine myself seeing such an exotic location. So then when I was standing on it and was surrounded by Chinese people, it felt like I had accomplished something as difficult as going to the moon." u/horsenbuggy
15. Barcelona
"The architecture, the art, the food. Palau de la Musica. All at prices well below U.S." —u/knightrider_NY
16. Glacier National Park
"Glacier National Park. And go fast because those glaciers won’t stick around much longer!" —u/oo140342
17. Circular Quay
"Circular Quay in Sydney. Being on the dock between the Harbour Brisdge and the Opera house is breathtaking." —u/Creepybobo67
18. Auschwitz
"Maybe the opposite of what people have been answering here but I visited Auschwitz two months ago. I still can't stop thinking about it. It is so sobering, and I genuinely feel like I can remember every single second that I was there." —u/TJeffersonsBlackKid
19. Quebec City
"Quebec City, especially at Christmas. Just magically picturesque, and unequalled anywhere in North America." —u/Whatever-57
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