When planning a trip with specific destinations in mind, it can be really disappointing to see that the place you’ve dreamed to see for months is nothing like what you find in real life, heavily polluted by massive crowds or just looking nothing like the pictures. Let’s compare pictures of 12 such popular sights, see how ordinary tourists see them as opposed to professional photographers and read what people have to say about the reality of these sights.
1. "Here is another 'Once in a lifetime vacation destination...'" - Neill Island, India
2. “My vacation in Ireland and seeing the Cliffs of Moher” - Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland
3. “If you want to get a good photo, go there in the morning or don’t go there at all. Walked past the entrance a couple of times during the day — so many people crammed together. Awful.” - Sagano Bamboo Forest, Kyoto, Japan
4. "This is what Kerid crater lake actually looks like. Nobody calls it the 'Eye of the World.'" - Kerid Crater Lake, Iceland
5. "This place definitely looks nicer without crowds." - The Spanish Steps, Rome, Italy
6. "This is one of the most disappointing places in Japan. Just a hustle!" - The Sapporo clock tower, Japan
7. “The fountain was packed with hundreds of people all day/night long. Went back at 5:45 am and had it almost all to myself.” - Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
8. "Finding silence and no crowds here is even more difficult than meeting a unicorn." - Forbidden City in Beijing, China
9. “Can’t believe there would ever come a time where I’d miss crowds.” - Charles Bridge, Prague, Czechia
10. “I was disappointed to the core! There are so many visitors that you can’t feel all the majesty of the palace. It looks more like a trial to get through a huge crowd at a rock concert." - The Palace of Versailles, Paris, France
11. “Petra disappointed me with the notoriously costly entrance fee, which is $70 per person.” - Petra, Jordan
12. “I heard a lot from my friends that I should visit Cambodia for this temple. But, in fact, it is just some highly eroded, decomposing... ancient sand fortress slammed and beaten by the waves of time.” - Angkor Wat temple complex, Cambodia
