13 Tourist Attractions Around the World That Locals Hate

Think about how you’d have to maneuver your day to day life if you were surrounded by a swarm of tourists at every turn or if you had to work around selfie sticks, crowded sidewalks and never ending camera flashes. These beloved landmarks are sometimes avoided by the people who live nearby in many cases.

These sites can be charming to visitors, but for locals they are traffic jams and inflated prices, a loss of public spaces, and just about everything else. Let’s look at the destinations around the world where locals avoid the very same attractions that so many travelers flock to each year. You’d be surprised to know that not every postcard worthy landmark is as loved by those living close to it!

Times Square, New York City

For many New Yorkers, Times Square is a nightmare, but for tourists it’s a vibrant heart of New York City. Picture thousands of people shuffling slowly under towering billboards and flashing lights. Locals prefer to leave this high energy spectacle to the out of towners and go to quieter areas. Times Square, beyond the neon glitz, is daily congestion and higher prices, and a part of town most locals try to avoid if they can.

Eiffel Tower, Paris

The Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris, but Parisians are more likely to admire it from afar than to fight through the tourist crowds underneath. Usually, the area around the tower is crammed with lines, street vendors and visitors trying to take the perfect selfie. Locals would prefer to admire the tower’s beauty from a café or park where they can take in the tower’s beauty without the crowds.

Los Angeles Hollywood Walk of Fame

Local visitors stay away from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, while starry eyed tourists flock there. It can be far less glamorous than it looks in pictures, with the stretch of sidewalk immortalizing celebrities’ names. The area is crowded and hectic, and filled with impersonators. But many Angelenos prefer quieter, lesser known neighborhoods, where they can avoid the chaos.

Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy

Striking a pose ‘holding up’ the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a must for tourists. Locals, however, have grown tired of the novelty. It’s a circus, not a historical site, with the area around the tower packed with visitors hoping for the classic photo op. Locals tend to avoid Pisa altogether and go to the nearby, less crowded Florence instead.

Santorini, Greece

Millions come to Santorini each year to see its breathtaking sunsets and whitewashed buildings, but locals avoid its most touristy spots, such as Oia. At peak seasons, narrow paths and scenic viewpoints are so crowded that it’s almost impossible to move around. Greeks instead pick quieter islands or secluded beaches to escape the seasonal surge.

Las Vegas Strip, Nevada

Most locals steer clear of the Las Vegas Strip, which might seem like a neon lit paradise but is often crowded with tourists. Visitors love the glitz, but locals know the area is plagued by heavy traffic, high prices and a carnival feel that can be overwhelming. Residents tend to gather in other parts of Las Vegas; Downtown or Summerlin where they can escape contact with the chaotic energy of the Strip.

Buckingham Palace, London

Throng after throng of tourists gather outside Buckingham Palace every day, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Royal Family or watch the Changing of the Guard. For Londoners, the palace is something to be avoided, not visited. The crowds are always so thick that it’s hard to enjoy the space or get around, so locals might appreciate London’s history from quieter vantage points.

The Great Wall of China

Visitors all over the world come to see the Great Wall, an awe inspiring marvel, but locals tend to avoid the busiest parts, like Badaling, where it can be shoulder to shoulder with tourists. Instead they go to less crowded parts to view the wall’s beauty without the crowds.

Bourbon Street, New Orleans

Bourbon Street is well known for its jukebox, neon lights and jazz in New Orleans. Locals stay away from the area, while the others come to soak in the nightlife. For those who live there, Bourbon Street can be too chaotic, and they’d rather be in other parts of the city, like Frenchmen Street, where there’s great music and food with a local flavor.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu is a bucket list site for many travelers, but Peruvians often pass it by because it’s too expensive and too touristy. The ruins are amazing but locals usually stick to their trails and archeological sites nearby, with less packed paths and stricter rules. For example, they could visit lesser known sites such as Choquequirao with it’s fantastic views and relative lack of crowds.

The Trevi Fountain, Rome

For Romans, the Trevi Fountain is no romantic hotspot, but for tourists tossing coins, it is. In summer the crowds are suffocating, and the narrow streets can get clogged with visitors wanting photos. The fountain is admired by locals in the early hours or from afar, away from the crowds of visitors who fill every inch around it.

Rio de Janeiro, Copacabana Beach

The most famous bit of Copacabana is Copacabana beach, a Brazilian icon, attracting sunbathers and tourists from far and wide. For locals, the beach’s popularity means it’s not such a great place. Prices for food and drink are inflated and Copacabana is usually packed. Locals who move here are known as Cariocas and they usually prefer quieter beaches like Prainha or Joatinga where they can relax from the craziness of their beaches.

Charles Bridge, Prague

Prague’s Charles Bridge is an architectural wonder that draws visitors to see its Gothic beauty, and historic statues. But locals stay away from it because of the constant crowds and street vendors. Once residents want to take a stroll, they like to go to nearby bridges with similar views, but without as many tourists. The locals’ favorite? Letná Park, with its panoramic views of the city.

Maya Bay, Thailand

The crystal clear waters of Maya Bay became famous after starring in ‘The Beach’ and since then tourists have flocked to it in droves. For locals, the once quiet beach has become a lot less charming. Many Thais now prefer quieter spots that haven’t been overrun by tourism, and the beach was closed for a time to help the environment recover.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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