Most overrated/underrated tourist attraction

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

From my visit a couple of weeks ago, Versailles.

Even with a guide and skipping the line, you're still going to wait...  And it's miserable.

Tons of people.  Lack of air conditioning.  Some rooms that are small and very (VERY) crowded. Even more lines to get into the gardens.

I had a much better time walking into town, finding a great little bistro and drinking lunch.

[CuriousByNature]

6 hours ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

From my visit a couple of weeks ago, Versailles.

Even with a guide and skipping the line, you're still going to wait...  And it's miserable.

Tons of people.  Lack of air conditioning.  Some rooms that are small and very (VERY) crowded. Even more lines to get into the gardens.

I had a much better time walking into town, finding a great little bistro and drinking lunch.

Glad to hear your take on Versailles.  Any time I've been to Paris I thought I should check it out, but something always held me back.  I end up finding something else to do in Paris itself.

[marylander1940]

Slot canyons, underrated and I wonder how many folks got suck there....

 

 

[CuriousByNature]

2 hours ago, marylander1940 said:

Slot canyons, underrated and I wonder how many folks got suck there....

Hard to say - probably depends on the canyon angles and people's flexibility.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

13 hours ago, marylander1940 said:

Slot canyons, underrated and I wonder how many folks got suck there....

 

The slot canyons are AWESOME.

I've done Upper Antelope, Rattlesnake and Owl canyon.  I still want to go back to do Buckskin Gulch.

It was these trips that made me fully appreciate how beautiful the desert can be.

[marylander1940]

8 hours ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

The slot canyons are AWESOME.

I've done Upper Antelope, Rattlesnake and Owl canyon.  I still want to go back to do Buckskin Gulch.

It was these trips that made me fully appreciate how beautiful the desert can be.

You were able to sneak through but how many Americans would get stuck...

Edited May 30 by marylander1940

[mike carey]

15 minutes ago, marylander1940 said:

You were able to sneak through but how many Americans would get stuck...

I wouldn't be at all surprised if @BenjaminNicholas were able to negotiate all sorts of confined spaces!

[Rudynate]

On 3/19/2021 at 11:39 AM, CuriousByNature said:

London Shopping:

Overrated - Harrod's (except for the Food Hall)

Underrated - Fortnum & Mason

 

London Sights:

Overrated: The London Eye

Underrated: Highgate Cemetary

 

Caribbean Snorkeling:

Overrated: Cozumel (better for divers)

Underrated: Roatan, Honduras and Buck Island, off St. Croix

 

Cakes and Coffee in Vienna:

Overrated: Hotel Sacher

Underrated: Cafe Demel

 

New York:

Overrated: Empire State Building

Underrated: The Cloisters

 

Stone Circles:

Overrated: Stonehenge

Underrated: Callanish Stones

 

Paris Churches:

Overrated: Sacre-Coeur, Montmartre

Underrated: Sainte-Chapelle

 

Belgium:

Overrated: Manneken Pis, Brussels

Underrated: Hans Memling Museum, Bruges

 

Natural Wonders of North America:

Overrated: Grand Canyon

Underrated: Canadian Rockies between Banff and Jasper

Is it Cafe Demel that has been in operation for hundreds of years?

[CuriousByNature]

37 minutes ago, Rudynate said:

Is it Cafe Demel that has been in operation for hundreds of years?

According to their website, since 1786

 

[+ bcbg1205]

Most underrated: Turin, Italy.

[BSR]

A former co-worker shared one of her favorite things to do when traveling:  go to the bar of the fanciest hotel in town, walk in like you own the place, order a drink, and soak up the atmosphere.  So my nomination (so far, still have 2 weeks here) for most underrated spot in Buenos Aires is the bar of the Four Seasons, fantastic ambience and people-watching, plus the fringe benefit of a smokin’ hot bartender.

Most overrated:  La Boca.  I found the tour interesting, the story behind the multicolored houses and all the different immigrant communities.  But the neighborhood is super-touristy.  I’ve enjoyed myself in plenty of super-touristy places (the entire city of Venice, for example), just something about the vibe of La Boca rubbed me the wrong way.

A bit overrated:  The Flower, only because it’s taking them a long time to repair it.  A couple of petals fell off, which makes it photo-worthy from only one angle.  Dunno why but I simply love the sculpture, and for that reason really want to see it restored to its full splendor.

[theplayerking]

On 5/19/2025 at 8:26 PM, CuriousByNature said:

Glad to hear your take on Versailles.  Any time I've been to Paris I thought I should check it out, but something always held me back.  I end up finding something else to do in Paris itself.

I recommend Fontainebleau and Chantilly. Both are quick train rides from Paris with great architecture, huge gardens and much smaller crowds. 

[BSR]

It’s tough to argue that the waterfalls at Iguazú are underrated because everyone who goes raves about them, but I think “underrated” does apply because not that many Americans know about them.  First, a confession, I’m actually not a big nature lover.  My idea of enjoying the great outdoors is spending the afternoon sipping gin tonics on a Madrid terraza.  I was seriously questioning the wisdom of all the bother of flying from Buenos Aires, getting a hotel, plus since I couldn’t figure out the online visa application to save my life, I wouldn’t be able to see the Brazil side.

I lucked out and found a savvy cabdriver who said he could get me to the Brazil side without a visa.  It cost me a hundred bucks (the online visa fee is $80, although it’s good for 10 years) but was totally worth it because the views and experience from the Brazil and Argentina sides are quite different.  The other must-do is the boat tour near and literally under the falls.  I was a mite annoyed that my savvy cabdriver didn’t tell me to bring a change of clothes, but it actually ended up being more fun getting totally drenched.

After living in Las Vegas for the last 20 years, where greenery is sparse and water even sparser, I felt like I had been plopped into Jurassic Park surrounded by millions of gallons of gushing water and the lush rain forest.  Would I go all the way from the US to Iguazú?  No, but it’s definitely worth a side trip if you’re going to be in the “neighborhood” (Rio, São Paulo, Buenos Aires).

[mike carey]

@BSR I'm so glad you had the chance to see both sides of the falls and confirmed my 20-year old recollection of the value of doing so. Must have been in a different thread, or I imagined saying it. Also the boat trip under the falls.

[BSR]

9 hours ago, mike carey said:

@BSR I'm so glad you had the chance to see both sides of the falls and confirmed my 20-year old recollection of the value of doing so. Must have been in a different thread, or I imagined saying it. Also the boat trip under the falls.

Before going, I thought Iguazú was a bucket-list trip, one & done is all you need.  But if I’m ever in the “neighborhood” again, I definitely plan on going back.  They say the falls are a different experience depending on the weather.  The days I went to the two sides, the weather was absolute shyte:  cold, raining, windy.  I had an umbrella but didn’t bother because the wind made the rain blow in sideways.  Even though I’m a total weather wimp, I still stood on the viewing platforms for well over an hour on each side just because I was so entranced by the views.  Fingers crossed it’s sunny the next time I go.

The bonus of the trip was that I hit it off with my cabdriver, and we ended up going out for dinner and drinks 3 of the 4 nights I was there.  He took me to an amazing steakhouse where a 1kilo dry-aged tomahawk was only $50!  I didn’t go to a steakhouse in Buenos Aires because they were pricey, but I was so glad I got to try some of Argentina’s legendary beef.  If anything, the ribeye actually exceeded expectations, high as they were.

[+ José Soplanucas]

48 minutes ago, BSR said:

Before going, I thought Iguazú was a bucket-list trip, one & done is all you need.  But if I’m ever in the “neighborhood” again, I definitely plan on going back.  They say the falls are a different experience depending on the weather.  The days I went to the two sides, the weather was absolute shyte:  cold, raining, windy.  I had an umbrella but didn’t bother because the wind made the rain blow in sideways.  Even though I’m a total weather wimp, I still stood on the viewing platforms for well over an hour on each side just because I was so entranced by the views.  Fingers crossed it’s sunny the next time I go.

The bonus of the trip was that I hit it off with my cabdriver, and we ended up going out for dinner and drinks 3 of the 4 nights I was there.  He took me to an amazing steakhouse where a 1kilo dry-aged tomahawk was only $50!  I didn’t go to a steakhouse in Buenos Aires because they were pricey, but I was so glad I got to try some of Argentina’s legendary beef.  If anything, the ribeye actually exceeded expectations, high as they were.

Weather is important, but also be aware of the river height. The weather may be fantastic, but if it is a drought season you will see a poor shadow of the falls. 

[+ azdr0710]

On 9/10/2025 at 4:45 PM, BSR said:

  Would I go all the way from the US to Iguazú?  No, but it’s definitely worth a side trip if you’re going to be in the “neighborhood” (Rio, São Paulo, Buenos Aires).

I agree entirely......I think I wrote about this in the forum a year or two ago......returning home from RJ one time, my itinerary had a plane change at Iguazu (I didn't plan that intentionally)......realizing the layover was about 4.5 hours, I thought..."hmmm...is it possible??!!"......I went out to the airport lobby and stepped up to the first tour desk to ask if anybody is available for a quickie tour of the Brazil side with return to the airport in time.....she said people do that all the time and she had a private English-speaking driver (I did have to explain what a "hawker" is on RJ beaches!) there in 20 minutes and off we went.....he helped with admission logistics, talked about the animals and plants and stuff, dropped me at one trail entrance and met me at the other end of it, told me where to go for other photo ops, the whole bit (Brazil side).......the entire thing (guide, transport, admission) ended up being about $150US which seemed like a bargain since many spend thousands for a trip to Iguazu......it's a spectacular site 

[oclatin92xxx]

On 5/19/2025 at 10:43 AM, BenjaminNicholas said:

From my visit a couple of weeks ago, Versailles.

Even with a guide and skipping the line, you're still going to wait...  And it's miserable.

Tons of people.  Lack of air conditioning.  Some rooms that are small and very (VERY) crowded. Even more lines to get into the gardens.

I had a much better time walking into town, finding a great little bistro and drinking lunch.

 

On 5/19/2025 at 5:26 PM, CuriousByNature said:

Glad to hear your take on Versailles.  Any time I've been to Paris I thought I should check it out, but something always held me back.  I end up finding something else to do in Paris itself.

I had the pleasure of visiting Versailles in an almost empty capacity right when Paris briefly opened up during Covid (they closed again after an explosion of numbers). For a history/political science buff like me it was an unforgettable experience. At the time the rooms were nearly empty, the Hall of Mirrors was the most packed of all of the rooms. Personally, even if there were a lot of people, I would still recommend Versailles if history is important to you. Don't do it during the summer though, because the where you'll get the most crowds and the heat is truly unbearable. Do it during low season in fall or winter. 

[marylander1940]

Underrated and unknown free attraction in St. Paul,, MN

 

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory - Wikipedia

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