I've been to Stonehenge. Don't bother.

i've been to stonehenge & i loved it. of course, i also visited a small town in the area that had stone fortifications in the fields around it so i had sort of a tie in. those were completely out in the open & i was able to walk up to those.

i think it depends on your personality. i knew somebody who dismissed macchu picchu at "overrated" and another who has said she would go again in a heartbeat.

killarney ireland is very touristy. that still can't take away that it is a town in a beautiful location.

Well, I've been to both Stonehenge and the Moulin Rouge. Stonehenge was very cold and windy - but I got some great photos. I probably wouldn't do it again. Moulin Rouge (and other caberet shows in Paris) was like seeing showgirls in Vegas. I love feathers and sequins, so for me it was worth it. It just depends on what kind of experience you are looking for.

My family and I went on a gondola ride in Venice last summer. Touristy? Oh, yes - as is Venice in general - but it was a wonderful experience. We were able to travel on the small canals that the vaporetti (water buses) can't use, and it was fascinating to see the details of the buildings from the water. I'd do it again, definitely.

Well, you need to go to Stonehenge during one of the equinoxes, when the druidic spirits are in flux, and the ley lines are humming. Otherwise, it's kind of dull.

I was super-excited about seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower 'in person'. Showed up, took a look, and... Yep, that's exactly what they look like. "I concur!" They're each so iconic, and I'd seen so many photographs of both of them, that there was nothing surprising or particularly impressive about the real thing.

A little closer to home: Rockefeller Center is a huge tourist trap, cheesy, but I love it. Times Square, on the other hand, I avoid like my life depends on it.

to boston liz, i agree there is something cool about going & actually seeing a place that you've seen so many picutres of.

cantubury cathedral in england gave me chills. the same with the parthenon & pompeii. those places are so old. pretty natural settings also are thrilling.
sometimes it's the simple things that are cool as well. depends on what your mood is.

I went to a ballet in Saint Petersburg, and though yes, it was obviously something set up for the tourists, there is something about seeing Swan Lake while in Russia that just makes it perfect. Same with the myriad of Mozart concerts in Vienna - all tourists, but being in the place it was born makes it 100% worth it.

I go up the Eiffel tower every time I'm in Paris (not often enough!) And I get a minature eiffel tower for each trip (now have 4). It's the one tourist trap I will always do.

Off the beaten path tourist trap - if you are ever in Kathmandu, pay the $50 (which will be the most you pay for anything) and take a flight around Mt. Everest. It's breathtaking

I define a tourist trap as something you pay to see that is more hype than substance, and is not very interesting. Of course "interesting" is subjective.

I would never use "tourist trap" to describe an ancient, historical site like Stonehenge, which I loved.

It probably depends upon your level of curiosity about the world. If your interests are limited it makes sense to limit your destinations to fit those interests only.

A recent flamenco show in Barcelona was the touristy pits! I hated myself for going. On the other hand, seeing the Taj Mahal at sunset and again at sunrise was incredible--and I poohpoohed going at first because I thought it was just a tourist gimmick.

A recent flamenco show in Barcelona was the touristy pits! I hated myself for going. On the other hand, seeing the Taj Mahal at sunset and again at sunrise was incredible--and I poohpoohed going at first because I thought it was just a tourist gimmick.

I thought our visit to Torino, Italy in the Italian Alps was boring. Lake Como was much a more interesting place to explore.

I live in the Orlando area. Many of the Disney dinner shows are overpriced and the food is bad. Even worse, you are herded around like cattle. Also, if I were a tourist I would avoid water parks and just go to the beaches. Cape Canaveral National Seashore, New Smyrna and Cocoa are all very nice beaches.

My out-of-town guests enjoy the $7 boat ride through the canals and lakes of beautiful Winter Park, and the nearby Morse Museum (Tiffany glass) and Winter Park's Park Avenue are also worth visiting. Not far from Orlando you can find airboat rides through the swamps. They are exciting. Also, if you don't want to spend a day (and big bucks) visiting Animal Kingdom, you can visit the scenic animal viewing area that is behind the Animal Kingdom Lodge and see many of the same animals for free. And there is an African-themed fast-food cafe there with "African" food that is inexpensive and quite good.

Generally, the Disney restaurants and dinner shows are expensive and serve up bad food. Even worse at the Gaylord Palms. One exception--we enjoy the cute tea room at the Victorian Hotel for a pot of tea and English pastries. During the Christmas holidays, the lobby is decorated beautifully, with a piano player, towering poinsettia "tree," and a huge gingerbread house.

The viewing platform at the Empire State Building, at least during the daylight hours, is as close to a tourist trap as you'll get in New York. The view usually isn't that great due to air pollution, and it's ridiculously crowded. After dark it's a different story: totally romantic and the view is suddenly worth the money. The building itself is genuinely iconic and an architectural gem, and I love that it's part of my hometown skyline.

In terms of poor value for money, going to a Yankees game is definitely in contention for the title this year...

You know, I have travelled a lot of places in the world, and I can not think of a single place I regret going that was overrun by tourists. It could be that I can guess from the guidebook which places I will hate...or maybe I've just blocked out the bad memories. Or am extremely easily amused.

Some highlights that were overrun by tourists, but still amazing: Angkor Wat (although you can avoid most of the other visitors by going in the morning); Pompeii; Yosemite. I think the problem is, often tourists (like me) just have the good sense to go to awesome places.

I've been thinking about this as it applies to DC & I think most of our "tourist traps" are worth it - the presidential & war memorials on the mall, the Smithsonians, the cherry blossoms. Probably the only things I can think of that I would avoid as too touristy would be the DC Ducks & Old Town Trolleys.

Blue Grotto on Capri in Italy. Total waste of time given the beauty of the rest of the island.

On a trip to Bali our driver guided us to a music/dancing show. Clearly the drivers received a kickback for bringing customers. The music and dancers were fine but the "all tourist" audience somehow ruined the mood for me. So sometimes even a good quality performance can suffer for lack of the right atmosphere.

On a trip to Bali our driver guided us to a music/dancing show. Clearly the drivers received a kickback for bringing customers. The music and dancers were fine but the "all tourist" audience somehow ruined the mood for me. So sometimes even a good quality performance can suffer for lack of the right atmosphere.

Unlike a reader above, I loved the Blue Grotto on Capri. So I guess that goes to prove one person's trap is another's unforgettable experience.

The Taj Mahal was worth it every time. I have been several times and I remember each time vividly. Worth it despite being very touristy.

Well, the area around Niagara Falls is about as touristy and carnival-like as you can get. But the breathtaking view of the Falls (especially on the Canadian side) more than makes up for it. And the Maid of the Mist boat ride is worth it every time, especially if it's really hot.

Overrated: Mt. McKinley (Denali), AK. Unless you do some serious backcountry hiking, you'll never see North America's tallest peak through the clouds and hordes of tourists.

Surprisingly enjoyable: Royal Dockyard, Bermuda. Purely created for cruise ship passengers, but still a load of fun.

Working in Old Town Alexandria, I've developed a distaste for tourists. However, no matter how hard you try, when you're out touring, you're a tourist, so might as well do touristy things.

I was shocked in the last few days to hear Machu Picchu described in the NY Times as overrun with people and large tour groups led by megaphone-shouting leaders. In short, it was wrongly blasphemed as touristy. I just got back. This was not our experience at all: instead, it was magical, clean as a whistle, well-managed and absolutely mystical. Our group of 20, which was broken up into smaller groups with great tour guides, was thrilled. Machu Picchu is an absolute must-see -- as is Peru, by the way!

I would say that Stone Henge is absolutely worth it. There actually are not that many tourists when you go in the spring and the town by it is absolutely charming. And I would also suggest a trip to Stratford Upon Avon, where Sheakespear's home is, great little spot. Avoid Bath though, if Roman architecture is what you want, go to Rome.

Moulin Rouge is about as touristy as it comes. I laughed throughout the whole thing, don't think it was meant to be a comedy.

On the other hand, I always make a trip to the Eiffel Tower! It is a can't miss, the views are breath-taking. I always also take a stroll through Rodin's Garden. Paris is my favorite city hands down.

Stonehenge is what it is. A few hours each way from London and then 10 minutes to look at the stones. It ranks as one of my biggest tourist let downs ever.

If you don't spend the 100 Euro for a gondola ride ride while in Venice, then you have missed the best experience that the city has to offer. Go late at night and wander the back canels of Castello - worth everty penny. You havn't really seen the city until you've explored all its paths by gondola.

Closer to home, the Bureau of Engraving & Printing wass a huge let down when I was only 10. I couldn't believe we stood in line that long just to see piles of money.

The top of the empire state building and top of the rock are worthwhile, though highly touristed sites. As are a walk across both the golden gate and brooklyn bridges.

Madame Tussaud's was the one place where I felt like what I paid was a rip-off. A cheesy indoor ride about some of the history of London and some rooms with wax figures of famous people, both living and dead. Some would call it "kitchy," but I just call it a tourist trap.

The London Eye, the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building were well worth the admission for the amazing views of London, Paris and NYC.

Madame Tussaud's was the one place where I felt like what I paid was a rip-off. A cheesy indoor ride about some of the history of London and some rooms with wax figures of famous people, both living and dead. Some would call it "kitchy," but I just call it a tourist trap.

The London Eye, the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building were well worth the admission for the amazing views of London, Paris and NYC.