Having been to most of these places, I can say with absolute certainty that 90% of the places featured are more like the expectation than the "reality." Yeah, on a foggy, super crowded day you might see the "reality" and no tourist attraction is going to be 100% empty, but they're not nearly as bad as they're made out to be.
Sorry to Burst Your Bubble, but These Photos Reveal What Your Dream Holiday Spots Really Look Like
The Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, the Mona Lisa painting at the Louvre, or boating in Italy — the internet is flooded with idealistic pictures of these amazing destinations. But they aren’t that amazing!
BrightSide has compiled a list of these places — and they are nothing like they seem to be. Have a look!
1. Boating in Italy
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/553/0f7/634688550894eea78e49954b04.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/83d/037/158a2b5435a0fac8d12376557e.jpg)
2. Taking in the grandeur of the Eiffel Tower
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/292/799/a608be54379801ed150afaa5da.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/75a/c25/11e4d950d88086694cd781fe23.jpg)
3. Experiencing the pristine beauty of the Taj Mahal in India
4. Walking a stretch of the Great Wall of China
5. Seeing the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in France
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/034/ccf/1c4cc75c7fbc5d33854644bb36.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/727/598/2f8af9549db38b5a6e0b93a0d6.jpg)
6. Seeing the grandeur of the Colosseum in Rome
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/37f/b75/3fa6f65bbab57652297078ce64.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/9d2/8ea/32ea295548897e3555fc3d5663.jpg)
7. Having a picnic in Central Park, New York
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/f88/c71/cf78fe50c4850e8127c90e9e3b.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/673/6e8/52650a599491aaacf568adbde6.jpg)
8. Exploring the Forbidden City in Beijing, China
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/283/421/d142295cb490a625429bd1d12b.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/8a6/75a/2cc34c5ad1974adbe08e5f16f3.jpg)
9. Checking out the Sydney Opera House in Australia
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/c25/add/7a5c525b77b0e871ed8f7ba281.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/766/c86/c4a50750b5a8f9b7ed41727d7d.jpg)
10. Counting the Spanish Steps
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/39c/412/1d2fca54b8b33519474faa86fe.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/562/f99/de6b96517ba303e949a1fa6667.jpg)
11. Climbing Machu Picchu
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/d4d/592/12337d54a092aa1b7e844edf50.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/4b8/224/8aa0c750efad2265286ea5063b.jpg)
12. Tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain in Rome
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/360/1e4/86cbc5585dac3417bf4a064c05.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/365/77a/418d8b597bbe374bebc64283d2.jpg)
13. Admiring the beauty of the Egyptian pyramids
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/335/2fa/18779e513bb927b23e9bb5fa78.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/293/5eb/b943c053fdba26300b332d0f56.jpg)
14. Breathing in the fresh sea air at Copacabana Beach
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/acc/b39/8834955d64b06109df7882b824.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/d9e/6cd/3506a9597dbb4255a943aebd46.jpg)
15. Posing against the background of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/7bc/1d2/d4ab5f5801bff6d1e798ee85f9.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/32e/5a2/a39e5f5b3583c5147e2174f82e.jpg)
16. Lying down on the beaches of the Maldives
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/c2d/d71/04449d5560bcff481308ef555d.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/599/e8e/76f6e55d0aa2b59adf73bb14eb.jpg)
17. Visiting Mount Rushmore
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/403/a38/1a260c5362b9bc5423be826677.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/7d8/65a/3ba2865d14897df28c4f6b3bf4.jpg)
18. Taking a walk around Yosemite National Park
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/b7c/581/76f275504e804d0a0af7f0475e.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/5c1/cf4/75bf635bcdb119d75851b3aa3b.jpg)
19. Touching the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/891/22d/b421b25089ad47030c72942f0c.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/368/1db/06e6dc575f87ca0cc577113fe5.jpg)
20. Enjoying the view from Niagara Falls
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/c12/426/c17f4556098a6a44a48cc18adc.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/9a2/7e0/d07efa5d5091faa33be0d10735.jpg)
21. Taking a picture at Lempuyang Temple
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/d43/a29/9d2db755988161f6fb0e34a9d0.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/a9d/394/691da75d118b5f7e81e49bb200.jpg)
22. Joining the Mount Everest expedition
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/35d/0a1/8f572d5131a143cb8cdbafdf83.jpg)
![](https://wl-brightside.cf.tsp.li/resize/728x/jpg/ff4/b7b/e6daf55c339a0ce4af13d9f55e.jpg)
Have you ever been to any of these places? Do you know of any other popular touristic attractions we could add to this list? We’d be happy to hear from you in the comment section below.
Comments
As someone who lived near and visited Niagara Falls many times, it is an amazing site. The expectation vs reality doesn't compare. The expectation is a shot on the American side at night, which honestly does not have a great view. The reality shot was in a boat that goes up to the falls, even with a boat full of people it's amazing to feel the thundering of the falls, the mist hitting your face. And lastly, the best view (besides the boat) is the Canadian side where you can see everything. There are lots of tourists but shouldn't be hard to find a spot right up front to get some nice pictures.
I think you can also add the statue of liberty and the statue of unity to this list.
Good to know, lol!!
I Don't Think that will happen in real life?
![](https://wl-static.cf.tsp.li/avatars/icons_wl/8.png)
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