Crowded doesn't mean overrated
There's a fashionable idea in travel writing that the famous places are "ruined" and the real trip is somewhere nobody has heard of. It's half true. Some hotspots are harder work than they used to be, but very few have stopped being worth seeing. The question isn't whether to go. It's how.
City travel is at a record high. The world's 100 biggest city destinations received 702 million international visitors in 2025, 8% more than the year before, according to Euromonitor International. Bangkok led on arrivals, with 30.3 million, while Paris came first in Euromonitor's overall ranking, which also weighs things like infrastructure and sustainability.
So instead of a simple ranking, we've sorted 20 of the most popular tourist destinations into three honest verdicts:
• Go without hesitation: big crowds, but big enough or well-run enough that it rarely spoils the visit.
• Worth it if you plan around the crowds: great places that can disappoint if you arrive at the wrong time.
• Worth it, but budget for it: the experience lives up to the reputation, but the cost will surprise you.
Go without hesitation
These cities are so large, so well organized or so full of things to do that the crowds rarely get in the way of a good trip.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo absorbs millions of tourists and still feels calm. The trick is to treat Shibuya, Shinjuku and Asakusa as places you visit, not places you stay. Sleep in a neighborhood such as Kuramae or Nakameguro, where the coffee shops and izakaya (small pubs) are mostly used by locals. Nowhere else in the world has as many Michelin-starred restaurants, but some of the best meals are at ramen counters that cost less than a sandwich in London.
Rome, Italy
Rome's big sights are crowded, and they're worth it anyway. The Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Vatican would be remarkable in any setting, and Rome has them within walking distance of each other. Book the first entry slot at the Vatican Museums, then leave the middle of the day for a long lunch in Monti or Testaccio. The Trevi Fountain is best before 8 a.m.
Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok received more international visitors than any other city in 2025, 30.3 million according to Euromonitor, and it still feels like good value. The Grand Palace and Wat Pho get busy by mid-morning, so arrive at opening time. Then get around on the Chao Phraya river boats and the Skytrain rather than sitting in traffic. Street food in Chinatown after dark is one of the great eating experiences in Asia.
Cape Town, South Africa
Few cities put this much landscape within reach: a flat-topped mountain in the middle of town, penguin colonies at Boulders Beach, and the Winelands less than an hour away. Head up Table Mountain early on a clear day, by cable car or on foot, because a layer of cloud known as the "tablecloth" often settles on it by afternoon.
Singapore
Singapore is the easiest city in Asia for first-time visitors: safe, spotless and simple to navigate. Its hawker centers serve dishes recognized by the Michelin Guide for just a few dollars. Two or three days is plenty. Catch the free evening light show at Gardens by the Bay, and leave time at Changi Airport for the indoor waterfall at Jewel.
Prague, Czech Republic
Prague's old town is busy in summer, but the city is compact and still cheaper than most Western European capitals. Cross Charles Bridge at sunrise, before the stalls set up. Then spend the rest of the day in neighborhoods like Vinohrady and Letá, where the beer gardens and wine bars are full of locals.
Sydney, Australia
Sydney's harbor is the city's best free attraction, and the ferry is the best way to see it. The half-hour ride from Circular Quay to Manly passes the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Walk the coastal path from Bondi to Coogee in the morning. If you're visiting in October or November 2027, book early: the city hosts matches in the Rugby World Cup.
Worth it if you plan around the crowds
These nine are the places people most often come back from saying "it was too busy." In almost every case, the problem was timing, not the place.
Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto's temples and gardens are some of the most beautiful in Asia, and they're also packed from mid-morning onward. Be at Fushimi Inari's gates at dawn, head to the quieter northern hills around Ōhara or Kurama in the afternoon, and walk Gion after the day-trippers leave. Kyoto's accommodation tax now reaches ¥10,000 a night for the most expensive rooms, so check what your hotel charges.
Venice, Italy
Most of Venice's crowd is day-trippers, which is why staying overnight changes everything. By 7 p.m., the lanes away from Rialto and St Mark's are almost empty. On peak days, visitors who don't stay overnight pay an access fee of €5 if booked in advance or €10 at short notice, between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Hotel guests are exempt.
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona has Gaudí, beaches and some of Europe's best food, and a resident population that is tired of tourist crowds. Be a considerate visitor: stay in Gràcia, Sant Antoni or Poble-sec rather than the Gothic Quarter, book the Sagrada Família online for early in the day, and expect to pay about €10 to €15 per night in tourist taxes at hotels since April 2026, per Euronews.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik's crowds come and go with the cruise ships. Look up the cruise schedule before you plan your days, and walk the city walls early in the morning or in the late afternoon, when most passengers are back on board.
Paris, France
Paris is huge, but visitors concentrate in a few places: the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and the Latin Quarter. Book timed tickets well in advance, visit the Louvre on a late-opening evening, and spend the rest of your time in the neighborhoods east of the Canal Saint-Martin.
Bali, Indonesia
Much of the frustration with Bali comes from traffic in the south, between Canggu, Seminyak and Uluwatu. The east and north feel like a different island: rice terraces around Sidemen, snorkeling in Amed, waterfalls near Munduk. Pay the tourist levy of IDR 150,000 (about US$10) online before you arrive.
Marrakech, Morocco
The medina's souks can overwhelm first-time visitors, especially in the afternoon heat. Stay in a riad inside the walls, explore before 10 a.m., and hire a licensed guide for your first morning. Once you know your way, it's much easier. The Atlas Mountains, less than two hours away, make a good break.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam's center is small, so crowds feel more intense than they are. Its tourist tax is one of the highest in Europe, at 12.5% of the room price, which is a good reason to stay in Haarlem or Utrecht, both 15 to 30 minutes away by train. Anne Frank House tickets are released online weeks in advance and sell out quickly.
Cancún and the Riviera Maya, Mexico
The hotel zone is the busiest part of Mexico's Caribbean coast, but the region is much bigger than that. The Tren Maya railway, opened in 2023, links the coast with colonial Mérida and Maya sites that get far fewer visitors. Between about April and October, check the sargassum (seaweed) forecast before you pick a beach.
Worth it, but budget for it
Nobody leaves these four disappointed with what they saw. Plenty leave surprised by what they spent.
London, England
London's hotels and restaurants are expensive, but its best museums, including the British Museum, the National Gallery and Tate Modern, are free. Before you book, check whether you need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation. Visitors from many countries, including the US and EU, now need one, and the fee rose to £20 in April 2026. Contactless payment on the Tube caps your daily fare automatically.
New York City, USA
New York's hotels are some of the most expensive anywhere, partly because the city tightly restricts short-term rentals. Book early, or look at hotels in Long Island City or downtown Brooklyn, a short subway ride from Manhattan. Some of the best experiences are free, like the Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty, the High Line and Central Park.
Dubai, UAE
Dubai is designed to impress, with the Burj Khalifa, beach clubs, desert trips and enormous malls, and it prices itself to match. It works best as a short stopover on a long-haul trip. Visit from November to March, when it's comfortable outdoors, and check your airline's schedule and travel advisories first, since regional conflict disrupted flights in the Middle East in 2026.
Iceland's Golden Circle
In a single day's drive from Reykjavík, you can see a geyser erupting, the huge Gullfoss waterfall, and the rift between two tectonic plates at Þingvellir. Iceland is one of Europe's most expensive countries, so rent a car, buy groceries and self-cater where you can. Doing the loop in reverse keeps you out of step with the tour buses. If you have more time, the south coast and the Westfjords are even more rewarding.
Fees and entry rules to check before you book
A growing number of hotspots now charge visitors directly, either to pay for upkeep or to discourage short visits. None of these fees is large on its own, but together they can add a noticeable amount to a trip.
Compiled from Euronews, Forbes, Fragomen and VisasNews. Rules and amounts change often, so confirm on official websites before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Which city gets the most international tourists?
Bangkok, with 30.3 million international visitors in 2025, according to Euromonitor. At country level, France is the most visited, with 102 million arrivals.
Are famous tourist destinations overrated?
Rarely. Most disappointing visits come down to timing: arriving in peak season, in the middle of the day, or on a day trip. Staying overnight and visiting early in the morning solves most of the problem.
Which popular destination is best for a first trip abroad?
Singapore, Tokyo and London are the easiest. They're safe, public transport is excellent, and signs are in English.
Why are so many cities introducing tourist taxes?
Mostly to pay for cleaning, transport and heritage upkeep, and in some cases to discourage day-trippers who spend little in the local economy.
When is the cheapest time to visit popular destinations?
For most places in the Northern Hemisphere, the shoulder months of April to May and September to October offer lower prices and smaller crowds than summer, with weather that's often better.