15 Overrated Viral Travel Destinations Around The World

If you’ve been on social media recently, I’m sure you’ve seen incredible photos of people traveling around the world to exotic locations and amazing-looking cities. Even though these places look good in photos, it doesn’t mean they’re places you should visit.

In my opinion, social media is ruining so many places and stripping them of their charm, culture, and, in some cases, beauty. I will tell you about the most overrated viral travel destinations and why you should avoid them.

1. Santorini, Greece

Traveling to Santorini was one of the worst travel decisions I’ve ever made. If you want to travel to a place ruled by tourists and doesn’t have a single local left on the entire island, this is the place for you!

I traveled here during the off-season (October) in 20,24 and this place was flooded with tourists. Downtown Santorini was so packed you could hardly move down the little walkways, and the locals were trying to go about their day and were (rightly so) irritated with us blocking their way.

You should travel to one of the lesser-known islands, like Naxos or Paros, for a relaxing Greek holiday away from all the crowds.

2. Los Angeles, USA

Los Angeles is truly a hellscape. I don’t know how they got the rest of California so right and Los Angeles so wrong. When I first traveled to LA, we entered through a cute little neighborhood called Skid Row, with hundreds of tents and thousands of homeless people wandering the streets (I don’t blame the homeless people; I blame the government).

After that, we reached the downtown area, which consisted of about four skyscrapers and ten thousand cars. Then, we decided to take a stroll on Hollywood Boulevard, where we were harassed by hundreds of “street performers” and almost carried away by a trash tornado.

Isn’t LA such a lovely little place? In all seriousness, stick to the coast and stay away from LA. Worst place ever.

3. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon had always been on my bucket list. Until I traveled there. Like Santorini, this place has no culture or locals left. If you go to any of the main areas in Lisbon, you’ll be greeted by people trying to sell you cheap Chinese-made trinkets or drugs.

I was excited to walk down Rua Augusta, the city’s main street, after you enter through the city gates. That excitement quickly faded after I was yelled at restaurant after restaurant to “Come sit down!” and “Have some local cuisine!” (Travel tip: if you see a restaurant anywhere in Europe with pictures on the menu or fake food replicas made of plastic and wax, STAY AWAY!)

Every spot and street was filled with tourists, and the entire time I was there I just remember thinking, “This is the capital city; where are all the locals?” Turns out they had all been pushed out or sold their apartments after Lisbon became a “top tourist destination.” So sad.

4. Tulum, Mexico

This is a town that I had heard great things about. It was supposed to be the up-and-coming city on the Yucatán Peninsula in Southern Mexico, but when I visited it just felt… off.

When we arrived, downtown Tulum was much further inland than we thought it would be and was full of little hip cafes and shops, none of which were locally owned.

Then we went to the ruins, which were cool, but the city of Tulum itself just felt like a roadside stop for tourists rather than the quaint little town we thought it would be.

5. Dubai, UAE

We spent $3,000 of our hard-earned money for a week at a hotel outside the city and round-trip plane tickets. Wish I could get that money back.

We had a good time, don’t get me wrong, but there’s a reason Dubai is called a “fake city”. Everything here is manmade. The beaches are manmade, the islands are manmade, the “old town” feels fake, and everything else in the city is either a mall or skyscrapers.

It’s also one of the least walkable cities I’ve ever visited. Everything was so spread out that we spent most of our days walking to the places we were trying to reach. Dubai is a city that should have never been built for climate change’s sake and travelers’ sake.

6. Paris, France

This is one I disagree with, but put it on the list because of all the hate it gets online. I think Paris is a city that has kept its charm and local pride alive even while being one of the most visited places on earth.

Other travelers say that it’s too touristy and that the locals are mean (which they are, but that’s just part of the Parisian charm). Also, many people say they are underwhelmed by the Eiffel Tower and with Paris in general.

It happens so frequently that there’s a name for it: “Paris Syndrome.” I think that Paris has the same feeling as New York. The locals want the tourists to leave, and because of this, the tourists feel unwanted, which they are.

7. Rome, Italy

Another one that I disagree with but had to put on the list due to high demand. If you go to Rome during the high season, yes, you’ll regret it. It’s boiling hot, super crowded, and full of tourist traps. However, I think most people would love Rome if you visit during the shoulder or off-season.

Some places you should avoid in Rome are the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Colosseum. Actually, maybe instead of avoiding them completely, go early in the morning or late at night. I actually just signed up for this night tour of the Colosseum after they close. These places will all be packed with tourists, with hundreds of people trying to get you to fall for tourist scams.

Some of the most popular are fake paintings, people telling you something is free when it’s not and then making you pay for it, and people coming up to you with a clipboard, trying to get your attention while someone else picks your pocket.

8. Marrakesh, Morocco

I’ve never been here, but I’ve heard nothing but horror stories about it. The most common thing here is locals coming up to you and offering to show you around the city or help you find something.

You think they’re being nice, but they ask for money after they’ve shown you around. Also, the Jemaa el-Fnaa market is full of pickpocketers and scams. Make sure you keep an eye on your belongings and firmly reject salespeople’s offers.

There will also be exotic animals you can take pictures with, which the owners say are free. Then, they’ll demand $20, and if you don’t give it to them, they’ll harass and threaten you until you give it to them.

Also, make sure that you book all of your tours online. Hundreds of people will ask if you want a tour of this or that, but in the end, they are most likely just trying to rip you off.

I’m heading here next month, so I’ll report back.

9. Cairo, Egypt

I hate to break it to you, but the Pyramids of Giza are not what you think they are. They’ve become a tourist trap and are not cared for in the slightest. A lot of people who visit the pyramids complain about the amount of trash there and the lack of trash cans.

If you’re lucky, you might even be able to spot one of the world-famous trash tornadoes (made famous by the TV show “An Idiot Abroad”).

If you are planning to go to the pyramids, book a tour. You can try to do it on your own, but you’ll get screwed over left and right. If I were you, I would book everything you do in Cairo with a reputable tour guide that you find online that has good reviews.

Whether it’s a camel tour across the desert, a visit to the Khan el-Khalili Bazar, or a tour of the city, book it online. You’ll thank me later.

10. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam used to be one of my favorite places. The romantic canals, the little street markets, the tasty Dutch treats, riding your bike through the busy streets. It was like something out of a fairytale. However, after recently returning here (during the off-season, too), I can tell you it’s changed.

The city feels a lot dirtier, and the homeless problem seems to be getting out of hand. The city just felt a lot sadder than the vibrant city that it once was. We ended up staying in one of the adorable little towns, about a 30-minute train ride from Amsterdam, and then spending one day in Amsterdam.

11. Milan, Italy

If you ask any Italian, they will tell you if you plan a trip to Italy, you should skip Milan. This city is known as Italy’s business center, and while it has pretty places, it doesn’t have the same feel as other Italian cities. Many people go to Milan thinking it will be the Rome of the North, but it’s far from that.

The architecture of the buildings here feels too modern and doesn’t match the Italian charm of other cities. If you are looking for an alternative, head to Bologna or even the Cinque Terre (it might be overrun with tourists, but at least it’s beautiful and has a beach). Milan is a good city to fly in and out of, but don’t base your entire trip around it, or you’ll regret it.

12. Las Vegas, USA

This seems like an obvious one to Americans, but for people who aren’t from America or have never been to Las Vegas, it’s not worth it. Vegas is a city in the middle of nowhere; temperatures in the summer can reach 120 degrees, and the whole city has a dirty, sleazy feel to it. I know it’s been made famous by movies like The Hangover, Ocean’s 13, and 21, but it’s not as glamorous as they show it.

Most of the hotels here are rundown and have seen better days. The streets are littered with escort service flyers, and everywhere you go, the smell of cigarettes is so strong that it’ll make you nauseous. The only reason you should go to Vegas is if you’re flying in to visit the Grand Canyon.

13. Antarctica

This frozen desert is one of the most brutal places on the planet. To get here, most people risk their lives by sailing through the Drake Passage (one of the most dangerous ocean passages in the world) only to get to Antarctica and be greeted by a frozen tundra.

Not to mention that the more people that come here, the faster climate change happens. In fact, it’s getting so bad that flowers are starting to grow here. The coldest place on Earth is warming so much that flowers are blooming. That’s not good, people.

Climate change aside, the animal population here is also being affected by tourism. The penguins are starting to change their reproductive and social behaviors. The krill are dying due to rising sea temperatures, which is affecting the humpback whale population. Also, many of the birds and other animals living here are dying from trash thrown into the ocean by the hundreds of cruises that visit each year.

14. Versailles, France

As I mentioned before, I think Paris gets a bad rap for being a “tourist city” or “underwhelming,” but you know what city is both? Versailles.

This city has one attraction, and it is not worth the trip. The Palace of Versailles usually has lines that wrap around the entrance multiple times to get into an overcrowded palace that felt very underwhelming.

Maybe the whole process of getting into the palace ruined the experience for me, but it felt too modern and like a tourist trap.

I find that this is the case for most places that you have to pay to get into. It just immediately takes away from the ambiance of the place.

15. Bali, Indonesia

Last up, we have Bali. This is another one I disagree with, but I can see how people would feel it’s overrated. I went and loved every second of it.

We traveled all over the island by scooter (which is the best way to do it) and tried to stay out of Ubud if we could. I mean, it’s beautiful, but it feels very touristy. You have to pay to get into every attraction you go to (even waterfalls!), and it felt like a city built for tourists.

If you want to get away from the crowds and experience Bali the way it was meant to be, stay in Sideman in the North or the Bukit Peninsula in the South. Stay away from Denpasar, Ubud, Canggu, and Kuta if you want to be far from the party crowds and rowdy tourists.

What do you think?

Are there any overrated viral travel locations I missed? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading!