"Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Even if you get there at 4:30 a.m., it's extremely crowded, but it's 100% worth visiting nonetheless. And once you get away from the congestion of the main temple, the rest of the complex is much less crowded and more manageable."
"Visiting Nyhavn is a must. It's the iconic image of Copenhagen where most postcard photos are taken. The best way to see it is by boat tour. You'll explore the canals of Copenhagen, pass by the famous Little Mermaid statue, and get a bit of history."
"My husband and I went to Italy for our honeymoon and stayed in Florence. The Duomo is incredible and well worth visiting. You can’t even comprehend its scale and beauty until you see it in person."
"This may be a bit specific to a certain type of person, but Hobbiton Movie Set in New Zealand is such a cool thing to see if you even remotely like the movies or Tolkien's work. Getting to actually stand in Hobbiton will make you very happy."
"Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. It's admittedly very touristy but there's no doubt it's impressive and iconic. If you skip the tour of the interior (which isn't particularly remarkable), you can see the outside entirely for free."
"Notre Dame Cathedral. Sure, it's one of the most recognizable buildings in all of Europe, and it's very touristy indeed. But if you're visiting Paris, I strongly recommend seeing it for yourself. You can hardly see the details of the façade in photos, and they are absolutely incredible. Get up close and admire the amazing architecture. It's so detailed and breathtaking in person."
"Pike Place Market in Seattle is amazing. It's anything but boring to see it for yourself. From the main entrance it looks like a small fish and vegetable market, but it is actually five stories of great restaurants and interesting shops built into a cliff overlooking the bay — a must do if you're in Seattle."
"I hate when people say to avoid Times Square when visiting New York City. Just walk through it on your way to a Broadway show. Sit on the steps and people watch. Do not go eat at Friday’s or Chili’s. But do go see the sights. You certainly don’t want to spend all day there, but it is so worth a stroll."
"The Checkpoint Charlie Museum in Berlin is utterly fascinating if you have any interest in Cold War history. It’s huge and covered in information. It’s expensive because it’s a private museum. And it’s full-on information overload. That being said, if you don’t mind reading and really want to learn, it’s quite extraordinary."
"I visited Machu Picchu and felt that the pictures don't do this place justice. I also highly recommend doing the five day Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu if you’re into hiking. It made the experience so much more incredible and didn’t feel touristy at all."
"Cinque Terre. This string of Italian coastal towns can be packed, but it's easy to experience the setting more peacefully. Most tourists who visit these days are on a tight schedule. So stay overnight and watch the place come back to life after 4 p.m. once all the cruise ships and tour busses have already left."
"The Taj Mahal is incredible. If you want to avoid crowds then queue up to enter at dawn. Yes, there are big walls all around, but that makes walking through the archway and seeing it for the first time all the more amazing. Visiting was an unbelievable experience."
"Stonehenge is definitely worth a trip IMO. Sure, it's a bit far from London, but there are plenty of things to see and do within a decent distance of the historical site to make your trip worthwhile. Just sticking to the prehistoric theme, you also have Avebury and Sillbury Hill in the vicinity."
"Las Vegas and The Strip. As someone who is from Vegas, I promise it can definitely be 'classy' if you know where to look. In particular, one of the best parts of the city is the food scene. Downtown Vegas is super hipster and lively, Chinatown boasts exceptional and cheap food — you could walk into any restaurant and have one of the best meals of your life — and certain restaurants on the Strip are well worth the cost if you have the means."
"The Grand Canyon. The crowds are wild (especially on weekends and holidays), but you’d be surprised at how quickly they drop off once you get a little ways down the trail. I’ve also heard the North Rim is beautiful and much less crowded, but it’s much more difficult to access."
"The Great Wall of China. There are ways to escape the crowds. The majority of people who choose to visit the Great Wall travel an hour from Beijing to see the most overcrowded and renovated section. I recently visited Beijing and rode for about three hours to visit a nearly empty, authentic and beautiful part of the wall, which made the experience."
"I went to Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia expecting a tourist-filled nightmare, but it was so worth it. Sure, there were other travelers and it was busy in some places, but there were also areas where you couldn't spot a single other person. The color of the water was unreal, and the views over the lakes were stunning. Definitely make the trip here if you're in Croatia."
"Visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris is so worth it. Go up the tower at night — seeing the city all lit up below your feet is magical."
"In Jordan, Petra and Wadi Rum are incredible. These were two of the most spectacular places I've ever seen. The thrill when you emerge from the canyon and see the Treasury...it gave me chills. And you will never feel such a sense of awe (and a sense of your own insignificance) as you will when you sit under the night sky in the Wadi Rum. It was an extremely moving experience."
"La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is really amazing. It's such a disorientating experience. Logically you know you’re in a church, but it sort of feels like you’re on a forest floor staring up at huge trees, but also under the sea and looking up at the water’s surface."
"The highlight of my trip to Europe was visiting the Palace of Versailles. I really enjoyed the beautiful gardens and the history of it. I have always have enjoyed learning about that era of history, so Versailles it was very cool to see."
"The Chicago Architectural Boat Tour is 100% worth it. I have taken so many visitors — friends from other places in the US and Europe — on this experience when they visit me. I have even taken my jaded life-long Chicagoan friends, and all of them have loved it."
"The Cliffs of Moher are completely stunning, and photos do not do them justice. The entire country of Ireland is beautiful, but spending a few hours soaking in the views and the sunset from the Cliffs was a highlight of my trip."
"The Pyramids of Giza. It was touristy, no question, but it was also some of the most awe-inspiring sights I've ever seen, no question."
"The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is so worth it. It took me a while to get through the line, but when I finally got inside the bright morning rays of sunlight were shining through the windows and it was absolutely breathtaking. It's one of the most beautiful buildings I've ever visited."
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There simply are no photos that do it justice. It's equally beautiful and scary.
Ahhh, then you want to visit Southeast Alaska. Small towns trapped on islands with history out the wazoo, totem poles, wild animals, dense forests and amazing trails everywhere. Fishing in spring and cheap cruise tickets in fall. Something for everyone from child to child at heart. I live there and I'm still amazed everyday.
For my Part i can definately recommend going to the Grand Canyon (north or South rim).
Versailles is kind of nice but overcrowded. The Garden of the Chateau is the Highlight.
Don't go on the Eiffeltower. Go to the Montparnasse Tower. there you also have a view over the City together with the Eiffeltower. Or just go to Montmartre, there you'll have good view too. Though it is crowded and you cannot see the Eiffeltower very well