It has become a trend among travelers to get off the beaten path [1] and avoid popular holiday spots in favor of more unique experiences. While that is also a great thing to do, there is a case to be made for the traditional locations as well. There's a reason some places are the most visited in the world, and while some activities like the London Eye or Eiffel Tower are a bit cliché and possibly overrated for many, the reason to actually go lies deeper.
At many of these hot spots, there is more to be seen beneath the top result on Google for "best places to go in X." If skipping these places because of their popularity is a reason not to go, there are ways to dig deeper and find the remarkable. Some places get a reputation for being underwhelming or too crowded, and while that may be true, that doesn't mean they shouldn't be seen. For those who are reluctant and need a push, here are 12 cliché places in the world that do deserve the hype they receive.
Rome
This ancient city is the top spot in Italy to go to, and even on my first trip there, I wasn't very keen on it. There are stories of it being dirty, dangerous, and underwhelming, but these claims are highly unjustified. Upon my second trip there, I finally understood its charm. To walk streets that are historic and nostalgic is incredibly romantic — and there's no better golden hour than one in Rome. When the sun comes up over the Forum and hits the stone just right, it makes the entire trip worth it. St. Peter's Basilica is absolutely worth the wait in the long line to get in.
Bangkok, Thailand
With over 21 million visitors in 2016 [3], Bangkok was officially the most visited city in the world. With that factor alone, many might swear off this Southeast Asian location as too populous and overwhelming. To miss Bangkok would be a mistake. It's been said to be one of the best examples of the old and the new, and the incredible culture of Bangkok deserves to be experienced. You can spend your afternoon exploring the many temples and then party the night away at Khao San Road. You can taste the delights of street food for as little as 24 cents or splurge at a high-rise like Sky Bar. Rushing through the streets on a colorful tuk-tuk is an experience you can't find in many places but Bangkok.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
This European "city of sin" is one of the most lovely places on the continent. Even if you're not interested in the sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll aspect of the city, there's an infinite amount of other things to enjoy. The Van Gogh Museum houses all of his finest works. A walk through the Anne Frank House will make you mourn for the lost diarist and countless others. The canals are why the city is called the "Venice of the North." In the Autumn, the leaves start to fall into the water and it's incredibly magical.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica may be seen as one of the easiest Central American countries to go to because it's the most commercialized for tourists. While that may be true, it makes life a bit easier when trying to get a taste of Latin America if you're not well-versed in Spanish or prepared to get too out of your comfort zone. As Costa Rica is an entire country and not just a single city, going to multiple locations on your tour will give you a sense of the landmass. Manuel Antonio on the coast is where you'll get your beach vacation while Monteverde in the forest can be where you can soar through the trees on a zip-line.
Dublin, Ireland
The Emerald Isle is a beauty to behold, from cliffs overlooking the water below to the colorful towns spotted all over the country. Dublin has its own place in the midst of it all. This Irish capital is ripe with history of independence and pride. Ireland is a small island but worth the journey, especially to be able to visit the vivid Temple Bar neighborhood or the majestic library at Trinity College. Finding a pub out of the way a bit makes for an authentic experience when you order a pint of Guinness and listen to your Irish-accented surroundings.
Iceland
It's only been a few years since Iceland became the new place to go (which largely had to do with a Beyoncé visit in 2014 [5] that inspired a whole generation of young people to buy plane tickets there), and now some say it's quite overcrowded and expensive so it might not be worth it. While it is true that Iceland is one of the most expensive places in the world, that can be ignored for the mere fact that it's incredibly beautiful [6]. There's a reason Game of Thrones frequently used the island as a backdrop for filming. It feels like you're walking on another planet while you're there. And if you ever needed a rainbow waterfall shot, Iceland is probably your best chance to get one.
London
London was the second most visited city [7] in the world in 2016, so clearly it is insanely popular. For Harry Potter-lovers [8], Anglophiles, and just the average English-speaking traveler who wants to go somewhere with the same language, it's heaven. Although there are some that scoff at what they consider to be an overhyped city, they couldn't be more wrong. There is brilliance even in the most obvious of tourist destinations like Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. But then London holds many secrets [9] inside it as well. As Samuel Johnson said in 1777, "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." And 240 years later, that still stands. Whether it's exploring a quirky neighborhood like Shoreditch or grabbing lunch at Maltby Street Market on a Sunday, you can never run out of things to do.
Phi Phi Islands, Thailand
Another Thailand location that gets a bad rap for the amount of tourists that flock to it every year is Ko Phi Phi Don. This island cluster is a two-hour boat ride off the coast of Phuket and one of the more popular of the Thai islands. Many hardcore travelers would tell you to go to one of the other areas of South Thailand such as Ko Samui or Ko Lanta, but there's an argument to be made for Phi Phi. Because of its popularity, it has a few more amenities than many of the other islands and it's a good place to station yourself if you do perhaps want to go island hopping. It's a bright, vivid town with plenty of options for excursions. And the famous Maya Bay (used in the Leonardo DiCaprio [10] film The Beach) is nearby for those who need an epic background for their trip photos.
Venice, Italy
If a gondola ride during sunset doesn't sound romantic to you, then maybe this isn't the place for you. But if you're a person who loves ancient cities and beautiful, colorful buildings, then Venice is to die for. It can definitely be a cliché spot for those who really want to avoid the traditional Italian vacation, but if you skip out on Venice for this reason, you're truly missing out. The blue-green water that runs through the canals and the hues of orange, pink, yellow, and red that grow out of the water on the architecture are a dream. And yes, grabbing a cool gelato cone and walking around in a sundress and hat is fully accepted and encouraged in this lovely floating city.
Paris
The city of love and light may be the first one people roll their eyes over when they think of a cliché place to go. I thought that too before I went for the first time. Upon leaving the train station and walking into the city, all those feelings disappeared. Paris is perfect. The Haussmann architecture from the late 1800s reinvented the entire city and it gives it a very regal vibe. A ride up the Eiffel Tower is definitely worth it on a sunny day. You can spend hours in the Louvre and only cover a small portion of it. But the real magic comes from walking down back streets and discovering something unexpected and beautiful.
Morocco
Morocco has grown in popularity in the past 10 years as a place for Westerners to go. The rich culture is extraordinary and an eye-opener to anyone who hasn't experienced it yet. The people are friendly, the food is delicious, and the diversity in the geography makes a trip as varied as one would like. You can spend a day at the beach in Essaouira or head to Marrakech for a trek through the souks. You can pass through the Atlas Mountains and find yourself at the edge of the Sahara Desert. The country is just an explosion of colors everywhere you look.
New York City
New York City likes to consider itself the capital of the world. People flock to it as a symbol of freedom and change (and to visit Times Square). Manhattan is a small island, and at any time, most of it is covered in tourists rather than residents, and this is what makes it the vibrant city it is. As one of the most diverse cities in the world, you can always find what you're looking for. If you have a craving for actual authentic Chinese food, you don't have to go more than a mile to find it. If you need to find a Polish grocery store, it's totally possible. The aesthetic of the city is picturesque. You can spend your day at the green Central Park or find old-style buildings and boutique shops in SoHo. There are endless possibilities in New York City.