Overtourism, which has already sparked impassioned protests in major European holiday destinations this year – and left residents in UK beauty spots tearing their hair out over hordes of phone-wielding tourists – has come for its latest victim.
South American’s most famous archaeological site, Peru’s ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu, could be stripped of its ‘New World Wonder’ status after the initiative that awarded it the coveted title in 2007 questioned the future of the tourist site.
Hidden amongst lush Andes scenery, Machu Picchu, 50 miles northwest of Cuzco, dates back 600 years but was largely forgotten until the early 20th century. It’s been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, and last year attracted 3.4 million visitors.
However, the New7Wonders Foundation organisation is now questioning the Peruvian settlement’s ‘credibility’.
The foundation’s Director, Jean-Paul de la Fuente, has criticised Peru’s Ministry of Culture, saying the country’s image is currently being damaged by overtourism.
The area’s tourist industry has been at the centre of protests this week, with at least 900 tourists left stranded after demonstrators blocked train tracks that lead to and from the ancient Inca city.
New7Wonders claims the landmark hasn’t done enough on conservation and sustainability and that tickets can be too expensive for some, calling for ‘urgent action by the Peruvian state’.
Peru’s Ministry of Culture responded, saying the site ‘is not being violated’ and isn’t on UNESCO’s ‘List of World Heritage in Danger’.
Inca’d out? Peru’s ancient citadel Machu Picchu has become the latest victim of overtourism, with the initiative that declared it a New World Wonder in 2007 suggesting that the site could be stripped of the title over concerns over visitor numbers and sustainability
The fightback against overtourism is likely to see other major sights face a similar backlash in the coming years.
Travel writer Laura Millar tells the Daily Mail: ‘It’s really sad that some of these places which are absolutely incredible to visit have become at risk of being shunned and passed over just because they’re too popular.
‘They’re absolutely phenomenal when you see them for the first time, but obviously it’s better when you don’t have to elbow your way through thousands of other people.’
So, where have the scales already tipped in the wrong direction, making them less ‘must-see’ and more scratch from your bucket list?
We asked travel industry experts, including tour operators and writers, about the show-stopping attractions they’d firmly sidestep, and where they’d go instead:
Stonehenge is ‘draughty, crowded and over-priced’ – and there’s a magical alternative that the madding crowd misses
In the most recent UK tourist figures, visitor numbers for Stonehenge topped 1.4million in 2024, accounting for more than a third of the country’s tourism pie.
How does that translate when it comes to visitor experience? Pretty awful, says British travel writer Mark Porter.
‘These “giant” monoliths were dragged into place by Neolithic men who took 200 years to get the job done.
‘When you eventually arrive, mud-spattered after a 2.6 mile hike across fields, having had your corkscrew, cheese knife and picnic confiscated at the Visitor Centre, you realise that the stones are really not so big: the height of two rather tall people (13ft).
‘Let’s be honest, it’s draughty, crowded and over-priced: tickets for two adults and two children on the English Heritage website comes to £112, but views of rubber-necking drivers on the A303 are spectacular, if you’ve remembered your binoculars.’
Stonehenge: It might be easier to enjoy this ancient spectacle while you’re stuck in traffic on the A303, which you almost certainly will be
Travel expert Mark Jones, former editor of BA High Life magazine, agrees and proffers an alternative, saying he’d swerve Stonehenge completely in favour of lesser known Avebury.
Visitor figures at this 4,000-year-old enigma, a 40-minute drive north, aren’t generally recorded…because it’s a completely free attraction.
Jones says: ‘Why go to Stonehenge when you can go to Avebury? At the former, you’re cordoned off from the stones – and any attempt to transport yourself imaginatively back to Neolithic times has the A303 to contend with. It’s sterile and crowded.
‘But nearby Avebury is magical: you can walk alone among the stones, circles and avenues and really feel their power within that ancient Wiltshire landscape.’
The Eiffel Tower? No, thanks. There’s plenty of better views of Paris – and don’t get me started on the Mona Lisa
Mon dieu: Snaking queues are the norm for visitors to the Eiffel Tower in Paris
‘I’ve been to the Eiffel Tower 100 times more than most people because I’ve got relatives who live in Paris,’ says expert travel writer Laura Millar, ‘and once you’ve got in that bl**** queue – often for an hour-and-a-half – you really lose the will to live.’
She continues: ‘You get up there and yes, you’ve got great views of Paris, but so have a lot of other places. The other good thing about other tall buildings in Paris is that you can actually see the Eiffel Tower. The main problem with going up the Eiffel Tower is that you can’t actually see it once you’re up it! There needs to be some spacing out of tourist seasons or some kind of limitations on tourist numbers.’
Paris’ other major disappointment? It’s most famous artwork, says Laura, who posts about her travels on her Instagram account, @lauramillar1.
‘Seeing the Mona Lisa in the Louvre…there are so many people. You have five seconds to see it before being literally ushered along because somebody else wants to take a picture of it. That, to me, is not appreciating art. It’s a beautiful thing to see but it’s ruined by other people’.
Egypt’s famous Pyramids? Wonderful, yes, but also smelly, chaotic and eternally crowded
The photo tourists struggle to get: The Pyramids of Giza attract millions of visitors to Egypt every year, with the attraction crowded from dawn til darkness
When the sun rises over Cairo and its famous Pyramids of Giza, the tourist crowds, bussed in from across the Egyptian capital – and the souvenir-sellers – are already in place.
Photographers, with two or three camels tethered to them, offer photos for a fee and the queues begin for the one-in-one-out crouched trek into your Pyramid of choice.
Dailymail.co.uk travel journalist Jowena Riley visited the ancient wonder for the first time this week and was surprised at the lack of organisation.
It’s impossible not to be impressed by the majesty of this ancient site she says, but when it comes to getting a good view? It’s elbows at dawn.
‘The Pyramids of Giza are amazing. My fellow tourists? Less so! There were a lot of people who seemed to forget their manners. And when you enter the Pyramids, it can feel very congested. During my visit, there was no-one inside to guide anyone, which meant it did feel a little chaotic.’
Anyone with a nervous disposition should probably avoid going in too.
Jowena adds: ‘Once inside, you’re expected to wait inside a small cave-like area – hunch-backed – as groups of people make their way down the narrow walkway from The King’s Chamber to the exit.
‘It can feel like a very long five minutes spent to avoid bumping into passersby. And it’s very, very, very hot inside, with little oxygen, so lots of people sweat and get out of breath. All of these waits could be avoided with directions from staff inside.’
Travel consultant Lucinda Faucheux, of Travel Support Circle, says there are alternatives to Cairo’s famous ancient structures.
She says: ‘The Pyramids of Giza are undeniably iconic but you’re going to be overwhelmed by large crowds and vendors.
‘For a calmer, more rewarding visit, head to Saqqara or Dahshur, both of which are less than an hour’s drive from Cairo. Saqqara is home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world’s oldest pyramid, while Dahshur boasts the Red and Bent Pyramids.
‘These are just as striking as the ones at Giza, but with a fraction of the visitors.
‘These sites give you the chance to experience Egypt’s ancient history in a more relaxed environment, where you can truly appreciate the scale and craftsmanship without dealing with a crowd.’
Rome’s Colosseum has become an arena for scammers and pickpockets
Italy’s impressive amphitheatre has become a hotspot for pickpockets and scammers, says Elaine Warren, founder of The Family Cruise Companion
The Colosseum in Rome remains the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built and it echoes with fascinating stories of bloody gladiatorial battles.
Yet it’s enduring popularity can also gift you a one-way ticket to feeling frazzled – and leave you a target for petty thieves. Pickpocketing and tourism scams have become prevalent in the city’s biggest tourist spots in recent decades.
Family travel expert Elaine Warren, founder of The Family Cruise Companion, says that many parents put Rome’s busiest tourist attraction at the top of their list when visiting the Eternal City – but there are alternatives if you’re looking to bring a history lesson on the Roman Empire to life.
Elaine says: ‘Rome’s Colosseum is extraordinary, but ticket scams and crowds can sour the thrill.
‘Iconic sights aren’t automatically skippable, but timing, lesser-known equivalents, and a willingness to wander off the brochure can transform a “meh” pilgrimage into a memory that actually feels, well, wondrous.
‘Slip into the ancient world at Ostia Antica, a half-hour train ride away, where mosaics, baths, and bakeries sprawl in near solitude. You’ll feel the city come alive as your kids race down its Roman streets.’
The Grand Canyon: It takes hours to get there and then you spend five minutes looking at it
Hit the skies or hit the road, says Nicholas Smith, Holidays Digital Director at Thomas Cook, who recommends taking a helicopter ride to avoid feeling underwhelmed by the Grand Canyon
Nature lovers look away, now. While the Grand Canyon is one of the most famous National Parks in America, it’s also, dare we say, a bit boring.
The Arizona beauty spot draws tourists from all over the world with its red-hued chasms – but vast swathes of it are closed to tourists, and unless you’re an avid hiker or photographer, travelling for hours to get there can leave tourists feeling more than a little short-changed.
Nicholas Smith, Holidays Digital Director at Thomas Cook, says the national spectacle doesn’t always live up to holidaymakers’ expectations.
‘Some travellers might arrive at the Grand Canyon expecting a dramatic, up-close spectacle, only to find it’s so vast and distant that it can even feel a little bit underwhelming.
‘The trick is to see it from above – a helicopter flight over the West Rim gives you a real sense of its scale and beauty, and you’ll often catch views of Hoover Dam and Lake Mead too.
‘It’s a far more intimate way to experience the canyon without jostling with the crowds along the viewing platforms.’
A selfie at the Taj Mahal? Join the (very long) queue!
It’s an iconic sight but a day spent at the Taj Mahal, India’s famous white marble mausoleum, can leave nerves frayed by heat and crowds
It’s one of the most famous backdrops in the world…and plenty of famous faces, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Tom Cruise and Oprah Winfrey have posed up a storm in front of it.
If you’re a mere mortal, however, getting your own snap in front of India’s iconic white marble mausoleum means doing battle first with searing heat and thousands of people.
The Taj Mahal, in the city of Agra on the banks of the Yamuna river in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth in 1631.
The landmark, a UNESCO World Heritage site and, like Machu Picchu, a ‘New Wonder of the World’, attracts between 7 and 8 million people every year.
Hugh Fraser, founder of UK travel company Corinthian Travel, says while they help tourists visit the famous white marble mausoleum during the day, they try and persuade people to that a night-tour is much more rewarding.
Says Hugh: ‘A visit to the Taj Mahal is a must when visiting Northern India, but the vast crowds (making picture taking a nightmare), tacky souvenir sellers, noise, and fierce temperatures can seriously mar the experience and make you wish you hadn’t bothered.
‘That said, to see the Taj by moonlight is an unforgettable experience. On a cloudless night, this marble mausoleum reveals itself in the soft light of a rising full moon is an otherworldly experience.
‘With only a handful of visitors permitted, the silence and the setting can be so profound that you might lose sense of yourself – only to discover something deeper within.’
Niagara Falls: Thousands of tonnes of water…and thousands (and thousands) of tourists
Like beans in a very big can, poncho-wearing tourists are cruised into the foaming white mist of Niagara Falls, the spectacular natural phenomenon on the border between Ontario, Canada and New York, USA every 15 minutes or so.
It’s one of the world’s most visited tourist attractions with some 14 million descending on the region every year. By the middle of day, particularly on weekends, Niagara Falls, from either side, can feel like the busiest place in the world.
For some, the rash of neon in the surrounding hotels, souvenir shops and restaurants is the very definition of how not to celebrate a natural spectacle.
Those who go love it…but Niagara Falls sold out to tourism decades ago
The good news though is that it costs nothing – beyond getting there – to appreciate this thunderous wall of water, so it’s more a case of when you go rather than scratching it off your list completely.
Nicholas Smith, Holidays Digital Director at Thomas Cook, tells the Daily Mail: ‘The iconic Niagara Falls is best experienced midweek – I’d recommend opting for one of the smaller boat tours too, as you’ll get closer to the falls with fewer people around but of course, booking ahead will ensure you get the best experience.
‘If you’d rather avoid the crowds altogether, the nearby town of Niagara-on-the-Lake offers a quieter, charming base with great wineries and scenery.’
