I’ve spoken before about the difference between Instagram and reality, but despite knowing that 90% of what you see on the internet is contrived, you can’t help but get major FOMO seeing snaps from travel influencers swinging their silk skirts around their ankles in front of the world’s most renowned tourist attractions. But, are these places really ever as good as the ‘gram makes them out to be? Imagine my shock when it turned out that, no, they’re not. But would that stop me packing my bags and jetting off there the first chance I could? It’s a hard no. So, despite it not making one ounce of difference, I’m here to spill the tea about which European tourist attractions are so glamourised online that they tend to be an anticlimax in real life.
The Mona Lisa, Paris
Arguably Leonardo Di Vinci’s most famous painting is the definition of internet catfishing. The online depictions of it bear absolutely no resemblance to how this tiny 2×2 painting actually looks hanging in the Louvre. It is small. Really small. So small, in fact you’ve be forgiven for just walking straight past – except that there’s no chance of that with the crowds of tourists swarming towards it to finally be able to judge for themselves whether she’s smiling or not.
The Eiffel Tower, Paris
Listen, I’m not here to hate on Paris – but, if the shoe fits! No, I’m joking, Paris makes a great city break and is full of gorgeous attractions that will leave you in awe… but unfortunately, despite what all of those basic photos of Instagram influencers wearing berets and clutching a suspiciously plastic looking croissant would have you believe, the Eiffel Tower is not one of them. Unless you’re into spending €18 on a Mr. Whippy and a can of Coke, and spending forever trying to find a spot of grass to base yourselves that’s not overrun with people leaping into the air for that perfect pic that gets their full #ootd in without cutting off the top of the tower.
European tourist attractions: Loch Ness, Scotland
As a kid I always dreamed of monster-hunting in Loch Ness, and I was convinced I’d be the person who finally proved that this mythical creature was out there. Unfortunately, whilst Loch Ness is one of the most gorgeous bodies of water in Scotland, (perfect if you need somewhere to clear your head) that’s literally it; a big body of water in the middle of nowhere. So, don’t expect too much monster hunting to be going on; the locals got sick of people like us years ago!
The Spanish Steps, Rome
Much like Loch Ness, the Spanish steps are another great example of something that does exactly what it says on the tin, but still manages to disappoint. History buffs will appreciate the significance of the Spanish Steps, but if you’ve just googled “tourist spots in Rome” like I did, you’re likely to be left feeling a bit… meh. And if you’ve headed there specifically for a photo opportunity, you’re going to struggle to get one without at least 30-40 other tourists in shot. So, if it’s an aesthetic thing, it might be worth finding another, less busy, set of steps to influence people from.
European tourist attractions: The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a strange building to behold – which ultimately means it allows tourist to get really creative with their Instagram snaps – and lord knows influencers love a chance to switch up their grid! But besides spend 5-10 minutes pretending to hold up fresh air while your bff lines the camera up correctly, what else is there to do in that area? The answer, I’m a afraid to say, is fuck all. By all means explore the city, but if you’re only heading to the tower you’ll be done and dusted in under an hour.
The Little Mermaid Statue, Copenhagen
Just like the Mona Lisa, the statue of The Little Mermaid is surprisingly small compared to how she looks on the internet. As Becky, from Eat Liverpool said to us; it’s smaller than your average dog. It’s also miles out because, over the years, people have tried to cut her head off, tried to blow her up, cut her arms off… etc etc. This is why we can’t have nice things!
So, tourist hotspots are not all they’re cracked up to be.
Am I shocked? No.
Would that stop me going? Still no.
I think the key is to keep expectations low, and who knows, you might end up being pleasantly surprised.
Jen is our resident wellness and features editor here at The Daily Struggle. You will probably find her on the beach, painting her house or writing about magick and motherhood.
