Expensive, crowded, crime-ridden or over-commercialised: these are the popular destinations our writers deemed unworthy of the hype in 2025.
San Francisco, US
The harbour is stunning, and there are great neighbourhoods like Nob Hill, The Castro and Sausalito on the northern side of that bridge. But have you been lately? Chances are most businesses beside your hotel were boarded up – the inner-city is in strife, struggling with visible homelessness and open drug use. Oh, and it’s one of the three most expensive cities in the US.
Istanbul, Turkey
This popular city has endured several years of high inflation (this year topping 33 per cent) that has arguably taken the edge off its appeal. No longer a cheap destination, meals often cost about the same as in Australia. On top of that, admission rates to key attractions have been set at extraordinarily high rates and in euros: for example, entry to the Galata Tower is €30 ($53). It’s still a marvellously historic and scenic city, but much less welcoming to the wallet.
Las Vegas, US
The city has become a no-go zone with overpriced drinks and inflated hotel rates. Even meals at average restaurants can cost double what you’d pay elsewhere. And do you know the worst part? Casinos don’t always give free drinks away now (the house really wins). The city lacks authenticity: there are just crowds of tourists and relentless advertising. If you want to party, there are so many better places in America.
Venice, Italy
Tourist traps, overcrowding and hellish humidity in summer are more than enough reasons to swipe left on Venice. The difficulty of getting around and the high price of everything are reasons to delete it from your travel plans altogether. True, it’s worth seeing once for the novelty of a city built on millions of wooden piles. But on repeat visits to Italy, savour la dolce vita in less-crowded places where the food is better, and the euro goes further.
Santorini, Greece
We can blame social media for turning Santorini, once a laidback, sunny island in Greece, into a crowded shemozzle. Keen to take a photo of sunset at the Oia caldera after seeing it on the cover of every Greece guidebook? You can look forward to elbow-to-elbow combat with thousands of other like-minded tourists crammed into a small area of overpriced cafes and shops. Explore instead the islands where Greek families choose to holiday, including Kefalonia, Tinos and Crete.
Bangkok, Thailand
One night in the Thai capital still makes for a long time spent in taxis. Traffic congestion has reached even worse levels in the city, contributing to pollution that seems to get worse every year. We still love Thailand, of course, but it’s fair to say the capital is not the most appealing part of the so-called Land of Smiles. Another reason to fly straight to the islands or up north? Inflation (see Istanbul above). Bangkok just ain’t that cheap any more.
Prague, Czech Republic
Overtourism is killing the charm that once made it one of Europe’s best destinations. The city’s historic centre is buckling under the weight of millions of visitors each year – far exceeding what its narrow medieval streets were ever meant to handle. Forget observing traditional Czech life – think English stag parties and hefty tourist coaches.
Hunter Valley, NSW
It may be Australia’s oldest wine region, but it’s also its most commercialised. Where once it had plenty of character and small, family-owned wineries, now it’s dominated by large-scale producers, tour buses and corporate tasting rooms that look like upscale boutique stores. The Hunter Valley feels like a wine theme park these days; and just like California’s Napa Valley, you’ll have to pay for a tasting at most wineries these days.
Phuket, Thailand
Rapid over-tourism for the past 20 years has strained the island’s infrastructure. Beaches that were once pristine now feel crowded and commercialised and popular areas like Patong have turned into congested strips of neon signs and aggressive vendors – many of them selling sex. It’s hard to find any sense of Thai culture in Phuket. And to top it off – it’s not even cheap any more.
Vietnam
Vietnam is a remarkable destination, its growing popularity well-earned. However, a gung-ho approach to tourism development is accelerating the effects of mass tourism in ways that risk eroding the very authenticity travellers seek. Vietnam’s culture and landscapes and its deep historical heritage offer far more than the flashy resorts and hotels now emerging in some coastal areas, and careful stewardship is essential to protect what makes the country unique. And while they’re at it, perhaps they should overhaul their e-visa system that seems to regularly cause travellers grief.
Barcelona, Spain
It may be time to give Barcelona a rest. The same could be said for many of Spain’s tourist hotspots. Local communities have repeatedly voiced opposition to mass tourism, so we should ask if we want to contribute to the problem. And what is gained by visiting when a place is overcrowded and residents are resentful? Choose alternative destinations until Spain, and other European locations, find sustainable ways to manage your – and everyone else’s – interest.
Noumea, New Caledonia
The glamour of French occupation has faded in New Caledonia’s capital, becoming more a trigger for Kanak dissent than a lure for tourists. Over-priced, rundown and with few noteworthy attractions, the city pales in comparison to some of its lesser-populated island neighbours, such as the Isle of Pines, Mare and Lifou in the Loyalty Islands; or look to far-flung beaches on Grande Terre Island to discover the South Pacific idyll.
Calgary, Canada
It began with cottagecore – romanticising rural life and dressing the part, mainly for social media. Soon came countless other “cores”, from grannycore to Italocore. But if you’re heading to Calgary in cowboycore or dressing bohocore for Coachella, you’re role-playing a predetermined idea of place and culture. One of travel’s real values lies in discovering your authentic self in unfamiliar settings. Playing dress-ups diminishes that. Our advice? Stop fetishising and start genuinely experiencing.
Osaka, Japan
We have tried our best to love Osaka, we really have. We adore Tokyo and Kyoto, Kanazawa and Sapporo, Fukuoka and Hiroshima. We love Japan’s small towns and its sprawling metropolises. But Osaka … how is this one of the top three destinations in Japan? How is it considered part of the “Golden Triangle”? It’s just not that good.
Paris in summer
After the 2024 Olympics, the tourist crush in summer just got worse. It may seem romantic, but the reality is far less magical. You try inducing romance when you’re waiting for lines of tourists to get their selfie first. And the queues at the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and every Metro station are terrifying. Hotel room rates and restaurant prices spiral – and it’s really hot. Consider Vienna or Budapest instead, or just come in winter.
Downtown Los Angeles, US
Once an exciting hotspot of regeneration, downtown LA is on a disappointing downward spiral with confronting levels of homelessness, crime and drug use. The tragedy is that there are notable attractions here, including contemporary art museum The Broad, the outlandish Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Angels Flight Railway, a 90-metre-long funicular that claims to be the world’s shortest railway. Let’s hope it can clean up its act.
Mount Kosciuszko, NSW
Australia’s highest peak is actually more of a mound, and the hike there from the top of the chairlift is a largely featureless stroll along a metal boardwalk. If you’re lucky, there’ll be a decent view of the Snowy Mountains from the summit; often you’ll be shrouded in mist and clouds. With so many other amazing treks in the country, this is one you can skip.
Route 66, US
Once upon a time, this 3900-kilometre route from Chicago to Los Angeles probably was America’s most iconic road trip. No more. Large parts have been decommissioned, so if you try to follow the original route you’ll need to constantly hop on and off highways. As for the bits that remain, many have turned into kitschy tourist traps, full of average attractions and overpriced souvenirs. Let Route 66 rest in peace and instead tackle one of the country’s many other stunning road trips.
Contributors: Ben Groundwater, Julietta Jameson, Brian Johnston, Kristie Kellahan, Katrina Lobley, Rob McFarland, Julie Miller, Tim Richards, Craig Tansley, Sue Williams