- From the Grand Canyon to the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore, tourists travel the world to snap the perfect photo of the most iconic places.
- But sometimes too many people, or bad weather, on other occasions, prevent tourists from capturing the perfect image they dream of.
- Discover more stories at Business Insider Spain.
There is no better way to see a place to do it from above.
That’s why many tourists travel to iconic places to see these landscapes, which are sometimes considered tourist traps, and which show perfect views in photos.
Depending on the weather and the angles we have to take the photo, There are places that are not as spectacular as one might expect.
We have searched 13 relevant places around the world to see the disparity that can be found between some photos and others.
Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower offers tourists four floors of 360-degree views of the city and the Huangpu River.
ssguy/Shutterstock
The 468-metre-high tower features a glass-enclosed observation deck and a revolving restaurant.
I just hope that if you travel to the tower you don’t get a foggy day.
Tauno Tõhk / 陶诺/Flickr
Fog in Shanghai is no exception.
The Empire State Building is possibly the most iconic skyscraper in New York City.
Yulia Mayorova/Shutterstock
The building’s two observation decks, one on the 86th floor and the other on the 102nd, receive more than four million visitors a year.
What many tourists don’t know is that the buildings in Midtown Manhattan, which you see in this image, are not that impressive.
Jim Bowen/Flickr
For a much more dynamic view of the city, where you can also see the Empire State Building, it is best to go to the top of ‘The Rock’
Singapore’s most coveted view can be found from an infinity pool located on the 57th floor of the Marina Bay Sands hotel.
Alexander Mazurkevich/Shutterstock
The hotel describes its pool as “the world’s largest air pool.”
But what most photos don’t show is that much of the view is filled with cranes and oil rigs.
Dan Brown/Flickr
Not all views are worthy of being posted on Instagram
The Grand Canyon is one of those natural wonders that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.
Martin M303/Shutterstock
This stunning location recently celebrated its centenary as a designated national park.
But keep in mind that depending on the weather, the canyon may not look as red as some photos would have you believe.
Deepti Hari/Flickr
That said, it is still worth a visit, despite the crowds and opinions that it is a tourist trap.
Many tourists climb the 533 steps of Cologne Cathedral to see the German city from above.
ElysiumImages/Shutterstock
The Cathedral is actually the most popular tourist attraction in Germany.
The view is less pretty when seen through the wire fence that surrounds the top of the cathedral.
Joe/Flickr
The fence has a tendency to get in the way of the views
Seattle’s 184-metre-high Space Needle is an icon of the city.
AngelSchwai/Shutterstock
On a good day, you can see the Seattle skyline and Mount Rainier.
On a not so good day, the view seems a little more gloomy.
Chris Yunker/Flickr
And since Seattle is known for its rainy climate and high annual rainfall, chances are you’ll visit on a rainy day.
Christ the Redeemer is a 30-metre-high statue that stands atop Mount Corcovado, which towers over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
vitormarigo/Shutterstock
The observation deck on which the statue is built offers majestic views of the city.
The views are only majestic if you actually manage to break away from the crowds and catch a glimpse
Sophie Hoeller/INISIDER
During peak season, the statue receives between 3,000 and 4,000 visitors a day, making it a battle to get a good view.
The London Eye is the most famous Ferris wheel in the United Kingdom. At 135 metres high, it was the tallest in the world when it opened in 2000.
Ale Argentieri/Shutterstock
If you take a ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel at dusk, you can see Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster illuminated beautifully.
During the day, however, the view looks much more normal.
Jennifer Boyer/Flickr
The Palace of Westminster does not look so charming without the evening light.
Toronto’s CN Tower boasts the world’s tallest railing-free walkway and is a great opportunity to get a bird’s-eye view of the city.
oltrelautostrada/Shutterstock
The walkway allows visitors to walk around the tower at a height of 358 metres above ground level while attached with cables and harnesses.
But on a foggy day we won’t be able to see much from the walkway.
Robert Lindsell/Flickr
For the best view of the tower with the Toronto skyline as a backdrop, visit Polson Pier.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris overlooks the Champs de Mars, a large public park that attracts locals and tourists alike.
Felix Lipov/Shutterstock
In this photo, the park has a vibrant green color.
The park doesn’t look so attractive in this photo.
Yortw/Flickr
Many will tell you that the money you will pay and the time you will wait to go up the Eiffel Tower is not worth it, and that it is better to see the tower from afar rather than visiting it inside and going up to the observation decks.
Located on Mount Carmel in Barcelona, Park Güell is a picturesque tourist attraction offering spectacular views of the city.
Georgios Tsichlis/Shutterstock
The park is one of the most famous works of the Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí.
But the colors of the park and of Barcelona may not be as bright as some photos make them seem.
Semisatch/Shutterstock
It’s nice, but it may not meet your expectations.
From Chicago’s famous Willis Tower you can see the skyline from downtown.
cendhika/Shutterstock
The 103rd floor of the skyscraper houses the Skydeck, which attracts more than 1.7 million visitors a year.
But the viewing platform is very tight for groups, so you may end up fighting with tourists to get a good view.
daveynin/Flickr/Attribution License
Long wait times and timed photo shoots make the experience less exciting and more stressful.
The coastal villages of Cinque Terre, Italy, have become popular with travelers for their bright colors.
Minoli/Shutterstock
On the coast, the villages perched on the cliffs and hillsides of the surrounding area are part of the Cinque Terre National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
But depending on the weather, the colors of the villages may not shine as brightly as you expected.
Kevin Ekmark/Flickr/Attribution License
While visitors can hike along the cliff-side trails, the best way to see all five villages is by train or boat.
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Tags: Travel, Photography, Lists, Tourism