They’re called the wonders of the world for a reason: They are, in a word, wonderful. Consider the grandeur of the Taj Mahal, the history of the Roman Colosseum and the otherworldly mystique of Chichen Itza: A visit to one of these spectacles is a time to be filled with awe. It’s not a time to be filled with loathing for the throngs of tourists hemming you in from all sides.
A new Bing Travel article by Peter Greenberg gives you the scoop on how to enjoy the globe’s most majestic attractions without being surrounded by crowds. His biggest across-the-board tip: Go as early in the morning as possible. Besides helping you beat your fellow tourists to the punch, early-morning visits can help you stay out of the afternoon heat, and many sites — notably Machu Picchu and the pyramids at Giza — are never more stunning than at sunrise.
What tips do you have for visiting Earth’s most iconic sites? Also, which of the world’s wonders have you seen, and which would you like to see? What are your favorite sites, and why? Share your thoughts with fellow travelers in the comments section.
On a more serious note, than some other posters, I had a great monster hunt to Loch Ness. I recommend a spring trip travelling by train to Inverness over the Grampians from Edinburgh, so that you can see all the snow from the bar (assuming they still have one, it was a few years ago). A stay at one of the great hotels in town and then the boat trip across the Loch. No need for a car, just relax and drift between magical locations. You might even see Nessie!
Regards
Mike
I've visited the Great Pyramid in Giza and Taj Mahal in India. I like the Great Pyramid more, because of the mysteries that surround the place.
Thank you for the share, we are looking forward to start develpment with Bing
i would love to visit the great pyramids of giza, going to check bing travel to see if any deals are on.
Thanks for this, I can't wait to go visit these wonderful places.
Peter Greenberg's article is interesting and likely helpful but I have to disagree with the bit about the Tower of Miracles aka Leaning Tower of Pisa. My hubby & I went in June 2007. We had Tower tickets purchased in advance. What that gave me, instead of the suggested countryside tour, was a sense of antiquity. Spoiler: the sense that millions of people over the centuries walking up and down has worn the marble significantly. Also, staying on the island of Venice is a must-do.
I want to go there too.
i would like to go there sounds like an interesting place.
I agree about the Great Wall. Our tour took us to Badaling, on a weekend no less. I was expecting a spiritual experience
but it was like walking down Broadway, only with steps.
If you want to avoid looooong lines to Eifell Tower you can book lunch on a weekday (much cheeper) in Jules Verne on the second floor and go up in style. No wait.
Great tip anna I agree, you don't even want to go on the weekends, it gets out of control there.
We spent an afternoon in Pisa killing time while waiting for a train. I expected the Leaning Tower to be a tacky tourist trap. In fact, it sits in one of those lovely urban spaces that European cities are so good at. A grassy square framed by the cathedral, the baptistry, the camposanto and the tower, all lovely buildings worth a visit. But what made the afternoon such a pleasant surprise was the people out enjoying the sunny day. Families out for a walk, 20-something guys kicking a soccer ball around, a group of sailors in uniform trying to pick up girls (with limited success) - this was clearly not just a tourist trap but a local urban park that was used by many kinds of people. If we'd just been collecting buildings it might have been a disappointment, but hanging out for the afternoon turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip to Italy.
Rather than fighting the crowds at Chichen Itza, we toured Talum, which had less people AND a beautiful stretch of beach to lay out on after the tour!
I haven't been many places but have always found that going at sunset is really nice, temps are falling, so you don't get to blasted. Its also really romantic.
I have also found sunset to be a good time for natural wonders. I once spent the summer working at the Grand Canyon and couldn't believe the number of dissapointed tourists who got to the rim around noon and only stayed an hour. The lighting for cameras is totally flat. The best time is sunset or sunrise.
Mount Rushmore is also awesome at sunset, and be sure to stay for the special "After Dark" show that the park puts on. Spectacular!
