The internet can be an amazing place to find travel inspiration and plan your next trip. That said, what we see online isn’t always what we get in real life.
Some travelers on social media, especially influencers, aim to portray their adventures in a flattering light. This can lead to a bit of a surprise when we finally go to their advertised destinations and find they’re not quite as we imagined. Take “Paris Syndrome”, for example, which describes the disappointment some Japanese tourists feel when they visit the French capital.
At Bored Panda, we’ve gathered some of those eye-opening moments from around the web. Find them below and let us know if you’ve ever had a reality check during your travels!
#1 Went To See The Famous Neuschwanstein Castle And This Was Our View
Image source: LoveWineNotTheLabel, bassel.khabbaz
#2 Instagram vs. Reality
In all seriousness, though, I still really enjoyed visiting Railay. Plus, I am also a tourist, so who am I to judge?
Image source: rebellieon
#3 Even Though The Trevi Fountain Is Possibly The Most Crowded Tourist Attraction In The World, It’s Still A Masterpiece You Cannot Miss When Visiting Rome
Image source: duvetstealer, professionaltraveler
#4 That Sure Didn’t Go As Planned
Image source: travelinginstyle
#5 I Traveled From UK All The Way To Germany To Take Photos Of The Devil’s Eye. This Is What I Saw When I Got There
Image source: AlleDs
#6 Expectations vs. Reality In Santorini
Image source: oana.bucketlist
#7 Hard-To-Obtain Permits For A 10-Mile Hike To See Havasupai Falls
Image source: TitillatingTofu
#8 The Harsh Reality
Image source: pubityearth
#9 The Mona Lisa
Image source: flowergirlfly, scubarockstar
#10 On The Topic Of Unfortunately Timed Maintenance In Japan, Here Is What The Floating Torii Gate At Miyajima Looked Like When I Was There Compared To What It Usually Looks Like
Image source: baquea, ooooooayumioooooo
#11 I Traveled All This Way Because Of A Post I Saw
Image source: artifexlife
#12 Buxton “Blue Lagoon”
Image source: Angry-_-Kid
#13 Tourist Site Instagram vs. Reality
Image source: Ehansaja, Travel in ceylon
#14 The Blue Lagoon, Iceland
Image source: h0rdur, Bloody-libu
#15 I Was In New York For The First Time In My Life
My wife and I spent almost 10 hours on a plane, crossed the Atlantic Ocean and flew 7,500 kilometers. We climbed to the top of the rock to enjoy a view of Central Park. We had only one day in New York and this view will always be with us.
Image source: prestoff, mirru_lara
#16 Went To Visit Casa Batlló In Barcelona
Image source: KarmaCollider
#17 Taking Pictures, Expectation vs. Reality
Image source: julianatalie777
#18 Traveled 2,874 Miles To See The Cliffs Of Moher
Image source: youngpotato307
#19 Went To Visit The Cherry And Spoon At Sculpture Gardens In Minneapolis. Cherry Is Out For Repainting
Image source: PurpleEngineer
#20 Sightseeing In Rotterdam
Image source: i_like_alpacas
#21 I Was Finally Able To Travel To Paris, And The Arch De Triumph Looks Like This. It’s An “Art” Project
Image source: hhyyerr, kirstenbhouston
#22 Hakone Shrine In Japan. Instagram vs. Reality
Image source: alexandrab_
#23 My Trip To Bali, Nusa Penida Island
Image source: DollarAkshay
#24 A Friend Went To Visit A Bamboo Bridge And Rice Field In Thailand That She Saw On Google, Unfortunately During The Dry Season
Image source: lordofbuttsecks
#25 Brooklyn Bridge, New York
Image source: thewilliamanderson, nextplacetogo
#26 Railay Beach, Krabi, Thailand
Image source: airmusetel, femotion_travel
#27 I Went On A Hike In Norway Expecting A Great View
Image source: fakejew, viajarmoto
#28 We Were All Hyped Up To Check Out The Pink Lake In Torrevieja… Only To Be Greeted By The Sad Sight Of A Not-So-Pink Lake On The Day Of Our Visit
Image source: sammcclendon, kronstroom
#29 Expectation vs. Reality Venice Edition
Image source: cristinaa.laura
#30 Terme Di Saturnia
Image source: johnzimmer__, dj.stella007
#31 Travelled For 30 Hours By Train, Then An Overnight Bus Then Rented Bikes… For The Amazing Views
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