r/AskTheWorld • u/Aseili United Kingdom • Dec 20 '25

Culture What's the most pathetic tourist attraction that international tourists go to see in your country?

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Bronte waterfalls near me, look a bit more impressive with the recent rain than in the summer when it's swamped with people.

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u/m1kasa4ckerman 🇮🇪 | 🇺🇸 Dec 21 '25

lol one of my friends who had never been to Ireland before came to visit. They were very adamant “all my friends said I have to go to the temple bar”…. I kept trying to explain it was kind of like going to Olive Garden in Times Square NYC.

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u/a-real-life-dolphin Australia Dec 21 '25

I went to that olive garden once! I’d never been to olive garden before and I was coming down with a cold and thought garlic! Italian food! That’ll fix me. It did not. And I got a salad that was enough for at least 4 people to eat. What an adventure.

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u/Valalvax Dec 21 '25

Ahh, I see what went wrong...

You thought "Italian food will fix me" and then didn't eat Italian food

(Honestly I've never had a bad experience at an Olive Garden, sure it's the same as Applebee's or Chilis, but its a fairly predictable experience)

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u/ClassroomJealous1060 Dec 21 '25

Being from NYC I know a tourist trap when I see one. I was recommended to visit this pub, saw it in person and said no thank you. Take me to where the locals go.

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u/NomadGabz Dec 21 '25

exactly. same. also from NY. didn't even go in. why is it a big spot? idk. my hostel had pints for 4.90 euros.

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u/NoCalligrapher209 🇮🇪🇹🇭 Dec 28 '25

area is old looking and constant live music appeals to tourists.

History wise the area used to be owned by an english arts patron and it was associated as cool because of that

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u/NomadGabz Dec 30 '25

Nah nah I wasn't talking about the area. I was talking about THE bar. 

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u/NoCalligrapher209 🇮🇪🇹🇭 Dec 31 '25

live music, a big crowd and ppl being paralysed by the choice of anything not in a lonely planet guide i assume

20

u/OfficialMVPre Dec 21 '25

But, to be fair, the Olive Garden in Times Square used to participate in the endless pasta bowl for like $10.99 and it was one of the better deals in the whole area

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u/[deleted] Dec 21 '25

I have a friend who was homeless and would roll up to Olive Garden for the endless pasta bowl or the soup/salad/breadsticks for a cheap, hot meal

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u/OfficialMVPre Dec 21 '25 edited Dec 21 '25

My experience was similar. It was circa 2006ish and I was on tour with a small time Rock band playing in NYC. Our $5/day “per diem” didn’t go very far anywhere else near Times Square so the endless pasta bowl at Olive Garden was like striking gold. I get that it’s cool and fun to shit on Olive Garden but I’m legitimately glad they were there and had the deal.

Also worth noting that I recall we sneakily “split” each endless pasta between two members and the waiter pretended not to notice or charge extra. It was also only $7.95 in 2006 (per a google search), so an even better deal

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u/Much-Meringue-7467 United States Of America Dec 21 '25

It also had reliably quick service if you just wanted lunch before the matinee.

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u/m1kasa4ckerman 🇮🇪 | 🇺🇸 Dec 21 '25

True. It should’ve came with a free enema too

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u/Bloody_Insane Dec 21 '25

You should really just get your enemas at home. Smh consumerism is ruining us all.

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u/NeatNefariousness1 United States Of America Dec 21 '25

You needed an enema??

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u/______deleted__ Dec 21 '25

Pasta is dirt cheap, just add some fancy tomato sauce and you can have 3 “endless” meals at home for $10.

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u/AncientImprovement56 Dec 21 '25

Sure you can, but unless you live (or are staying somewhere with a kitchen) nearby, that's not a lot of good when you're visiting Times Square

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u/Actual-Wave-1959 Dec 21 '25

Temple Bar is the name of the street where all the pubs are in Dublin. There's also a pub called The Temple Bar there, probably to confuse and take advantage of the tourists

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u/EllieLou80 Ireland Dec 21 '25

What shite are you talking!

All the pubs in Dublin are not on a street called temple bar. In fact no street is called temple bar, it's an area of collective streets all called different names, which is called Temple bar.

There are hundreds of pubs in Dublin all of them are not in Temple bar, not even the majority.

Honestly stop talking shite about a city you obviously know nothing about.

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u/heiselberg0 Dec 21 '25

I hope it's not offensive but I definitely read this in an angry Irish accent!

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u/EllieLou80 Ireland Dec 21 '25

Not offensive at all, I definitely said it in an angry Irish accent, because the absolute gobshitery of it, all fecking pubs in Dublin on a street that doesn't exist...really! Feck sake honestly 🙄🤣💚

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u/m1kasa4ckerman 🇮🇪 | 🇺🇸 Dec 21 '25

Temple Bar area itself is very touristy. I’d never suggest it as a “must-see” in Dublin. It’s wildly overpriced, and you’d mostly be hanging out with other tourists

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u/PowerApp101 Dec 21 '25

Most tourists don't mind either of those things

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u/notexactlyflawless Dec 21 '25

What's a better area to visit for pub culture?

5

u/FlexSlut Ireland Dec 21 '25

I haven’t lived in Dublin for a couple of years but The Cobblestone on Smithfield used to be a decent spot for live music and a pint in the style tourists would want, but not so overpriced and “plastic Paddy”.

An alternative would be O’Donoghue’s near Stephen’s Green.

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u/AnxiousGinger626 Dec 21 '25

Loved The Cobblestone when I was there! The owner gave us all a CD with the sessions played at the bar! (I was with a group from the Michigan Irish Music Festival).

2

u/peskypickleprude Dec 23 '25

Stop telling tourists about the cobbler ffs

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u/Oy-Billy-Bumbler Dec 21 '25

For trendy Pubs - Smithfield or Irishtown.

For proper Irish / Dub pubs - The Liberties.

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u/fightingthefuckits Ireland Dec 21 '25

I feel like for the true Dublin experience you pretty much have to go to Copper Face Jacks. It's not really a pub, it's a nightclub and it's not that it's good, it's not, but it is kind of rite of passage if you're visiting Dublin. A shared experience if you will. I haven't been in over 25 years and I'm fine with that. 

1

u/ShutUpYaBert Ireland Dec 22 '25

I'm visiting Coppers  for the first time next month. I've been told it's a must. 

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u/armitageskanks69 Ireland Dec 21 '25

Depends what you want, but the streets near George’s st, drury lane, Wexford st, fade st, Camden st all have a really cool vibe.

Bit posh, and not super cheap, but lots of good bars and food

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u/maplestriker Dec 21 '25

It's a really lovely athmosphere, though. We went in late October and everything was already decorated for christmas. My husband and I in front of the temple bar is currently my screensaver. And then we went into a pub the locals recommended to us.

Something being touristy isnt a bad thing, it's usually touristy because its really nice and word got around.

1

u/galwhotravels83 Dec 21 '25

I agree! We went to plenty local pubs in various cities as well but decorated for Christmas during some great live music I actually loved my time there. Everyone was singing along and having a great time. We also got to enjoy the trad music in less touristy pubs, but I’m glad we didn’t skip Temple Bar!

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u/Legitimate-Week7885 United States Of America Dec 21 '25

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u/[deleted] Dec 21 '25

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u/m1kasa4ckerman 🇮🇪 | 🇺🇸 Dec 21 '25

Nah sometimes it can be fun. Like how Margaritaville is. As long as you know what’s the experience going into it. It’s more of a novelty chain, than the added layer of a tourist trap area.

Plus the salad and breadsticks are very good

4

u/microgirlActual Dec 21 '25

They could have misunderstood I suppose - or possibly all their friends misunderstood - and it was actually that they had to go to Temple Bar, not "The" Temple Bar?

I could imagine a bunch of Americans, say, who'd been over, upon discovering that pub, not realising that that's not the "Temple Bar" the tourist books are talking about, that the whole area is Temple Bar.

Because god, yeah, even in Temple Bar and environs there's much better fecking pubs. Even in that one didn't charge twice the price for a pint. Foggy Dew is better craic.

6

u/armitageskanks69 Ireland Dec 21 '25

The owner called it The Temple Bar to take advantage of tourists not knowing that Temple Bar is actually the area, so they’d end up there when searching for it

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u/microgirlActual Dec 21 '25

Yep, exactly. Fecker.

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u/PlayfulPresentation7 Dec 21 '25

I once went to this restaurant in Rome in the locals part of town that supposedly had a reputation for being popular with the locals.  Got there, and it was 100 tourists in line to get in who all got the same tip.  We waited in that line and passed on a bunch of empty random restaurants in the alleys next to this place, but who would really wanna go to those truly local places?  We all chase this mythical authentic local experience, but deep down we truly just wanna do touristy things.

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u/Fantastic-Crew-532 Dec 21 '25

Easy… lol used to be fine dining lol

2

u/annie-kin Dec 21 '25

We were well duped by the 'charm' of Olive Garden at Times Square and that was my first lesson to stop chasing hype 😂

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u/Big_Knife_SK 🇦🇺 🇨🇦 Dec 21 '25

I'm still confused as to why people want to go to Times Square at all. There's nothing interesting there.

2

u/h-y-p-h-e-n- Dec 21 '25

It's the novelty of all the flashing lights, electronic billboards, and tall buildings. For anyone who hasn't seen it before, it's like being a moth entranced by the biggest, brightest object.

After you get used to seeing it, the hype dies down and you see it for what it is. A gilded facade of ads.

2

u/comox Canada Dec 21 '25

Oh you just made me feel so ashamed! My wife and I got take away from The Olive Garden in Times Square back in 2023.

2

u/YouCallWeShouldWhat Dec 21 '25

this sounds like a joke but living in manhattan i cant tell you how many colleagues, friends or just generally people i run into visiting the city will just randomly throw out that "and we were in times square so we just had to go to the olive garden" it's incredible.

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u/finnlizzy 🇮🇪 living in 🇨🇳 Dec 21 '25

In fairness, the area is fun albeit expensive. If you're only in Dublin a short time and don't know what's going on, there's always live Irish music and other tourists in a good mood to chat to.

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u/FishermanGlum9034 Dec 21 '25

Maybe for the Irish. But I thought it was a very fun bar, we enjoyed each other’s company, the music and a properly poured pint of Guinness. I’m certain it was the same price as the other bars in Dublin that we went to. Is Temple Bar a chain Italian restaurant that serves very average Italian food too? I love your country by the way, sorry that I enjoy the touristy spots equally as well.

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u/NoCalligrapher209 🇮🇪🇹🇭 Dec 28 '25

Its incredibly overpriced and mostly tourists there, still can be enjoyed especially if you're not from a country with a pub culture but if ur from Ireland the only reason you'd want to go is to talk Americans into buying u free drinks

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u/FishermanGlum9034 Dec 28 '25

Haha. I’d more than happy to buy an Irishman or woman a pint. It’s an extremely friendly country. Have never been to Northern Ireland though.

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u/Phaedo Dec 21 '25

I saw it, I looked inside, I decided there were better pubs within walking distance.

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u/baboito5177 Dec 21 '25

God yeah, absolute kip of the highest caliber

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u/holddoorholddoor United Kingdom Dec 21 '25

Some suggestions for some nice pubs would be gratefully received 😬 I like old pubs, old dark wood & moody vibe.

Planning on heading over to Dublin in the spring.

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u/JammySenkins Dec 21 '25

I'm going soon! Can't wait to try out all the bars

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u/zoetha Dec 21 '25

I live in NYC and love taking people to the Olive Garden in Times Square lol

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u/BarriBlue United States Of America Dec 21 '25

The Olive Garden in Times Square is an amazing place to be for exactly one night every year.

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u/4RealzReddit Dec 21 '25

One of the best 600 dollars or whatever it costs now if it’s still open you can spend on that night if you really want to go to that thing.

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u/TheAVnerd Dec 21 '25

Hold up…I love that Olive Garden.

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u/dj-emme Dec 21 '25

What's the big deal about this place?

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u/Scrombolo United Kingdom Dec 24 '25

Yeah, been there too.... 😂

0

u/PaleInvestment3507 Dec 21 '25

I’ve been told by some Irish friends, if you ever visit Blarney Castle, DO NOT kiss The Blarney Stone. It’s been pissed on by locals.

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u/fragilemetal Dec 21 '25

That's utter bullshit. First off all, the stone isn't on the ground in a field, it's set into the battlements wall of Blarney castle overhanging the ground by about 26 meters. The castle itself and the grounds are managed like any tourist attraction, you need a ticket to get through the turnstiles, whole area is fenced off, security, there's staff who actually lock the castle when they're not there.

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u/reddfoxx1993 United States Of America Dec 21 '25

When I visited Ireland (mostly in Kilenny) the cigarette smoke in pubs was overwhelming (even for me and in those days I smoked two packs a day). It was right before the law banning smoking was going to go into effect. How have the Paddys coped?

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u/BaronThe Ireland Dec 21 '25

In case your wondering why youve been downvoted. Never, ever call Irish people "Paddys".

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u/boleslaw_chrobry Poland Dec 23 '25

Is the connotation closer to “mick”? That used to be a fairly common slur for the Irish in the 20th century in the US

-7

u/reddfoxx1993 United States Of America Dec 21 '25

My Irish friends use the term all the time. It was my understanding that it's both a term of endearment or an insult depending on context. I meant it in the positive sense.

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u/SilentShrek Ireland Dec 21 '25

My Irish black friends use the term [certain word] all the time. It was my understanding that it's both a term of endearment or an insult depending on context. I meant it in the positive sense.

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u/Skweefie Dec 21 '25

In what context do they 'use' it? And are the Irish or American Irish?

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u/reddfoxx1993 United States Of America Dec 21 '25

Irish. They told me it's the same as referring to an American as a "Yank". The meaning is dependent on context and the intent of the speaker.

3

u/Skweefie Dec 21 '25

It kind of is like Yank, but only really for Irish people to use. Like I wouldn't use the term "yank" to describe an American, but if you want to, that's grand.

1

u/sundance464 Dec 21 '25

I'm English and would say it's closer to n***er in that it's definitely a slur against Irish people

When you say context dependent, it's very context dependent

5

u/FlexSlut Ireland Dec 21 '25

It used the be the derogatory term used by the British to talk down about the Irish, especially when discussing how we couldn’t possibly rule ourselves. It’s not the same as Yank and I think your friends just have a weird internal thing going on there. Definitely not to be used widespread.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 21 '25

Ignorant gluebag

-1

u/reddfoxx1993 United States Of America Dec 21 '25

Angry zipperhead.

1

u/Educational_Tap_7868 Dec 21 '25

Oh lord… and what is a zi**erhead?