Avoiding the Crowds at World Famous Sites

Remember times you visited a famous monument, a historic building, or a spectacular viewpoint somewhere in the world and you were restricted by large crowds making it impossible to fully enjoy the experience? We have all endured it, but it has been my goal to find a way to get away from those crowds to really experience being in the presence of a wonder of our world’s remarkable history whenever possible. In some instances, if you do your homework in advance, you could be rewarded with the opportunity to get a much better, or even semi-private experience, at many of the most famous sights in the world. It might just take a certain day, a specific time, or a less obvious area from where to enjoy the spectacular views.

The heat was already oppressive, but the view through the early morning haze across a dry river of the Taj Mahal resembled the mirages I have experienced in the Sahara Desert. During the wet season, the river water reaches to just under the monument and that changes the experience again. Over six million people a year visit this monument to romance and love built in 1632 by 20,000 artisans for The Mughal Emperor, Shad Jahan, to honor and immortalize his favorite wife. A peaceful visit strolling through the formal gardens in front of the mausoleum is nearly impossible at any time because of the large number of tourists, although at sunrise or sunset is certainly better. From further away one cannot view the most intricate details, but without anyone else present except a camel and its owner I was able to transport myself into the long-ago glorious era in Indian history of enormous wealth, grandeur, and intrigue of the many separate fiefdoms. 

Walking along the cliff of the crater crested by white-washed buildings and spectacular deep blue domed churches, I was practically alone. It was early evening at the end of September in one of the most popular tourist spots of the Mediterranean.

Santorini, or the official name Thera, is an island in the Aegean Sea. Marketing of the Greek tourism industry has made the image of whitewashed buildings and beautifully constructed Greek Orthodox churches topped with stark white crosses and the famous blue cupolas clinging to cliffs dipping into the azure blue waters a trademark for promoting Greece. A volcanic crater formed by an eruption in the 16th century is the background for the famous island. Unless occasional strong winds keep cruise ships out of the few anchor spots in the crater, or caldera, the main town of Fira is overrun with tourists during the day. But cruise ships don’t stay overnight, and, in the evening, hotel 

visitors have the opportunity to explore in relative peace. And another way to enjoy the stunning views with far less people is from the opposite side of the caldera.

In southern Germany there are thirty-two castles and Neuschwanstein, located in the Bavarian Black Forest, is the most well-known. Walt Disney’s construction of the famous Disney Sleeping Beauty Castle and Cinderella’s castle were inspired by this spectacular German structure. In 1869 King Ludwig II of Bavaria built the castle as a retreat to honor his favorite composer, Richard Wagner. And that was the only reason he did because the times had long since passed that required castles to be constructed with super thick walls and moats as stronghold to defend its people within. Hence his nickname: Mad King Ludwig. At 65,000 square feet, the castle is immense, and the rooms are richly decorated, many inspired by Wagner’s operas. Fourteen carpenters spent four years just on the woodwork in the bedroom. However, there is no throne as King Ludwig died before the castle was finished. He spent only a total of eleven nights in this highly romanticized medieval castle designed with every modern comfort of its time. Over 6,000 visitors a day come here in the summer and the only way to enter is with tickets purchased online. “Skip-the-line” tickets are available as well. To avoid the crowds and long waiting times, visit in winter. Not an option for many, but I was fortunate enough to explore one of the most famous castles in the world just after a heavy snowstorm.

In Venice, the best time to truly admire the exterior façade of the Doges Palace from the pigeon cloaked San Marco Square is in the late evening after the crowds have dispersed. The palace was home to the Doges of Venice, supreme leaders of the Republic of Venice. Construction began in 1340 and continued for a century and a half through the 14th and 15th century using the architectural styles of each period. The fascinating result is a spectacular building including Byzantine, Gothic, and late Renaissance all in one with giant marble sculptures of pink Verona marble. The most important room was where the laws of Venice were written, and justice was delivered by the Council of Ten and ultimately the Doge himself. The above illustrates that, despite the crowds, history buffs must not bypass this monument. Until recently another way of viewing one of the world’s most imposing palaces was from the top deck of a large cruise ship sailing into Venice past the Piazza San Marco, but since last summer cruise ships are no longer allowed through the Venetian Lagoon.

Last but not least, I hasten to mention two of my favorite monuments. There are no crowds at either one, but that is because of the remoteness of both.

One is likely to be completely alone here except for your travel companions. The Church of the Transfiguration is on Kitchi Island in Lake Onega, Russia. The island has only limited ferry service. No one was living there when I visited, and church services are held only during the short summer for people from the surrounding areas. There is no heating to avoid damage to the wood, and, quite simply, as travel is not possible in the winter.

At a height of just over 120 feet, it is one of the highest wooden structures of its kind. 

This whimsical church and its lonely surroundings offer a testament and tantalizing background to the sheer will of the few people who built this over 300 years ago from interlocking pieces of pine and spruce without using any nails. Only the 60,000 roof shingles of the eighteen domes placed in a dovetail pattern were nailed with 180,000 nails. Legend has it that only one ax was used to cut the pieces to size and was thrown in the lake when the church was finished so no one could copy the structure.

Another of the most distinctive architectural masterpieces I have visited is a monastery in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. There are no crowds here either because of the near impossibility to reach this tiny mountainous landlocked country that borders with Chinese controlled Tibet and India. Until several years ago the country restricted foreign tourism to 4,000 people a year. Punakha is the winter capital of Bhutan due to its mild climate and lower altitude than most of this intriguing country. The Punakha Dzong, originally built in 1637, became the winter home of the country’s government and is administered by the ruling clergy in cooperation with the Royal Family. It is here that the present King Jigme was crowned after his father abdicated and where he celebrated the marriage to his wife, Jetsun Pema just over ten years ago. King Jigme is slowly modernizing his country after a Western education at Oxford, Wheaton College and Phillips Academy.

The opportunity of appreciating some of the world’s wonders in solitude can be an exercise in creativity and willingness to withstand the elements.

Ewout Rijk de Vries and his wife, Jill, brought America Travel Arrangements to Marco Island almost 40 years ago. They specialize on high end small adventure tours and small safari groups for clientele all over the world, but also are experts on high end cruises with the help of longtime assistant and friend, Michelle Wegman. In combination with his writing and photography, Ewout has visited over 90 countries. Ewout can be reached at ewout@photodevries.com.