Deciding which attractions are okay to skip

Not Every Attraction Is a Must-See

Traveling across the United States — or going abroad—often comes with a silent pressure: the feeling that you need to see everything.

“Must-see” lists, TikTok videos, Google rankings, and guides with “Top 25 unmissable attractions.”

The result? Overloaded itineraries, accumulated exhaustion, and the sense that the trip has turned into a marathon.

Not everything that’s famous is essential

The Statue of Liberty is iconic. The Hollywood sign too. The Golden Gate Bridge, the Grand Canyon, Times Square.

But the honest question is: Is this important to you, or does it just seem important?

Many travelers visit famous attractions just to “check the box” or take the obligatory photo. The experience itself can be superficial. Long lines, high prices, crowds, and little time to truly absorb the moment.

Understand the real cost of the attraction

The ticket may cost $30. That seems reasonable. But what is the total cost?

Consider other factors such as travel time, waiting in line, physical fatigue, impact on the rest of the day, food expenses, and parking.

The point is not to avoid expensive attractions. It’s to evaluate whether the emotional return justifies the investment of time and energy.

Avoid repeating similar experiences

Many travelers don’t realize they are repeating experiences under different names.

For example:

• Two modern art museums in the same day
• Three observation decks with similar views
• Several “hip” neighborhoods with a similar vibe

After the second similar experience, the third tends to lose impact.

Choosing one or two representative experiences is more effective than stacking variations of the same theme.

Consider your stage of life

The common mistake is following generic itineraries without adapting them to your current stage of life.

Ask yourself:

• Does this attraction match the pace I want?
• Does it align with the purpose of my trip?

Evaluate your available energy level

Not every decision should be based on money. Energy is an even more limited resource.

On international trips, jet lag adds another factor. In destinations like Europe or Asia, trying to fit intense attractions into the first day can compromise the entire experience.

Plan according to your real capacity to absorb what you’re seeing.

The power of leaving empty space

Americans are planners. Many grow up valuing efficiency and organization. But trips are not spreadsheets.

Leaving gaps in your itinerary allows for spontaneous discoveries. If every hour is blocked by mandatory attractions, there’s no room for surprise.

Interestingly, many of the best memories don’t come from the “top 10,” but from unplanned moments.

Not every frustration is worth it

Some attractions generate more stress than pleasure.

Long lines under the hot sun at theme parks. Heavy traffic to reach an overcrowded landmark. Sold-out tickets requiring last-minute re-planning.

If the effort to make it happen is already creating excessive tension before it even starts, that may be a sign.

Travel should expand you, not exhaust you.

Accept that you won’t see everything

This is the hardest part.

In cities like New York, Los Angeles, or London, it’s impossible to see everything in a single trip. Even in smaller destinations, something will always be left out.

The healthy mindset is this: there can always be a next time.

When travelers accept this reality, anxiety decreases. The experience becomes more present and less competitive.

A practical exercise to decide

Before finalizing your itinerary, try this simple test:

List all planned attractions.
Classify each as

• Essential
• Interesting
• Optional

Eliminate at least two from the “optional” category.
Reevaluate whether any “interesting” ones can wait.

This exercise forces conscious prioritization.

What really stays in memory

Years later, what will you remember?

Probably not the exact number of attractions you visited. It will be:

• The conversation in a local restaurant
• The feeling of walking without rushing
• An unexpected view
• A moment of connection

Traveling is not about completing a list. It’s about building experiences.

Deciding what to skip is not losing. It’s protecting your energy, your time, and your ability to enjoy what truly matters.

In the end, the best trip is not the one where you saw everything. It’s the one where you were truly present in what you chose to experience.

Written by

Gabriel Gonçalves