23d • General discussion
If You’re Going Here… Don’t. Go Here Instead.
Everybody already knows you don’t go to Times Square when you hit New York. That’s like the universal rule at this point. You take your picture, you dip, you keep it moving.
And honestly… every major city has a “Times Square” — that one spot everybody hypes up but nobody local actually cares for it. So here’s a quick world tour of the places that look good on a brochure but fall flat in real life — and where you should really be going instead.
-Paris
Overhyped: Champs-Élysées
Bro, this place is just traffic, tourists, and the same stores you can find in any airport. It’s not giving “Paris,” it’s giving “shopping mall with a French accent.”
(I would say the Eiffel Tower but you definitely should see it at least)
Go here instead: Canal Saint-Martin
Chill, young energy, cafés with actual character, people who actually live in Paris. It just feels right.
-Tokyo
Overhyped: Shibuya Crossing
Cool for like… the first 30 seconds. After that you’re literally just standing in a street waiting for the lights to change.
Go here instead: Shimokitazawa
Smaller shops, dope food, little bars tucked everywhere — it’s real Tokyo energy without the commercial circus.
There’s tons of better spots in Tokyo. I’ve spent a lot of time there and almost anywhere beats going to a intersection in shibuya.
-London
Overhyped: Oxford Street
It’s basically a crowded strip mall with British branding. Nothing special, nothing local, nothing unforgettable.
Go here instead: Shoreditch
Graffiti walls, markets, indie stores, wild food… this is the London people wish they found the first time.
-Dubai
Overhyped: Dubai Mall
Yeah it’s huge, but you didn’t fly to the desert to look at Gucci and waterfalls inside a building.
Go here instead: Al Fahidi (Al Bastakiya)
Traditional architecture, quiet alleys, art spaces — it gives you a little of the old-school Dubai before everything became a skyscraper.
-Bangkok
Overhyped: Khao San Road
Khao San used to be cool. Now it’s just drunk backpackers and overpriced street food pretending to be authentic.
Go here instead: Ari
Clean, calm, modern, still local. Cafés, food spots, and a legit neighborhood vibe.
-Manila
Overhyped: Mall of Asia
If you want a mall, cool — but you won’t walk out feeling like you learned anything about the Philippines. Manila is full of malls it’s a big part daily life you can visit one anytime.
Go here instead: Poblacion
Bars, music, food, creative people — it’s definitely more gritty, good night spot for adults.
Moral of the story:
When you travel, don’t follow the crowd — follow the people who actually live there. That’s where the culture, the energy, and the real stories are hiding.
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If You’re Going Here… Don’t. Go Here Instead.
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