20 places that are just way too crowded (2024)

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Mong Kok District — Hong Kong, China

Sales draw crowds to the shops inthis district, but Mong Kok doesn't need 50 percent off signs to attract the masses.

Reuters reportsthat the Mong Kok District has the highest population density in the world with 130,000 people in one square kilometer.Mong Kok is known for its vibrant shops that sell everything from toy collectibles and sneakers to birds and goldfish, according toThe Guardian.

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Qingdao Huiquan Beach — Qingdao, China

The crowds at a US beach are nothing compared to Qingdao Huiquan Beach.

According to Business Insider, about 130,000 people visit the popular beachinQingdao City, China daily. The Daily Mail reports that people are drawn to the spot due to it's proximity to the city and free admission.

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Oxford Street — London, UK

On TripAdvisor, more than400 reviews mentioned London's Oxford Street as being extremely crowded.

"Get ready forcrowds, that's the only drawback to shopping/walking here," one person commented. "If you can cope with battling your way throughcrowds, though, it's a great street for shopping and probably the one most people will recommend going to if you're visiting London for the first time," another person wrote.

With that in mind, it makes sense that the mayor of London announced that by 2020 Oxford Street will be entirelypedestrian, with no buses, taxis, or vehicle traffic, according to the BBC.

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Shibuya Crossing — Tokyo, Japan

A crosswalk doesn't seem like a place people "visit," but as many as 2,500 people cross the street every single time the light changes atShibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan, City Clock reports.

The cool part, however, is that traffic completely stops to allow people pedestrians to cross from all sides of the intersection,according to Time. One Japanese website went as far as to call the crossing Tokyo's best attractionbecause of its proximity to shopping and the amazing photos people take of the area.

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Musée du Louvre — Paris, France

The Louvre in Paris, France houses some of the most well know art pieces, including Leonardo Davinci's "The Mona Lisa" andEugène Delacroix's "Liberty Leading the People."

What is most surprising, however, ishow many people come to the museum. According to the website for the museum, 7.4 million people visited in 2016.

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The Grand Bazaar — Istanbul, Turkey

People love collecting souvenirswhen they travel, which may be why shopping areas keep popping up on this list.Travel + Leisurereported that Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, which has more than 3,000 stores, attracts 15 million visitors, making it Europe's most visited tourist attraction.

The Daily Mail reportsthat the Grand Bazaar, which sells everything from rugs and fabricsto jewelry and gold, has been a place for trading since 1461.

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Times Square — New York, New York

New York's Times Square is alwayscrowded, no matter the time of day or time of year. According to Times Square's official website, more than300,000 pedestrians enter "the heart of Times Square" every day.

Though the New Year's Eveball-drop draws hundreds of thousands, Broadway shows and brand-name stores attracttourists year-round. But it's not just tourist contributing to the crowds. Locals who work in midtownpass through the square duringtheir commute.

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Forbidden City — Beijing, China

The Forbidden City in Beijing isa, "maze of traditional buildings" that contains "some of the world's finest artifacts,"according to Business Insider.

People flock to this palace, which China Highlights reports is one of the country'sthree ancient palaces,to see collections of artifacts spanning the Ming and Qing Dynasties.The site also notes that14 million people visit the palace annually which was the home to more than 24 Chinese emperors.

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Central Park — New York, New York

Central Park takes up about 843 acres, or 6 percent, of Manhattan's total acreage, according tothe park's official website. It's New York City's second largest park, and it's still crowded.

The New York Times reportsthat many of New York's parks have been attracting even more people. Central Park specifically saw35 million more visitors than back in 2011. Events like Summer Stage and the Global Citizen Festivalare just a few reasons people love to visit this park.

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St. Peter’s Square — Vatican City, Italy

In St. Peter's Square, you can findSt. Peter’s Basilica, the Swiss Guard, and the famous statues of both Peter and Paul, among tons of different vendors, according to EpicPew.

Almost 4 million Catholicsvisited the areain2016, according to the Catholic Herald.Non-religious peoplealso travel to this spot to look at the work fo Renaissance artists such as Raphael, Bernini, and Michelangelo, Travel + Leisure reports.

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Sydney Opera House — Sydney, Australia

The Sydney Opera House is arguably one of the most recognizable landmarks in Australia. That's probably why itattracts 8.2 million visitors per year,according to the Opera House'sofficial annual report.It took 16 years for it to be constructed by1973 and it holdsmore than 3,000 eventsper year, the Australian Government reports.

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Taj Mahal — Agra, India

The history, architecture, and love story behind this UNESCO World Heritage Site drawshuge crowds — 7 million each year,according to The Telegraph. The Taj Mahal's officialwebsite says that it's open from sunrise to sunsetleaving visitorslots of time to explore and take mesmerizing photos.

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Buckingham Palace —London, England

Whether it's hand holdingor baby news, the Royal family is always in the spotlight. As is their home, Buckingham Palace, whichattracted more than560,000 people in 2013, according to CNN. It's one of only afew working royal palaces, Visit London reports.

According tothe Evening Standard,a recent study found the palace to be at the top of Americans' bucket lists. They might be attracted to the tradition of changing the guard or the 39-acre garden.

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Victoria Peak — Hong Kong, China

You have to ride the Peak Tram to getthe best view of Hong Kong, which is why it's one of the world's most visited tourist attractions, Business Insider reports. The highest mountain is also located near famous restaurants and beautiful gardens, that's why 7,000,000 visitorsvisit annually.

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Hong Kong Disneyland — Hong Kong, China

There are 11 Disneyland parks in the world, and the Hong Kong location is one of the most crowded ones. Travel + Leisure reportsthat the theme park has more than7,400,000 annual visitors and has increased its size over the last three years by 25 percent in order to meet the demand. Not only does the park have its own stop on Hong Kong's metro, but it was designed according to the Chineserules of Feng shui.

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Santa Cruz del Islote — Colombia

Even an island can be crowded, and the people of Santa Cruz del Islote in Colombia know this is true. The New York Times reportsthat the island is the most densely populated place on earth, which is one reason it attracts many tourists.

"Everyone wants to see what it’s like for 1,200 people to live on a patch of land four times as dense as Manhattan, with no services – no running water, sewer system, police, hospital, trash pickup,"according to the New York Times.

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Machu Picchu — Machu Picchu, Peru

The city of Machu Picchu is one of the seven wonders of the world and is the most visited destination in Peru, according to its official website. The site also said that the energy of the Incan Gods, called the Apus, are said to be present at the ruins.

Energy aside, Machu Picchu is so popular that Travel + Leisure reports tourismhas been limitedto 2,500 people per day and 912,500 per year.

Travel sites abound with tips and tricks, like visiting early in the morning or after the afternoon rush to avoid the crowds and get the full experience of this ancient site.

The Mall of America — Bloomington, Minnesota

The Mall of America may be located in the Midwest, but it drawsvisitors from far and wide. According to its official website, 40 million people visit annually with one-third traveling from outside of the US. It has more than520 shops that attract more visitors than Disneyland, the Grand Canyon and Graceland combined, according to the website. Now, just imagine this place on Black Friday.

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Meiji Jingu Shrine — Tokyo, Japan

In the middle of the hustle and bustle of Tokyo is theMeiji Jingu Shrine. Opened throughout the year, the shrine's park and foliage is only part of its attraction. Historically, it was createdto enshrine the Emperor and Empress Meiji, according to Japan National Tourism Organization. Travel + Leisure reportsthat 30,000,000 people visit the site annually for everything from sacred food offering and prayers to cultural exhibitions and festivals.

Grand Central Terminal — New York, New York

Grand Central Terminal is not your average train station. More than 750,000 people pass through the terminal every day, The Telegraph reports. This includes both tourists and commuters, many of which are trying to catch one of the trains that arrive every 58 seconds, visit one of the 65shops, or, simply to get a bite to eat like 10,000 people do every day, according to Gothamist.