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Tourists were never meant to arrive at the narrow alley off Le Duan Boulevard in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. It’s a tight residential strip, one like so many in the city, just gated buildings and caged balconies divided by a thin space.
But word got out, eventually, that this wasn’t any ordinary laneway. Because in the three- or four-metre strip that separates the houses on this backstreet near Le Duan, there’s a train track.
Several times daily, all the residents have to clear their belongings from the street so a full-size train can make its way through, almost scraping the edges of the buildings, it’s such a tight fit.
Do visitors want to see that? Yes. Yes, they do. Despite the obvious safety issues. That’s why the small alley affectionately known as “Hanoi train street” has become a mainstream tourist attraction, one that has spawned multiple cafes that are doing excellent business.
The truth is that not every tourist attraction was meant to be a tourist attraction. Sometimes, places and experiences become popular accidentally. Social media certainly helps this along, though there were accidental tourist attractions long before the smartphone arrived.
Here, we profile some of the most popular, from the quirky to the thrilling. But be warned: not all of these attractions have had a positive effect on their surroundings. Some are dangerous, others cause friction with residents. And some tread a fine line (or narrow space).
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Kawaguchiko Lawson, Japan
Why accidental? If you’ve seen the photo, you understand the attraction: in the small town of Kawaguchiko, there’s a Lawson convenience store that, when viewed from the right side with the perfect weather, is spectacularly backdropped by nearby Mount Fuji, providing a perfect juxtaposition of Japan, old and new.
Hit or miss? Miss. The crowds have become too much in Kawaguchiko, and local authorities have erected a large, opaque fence beside the road to stop visitors from taking photos.
Need to know Kawaguchiko is a beautiful little town offering plenty of other great opportunities to photograph nearby Mount Fuji. Give Lawson a miss.
See japan.travel
Castaway Island, Fiji
Why accidental? Wilson! If you’ve seen the movie Cast Away, starring Tom Hanks, then you know about Wilson, and you know about the Fijian island the film was shot on too, then called Qalito, now known more popularly as Castaway Island.
Hit or miss? Miss, as there’s a small problem. Cast Away wasn’t shot on Castaway Island. It was shot on Monuriki, an uninhabited island also in the Mamanuca chain, off the coast of Viti Levu. You can visit Monuriki on a day tour from nearby Tokoriki Island Resort, but you can’t stay there (unless you get shipwrecked with a volleyball).
Need to know Tokoriki, and Castaway Island Resort, are accessible via ferry from Port Denarau.
See fiji.travel
Tempelhof Airport, Germany
Why accidental? Most travellers do their best to avoid too much time in airports, so it’s a surprise to find such interest in visiting one that’s defunct. Berlin’s Tempelhof, however, is no ordinary airport, but a huge terminal constructed in Nazi monumentalism style, and a key site through World War II and the Cold War.
Hit or miss While you can stroll the old airport grounds – now a huge park – for free, it’s also worth joining a tour of the terminal and nearby buildings. Bear in mind, too, that the Berlin Wall was never meant as a tourist attraction, but certainly enjoys its share of visitors these days – the East Side Gallery is a 15-minute drive from Tempelhof.
Need to know For guided tours it’s essential to book in advance – see thf-berlin.de
See thf-berlin.de; germany.travel
Cahills Crossing, Northern Territory
Why accidental? This could be just a normal old creek crossing, one of hundreds that four-wheel drivers tackle in Kakadu and its surrounding area. Only, Cahills Crossing has some added spice, in the form of huge numbers of crocodiles that tend to hang around this area in dry season. Better hope your car is sturdy.
Hit or miss Hit. This is now a well-established tourist attraction, with three purpose-built viewing platforms near the river and a picnic area linked by a rainforest walk. It’s safe to view, and a lot of fun.
Need to know Saltwater crocodiles gather in large numbers at Cahills Crossing from July to October, when they feed on mullet and barramundi pushed in by the tides. You can reach the river in a normal car, but don’t attempt the crossing unless you’re an experienced driver in a four-wheel drive.
See kakadu.gov.au
Big Major Cay, Bahamas
Why accidental? There are hundreds of islands in the Bahamas that are as beautiful and as idyllic as Big Major Cay. What those other islands don’t have, however, is a colony of feral pigs that like to take daily swims in the Caribbean.
Hit or miss Hit. This is a quirky attraction that is mostly harmless, though some tourists have been given a nip by a pig or two. It’s best to keep your distance, even while swimming (though the pigs are tame and like a scratch).
Need to know Speedboat tours run from Nassau to Big Major Cay, with a few hours to explore this uninhabited island before heading back to the capital.
See bahamas.com
Tower of Pisa, Italy
Why accidental? Note the name here: the Tower of Pisa. Because if that’s all it was, this would probably be a mildly popular point of interest in a country filled with UNESCO-listed wonders. But then, the Tower of Pisa started leaning, and all of a sudden, we had a world-famous tourist attraction on our hands.
Hit or miss Hit. You have to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa, if for no other reason than to take a tacky photo of yourself pretending to prop it up (or tip it over). The area surrounding the tower is touristy, but it’s easy enough to escape.
Need to know Pisa is a one-hour train ride from Florence, easily doable as a day trip.
See italia.it
Catacombs of Paris, France
Why accidental? Paris, in the 18th century, had a problem: its cemeteries were full. There was no room. Local authorities hit on the idea of shifting the skeletal remains of millions of people into old mining tunnels on the Left Bank; in 1810, the director of the Paris Mine Inspection Service ordered the stacking and organising of all the bones, unwittingly creating a macabre tourist attraction.
Hit or miss Hit. The catacombs are worth visiting to see this slice of ancient Parisian life (or rather, death).
Need to know The catacombs are closed for renovation, and are due to reopen in the northern spring. Keep an eye on the official website below.
See catacombs.paris.fr; france.fr
Mount Conner, NT
Why accidental? Mount Conner is appropriately named because there’s a con here: this massive, flat-topped mesa sits in the Northern Territory desert, visible on the road from Alice Springs to Yulara. Many visitors mistake it, from a distance, for Uluru, earning Mount Conner the nickname “Fooluru”.
Hit or miss? Hit. If you have the time, it’s worth the detour to the lookout off Route 4, on the way to Yulara, to see Mount Conner – not just for its resemblance to Uluru but the stark beauty of a sight more often associated with the likes of Utah in the US.
Need to know The Mount Conner lookout is about an hour from Yulara, and 3.5 hours from Alice Springs. For the best photos, arrive at dusk.
Demilitarised Zone, South Korea
Why accidental? A few border crossings around the world have morphed into tourist attractions; another is listed below. Though surely few predicted that the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea, the DMZ – a strip 250 kilometres long and four kilometres wide, dividing the peninsula in half – would become an object of fascination for so many foreign visitors.
Hit or miss Miss. Much of the DMZ is no man’s land, and the site that was once popular for tourists to visit, the Joint Security Area with its rows of blue huts, is at present off-limits to visitors. Those on a tour from Seoul can still visit the Imjingak Tourist Complex, on the border, and even ride a gondola across part of the DMZ.
Need to know The security situation means rules are constantly changing, though the only way to see the DMZ is with a tour from Seoul.
The Las Vegas sign, US
Why accidental? You can picture this sign, even if you haven’t been there: it would have to be one of the most famous welcome signs in the world. “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas”, it says, in a design reminiscent of 1950s futurism. This sign wasn’t meant as a tourist attraction on its own, but it’s certainly become one.
Hit or miss? Hit. It’s definitely worth calling past this icon to take a photo and know you’ve been there, though you’ll probably have to queue. It’s set on South Las Vegas Boulevard, about a 10-minute drive south of the main part of the Strip.
Need to know Visit just after sunset for the best photos, when the sign’s lights are on, but there’s still some light in the sky, too.
See visitusa.org.au
Hundertwasser Public Toilets, New Zealand
Why accidental? Can a toilet be a tourist attraction? Even for those who don’t need to go? It seems so in New Zealand, where the public toilets in Kawakawa, on the North Island, have become known by architecture buffs around the world for their distinctive, almost Gaudi-esque style.
Hit or miss Hit. You’ve got to go, even if you don’t have to go (if you know what we mean). These toilets were designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, who lived in his retirement nearby, and are the only example of his work in the southern hemisphere.
Need to know Kawakawa is in Northland, about a three-hour drive north of Auckland.
See newzealand.com
Big Potato, Robertson, NSW
Why accidental? The Big Potato was meant to be a tourist attraction, in the same way all of Australia’s Big Things were supposed to encourage passersby to stop and spend some money. But the Big Potato isn’t famous because it’s good. It became famous because it resembled something else that’s long and brown.
Hit or miss Miss. It’s probably – OK, definitely – not worth driving the two hours south of Sydney just to see the Big Potato, even though this brown eyesore was repainted pink in 2025 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the movie Babe, which was filmed nearby. If, however, you happen to be in Bowral or Shellharbour, make a detour.
Need to know The Big Potato is open daily, and it’s free. While you’re there, go to Moonacres Kitchen for a coffee and a bacon and egg roll.
See visitnsw.com
Attari-Wagah border crossing, India/Pakistan
Why accidental? Why would crowds amass daily at a border crossing, even when they don’t want to travel from one country to the next? When it’s the Attari-Wagah crossing between India and Pakistan, and when border forces compete daily to outdo each other in their almost comically elaborate flag-lowering ceremonies.
Hit or miss Hit. It’s easiest to see this ceremony from the Indian side, travelling from nearby Amritsar, and it’s a definite hit – the atmosphere here is mostly provided by the Indian and Pakistani spectators, who amass in their tens of thousands on each side of the fence and cheer their country like it’s Test cricket.
Need to know Be sure to arrive at the Indian side by about 4pm if you want to get a good seat in the grandstand (which holds an incredible 25,000 people). Recent skirmishes have caused brief suspensions of this ceremony, so be sure to check ahead.
See incredibleindia.gov.in smartraveller.gov.au
Dealey Plaza, Texas
Why accidental? In a perfect world, Dealey Plaza wouldn’t be any more famous than any other patch of open space in Dallas, Texas. However, in 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald fired a rifle from Dealey Plaza and killed President John F. Kennedy, making this spot a notorious, if morbid, attraction.
Hit or miss Hit. This is very much a mainstream tourist destination these days: more than 6 million people have visited the Sixth Floor Museum, in the space in the old Texas School Book Depository where Oswald is thought to have fired his weapon.
Need to know The Sixth Floor Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, though visitors can stroll through Dealey Plaza at any time.
Essentials See visitusa.org.au; jfk.org
Maho Beach, Sint Maarten
Why accidental? Maho Beach is just a normal old beach until, suddenly, a commercial airliner appears from out of the sky and gets closer, and closer, and closer, until it’s almost close enough to touch before it lands at Princess Juliana International Airport nearby. Plane spotters love it.
Hit or miss Miss. Do you love planes? Want to be really close to them? Then definitely pay this Caribbean beach a visit. If, however, you are trying to relax, you might want to visit nearby Great Bay Beach instead.
Need to know Sint Maarten is tricky to get to – from Australia you will need to fly through the US, and it will take 35 hours or more.
Nanyuki equator crossing, Kenya
Why accidental? The equator is a magical line drawn around the Earth that really shouldn’t be so special, given it passes through so many places. In Nanyuki, Kenya, however, a few enterprising souls have twigged to the fascination we have with these sorts of places.
Hit or miss Hit. This is one to stop at, a popular point for photos next to the sign, but also a place where locals have usually set up demonstrations of the Coriolis effect (water drains clockwise in the northern hemisphere, anti-clockwise in the south, though some people debate the authenticity), for a small fee.
Need to know Nanyuki is in a convenient spot, on the highway heading north from Nairobi, in the shadow of Mount Kenya. There are usually handicraft markets nearby.
See magicalkenya.com
Hanoi train street, Vietnam
Why accidental? This narrow rail bypass near Hanoi train station wouldn’t be interesting at all if it weren’t for the residential buildings that hug it tight on either side. This has become a social media hotspot, and is crowded with tourists on the few daily occasions that a train passes through.
Hit or miss Hit. However, Hanoi authorities have closed this street to tourists several times after disruptions, and one person has even been struck by the train, but protests from local businesses have successfully had it reopened. You can visit now, but be sure to spend some money with those businesses when you do.
Need to know Trains here pass most often in the early evening, which is the most popular time for tourists. Arrive early, get a seat at one of the cafes and you will have the best position. Train Street is on alley 224 off Le Duan Boulevard in the Old Quarter of Hanoi.
See vietnam.travel
Five intentional tourist attractions we just don’t get
Madame Tussauds, multiple locations It’s incredible, really, that a museum of waxwork celebrities has survived in this era of digital amazement, but here we are: Madame Tussauds, founded in London in 1835, has 20 locations around the world, after some aggressive expansion in the 21st century. Why do people like it so much? We have no idea. But they do.
Hollywood Walk of Fame, Los Angeles, US Much like Madame Tussauds, you will not see an actual celebrity within miles of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and yet this attraction has tapped into our fascination with famous people, so much so that tourists will turn up just to look at concrete stars with names written on them. The Walk of Fame is not in the least bit exciting, and yet it has more than 61,000 reviews on Google.
Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, Shanghai, China There’s a sort of “so bad it’s good” attraction to the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, though I’m not convinced everyone who visits sees it that way. This tunnel is a link between Huangpu and Pudong in Shanghai, a small train that runs through a series of very unimpressive light displays and gets you to the other side of the river in more time and for more money than regular public transport.
Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, US San Francisco’s Pier 39, in the Fisherman’s Wharf area, is a phenomenally popular tourist trap, a place where hapless visitors go to be parted with their cash by a series of not-very-good restaurants and tacky attractions. There are many, many great places to go in this fine city, and plenty of good food to eat – just not around here.
The Big Banana, Coffs Harbour, NSW The Big Banana, you will note, is not that big. It’s bigger than a normal banana, and it’s big enough to walk through, but still … not that big. There’s also nowhere to sit here unless you’re paying for very average food from the cafe, and if you’re not paying for one of the rides or other attractions, there’s really nothing to do but leave.
