As a new international traveler, I honestly hate the whole “skip the popular places and go somewhere less touristy” advice.
I feel like this is always said by experienced travelers who already had their chance to see the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, Venice, the Buckingham Palace, etc.
These are places I’ve seen in movies, books, and pictures my entire life. Now I finally have the money and opportunity to travel internationally, and of course I want to see them too.
But now it feels that every piece of touristic information (blogs, videos, reddit) tells me that I shouldn’t go because of overtourism and that I should visit some hidden gem instead.
I understand overtourism is a real problem, but it’s also frustrating. You already got to see these famous places. Now it’s my turn, and I won't do it just because I'm ruining it for you ("oh the old good days were better, now these pesky tourists are destroying it").