There are no must-sees!
I have a pet peeve: when people ask, “What are the must-sees in _____?” it makes me want to scream.
There is no such thing as a must-see. Every location has its highlights. There are places I would hate to miss if went to a particular location. But nothing qualifies as a must-see. Not the Eiffel Tower if you’re in Paris. Nor the Great Pyramids if you’re in Cairo. Nor the Great Wall nor the Terra Cotta Warriors nor the tulip gardens of the Netherlands nor the Colosseum in Rome.
To be fair, there are certain places I go (or you go) specifically because you want to see particular sights. Those, then, can be your must-sees. I daresay you don’t go to Cairo and not see the pyramids. That’s probably why you wanted to go to Cairo in the first place.
But if you’re going somewhere and feel the need to ask someone who’s been there to identify the must-sees, you are missing the point. Travel isn’t about checking boxes of important sights. Travel is about having meaningful experiences and coming away with lasting memories. And you can do that without making sure you don’t miss the sights someone else tells you you must see.
Serendipity
If you focus on the must-sees, you lose serendipity, which is one of the greatest of all travel experiences.
When I went to Madrid, the Prado was a must-see for me. And it was just wonderful. But one of my favorite Madrid experiences was discovering and enjoying “La hora del vermut.” This wasn’t something I planned for or even knew anything about before I got to Madrid. I don’t even remember how I learned about it. But I spent one afternoon hopping among a few different vermut bars, watching people, enjoying the beverage and accompanying tapas. And it was one of my richest memories of being there.
Please don’t ask me what are the must-sees in a place I’ve been. I’m happy to share my favorite spots. I’ll tell you what were the highlights for me. But that does not make them must-sees for you.
And please don’t worry about seeing all your must-sees. Be spontaneous! Be carefree! Even be reckless!