A new survey has revealed the world's most frustrating tourist hotspots for photography enthusiasts, with Times Square in New York and the Eiffel Tower in Paris topping the list of locations where capturing a decent, crowd-free photo is nearly impossible.
Global Photo Frustrations at Iconic Landmarks
The research, commissioned by Samsung to highlight Galaxy AI features on their S25 Series, polled 2,000 adults about their travel photography experiences. It found that 27 percent of travellers admit to waking up earlier than 6am specifically to beat the crowds at popular tourist destinations, hoping to secure that perfect shot before the masses arrive.
The Most Challenging Locations for Photography
According to the survey results, the top ten hardest places to get a 'clean' photograph without unwanted tourists in the frame are:
- Times Square – New York City, USA
- Eiffel Tower – Paris, France
- Trevi Fountain – Rome, Italy
- The Mona Lisa – Louvre Museum, Paris, France
- Buckingham Palace – London, UK
- Taj Mahal – Agra, India
- The Colosseum – Rome, Italy
- Great Wall of China (Badaling section) – Beijing, China
- Niagara Falls – USA
- Shibuya Crossing – Tokyo, Japan
The study identified that one in five travellers have queued for longer than an hour at certain locations just to take photographs, with the Taj Mahal in India reportedly requiring the most patience and time investment.
The Social Media Pressure and Photo Editing Struggles
The research uncovered significant social media pressures affecting modern travellers. More than four in ten respondents (42 percent) stated that obtaining the perfect photo for social media platforms is a priority when travelling. This desire for flawless imagery has led to 21 percent of travellers returning to visit major sites specifically because they failed to capture a satisfactory photograph during their initial visit.
Editing challenges compound these frustrations, with 46 percent of respondents wishing they were better at photo editing, and 55 percent complaining about the difficulty of removing random people from their travel photographs. The phenomenon of 'photobombing' – where strangers unintentionally appear in the background of shots – is particularly disliked by 21 percent of those surveyed.
Confrontations and Technological Solutions
The photography frustrations sometimes escalate into interpersonal conflicts. The survey revealed that one in five people who have attempted to photograph themselves in front of world-famous landmarks have actually told someone off for getting in the way of their shot, with 70 percent reporting feelings of frustration about such interruptions.
Annika Bizon of Samsung commented on these findings, stating: "Everyone wants to travel home with a photo that represents their incredible trip to some of the wonders of the world, but capturing the perfect snap can sometimes be near impossible. Galaxy AI features like Generative Edit can help time-strapped travellers who would prefer not to have to wake up before 5am to queue for a photo, with just a speedy tap removing any unwanted guests."
This technological approach addresses a growing need among travellers who want to document their experiences without the logistical challenges of avoiding crowds at the world's most popular tourist destinations.
