I like to travel but hate overcrowded touristy places. There are some popular spots where the overcrowding actually seems to be a part of the experience (Time Square for instance) but I will probably never go see the Mona Lisa or Sistine Chapel because it's filled to the brim.
When I travel I have some pretty simple heuristics, if we're staying at a resort I prefer a smaller luxury resort, ideally w/o kids, and I like to go in the off season, which so far has meant Sept-Oct or March-April, depending on the climate of the location.
There are lots of smaller towns and cities near the big tourists hubs that have a lot of charm. When I visited Italy I went to Positano, a small town on the Almafi coast about an hour from Naples. The city was great and I was able to visit the island of Capri and check out Pompeii all while being stationed in a small, beautiful town. There were tourists but it did not feel overcrowded.
So there are "hidden" side entrances to the Louvre. With your back to the glass pyramids, cross the road, and next to the arch on the right is an underground staircase that will pop you in without queues.
Likewise, pick your times and you'll have La Joconde (Mona Lisa in French) to yourself. And then scoot off to the other sections that are actually so much more interesting - including a literal castle in the basement.
I also hate lines and crowds and general "tourist" stuff.
That said the Louvre is one of those worth going to, and it's not hard to avoid the crowds. Yes, skip the Mona Lisa - it's in my opinion one of the least impressive pieces of the entire museum.
It's a giant museum with only a couple wings actually busy - at least when I went. The rest of the museum was almost empty.
When I travel I have some pretty simple heuristics, if we're staying at a resort I prefer a smaller luxury resort, ideally w/o kids, and I like to go in the off season, which so far has meant Sept-Oct or March-April, depending on the climate of the location.
There are lots of smaller towns and cities near the big tourists hubs that have a lot of charm. When I visited Italy I went to Positano, a small town on the Almafi coast about an hour from Naples. The city was great and I was able to visit the island of Capri and check out Pompeii all while being stationed in a small, beautiful town. There were tourists but it did not feel overcrowded.