Parthenon, Athens, Greece

Crowd source: The Parthenon in Athens was built in the 5th century B.C. to protect the king from his enemies. It seems the hordes have finally succeeded in invading. While recent renovations on the south and west approaches to the temple have widened the path, crowds still march upward like ants to an anthill, especially in the summer.

The shortcut: "Being one of the first people up the hill in the morning can make your visit an overwhelming experience," according to travel guru Bob Payne. To avoid the crowds, get there by 7:45 am. Or better yet, get there late: Every August on the full moon, about 90 of Greece's most impressive monuments, including the Parthenon, are open after dark. Watching the moon cast a mysterious glow on the temple will make you wonder why all those sad saps sweated it out in the heat of day. Guess they didn't get the memo that this temple was dedicated to the goddess of wisdom.

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