Every year, millions of travelers visit tourist attractions seeking a magnificent view, a cultural experience, or a beautiful photo opportunity. While some attractions live up to their promises, others can leave tourists disappointed or stressed. This can happen because the attraction is not as impressive as expected or because of long queues or other difficulties.
Traveler reviews on the internet can help tourists avoid these disappointments and thus minimize stress during their vacations. Analysts from the language learning platform Preply examined over 80 popular tourist attractions worldwide on two relevant review portals. They specifically looked for words like “overrated,” “disappointing,” and “tourist trap.” The result is a ranking of the most disappointing tourist sites in the world. Here are the top ones:
Times Square, New York
Times Square, New York, is often the first place travelers think of when they think of New York. Its brightly lit billboards make it an eye-catcher, and its legendary status attracts around 330,000 people daily. However, for many tourists, it can be uncomfortable. In almost 1,800 reviews, Times Square is described as “overrated,” “disappointing,” or a “tourist trap.” Many comments mention that it is overcrowded, dirty, and dull.
Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin
“Second place” is occupied by a location in the German capital of Berlin, which has received 1,425 unfavorable reviews. Checkpoint Charlie, known as one of the border crossings through the Berlin Wall from 1961 to 1990, is the subject of many negative comments. Visitors often express disappointment with its small size and lack of historical remnants, with only a replica of a guard’s hut at a busy intersection remaining to represent the former border crossing.
Eiffel Tower, Paris
The view from the top of the Eiffel Tower is undoubtedly unique. However, many commentators were unimpressed by their visits to the Paris landmark. Nearly 1,300 reviews are negative to very negative, with most criticism focused on the long queues. In a Google review, one tourist mentioned waiting over an hour to reach the top of the tower and described it as “one of the most overrated tourist attractions.”
The Little Mermaid Statue, Copenhagen
The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen has received almost as many negative reviews as the Eiffel Tower. Since its unveiling in 1913, it has been one of Europe’s most-known tourist attractions. However, not all visitors are enthusiastic about it. Over 1,200 comments describe it as “overrated,” “disappointing,” and a “tourist trap.” Many people are disappointed by the statue’s size and complain that the backdrop is less picturesque than they would have liked.
Las Ramblas, Barcelona
The pedestrian zone Las Ramblas in Barcelona is considered one of the most disappointing tourist attractions. While some visitors find the atmosphere along the 1.2-kilometer-long stretch lively and exciting, others find it unpleasant. Out of over 1,200 reviews analyzed, Barcelona’s most famous street received negative feedback. Many reviewers find it too crowded and oppressive.
The list of the most disappointing tourist attractions includes mainly European sights. The Statue Pis in the Belgian capital Brussels, a small naked boy peeing in a fountain, and the Blue Lagoon near the Icelandic capital Reykjavik are on the list. The London Eye, the Guinness Storehouse in the Irish capital, Dublin, and Park Güell in Barcelona are also rated negatively in many visitors’ reviews. Another disappointing attraction outside of Europe is the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
