Traveling isn’t always a smooth sailing experience, depending on where you’re going and how you measure your expectations, it is often all about trial and error. Sometimes you have an amazing experience, and other times you get stuck in a place you’d rather not be in. But regardless of the experience, there’s always something to see or somewhere else to go, especially on foreign land. So despite that bad decision or not so fun and smelly tour bus, overpriced food, and over crowded sites, it’s a journey you’ll carry with you always. From the Mona Lisa, Sydney Opera House, The London Eye, and Hollywood Blvd to the Top of the Empire State Building, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Pyramids of Giza, here are 35 Of The Most Disappointing Tourist Traps Around The World.
Glass Bridge Over The Grand Canyon
Over 4,000 feet above the Grand Canyon is the $30-million Skywalk. The Skywalk was built in 2007 and the experience by tourists is often referred to as “feeling you are walking on air”. It is located at Grand Canyon West, on reservation land owned by the Hualapai Indian Tribe. Although it is a sight to see, and quickly became a tourist attraction and an experience we don’t want to miss, it can be an adventure to get to, and it’s not cheap.
The Skywalk attraction is about 120 miles east of Las Vegas, NV. Which many tourists complain takes hours to reach. In addition to it taking so much time to reach, the experience also does not come cheap. Visitors are charged over $80 just to get on the bridge, and additional charges for photos, as phones and cameras aren’t allowed.
The Dead Sea
Part of the long border between Israel and Jordan, the Dead Sea, known in Hebrew as Yam Ha-Melakh (the Sea of Salt) is the lowest point on earth, and surrounded by the Negev Desert. Due to the saline waters of the lake no marine life can survive in the salty waters, hence the name. Just a one-hour drive from Jerusalem, the Dead Sea is a popular attraction for tourists and Israelis alike, to get away and be in solitude with nature.
Depending on whether you go alone or take a tour bus, the experience can sometimes be pricey. Additionally, extremely hot! The water can be extremely warm, so cooling off is not an option, getting water in your eyes can make you feel like they’re on fire, and salt rocks that have crystalized can be a bit of a hazard.
Dubai
Dubai is the most populated city in the United Arab Emirates. Established in the 18th century as a small fishing village, the city grew rapidly in the early 21st century into a cosmopolitan metropolis with a focus on tourism and hospitality. Once a small fishing village in the Arabian Gulf, Dubai is today one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. It is well known for its innovative and luxurious lifestyle, and became a great tourist destination for many.
Although some people are in awe of the luxury and obvious wealth that this city exudes, for some people that is one of the reasons they dislike the popular destination. “The shameless and obscene display of bling-bling only adds to this vibe, and the super tall skyscrapers and mega malls get old sooner or later.”
The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal, a mausoleum on the southern bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. Commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the remains of his beloved wife, is one of the most magnificent examples of the Mughal architecture, which combined Islamic, Persian and Indian influences. Named the Taj Mahal in honor of Mumtaz Mahal, the mausoleum was constructed of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, reaching a height of 240 feet.
Although undeniably beautiful, it's surrounded by 10-meter-high walls, and the entrance fee is said to be “more expensive compared to any other attraction in India.” Some have suggested going across the river in the Agra, where there's a great spot by the river with a brilliant view of the Taj Mahal, particularly at sunset.
The Mona Lisa
Considered an archetypal masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci’s The Mona Lisa has been described as "the best known, the most visited, the most written about work of art in the world.” The Mona Lisa is one of the most valuable paintings in the world. It holds the Guinness World Record for the highest known insurance valuation in history at US$100 million in 1962 which is equivalent to $870 million now. The Mona Lisa currently sits behind bulletproof glass at the Louvre Museum, the world's second-largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris, France.
Although it carries standard and fame, the painting itself has been criticized for being very tiny and always having hordes of people around it. Although the Louvre is best known for housing the Mona Lisa, some believe that “there are a million better things to see at the Louvre.”
The Great Wall Of China
The Great Wall of China is an ancient series of walls and fortifications, totaling more than 13,000 miles in length, located in northern China. The Great Wall was originally created by Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the third century B.C. as a means of preventing incursions from barbarian nomads. Though the Great Wall never did what it was intended effectively, which was to prevent invaders from entering China, it came to function as a powerful monument of Chinese civilization.
There is no denying it’s beauty and history, and although it has now become a well established tourist attraction, some visitors advise avoiding the section in Beijing, which is always over-crowded and rebuilt. Instead, “take a van ride out of the city, to the Simitai section. Now there's some uncrowded, old-school Great Wall.”
Disney Park
Disney Parks was founded on April 1, 1971, exactly six months before the opening of Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, just outside of Orlando. In 2018, the company's theme parks hosted over 157.3 million guests, making Disney Parks the world's most visited theme park company worldwide. With Disney Parks in California, Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai, these popular attractions have become a place for adults and children alike, to enjoy and live out their childhood and childlike dreams.
But like so many popular tourist destinations, overcrowding, and overpriced is a given. “Be ready to Shell out $50 a person per day. Oh, you came for the rides? Enjoy the four or five you make it on unless it's a busy day, those days enjoy the two or three.”
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru. High in the slopes of the Andes, the ruins of Machu Picchu continue to reveal the mysteries of the Inca Empire. Most archeologists believe that Machu Picchu was constructed as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti 1438–1472. Often mistakenly referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas", it is the most familiar icon of Inca civilization. A trip to Machu Picchu is many things, but cheap is not one of them.
Train tickets from Cusco can run more than a hundred dollars each, and entry fees can cost up to $62 depending on which options you choose. In between, a round-trip bus trip up and down the 2,000-feet-high slope which the Inca ruins are located costs another $24.
Sydney Opera House
One of the most famous and distinctive buildings, the Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre on Sydney Harbour located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was named for Bennelong, one of two Aboriginal people who served as liaisons between Australia’s first British settlers and the local population. The building and its surrounds occupy the whole of Bennelong Point on Sydney Harbour, between Sydney Cove and Farm Cove, adjacent to the Sydney central business district and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Although a popular tourist site, it seems to be fairly overrated amongst popular opinion, “The tours are expensive and the inside is kind of underwhelming,” but in retrospect, the outside is free and is also the best part.
The Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell, is an iconic symbol of American independence, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The bell first cracked when rung after its arrival in Philadelphia, and was twice recast by local workmen John Pass and John Stow, whose last names appear on the bell. In its early years, the bell was used to summon lawmakers and to alert citizens about public meetings. After World War II, Philadelphia allowed the National Park Service to take custody of the bell, while retaining ownership. The bell was used as a symbol of freedom during the Cold War and was a popular site for protests in the 1960s.
Like many other historic objects, The Liberty Bell symbolizes a very meaningful time in history, but in the end it is just a bell. Some people who have visited the bell have had interesting opinions, “You wait in a long line to look at... a bell. That looks exactly like it does in all the Philly souvenirs. They don't even let you lick it.”
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe, Inc. is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton in London. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. As of July 2018, Hard Rock International has venues in 74 countries, including 185 cafes, 25 hotels, and 12 casinos. Music is an undeniable force, and is something each Hard Rock venue has established prominently.
Although famous for its name and its history of musical ambience, many people who have dined there have reviewed many of the venues as “having the same pricing to a nice chain restaurant, but the food is right on par with Applebee’s.”
Madame Tussauds
Founded by wax sculptor Marie Tussaud in 1835, Madame Tussauds is a wax museum in London, with smaller museums in a number of other major cities. A major tourist attraction in London, Madame Tussauds displays the waxworks of famous and historical figures, as well as popular film and television characters played by famous actors. With more than 250 lifelike wax figures on display, Madame Tussauds wax museum lets us get up close and personal with idols we wouldn’t otherwise be able to see.
Despite the fascination some people have with seeing lifelike figures of their celebrity crush or idol, some people would rather be doing something else with their time. “You're in a city filled to the brim with history and culture and free museums, but you'd rather wait in line for hours and pay a fortune to go see a mannequin of Justin Bieber?”
The London Eye
Europe's tallest cantilevered observation wheel, The London Eye, is a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. At an overall height of 443 feet, the London Eye was the world’s tallest Ferris wheel from 1999, when it was built, until 2006, when it was surpassed by the Star of Nanchang, in Nanchang, China. It is one of London’s most popular tourist attractions. In March 2020, the London Eye celebrated its 20th birthday by turning several of its pods into experiences themed around London.
Despite its incredible appearance, some tourists have complained about it being more expensive than the experience is worth, with little opportunity to enjoy as there are always too many people surrounding the windows.
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment center, and neighborhood in the Midtown Manhattan section of New York City. One of the world's busiest pedestrian areas, it is also the hub of the Broadway Theater District and a major center of the world's entertainment industry. Times Square is one of the world's most visited tourist attractions, drawing an estimated 50 million visitors annually. Most of us are familiar with the famous V-J Day in Times Square, the photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt of a U.S. Navy sailor embracing and kissing a total stranger.
Although it’s hard to find someone who has many negative things to say about the famous Times Square, like most tourist attractions you’ll often find people complaining about the crowding and the “repetitive chain restaurants”.
Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is centered on a colossal sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills near Keystone, South Dakota. The sculpture features the 60-foot heads of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The four presidents were chosen to represent the nation's birth, growth, development and preservation. The memorial park covers 1,278 acres, sometimes referred to as the "Shrine of Democracy", Mount Rushmore attracts more than two million visitors annually.
Despite the extraordinary and captivating art of Mount Rushmore, it is as it appears, so many people advise against making the trip. It's not easy to get up close enough either, so some recommend prioritizing Devil's Tower, since it’s on the way.
Waikiki Beach
Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu on the south shore of the island of Oʻahu in the U.S. state of Hawaii. Waikiki is most famous for Waikiki Beach, which is one of six beaches in the district and is almost entirely man-made. But there’s more to Waikiki than just the beach. Attractions of Waikiki like the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Aquarium offer fun for the whole family. Among the various things to do, high-end boutiques, shops, and restaurants can be found all along Kalakaua and Kuhio Avenues.
But despite the beauty that surrounds Hawaii, there are many people who haven’t had the best experience visiting Waikiki beach. “It's a horrible, crowded concrete beach surrounded by traffic and overpriced stores.”
Pyramids of Giza
The oldest and largest of the pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex bordering present-day Giza in Greater Cairo, Egypt, The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact. The pyramid was built as a tomb for the Fourth Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Khufu. Standing at 481 feet, the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years.
Despite the extraordinary scenery, “the swarm of aggressive market vendors surrounding them makes the place a bit of a nightmare. Inside the tombs themselves it reeked of piss and was a claustrophobic nightmare.” Clearly it is not for everyone.
Branson, Missouri
A popular destination for vacationers from Missouri and around the country, Branson, Missouri is a city in Taney and Stone counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. Famous for its role in the entertainment industry, it is said to be an amazing place to visit. This city has a population of more than 11,000 people and is home to nearly 50 theaters, several theme parks, three major lakes, and hundreds of shows, attractions, restaurants, and shopping venues. The city draws more than 7 million visitors each year.
There are many different opinions regarding whether or not the experience is worth it, but the most interesting we’ve seen yet has to be “The Simpsons weren't really joking when they described it as Las Vegas ran by Ned Flanders.”
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the freestanding bell tower of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa, known worldwide for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. Although it was designed to be perfectly vertical, it started to lean during construction. The Tower is 183.27 feet from the ground on the low side and 185.93 feet on the high side, and has up to 296 steps. It has been a popular tourist attraction for as long as we can remember.
It is most famously admired in pictures of people photo editing themselves to appear larger pushing the tower to the side. Although this is a fun activity for the family, some tourists think that the monument is more famous for its picture trend than it would be otherwise.
Bourbon Street, New Orleans
Bourbon Street is a historic street in the heart of the French Quarter of New Orleans. Extending thirteen blocks from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue, Bourbon Street is famous for its many bars and strip clubs. With 17.74 million visitors in 2017 alone, New Orleans depends on Bourbon Street as a main tourist attraction. Bourbon Street is rich with historic venues, social tales and iconic buildings. The street dates back to 1718, when New Orleans was founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville.
The food is worthy of noting and the history this street carries is undeniably interesting and in the most magnificent way, but despite these pros, but according to some of the people that have paid it a visit, “the whole street itself is dirty, smells like sewage, and is overloaded with mostly ear rapingly loud rap music and maybe a couple jazz bands.”
Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony in December 1620. Located in Pilgrim Memorial State Park on the shore of Plymouth Harbor, this simple boulder has become a world famous symbol representing something different to each person who looks at it. The first known written reference to the rock dates to 1715 when it was described in the town boundary records as "a great rock."
But the overhyped legend surrounding this traditional site always under delivers.The reality is that the country’s birthstone is a mere boulder, leaving tourists struck by disappointment rather than awe.
Hitlers Typewriter
This Groma typewriter from the 1930s was recovered from Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's retreat in Berchtesgaden, Germany, by an American soldier after German surrender. Although it's extremely unlikely that he did any of his own typing, it is possible that he dictated evil orders and memos that were then noted using this typewriter. It eventually found its way into the Bessemer Museum's basement, where it was discovered by Curator Mable Waites in the mid-1980s. The typewriter still supposedly works, but the Museum has never been able to find an ink ribbon that fits it.
But despite the story behind this object, visitors of the museum often expressed their disappointment, having over-exaggerated their feelings, coming to the quick realization that this is in fact, just a typewriter.
Roswell, New Mexico
As of the 2010 census, with a population of 48,411, Roswell, New Mexico, was the fifth-largest city in New Mexico. The Roswell UFO incident was named after the town, though the crash site of the alleged UFO was some 121 km from Roswell and closer to Corona. The city heavily relies on New Mexico and Americana related tourism such as New Mexican cuisine restaurants, local American folk and New Mexico music performances.
Some people visit with the expectations that they will find interesting UFO conventions, but most tourists complain of it being a small town, “with dozens of alien shops and barely any people. It was creepy as hell.”
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is the world's largest beer festival. It is held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is a 16 to 18 day folk festival running from mid- or late September to the first Sunday in October, with more than six million people from around the world attending the event every year. The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since the year 1810. Other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations that replicate the original Munich event.
In 2013, 6.4 million people visited Oktoberfest, and visitors were served 6.7 million liters of beer, which some would say is over excessive, and way too crowded for their liking.
Romeo and Juliet's Balcony
Although the characters of Romeo and Juliet were fictional, Juliet has come to have a romantic life of her own in the heart of Verona, inspiring visitors from around the world to stand on the balcony of Juliet's House, known as the Casa di Giulietta. Although most everything about this house is fiction, the emotions that draw people to it are real. The walls beneath the balcony are completely covered by graffiti scribbles and notes from visitors asking for guidance in love, many of which are attached with chewing gum.
Despite this fictional tragic love-story turned inspiration for many, some people are not so ‘in love’ with this site. “Like, 10,000 people all crammed into this tiny alleyway just to see a balcony that I found out was built after the play was written.”
M&M World, London
In the heart of Leicester Square, M&M'S London is the world's largest candy store at 35,000 square feet spread over four colorful, M&M'S-filled floors.In addition to an extensive range of M&M'S chocolates and merchandise. M&M'S London is home to the world's biggest chocolate wall with over 100 M&M'S selections to choose from. The first location was on the Las Vegas Strip in 1997, with other stores eventually opening in Orlando, Florida, New York City, Henderson, Nevada, London, Shanghai and Bloomington, Minnesota.
But to some tourists, stopping by your local grocery store and picking up a bag of M&M’s is almost the same experience. “Every single tourist has a bag from there, they don't even sell the unusual flavours of M&M, just the usual UK packets of peanut and solid chocolate. I just don't understand it…”
Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood Boulevard is a Los Angeles cultural icon, with museums, landmarks and other Hollywood attractions that celebrate L.A.’s rich film and entertainment heritage. You can see the footprints of the stars at the TCL Chinese Theatre, gaze down at the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, or do some shopping at Hollywood & Highland. There is an endless amount of things to do at Hollywood Boulevard, but is it worth all the hype we hear?
Some people only go there to run into stars, and suggest that it’s just an overrated tourist attraction. Additionally, some visitors have complained of bad smells, witnessing plenty of crime, and rubbish everywhere. Maybe seeing it on TV is good enough for some of us.
Museum Of Ice Cream
Museum of Ice Cream has long received hype over social media due to their interactive retail experience, known as a "selfie museum". The museum exists in major American cities as well as Singapore. These exhibits are ice-cream and candy-themed, with bright colors, and serve as backdrops for selfies, for visitors to take photos and post on their social media.The posts made by visitors to Instagram and other social media sites have served to promote the company, and expand their recognition worldwide.
But despite what may look fun, bright and make for a great photo op, there are some people who believe “any instagram gimmick where you need to spend money on tickets and wait in line for a photo” is a not so great use of time and money.
Takeshita Street, Harajuku Tokyo
Takeshita Street is a pedestrian shopping street lined with fashion boutiques, cafes and restaurants in Harajuku in Tokyo, Japan. It is the center of Japan's most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but also offers shopping for adults and some historic sights. Harajuku is not only about teenage culture and shopping. Meiji Jingu, one of Tokyo's major shrines, is located just west of the railway tracks in a large green oasis shared with the spacious Yoyogi Park.
But shopping in over crowded places may not be for everyone, some of the reviews did not make a potential visit to Takeshita Street sound so appealing. “Essentially I was packed like a sardine for hours while waiting in long lines to shop for overpriced clothes. I love Tokyo, but I definitely won't be going back to Harajuku anytime soon.”
Manneken Pis, Brussels
Manneken Pis is a landmark 61 cm tall fountain sculpture in central Brussels (Belgium), depicting a naked little boy urinating into the fountain's basin. Designed by Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder, and put in place in 1619, is now kept in the Brussels City Museum. The current statue is a replica which dates from 1965. Manneken Pis embodies the sense of humour of the people of Brussels’ and their independence of mind. The statue can be found about five minutes away from the Grand Place (Brussels' main square), at the junction of the Rue du Chene/Eikstraat and the pedestrian Rue de l'Etuve/Stoofstraat.
But we wouldn’t get our hopes up, because it hasn’t always had raving reviews. "Don't get me wrong, Brussels is beautiful, and I absolutely loved visiting, but you can skip Manneken Pis. There's so much interesting folklore around Manneken Pis, and you expect it to be an amazing statue...until you see it.
The Duomo, Florence
Florence's cathedral stands tall over the city with its magnificent Renaissance dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. The cathedral named in honor of Santa Maria del Fiore is a vast Gothic structure built on the site of the 7th century church of Santa Reparata, the remains of which can be seen in the crypt. Construction on the cathedral had begun towards the end of the 13th century by Arnolfo di Cambio, and the dome, which dominates the exterior, was added in the 15th century on a design of Filippo Brunelleschi.
But it may not be exactly what we had imagined, "The outside of the Duomo is magnificent, but the interior is bland and underwhelming and not worth waiting in line for. If you've seen the outside, that's all you need to see.”
Temple Bar, Dublin
Temple Bar is an area on the south bank of the River Liffey in central Dublin, Ireland. The bar is home to the largest whiskey collection in Ireland, and promoted as Dublin's 'cultural quarter' and, as a centre of Dublin's city centre's nightlife, is a tourist destination. The area is the location of a number of cultural establishments, including the Irish Photography Centre, incorporating the Dublin Institute of Photography, the National Photographic Archive and the Gallery of Photography, the Ark Children's Cultural Centre, and the Irish Film Institute amongst many more.
Despite the raving reviews, and the very popular scene, some people were not as satisfied as others. "There are better pubs a block away, but all the tourists go to Temple Bar to pay twice the price for a Guinness."
The Little Mermaid, Copenhagen
The Little Mermaid is the smallest attraction in Copenhagen, depicting a mermaid becoming human. It is only four feet tall and she sits by the shore of the “Langelinie” cruise harbor in the old port district of Nyhavn, which is a short walk to the main pier and other tourist spots in Copenhagen. The sculpture pictures her as she sits and looks out over the water reminiscing her lost mermaid past.
Although the story behind it is fascinating, and everyone loves a fairy tale especially a mermaid, not everyone was so pleased with Copenhagens’ monument. "It was absolutely disappointing. A city as nice as Copenhagen deserves a better attraction."
Pier 39, San Francisco
Pier 39 is a shopping center and popular tourist attraction built on a pier in San Francisco, California. The Pier offers shops, restaurants, a video arcade, street performances, the Aquarium of the Bay, virtual 3D rides, and views of California sea lions hauled out on docks on Pier 39's marina. Above all, the main attraction has always been the sea lions. California sea lions have always been present in San Francisco Bay; they started to haul out on docks of Pier 39 in September 1989.
“Everyone told me to skip Pier 39, but I figured I would go and see it for myself. Fast-forward and I'm here to tell you it's a tourist trap. There's nothing worth seeing there except the sea lions. Other than that, it's just chains and rip-offs," a local expressed.
Top of the Empire State Building, New York
The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States. Around four million tourists from around the world annually visit the building's 86th- and 102nd-floor observatories; an additional indoor observatory on the 80th floor opened in 2019. The Empire State Building is an American cultural icon, we’ve seen and heard it in movies, and for those of us who haven’t visited the popular attraction, we are left curious as to how the experience would actually feel.
"You spend all that time in line for the elevators for the change to take a few pictures through a caged roof and squint at what would otherwise be an excellent view of New York City. It's totally not worth it,” a tourist shares.