Some travel destinations generate so much hype that they develop an almost mystical allure. We’re bombarded with pictures and propaganda selling these places, so of course, they rise to the top of our bucket lists.
Big hype doesn’t always mean good times. The most overrated tourist attractions are often the biggest disappointments.
The Most Overrated Tourist Attractions
Don’t you hate visiting a place based on rave reviews to discover it’s really just “meh” or worse?
If you want to avoid spending time and energy visiting overrated tourist attractions, take real travelers’ word for it. Here, they share the destinations that didn’t live up to the hype.
Hollywood
We all dream of Hollywood’s glitz and glamour. The famous attractions on Hollywood Boulevard, like the Chinese Theater and the Walk of Fame, have taken on an almost mythical significance in our culture, portrayed as opulent symbols of celebrity.
Take it from someone who lived near Hollywood for ten years and knows all the best things to do in LA – keep the fantasy alive by skipping it.
The real Hollywood Boulevard is dirty, crowded, and nothing like you’d expect from the movies. You’ll find trash on the streets as swarms of beggars wearing ratty, torn superhero costumes harass you for money to take pictures with them.
Here’s a pro tip: Visit LA. Drive the 101 to see the Hollywood sign. And do everything else but Hollywood Boulevard. It’s one of the most overrated tourist attractions in history.
Times Square on NYE
Tourist flock to the iconic square to usher in the new year with millions of their closest friends.
It sounds fun, but the reality is dirty, crowded, cold, and lacks bathrooms.
If you leave to use the restroom, good luck finding your place again, and you have to be there for hours to get a good spot near the ball drop.
Some folks wear those fake bladders so they can relieve themselves without losing their spot.
Admittedly, I’ve never been. But it sounds like something that’s more fun in theory than in reality.
Niagara Falls
US travelers don’t need a passport to visit the New York side of the falls, but people who’ve been there, done that say it’s not worth it.
The Canadian side offers a cleaner experience and better views. If you’re going to make the trip, get a passport and do it right.
Dubai
Dubai is clean and rich, but it’s also oppressively hot and oppressive in other ways. The culture celebrates wealth but still oppresses women and members of the LGBTQ community.
I personally have never been, but it seems like the only reason to go is to bask in obscene opulence while ignoring the human rights abuses hidden below the surface.
I’ll pass.
Branson MO
A lot of travelers bemoan the tourist trap that is Branson, Missouri.
But I think the people who complain about it miss the point. Branson isn’t supposed to be some cultural mecca. It’s a tourist town designed for weekenders to have easy, stress-free fun.
If you’re a “world traveler” who longs to explore the unknown, Branson probably isn’t for you. But if you know what to expect, you’ll realize that it’s not an overrated tourist attraction, it’s just a small town built for carefree weekend trips.
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach has the same problem that Branson has. People expect too much out of it.
Yes, it’s touristy and hokey. One Reddit user even described it as “Redneck Riviera.”
But also, it’s an accessible place for a weekend trip with tons of kid-friendly activities. It’s overrated if you want real culture but rated aptly if you’re looking for an easy getaway.
Cairo
Visiting Cairo to see the pyramids tops many travelers’ bucket lists, but the people who’ve been there call it the most overrated tourist attraction ever.
It’s crowded, dirty, and hot. The city streets burst with low-rate swindlers and hustlers, anxious for the opportunity to cheat tourists out of any amount of money.
Despite the warnings, it’s still at the top of my list. I need to see the pyramids and the Great Sphinx before I die. I’ll try not to let the litter and peddlers detract from the experience.
Four Corners
There’s one part of the US where four states meet in perfect harmony. You can stand in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico all at the same time.
I took a detour to the Four Corners on my road trip to see the Canyons of the Ancients, and discovered a massive line of tourists waiting to take the perfect Instagram photo.
Maybe the Four Corners is not so much an overrated tourist attraction as an attraction ruined by social media.
Mt. Rushmore
Millions of people flock to South Dakota to gawk at a giant sculpture of past presidents. Though I must admit the sculpture is a cool feat, the mountain isn’t as impressive as the surrounding scenery.
But even though Mt. Rushmore is an overrated tourist destination, it’s still one of those things to visit, even if it’s just to say you’ve seen it.
Pisa
The leaning tower of Pisa is an iconic attraction near Florence, but it is typically not worth the trip.
Visitors flood the area, all vying to get the same tired photo of someone holding the tower. It hasn’t been funny for years.
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen sits atop many travelers’ bucket lists, but most are shocked to see how small and underwhelming it is.
When they say, “The Little Mermaid”, they really mean little.
Still, it’s probably cool to see.
Tourist Traps That Are Worth It
We talked a little smack about tourist traps on this list, but some destinations become tourist traps for a reason: They’re awesome!
Here are some of the best “tourist traps” around the world.
Enjoy Your Vacation Wherever You Go
The thing about overrated tourist attractions is that everyone likes something different. You may love The Little Mermaid statue. A trip to a hokey tourist town may fill you with joy.
Who cares if other travelers say a thing is overrated if it’s something you’ve always wanted to see?
You do you.
Explore the world in your own way. Experience for yourself whether you think something is overrated or not.
Life is for living for yourself, not through someone else.