Many travellers dream of ticking world-famous landmarks off their bucket lists. Yet not every attraction lives up to the hype. So, which tourist spots are not worth the visit and should be banished from your travel bucket list? To find out, the experts at CasiMonka sought to uncover which tourist attractions are the biggest letdowns. Reddit posts and comments and Google reviews were run through AI sentiment analysis to see how positive/negative the posts/comments were and checked against a list of negative words and phrases related to travel.
Times Square, New York
Times Square is the biggest letdown for travellers (82.39/100). Located in the heart of Manhattan, this bustling attraction has a shocking 934 negative words related to travel comments. Some of the most used words to describe the iconic destination were ‘touristy’ (242 times) and ‘expensive’ (243 times). Known as an entertainment epicenter and 27/7 hub, Times Square has 126 negative words related to travel posts.
Hollywood Walk of Fame, California
In second position is the Hollywood Walk of Fame with a biggest letdown score of 80.56/100. Famous for honouring Hollywood’s most successful stars, it appears that the landmark has failed to impress visitors with 49 negative words related to travel comments alongside 30 Total negative words (Google reviews). One of the most common negative words was ‘dirty’ (10 times) and ‘toursity’ (14 times).
Stonehenge, Wiltshire
Following on in third position is the prehistoric monument Stonehenge. Located in Salisbury, Wiltshire, this tourist attraction scores an abysmal 73.86/100 for biggest tourist attraction letdown. Shockingly, it has had 342 negative words related to travel comments and 77 negative words related to travel. Some of the most common negative comments include ‘expensive’ (82 times) and ‘touristy’ (61 times).
The Dead Sea, Jordan
In fourth position is Jordan’s Saltwater Lake, The Dead Sea (73.57/100). The main attraction of the Dead Sea is its high salinity, which means that visitors are able to float effortlessly on its surface. Shockingly, this renowned destination has 234 negative words related to travel comments, with ‘expensive’ occurring a whopping 75 times.
Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
Rounding off the top 5 is Christ the Redeemer (71.41/100) which attracts millions of tourists each year. Despite its cultural and historical significance, its place as a worthwhile tourist destination has come into question with 52 negative words related to travel comments. This wonder of the world is most likely to be described as ‘touristy’ (13 times) in comments made by visitors.
Manneken Pis, Belgium
This tiny peeing statue in Brussels is one of the city’s most hyped attractions, but many tourists are shocked to find it’s barely two feet tall. Tucked on a random street corner, it’s easy to miss and doesn’t quite live up to the fanfare. Most visitors snap a quick photo and leave wondering what all the fuss was about.
Copacabana Beach, Brazil
The name might evoke images of glamorous beach days, but the reality can feel more chaotic than relaxing. It’s often overcrowded, and the water isn’t as pristine as you’d expect for such a famous beach. Safety concerns and aggressive vendors also turn the dream into a bit of a hassle.
Colosseum, Italy
While the Colosseum is undeniably iconic, the experience of visiting it often doesn’t match the hype. Long lines, high ticket prices, and swarms of tourists make it hard to take in the grandeur. Some travelers say the inside feels more like a ruin than a wonder.
Four Corners Monument, USA
This spot, where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona meet, sounds cool in theory—but it’s little more than a metal plaque in the middle of nowhere. Visitors often face a long drive just to take a quick photo straddling the borders. There’s not much else to do once you’ve ticked the box.
Loch Ness, Scotland
Hoping to spot Nessie? You might be setting yourself up for disappointment. The lake itself is moody and scenic, but aside from monster-themed souvenirs and tours, there’s not a lot going on. Many visitors feel it’s over-commercialized and underwhelming in person.
Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries. Her work has been published in numerous guidebooks, websites, and magazines.