Wish You Weren't Here: Top 10 Most Disappointing Tourist Spots

by Kaitlin | August 17, 2007 at 09:09 am

6827 views | 101 Recommendations | 27 comments

London's Daily Telegraph has released a list of the Top 10 Most Disappointing tourist destinations, as determined by Virgin Travel Insuarance. Though the survey was mostly built as a bit of handsome PR for a company looking to send travels to off-the-beaten-path destinations (damn you, Branson!), there's no denying that there's some proof in the pudding. Take a look at the list:

The sights voted most disappointing around the world were:

# 1) The Eiffel Tower

# 2) The Louvre (Mona Lisa)

# 3) Times Square

# 4) Las Ramblas, Spain

# 5) Statue of Liberty

# 6) Spanish Steps, Rome

# 7) The White House

# 8) The Pyramids, Egypt

# 9) The Brandenburg Gate, Germany

# 10) The Leaning Tower of Pisa

I've been to many of the destinations here, and I can definitely see where people are coming from. For many of us, fed on a diet of TV and film, these destinations seem underwhelming when we actually get close up. Seeing the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty and the Mona Lisa, my first reaction is one many people I know shared:

"That's it??"

Call me spoiled, but years of seeing Lady Liberty's face close up in films about New York (for me, memories of the construction of the Statue of Liberty in An American Tail are the most potent) prepared me for a monolith--the largest symbol of freedom ever constructed. When she ended up being a bit more modest than I first thought, I was slightly let down. It seemed an appropriate let down--the American Dream is always bigger in theory than it is in reality--but a let down nonetheless.

Aside from misplaced perceptions of grandeur, why else would these places be turning travelers off? Well, many of these destinations are kind of the Lindsay Lohans of the sightseeing party--they suffer from their own popularity. Sure, Times Square's neat at night, until some huge dude from Texas tramples on your heels while looking up at the giant steaming Cup O Noodles.

Still, disappointing though some of these places may be, I don't regret seeing any one of them...and those I have yet to see, I do want to visit. Even if just to say, "That's it??"

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Jordan Yerman

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 09:23 on August 17th, 2007

Seeing McDonald's at the foot of the Spanish Steps really put me off...

denseatoms

at 16:30 on August 17th, 2007

Yes, I'd say put it at the top. Make the tourists work for it.

PEP

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 10:20 on August 17th, 2007

Your personal commentary makes this story zing!

Many of the "top 10" destinations, like Lady Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, that Leaning Tower, were marvels of the 1800's and early 1900's. Back then, sometimes like the Eiffel Tower was awesome.

However, times change. Guidebooks would do well to update for the 2lst century.

Zlender

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 11:23 on August 17th, 2007

Kaitlin, I like this story. I am usually stunned only by work of nature i.e. Grand Canyon, underwater world of Red Sea,...

Jennings David L

at 11:39 on August 17th, 2007

Kaitlin, For many travelers the phrase "so that's it" is pretty familiar. However I have been impressed by the Statue of Liberty and Times Square. For the Statue of Liberty part of the attaraction for me is the history of the construction, the artifacts inside, and the people who built the statue. I must say after traveling to the Statue of Liberty when you could walk inside all the way to the crown and look out I was a bit disappointed recently when you can only go up inside the base of the statue. Times Square is interesting to watch the people but it is the side streets that are the most fun, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State building. Whenever I'm in New York I stay in Times Square because of the people and access to subways. Good story.

maansloep

at 12:51 on August 17th, 2007

The Eiffel Tower is nice when it's all lit up and you're watching it from in front of the Sacré-Coeur/Butte de Montmartre. Other than that, I pretty much agree.

Though, I didn't have any expectations for Las Ramblas. I don't think I'd even heard of it before I went there.

Mostly, I think the thing that turns me off is the hordes of tourists. Maybe go back when it's not high tourist season?

denseatoms

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 16:33 on August 17th, 2007

Lists are always a lot of fun. This one was pretty consistent, with true cultural landmarks as the focus of disappointment. "Focus" may be the key word to explain the disappointment -- the tourists aren't seeing the forest for the tree(s). These landmarks are just single facets of the cities in which they are found. It is the overall effect that counts. Vienna, for example, not any one part of it, was so magnficent that it had me literally in tears as the pieces all fit together and the whole thing hit me.

As for the "fiberglass" attractions -- Disney, Universal Studios, Branson, Myrtle Beach -- they don't appear on the list. Maybe a bias of the pollster, but maybe a sad fact that these destinations are built expressly to meet tourists' expectations. That can't be said of any of the items on the Boring Ten list. -- Well, maybe the Eiffel Tower and Times Square, to some extent, but not to that of Walt Disney World.

DBartos

at 17:14 on August 17th, 2007

As someone who's been to Las Ramblas, I can definitely say it is
worth the visit. I think that all of these list items are worthwhile
less for the actual sight and more for the experience. You don't see
Las Ramblas, you experience it. Same goes for the Eiffel Tower. It's
not so much the tower that's interesting, it's the atmosphere around
it.

The most beautiful sights to see are truly the
natural wonders of the world. But these are places to say "I've been
there" when you see them in films and pictures.

Papa le Pew

at 17:27 on August 17th, 2007

The Eiffel Tower ( in my opinion), should not be on that list. I read this survey recently that stated Paris as the number one destination on the planet for tourist destination. Do you think that so many tourists would come if the Eiffel Tower was not there? That would be interesting to see! I like it for what it is...and that is a part of the sum that makes Paris.

TheBigRuski

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 17:58 on August 17th, 2007

Kaitlin, fun stuff! For me, Disneyland is dissappointing, so this list doesn't really make sense to me. If you go in knowing you are going to a "tourist trap", then those places mentioned don't dissappoint.

Here's a short list of mine:

1. Disneyland 2. Las Vegas 3. Hollywood's Sunset and Vine 4. Bourbon Street (but you would have to leave out the jazz!) 5. Universal Studios

gryphon

at 18:40 on August 17th, 2007

Sounds like you just dont like Los Angeles. Not that there is anything wrong with that....

TheBigRuski

at 19:12 on August 17th, 2007

I actually love Los Angeles...I was born there.

Some of my list reflects that I have lived in Southern California for 40+ years!

Love L.A. list:

Lakers, Downtown after it rains, Griffith Park Observatory, Malibu to laugh with the stars, Hollywood Bowl for jazz, Greek Theater for just about anyone or anykind of music, and so forth....

jazzz.mine

at 18:43 on August 17th, 2007

Times Square and the White House shouldn't even be considered tourist spots -- one's a big ol' shopping area you see in many metropolitan cities, and the other is the residence of the President of the USA. Therefore it shouldn't be on the list. I for one really enjoyed going to the Pyramids -- i DID wonder how the ancient egyptians managed to build something as big and magnificent as them -- and the surrounding areas of deserts are quite spectacular as well, but only if you haven't been to a real desert. Despite this, I do think the Mona Lisa is definately disappointing because it's so small and you can only view it through a thick layer of glass.

IT Joe

at 18:48 on August 17th, 2007

While I must admit that I had the "so that's it" feeling more than once (not to name them, with the White House and the Mona Lisa), I was also happily suprised by such magnificent monument as the Eiffel Tower or to a lesser extent the Statue of Liberty.

Actually I think that part of the reason I like or don't like a monument is the background of the visit.I think some monuments must be seen by night, or in the winter time, some alone, some with your sweetheart. Basically the context might be very important to make you actually enjoy a place or completly scorn it.

anorthrnsoul ™

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 00:48 on August 18th, 2007

Kaitlin, I like this story. It's good stuff. Thanks for using one of my photos as well!

ecaputo84

at 02:34 on August 18th, 2007

Nice story, and thanks for using my "Leaning Tower of Pisa" photo,
which is a false view of the site (using a 10mm wide angle lens to make
the tower lean the wrong way) but the photo looks good. Anyway, I can't
understand what people expected the Leaning Tower of Pisa to be. How
can anyone be disappointed by it? It is a tall marble tower which
leans, just as its name would suggest. They even let you climb the
stairs up to the top now. Did the disappointed people expect it to have
an elevator or something? Should it have been taller? A different
color? What? You can sit outdoors in the shade in a nearby cafe, drink
a cappuccino, talk to your travelling companions, and look at the
tower. What else do people expect of a tower???

Also, "The
Ramblas" in Barcelona shouldn't be on the list at all. I live in
Barcelona and can't imagine what people expected of "The Ramblas". It
is a long pedestrian-dominated street with trees, stores, restaurants,
bars, street performers, artists, and plazas. It is a place to
leisurely walk, look at the sights, buy stuff, and eat. The publicity
done by the tourist bureau doesn't over-sell "The Ramblas", at least
not that I've noticed. What did the disappointed people expect??

billyboy888

at 06:01 on August 18th, 2007

Hmmm.. most dissapointing... Well... first of all, I've been all those places you listed, with the exception of the White House and egypt... And I just came back from backpacking in europe for 2.5 months... So, I have to say that the most dissapointing place that I've ever been in this trip was by far... Barcelona...specially la Rambla... Sorry ecaputo84... It was way too much comercialized..I guess... But I loved all Gaudi's work... But probably expectations were higher... Followed to that I'd say Brugges & Brussels... And the most unexpected surprise was Krakow... I totally loved it...

But also I recalled the same disppointment feeling I had when I saw the Monalissa many years ago...

Brandenburg gates...can't be dissapointing... Because we cannot look iat t as just a Gate or an architectural work merely... We have to put history in the context... Just the fact of being able to walk freely through the gates...it's just too much!

That was my two cents!

ecaputo84

at 06:30 on August 18th, 2007

Las Ramblas, too comercialized?? It is a street with mostly stores and restaurants at the ground level, as it has been for decades. Most of the buildings have retained their original external appearance, i.e. it is a historical district. There are a few hotels and museums too. While it is true that a lot of the stores sell items of interest to tourists, there are also a lot of stores, such as the food market, which are patronized by residents of the city for normal items. Although it is a comercial district, it is nothing like a shopping center, for example. I guess my problem is that I have no idea what people expect of the Ramblas, nor do I understand what "too comercialized" implies. I personally enjoy going there to see a concert, or to buy a food item that isn't available in my neighborhood, or just to take a walk.

sagicapri25

at 06:43 on August 18th, 2007

Great story, but I quite enjoyed my trip to Italy. Pisa is a very old town, and I have been to the top of the tower and had to wonder how it wasn't falling over. I don't know, I guess I don't agree too much because each of these places still holds a little magic for me. I'm like a kid in a candy store, and I think some would agree with me.

vegasgirlnyny

at 19:37 on August 18th, 2007

I agree 100% !& thank you for using my photo!

kkaefer

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 07:22 on August 20th, 2007

Kaitlin, I like this story. It's good stuff. However, I disagree with #1, #3 and #5 on the list. I think the Eiffel tower is quite impressive (walk up, don't take the lift!). You don't really get a good idea of its size when you see it on TV. And the Times Square is very impressive at night, at least if you're not from a big city. The Louvre itself is not at all uninteresting or boring, just the Mona Lisa isn't really special, at least to me. The rest of the museum houses some amazing pieces of art.

Papa le Pew

at 17:21 on August 20th, 2007

Right! You guys seem to get it! That is good.

When you visit Paris...try to see the Eiffel Tower in the early morning ( less crowds) or late evening ( all those pretty lights!). And go to Paris in May or earlier when it is less crowded.

The problem with the Eiffel tower (and some of the other great destinations in your list), too many people love it!

The Eiffel tower looses its drama when you are smashed into lines and elevators with gawking tourists.

Maltese Falcon59

at 10:38 on August 28th, 2007

Thanks for using my photo for your story. Good story but I disagree with the list. I have been to all the places on the list and was not disappointed. We carry our viewpoint with us. Be open and excited and you won't be disappointed. One place, not on the list, that I have to say exceeded all my expectations was the Taj Mahal. If someone saw the Taj and was disappointed I would check them for a pulse.

Again, Thanks!

Maltese Falcon59

at 10:38 on August 28th, 2007

Again, Thanks!

denseatoms

at 07:30 on August 31st, 2007

Right on the mark: "We carry our viewpoint with us." My history-teacher brother and I visited the Yorktown Battlefield Site in Virginia, which is pretty enough a spot but devoid of any buildings, etc. that would hint that anything of importance ever happened there. But as we paused at every historical marker, we saw the Big Picture in our mind's eyes. Places like Disney World have their entertainment value, but that value is pre-loaded, like convenience food.

Maltese Falcon59

at 10:38 on August 28th, 2007

Again, Thanks!

babsvo2006

at 07:50 on August 30th, 2007

I had 59 music students and 30 chaperones with me and our tour guide didn't schedule us for a nighttime visit, so Times Square was a bit of a disappointment. Our tour guide also didn't remember to make reservations two weeks ahead to go into the Statue of Liberty. We cut that visit short. I would return to take my husband to Ellis Island. It was extremely interesting and the refurbishing is magnificent, as are the photographs of immigrants. I would not return to the Empire State Building on a Saturday, especially Memorial Day weekend, as we did. It took 2 hours to reach the top! It's a good thing we had each other with whom to visit on each turn. We did see Phantom of the Opera and the kids were thrilled. I would return for more Broadway shows.