10 Tourist “Attractions” That Are Not Worth Your Time 😲

1. Blarney Stone, Ireland

Expectations:

Kiss the Blarney Stone and you will receive the “gift of eloquence,” as they say. You will be the king/queen of parties, the Shakespeare of small talk, and the Socrates of social gatherings…

Reality:

You line up to put your lips on a rock that has seen more than a few public toilets. And the gymnastics required to kiss the illustrious stone? You have to lie on your back and fit into the crack, which, without a few acrobatics lessons, may not be easy...

Alternative:

Skip the Blarney Stone and head to your local Irish pub. You’ll find that a pint of Guinness also has the magical ability to make you a very eloquent companion.

2. Hollywood Walk of Fame, USA

Expectations:

Stars! Glamour! Walk the same streets where Hollywood legends walk!

Reality:

It's just a regular sidewalk with brass stars that you'll barely notice because you're too busy dodging street performers dressed as superheroes and bumping into other tourists...

Alternative:

Visit Griffith Observatory for an amazing view of the city and the Hollywood sign. It's free and you don't have to run from Spider-Man.

3. Manneken Pis, Belgium

Expectations:

The famous monument in Brussels that has become an iconic symbol of the city's sense of humour...

Reality:

It's a 25 inch bronze statue of a boy urinating in a fountain. That's it. You'll spend more time looking at it than actually looking at it...

Alternative:

Visit the Atomium, another strange but much more impressive structure in Brussels. It resembles the Eiffel Tower made of bubbles.

4. Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum, Paris, France

Expectations:

Mona Lisa! The most famous painting in the world! A masterpiece of enigmatic expression!

Reality:

You will be fighting your way through crowds of tourists, all of whom are staring at the painting with their phones (a mandatory photo), and are staring wide-eyed in search of the Mona Lisa (this painting is 77×53 cm). And it is behind bulletproof glass, so all we can do is wish you luck in taking a good photo.

Alternative:

The Louvre is huge and full of other amazing works of art. Spend your time exploring other galleries and skip the Mona (or don't spend too much time on it...).

5. Times Square on New Year's Eve, USA

Expectations:

Falling Ball! Confetti! A One of a Kind Experience!

Reality:

You're trapped in a crowd, for hours, often in freezing temperatures, with no access to bathrooms... The sphere is much smaller in person, and you'll probably be too busy trying to get a good picture or to see anything to enjoy the countdown to the New Year...

Alternative:

Pick, literally, any other New Year's Eve celebration in New York City. Any one.

6. Stonehenge, England

Expectations:

This is one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world! Feel its incredible energy...

Reality:

It is a circle of large stones that you can no longer even touch because they are roped in. You will spend more time in the gift shop than in the site itself.

Alternative:

Visit Avebury. This is another stone circle, but it is larger and you can walk between the stones.

7. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy

Expectations:

It's an architectural marvel! A must-see when in Italy!

Reality:

It's a tower, yes. Which is tilted. Due to poor engineering. You'll spend most of your time avoiding other tourists trying to get the same, tired, "propping up the tower" photo.

Alternative:

Visit the nearby Pisa Cathedral and Baptistery, which are stunning and much less crowded.

8. Loch Ness, Scotland

Expectations:

You will find Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster! You will learn the secret!

Reality:

You'll stare into a large, murky pool of water and then purchase a stuffed Nessie from the gift shop.

Alternative:

Explore the Scottish mountains, go hiking. They are breathtaking and guarantee meeting living creatures (and not monsters) - beautiful deer and birds.

9. Four Corners Monument, USA

Expectations:

You'll be in four states at once! Arizona! Utah! Colorado! New Mexico!

Reality:

You will drive many hours to put your 4 limbs in four different states to take a photo that you will forget about in 3 minutes.

Alternative:

Take this time to actually visit any one of these four states (or all of them). They all have so much to offer.

10. London Eye, UK

Expectations:

See London from a bird's eye view from this iconic Ferris wheel! The Thames, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament all in one go!

Reality:

You’ll pay a fortune to be squeezed into a glass capsule with 20 other tourists jostling to take the same photos. And let’s be honest, you’re just going in a big, slow circle. The view is nice, but is it worth the hour-long line, the cramped ride, and the money? Probably not.

Alternative:

For a great view of London without the tourist crowds, try Sky Garden. It's free to visit, but you have to book in advance. You'll see beautiful panoramic views of the city, and there's even a bar where you can have a drink without feeling like you're in a human terrarium.

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Source of inspiration: https://thetravelbible.com