I've visited over 40 countries. These are 6 of the most overrated tourist attractions I've ever seen.
- I've traveled to over 40 countries and visited many of the world's popular tourist attractions.
- Though many attractions are worth seeing, some didn't live up to the hype.
- I didn't find attractions like the Spanish Steps and Changing the Guard ceremony that exciting.
Having visited over 40 countries, I've been fortunate enough to experience many of the world's most famous tourist attractions.
Although tourist traps get a bad rep, they still get a ton of visitors. In a survey of 1,000 Americans by the passport-photo service PhotoAid, nearly 90% said they'd visited a tourist trap more than once in the past two years.
Many popular attractions are worth going out of the way for, but not all of them live up to the hype.
Here are some of the most overrated tourist attractions I've visited:
Kyoto, Japan, is one of the most beautiful cities I've visited. As long as you don't mind waking up at the crack of dawn to beat the crowds, you can enjoy some of the most gorgeous, serene settings in Asia.
But Kyoto is also home to what I think is one of the most overhyped attractions in Asia: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.
I expected a vast bamboo forest full of trails to get lost in. Instead, I found a short, wide trail winding through a small, underwhelming forest. The bamboo trees make for a cool photo op, but that's all.
You could spend days in Rome without running out of famous historical and architectural sites to explore.
Most sites, like the Colosseum, left me in awe. Unfortunately, some of Rome's most famous landmarks, like the Spanish Steps, didn't leave the same impression.
If the Spanish Steps weren't on every list of things to see in Rome, I probably would've walked right by them without noticing.
Aside from being Europe's largest and widest staircase, there was little about them or the surrounding area that stood out.
Though I skipped the Buckingham Palace tour, I did stop by to watch the Changing the Guard ceremony.
There is something cool about witnessing long-standing traditions, and the precision of the routine is impressive. Overall, though, I found the experience to be pretty underwhelming.
Changing the Guard is seemingly on every London visitor's checklist, and I found myself constantly jockeying for position just to get a glimpse of the ceremony. The 45-minute ceremony seemed to go on forever, and I didn't find it all that exciting or entertaining.
If you've been to Barcelona, there's a good chance you've seen Sagrada Família. One of the architect Antoni Gaudí's most famous works, the church towers above Barcelona's skyline and is visible from all over the city.
But it's still famously unfinished, and the never-ending presence of cranes and scaffolding makes it quite the eyesore.
George Orwell once referred to Sagrada Família as "one of the most hideous buildings in the world." Though I can't say I fully agree with Orwell, I do think Sagrada Família is pretty overrated.
I did appreciate the intricate details on the church's facade, and maybe my opinion would change if the church's construction is ever actually completed.
Singapore is a clean city-state with a beautiful skyline and delicious food. It's an excellent place to explore on a long layover.
But at times, I felt stuck in one giant tourist trap, especially at the SkyPark Observation Deck at Marina Bay Sands.
Don't get me wrong: The views from the rooftop of the 57-story hotel are breathtaking. But it wasn't worth paying $24 to wait in a long line only to have access to a small section.
I spent most of my time on the observation deck, melting in the sun and attempting to wedge myself into any small opening along the railing.
I'd describe White Temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand, as a beautiful but bizarre tourist trap that you won't miss if you have to skip.
White Temple is more of an art installation than a temple. The buildings and grounds are stunning, but I felt very confused once I entered.
The interior of the main building contains large murals that include a mix of American pop-culture icons and movie characters, like Spider-Man and Neo from "The Matrix." I also saw the controversial depiction of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
This was not at all what I expected from a "temple" in Northern Thailand.