You've dreamed about these places for years, admiring perfect photos on social media, but upon a personal encounter, they often turn out to be a complete disappointment. Unfortunately, not every attraction is worth pushing through crowds of other tourists to see. The Telegraph compiled a ranking of Europe's most overrated attractions, so you know what to avoid to not spoil your vacation.
Photo: Luca Ghidoni / Getty Images
Juliet's Balcony in Verona
The list opens with the famous balcony in Verona. Although Shakespeare most likely never visited this Italian city, thousands of people gather daily beneath the stone projection that was added to the medieval house only in the 1930s. Moreover, for the opportunity to see this symbol of literary fiction and touch the statue of Juliet (created in the 1970s, no less), tourists have to pay around 12 euros.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Leicester Square
Article author Rob Crossan describes Leicester Square in London as one of the most stressful places in the British capital. It's an area of pure commercialism, dubious food, and petty crime. The journalist quips that the place resembles a Las Vegas run by a Ryanair low-cost airline director. He advises tourists to get out of there as quickly as possible and head to the real, vibrant London — for example, Brixton or Dalston.
Unwind and rejuvenate on your Icelandic travels at the Blue Lagoon. https://t.co/9VFSaqootx pic.twitter.com/WhpRTY9WiP
The Blue Lagoon in Iceland
The Blue Lagoon takes third place in the ranking of disappointments. As the article's author claims, instead of a geothermal fairy tale, you get an "airport waiting room atmosphere, submerged in dirty water." According to the author, the density of people is so high that it resembles "human soup," and this by no means contributes to the relaxation that people hope for when buying expensive tickets.
Photo: starvillage5 / X
Blarney Stone
For centuries, people have climbed the castle's narrow stairs to hang upside down and kiss this damp stone, believing in the legend of the gift of eloquence. In reality, as the author believes, it's a brilliant marketing ploy devised by guides back in the 18th century. Now, it's simply the most unhygienic piece of rock in the world. As Crossan claims, after kissing it, you'll spend the rest of your vacation not thinking about the beauty of Ireland, but whether you've caught mononucleosis.
Photo: Christian Charisius / picture alliance via Getty Images
Reeperbahn in Hamburg
Hamburg's famous "red-light district" also made the list. In the author's opinion, it has long lost its bohemian flair and the spirit of young John Lennon's era. Today, it looks like a cheap cafeteria taken over by an amateur rugby team. Instead of legendary clubs, there are identical beer halls and dubious strip bars. Rob Crossan notes that after a 15-minute walk down this street, you'll want to return to your hotel.
Small Sizes — Big Disappointment
The list of overrated attractions also includes two famous symbols of European capitals.
Photo: Thierry Monasse / Getty Images
Manneken Pis. This 50-centimeter figurine, strongly associated with Brussels, is easily missed entirely. Crossan jokes: if you connect a garden hose to a gnome in your yard, you'll get the same effect, but without the travel expenses.
Photo: Giovanni Mereghetti / UCG / Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen. Copenhagen's symbol looks very small and lonely against the industrial backdrop of the port. Tourists stepping off buses often freeze in surprise: "Is that all?" Taking a photo without other people's heads in the frame is almost impossible. As the author notes, a more "Danish" experience would be to go to a supermarket and photograph a packet of bacon.
Photo: Andrea Izzotti / Vecteezy
Mona Lisa at the Louvre. Instead of art, it's another test of endurance. You'll only see Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece for a few seconds through a forest of hands holding smartphones before the crowd pushes you further along.
Venice and Scotland: An Illusion of Romance and Geography
Photo: Alex Kane / Vecteezy
Another popular pastime that Crossan advises against is a gondola ride in Venice. As he claims, for 90 euros you won't get romance, but 30 minutes in a water traffic jam. The gondolier will most likely not be singing, but shouting across to colleagues or flirting with other female tourists. Instead of a romantic journey in silence, you'll hear the voices of other tourists from all sides, eager to capture their trip on smartphones.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The anti-rating concludes with the Scottish village of John o' Groats, which the author calls the most absurd attraction possible. The entire concept of this place is a complete lie: contrary to popular belief, it has never been the northernmost point of Great Britain. This title actually belongs to Dunnet Head, located a few kilometers away.
Those tourists who still decide to visit this "must-see" item on the itinerary will be met with a dismal "reward": a mundane parking lot, an inevitably dreadful souvenir shop, and a public toilet. Previously, they even charged money for a photo with the signpost, but now this "pleasure" has become free.
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