There’s a certain allure to the world’s most renowned landmarks, and for good reason. They are monumental testaments to the creativity and ingenuity of human beings, standing as proud symbols of our history, culture, and achievements.
But just because something is iconic doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth seeing. In fact, a group of passionate travelers lists some of the most popular landmarks in the world that aren’t actually as amazing as they seem. Here’s a look at 11 such landmarks that don’t deserve all the praise and attention they get:
1. Hollywood Walk of Fame
Designed to be a tribute to the big stars of the entertainment industry, one user argues that the stretch of sidewalk along Hollywood in Los Angeles could be more impressive. Several other contributors also believe only a few honored celebrities are household names and that the walk could be a cheesy tourist trap.
2. Ponte Vecchio, Florence
Popular for being the only bridge across the Arno in Florence until 1218, one traveler describes Ponte Vecchio as ‘’an ugly old bridge that looks like a floating slum on a dirty river.’’ A deluge of upvotes trails his choice showing many other people on the thread feel the same.
3. The Eiffel Tower
This a controversial pick, as not everyone on the forum concurs. Some users think the Eiffel, although a Parisian Icon, is ‘’a glorified scaffolding of little historical significance.’’ According to these widely traveled users, visitors could spend hours waiting in line to ascend to the top only to be met with an underwhelming view of the city.
4. Mount Rushmore
Explaining his disappointment with the national monument in South Dakota, one user says Mount Rushmore was smaller than he had imagined. A second user who used to live nearby agrees the landmark is less exciting than the hype.
5. Seattle Space Needle
Another traveler describes the saucer-shaped top house as the epitome of the term ‘’tourist trap.’’ a second user thinks the landmark is overrated, as are most structures. You must first climb to the top to appreciate the sprawling city below.
6. Manneken Pis in Brussels
One globetrotter describes the Manneken Pis as a ‘’lame and underwhelming’’ attraction unworthy of the hype. A second traveler thinks the Mannekan is a random, little statue of no exciting repute. The response of several other commenters may be the signpost you need to lower your expectation if you ever want to visit this landmark.
7. Leaning Tower of Pisa
While the Piazza del Duomo in Pisa, Italy, is undoubtedly a beautiful and historic place, several tourists think the leaning tower is a bit of a letdown. One believes the Leaning Tower of Pisa could be bigger and more impressive, suggesting that the gimmick of taking a forced-perspective photo holding up the tower can be exhausting.
8. Mona Lisa
An individual thinks that although the Mona Lisa is not a landmark in the true sense of it, they were unimpressed by its size and that it had more allure in pictures than in sight. Another user agrees, citing the sea of selfie sticks trying to smudge themselves with the unimpressive painting so they could say they’ve been to the Louvre as a turn-off.
9. Sunset Blvd in Hollywood
You’ve likely seen this landmark on TV screens for ages, but someone thinks it is ordinary and undeserving of the attention it gets. In their words, Sunset Blvd ‘’Is just a rundown street with dingy storefronts and the Church of Scientology trying to rope you into joining their cult.’’ A second user who claims he lives near the landmark says he feels sorry for everyone traveling far away to see the glorified ordinariness.
10. Niagara Falls
Situated on the U.S.-Canada border, these massive waterfalls look better on camera than on sight, some users explain. One user finds fault with the troupe of tourists usually overcrowding the grounds nearby alongside tacky souvenir shops and casinos that always fail to impress.
11. Stonehenge
Stonehenge is one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world. Located on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, it’s the largest and best-preserved among the well-known stone circle sites. However, many visitors are disappointed when they get to see it up close.
“The cool part is how old it is. That’s not something you can see with your eyes. You really can’t tell it’s 5000 years old. If I didn’t know anything about it, I’d guess it had been there for like 300 years or something,” shares one traveler.
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