Being a tourist is lots of fun.
You get to see new things, learn about history, and get a few Boomerangs of yourself outside ancient buildings.
A decent enough time for all involved.
We can probably all agree though that there are certain tourist-y things that we only do because we have to and specific tourist attractions that we only go to because, well, they’re there.
And while a lot of them are interesting enough-ish to look at, there are a few that we, as a collective, just really aren’t that bothered with.
Controversial as they may be, this is them.
‘Mona Lisa’, The Louvre, Paris
It’s not that the world’s most famous painting isn’t decent – Leonardo definitely did a great job on it back in 1503 – but there are just so many more impressive things to see at the Louvre.
That, and the fact that ‘Mona Lisa’ is tiny, stuck behind bullet-proof glass, and you’ll have to navigate the throngs of tourists to sneak a glimpse. All-in-all, it’s not particularly worth the effort.
Instead, go take a gander at Delacroix’s ‘Liberty Leading The People’ or Géricault’s ‘The Raft Of The Medusa.’ Both massive works of art, both with lots going on.
The London Eye, London
Could you honestly be bothered with the London Eye, like?
It’s expensive, it’s slow, it’s a load of other people stood in a ball with you as you look at the city from above (or don’t look at the city from above if it’s even slightly foggy).
Would you not be better off spending your time wandering London’s streets, checking out the markets, and hitting up some of the class museums and bars they’ve got dotted around the place? This is a rhetorical question, because you would be.
The Colosseum, Rome
A controversial one, we know.
When you think of the literal place where thousands of gladiators fought for the entertainment of up to 80,000 spectators in one go, you’d generally assume it’d be worth the trip… but it is a slight bit of a let down, depending on what you’re into.
That’s not to say that the Colosseum isn’t worth seeing – it definitely is if you’ve got an interest in history, but if you’ve watched the film Gladiator and you’re expecting something of similar scale, you will be disappointed because the building itself (while very impressive) is really not as big as you expect it to be.
The Statue of Liberty, New York City
Anyone who has seen the Statue of Liberty on holidays will tell you that there’s no point in going to see the Statue of Liberty on holidays.
It’s far away, its small looking from a distance, it’ll generally take you about five hours to complete a tour of the monument so you’ll pretty much spend the whole day there when you could be exploring actual New York City.
It’s also a complete tourist trap. Maybe even more so than ‘Mona Lisa’, the Eiffel Tower, or all the other places we tend to associate with places milling with people on holidays. Why not go for a wander around Central Park or check out the Metropolitan Museum of Art or something.?
You’ll get a lot more done in a lot less time.
The Spire, Dublin
Not exactly an attraction any of us would be rushing to see yeah, but for some reason still one that draws tourists from far and wide.
The Spire is a metal spike in the middle of the ground and yet if you scroll through the Instagram tag for ‘#Dublin’, you’re accosted with about 87,000 photos of the thing.
What is the draw? Why is it popular? Why do people care?
We may never know.
The Eiffel Tower, Paris
The second French entry comes in the form of none other than the Eiffel Tower.
And yes we know, we know, it’s probably the most instantly recognisable structure on the face of the earth, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth all the hype, that abundance of time spent travelling upwards, and the sheer number of Eiffel Tower key rings you’re going to end up wasting money on once you’re down.
Realistically, if you’re in Paris you’re going to see it from approximately 75 different angles irrespective of wherever you are anyway. Up close? Not all that special.
Bondi Beach, Sydney
You can probably go ahead and guess why this place is one of the most overrated and not-that-fun-at-all spots on the planet.
Like most tourist attractions, it’s incredibly popular meaning that it’s absolutely violently full of tourists. And these aren’t just any tourists – these are beach tourists meaning that they’re either going to be drunk, sun burnt, or a combination of the two.
Go get your tan on at Bronte Beach or Watson’s Bay. Both significantly less packed.
The Hollywood Sign, California
It’s just a sign, lads. Just a sign.
Alright yeah, it’s iconic and very historical and the subject of many pranks and vandalism but the tours to go view it are ridiculously expensive depending on what point you’re seeing it from and whether you’re going horseback or not (yes, that is a thing).
Like, if you’re totally obsessed with Hollywood and all the great (questionable) things it represents, by all means, go spend a load of cash looking at the Hollywood sign.
If you’re not though, just leave it. Loads of better things to do instead – like looking at the sign from afar while you’re not stuck in traffic or sweaty after an intense hike.
Overrated.
