Travel Truths: 5 Overrated Landmarks That May Leave You Underwhelmed

Most experienced travelers already know that the Egyptian pyramids do not look as mysterious as they do in the postcards, and the peeing statue in Brussels won’t impress you much with its size. Anyway, if you are going to visit some over-hyped landmark for the first time, be prepared that you may not like it at all. So, here is a list of the 5 most disappointing attractions that are completely overrated and will almost certainly fail to meet your expectations.

Juliet’s House, Verona, Italy

Tens of thousands of tourists annually come to Verona to see the very house where, according to legend, the heroine of Shakespeare’s tragic play once lived. Here you can make a wish and leave a note with your loved one’s name.

But there is one detail that may seem even disgusting. The thing is that the path to Juliet’s courtyard passes through a tunnel completely covered in used chewing gum. Visitors believe that if you make a wish and stick your gum on the wall, it will surely come true. Local utilities do not share their enthusiasm. That is why they repeatedly remove these extremely unromantic wads of chewed gum from the walls.

Manneken Pis, Brussels, Belgium

The famous Brussels landmark regularly disappoints many of its visitors since most photos give you the impression that the statue looks much bigger than it is. The fact is that the peeing boy is extremely small – its height is only 61 cm. If it weren’t for the crowds of tourists in front of the statue, taking pictures from different angles, you might just overlook it.

Stonehenge, United Kingdom

The mysterious UNESCO-listed archaeological site can only be viewed from a distance. However, if you expect to touch the monument and feel its power and strength, you will inevitably be disappointed. The fact is that you cannot approach the stones too close. There is a thin rope around the stone circle that helps to protect the landmark and maintain it for future generations.

Hundertwasserhaus, Vienna, Austria

Some people believe this house is one of the most unusual landmarks in Vienna, while others insist that the building is not particularly remarkable.

According to the idea of its author, the residents of the unique apartment house (there are about 200 of them) can express their creativity in different forms: they have the freedom to design the facade space around their windows as they please. Each resident is allowed to paint the outer wall with the most vivid colors, grow plants on balconies and terraces, and decorate the exterior in every possible way.

Park Guell, Barcelona, Spain

One of the iconic sights of Barcelona, the park was commissioned by Count Eusebi Guell, who invited Antonio Gaudi to implement his ambitious, although commercially unsuccessful project.

According to the original plan, the park was not supposed to become a recreational area, but a suburban gated community garden for the bourgeoisie. But the idea failed: the housing turned out to be too expensive, and most potential buyers were not satisfied with its location. As a result, only two buildings were bought: the first was purchased by Antonio Gaudi, and the second was sold to a local lawyer.

Today the park is divided into two sections – the larger park area is free, while the monument area is paid (the entrance fee is €13). However, many tourists are disappointed by the fact that you have to wait your turn to go in, and it is super full inside the park.