Seemingly, you can’t please anyone these days…unless there’s a movie franchise-inspired theme park – or somesuch – located 50 metres, or less, from their hotel room.
Australia’s Gold Rush village, the splendour of Warwick Castle in England, the floating villages of Cambodia, the mystical and historic Stonehenge, the natural ‘top of Europe’ in the Swiss Alps, Elvis Presley’s home at Graceland, Bletchley Park – where the British inflitrated German codes during the War, and a stunning cable car ride in Hong Kong – all “dull”, “not worth it” and “overrated” apparently, according to a new survey.
QR Code Generator analysed TripAdvisor reviews for the top 50 tourist experiences in every country. The ranking was based on the number of keywords indicating whether an experience was perceived as overrated relative to the total number of reviews. A list of 40 keywords and phrases was tracked. An overall percentage score was then calculated to determine the ranking.
The top 10 most overrated attractions in the world
| Rank | Name | Country | Overrated word count | No. of reviews | Overrated % |
| 1 | Warwick Castle | United Kingdom | 9,430 | 16,430 | 57% |
| 2 | Kampong Phluk | Cambodia | 552 | 1,042 | 53% |
| 3 | Stonehenge | United Kingdom | 6,414 | 15,118 | 42% |
| 4 | Besakih Temple | Indonesia | 1,097 | 2,752 | 40% |
| 5 | Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe | Switzerland | 271 | 703 | 39% |
| 6 | Arecibo Lighthouse & Historical Park | Puerto Rico | 122 | 320 | 38% |
| 7 | Graceland | United States | 7,702 | 20,230 | 38% |
| 8 | Sovereign Hill | Australia | 1,442 | 3,823 | 38% |
| 9 | Bletchley Park | United Kingdom | 3,058 | 8,171 | 37% |
| 10 | Ngong Ping 360 | China | 2,786 | 7,541 | 37% |
Warwick Castle, in England, is crowned the most overrated tourist spot in the world. It received the highest proportion of overrated mentions compared to the number of reviews of any other landmark worldwide. Of 16,430 reviews, 9,430 overrated mentions or approximately three comments to five reviews (57.4%). The 956-year-old fortification, run by the same operator as Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, has over 1,000 mentions of the terms ‘disappointed,’ ‘expensive,’ and ‘not worth it.’ Over 500 reviewers said it was ‘overpriced’ and there was ‘not much to see.’
Kampong Phluk, a floating village in Cambodia, ranks second among the most overrated places to visit. It received over 552 comments from disappointed visitors compared to 1,042 reviews (53%). Visitors often called it a ‘scam,’ ‘expensive,’ and ‘not worth it.’
Stonehenge, the UK’s second most overrated landmark, ranks third globally. There were 11,203 related comments compared to 15,118 reviews, a ratio of over two-fifths (42.4%). Tickets, costing £20.90 per adult, were deemed too ‘expensive’ and ‘not worth it’ over 1,000 times. The words ‘disappointing’ and ‘avoid’ were used over 300 times.
The fourth most disappointing tourist attraction is Besakih Temple in Bali, Indonesia. It received an overrated score of 39.9%, based on 1,488 mentions compared to 2,752 reviews. Appearing in over 150 comments were the words ‘scam’ and ‘not worth it’ and warnings to ‘avoid.’
The Jungfraujoch, a glacier saddle in the Swiss Alps, ranks fifth. It received an overrated score of 38.5%, based on 271 related mentions compared to 703 reviews. It is home to one of the highest astronomical observatories in the world. However, almost one in four visitors deemed the snowy getaway expensive and not worth the money.
Ranking sixth is Puerto Rico’s Arecibo Lighthouse & Historical Park, with an overrated percentage of 38.1%.
Graceland, Elvis Presley’s estate in Memphis, Tennessee, is the United States’ most overrated landmark, ranking seventh in the world. Over a third (38.1%) of guests left underwhelmed, based on estimates. Over 1,000 comments referred to its price as ‘not worth it’ and ‘expensive’ and remarked there was ‘not much to see’ and it was ‘disappointing.’
Sovereign Hill is Australia’s most unimpressive tourist attraction, placing eighth globally. The open-air Gold Rush museum received 1,442 disappointed comments, a 37.7% score against 3,823 reviews. Users slated the prices as too expensive over 500 times.
Bletchley Park is the United Kingdom’s third most overrated tourist hotspot, ranking ninth worldwide. It received a 37.4% overrated score based on 3,058 mentions in 8,171 reviews. Over 1,285 comments contained the words ‘not worth it,’ ‘not much to see,’ and ‘not a lot to see.’ Others referred to the country estate as ‘dull,’ ‘boring,’ and ‘confusing.’
Ngong Ping 360, which the official page claims is one of the “top ten best cable car experiences in the world,” is the world’s tenth most overrated tourist attraction. The “star attraction” gondola lift in Hong Kong was lambasted by reviewers, with 384 warnings to ‘avoid,’ 421 mentions saying it was ‘not worth it,’ and 671 saying they ‘queued for hours.’
Commenting on the findings, Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator PRO S.L, said: “Just because an attraction is world-famous doesn’t mean it delivers a world-class experience. Our research found that places like Warwick Castle and Stonehenge, despite their historic significance, are frequently labelled as overpriced or underwhelming by real visitors.
“Across the board, reviewers repeatedly flagged issues like high ticket prices, long queues, and a lack of substance once inside, and this reflects a broader travel trend. At the end of the day, people want their time and hard-earned money to be respected. They’re seeking unique, enriching experiences, not overcrowded spaces or overpriced tickets.
“Attractions that haven’t adapted to these shifting expectations are the ones being called out most often, and travellers are now increasingly more willing to share their honest opinions online.”
