Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. 

'Just a load of old rocks': The world's most disappointing tourist attractions according to TripAdvisor

Whether it's Stonehenge or the Golden Gate Bridge, no visitor sight is to everybody's taste

Monday 26 September 2016 17:20 BST
Comments
One TripAdvisor user suggests buying a burger over visiting Stonehenge
One TripAdvisor user suggests buying a burger over visiting Stonehenge (Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

The users of TripAdvisor can be a harsh bunch, especially when it comes to iconic tourist attractions. Though most of the world’s travel icons, whether it’s Big Ben or the Eiffel Tower, have high average scores on the review website, you will always find a handful who weren’t satisfied with their visitor experience.

Of course, some have legitimate complaints about aspects such as pricing, accessibility or overcrowding, but others have more... abstract gripes. Whether it’s those who are disappointed that the Statue of Liberty is "smaller than expected", those who make variations of the sentiment “it’s a bridge”, “it’s a statue”, “it’s a rock” etc, or the reviewer who complained of his fellow traveller’s gas at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris – some visitors simply can’t be pleased.

Big Ben, London

Big Ben apparently looks better online (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
Big Ben apparently looks better online (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (Peter Macdiarmid / Staff)

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

'Pointless': the Golden Gate Bridge (Getty Images )
'Pointless': the Golden Gate Bridge (Getty Images ) (Getty Images)

Eiffel Tower, Paris

The Eiffel Tower is supposedly not as good as the UK alternative
The Eiffel Tower is supposedly not as good as the UK alternative (Franck Fife/AFP)

Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia

Uluru is visited by over 250,000 people each year - most are more impressed than the chap below
Uluru is visited by over 250,000 people each year - most are more impressed than the chap below (Getty Images)

Sistine Chapel, Vatican City

Not as special as expected: the Sistine Chapel
Not as special as expected: the Sistine Chapel (AFP/Getty Images)

Arc de Triomphe, Paris

One 'overweight' user wasn't keen on climbing the Arc de Triomphe (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images)
One 'overweight' user wasn't keen on climbing the Arc de Triomphe (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images) (AFP/Getty)

Stonehenge, Wiltshire

Perhaps Stonehenge is more interesting in the company of druids (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Perhaps Stonehenge is more interesting in the company of druids (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (Matt Cardy/Getty)

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in