Travel is subjective—but let’s be honest, not all tourist attractions live up to the hype. Some world-famous spots are crowded, expensive, and barely offer a moment of peace, while others go unnoticed despite being absolutely worth the trip.
After traveling across continents and reading thousands of traveler reviews, here’s my honest 2025 edition of the most overrated vs underrated tourist attractions in the world—complete with tourist numbers and real-world insights.
🌟 Overrated: Times Square, New York City (USA)
Annual Visitors: Over 50 million
Why it’s hyped: Times Square is the iconic heart of New York City. With its glowing billboards, costumed characters, Broadway shows, and midnight energy, it’s become the symbol of NYC itself.
Why it’s overrated: It’s chaos in motion—crowds jostling for photos, aggressive costumed performers demanding tips, and tourist traps galore. Locals steer clear, and many first-time visitors report feeling underwhelmed. Unless you have a Broadway ticket, it’s mostly just noise and flashing lights.
✅ Underrated: Roosevelt Island Tramway, NYC (USA)
Annual Visitors: Roughly 2 million
Why it’s better: For the price of a MetroCard swipe, you get an unforgettable aerial view of the Manhattan skyline. This cable car experience offers stunning panoramas over the East River, and once you’re on Roosevelt Island, it’s a peaceful urban escape with waterfront paths and skyline views.
Details about the Cable Car：Roosevelt Island Tramway NYC
🌟 Overrated: The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italy)
Annual Visitors: About 5 million
Why it’s hyped: It’s a postcard classic—an architectural quirk that survived centuries and inspired millions of awkwardly posed photos.
Why it’s overrated: Most visitors say the experience lasts 15 minutes: take the picture and leave. The area is small and packed with souvenir stands, and climbing the tower is an expensive, time-limited ticket. Pisa itself doesn’t offer much beyond this one attraction.
✅ Underrated: Siena, Italy
Annual Visitors: Around 2 million
Why it’s better: Located just an hour from Florence, Siena boasts stunning medieval architecture, the grand Piazza del Campo, and vibrant local culture. It’s less touristic, more authentic, and the Palio horse race (if you time it right) is unforgettable.
Is Siena Worth Visiting? Check True reviews and Highlights Here
🌟 Overrated: The Mona Lisa at The Louvre (France)
Annual Visitors to Louvre: Over 9 million
Why it’s hyped: Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece is the most visited painting in the world. Everyone wants to see her mysterious smile in person.
Why it’s overrated: The Mona Lisa is surprisingly small (30 x 21 inches), behind bulletproof glass, and swarmed with camera phones. Most visitors spend more time squeezing through crowds than enjoying the artwork.
✅ Underrated: Musée de l’Orangerie, Paris
Annual Visitors: Around 900,000
Why it’s better: This peaceful museum in the Tuileries Gardens houses Monet’s massive Water Lilies murals—eight panels that fill two elliptical rooms. It’s immersive, rarely crowded, and deeply calming. Bonus: tickets are cheaper and lines shorter than the Louvre.
Related: Musée de l’orangerie paris tickets
🌟 Overrated: The Hollywood Walk of Fame (USA)
Annual Visitors: Over 10 million
Why it’s hyped: With more than 2,700 stars honoring Hollywood legends, it’s considered a must-see for entertainment lovers.
Why it’s overrated: It’s not glamorous. You’ll find cracked sidewalks, questionable street performers, and overpriced gift shops. Many visitors report disappointment and quickly move on.
✅ Underrated: Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles
Annual Visitors: Roughly 1.5 million
Why it’s better: Perched atop a hill with panoramic views of LA and the Hollywood sign, this free observatory offers telescopes, exhibitions, and epic sunsets. It’s an educational and scenic retreat from the buzz of Hollywood Boulevard.
🌟 Overrated: Santorini, Greece
Annual Visitors: About 2 million (most arrive via cruise ships)
Why it’s hyped: Instagram made it famous—white-washed buildings, blue domes, and legendary sunsets over the caldera.
Why it’s overrated: Cruise ships flood the narrow lanes daily, making the streets feel like a theme park. Prices are sky-high, food is often mediocre, and finding peace is hard during peak season.
✅ Underrated: Naxos, Greece
Annual Visitors: Fewer than 500,000
Why it’s better: The largest of the Cyclades islands, Naxos offers uncrowded beaches, charming villages, and incredible food at half the price. It’s a true Greek experience—without the selfie-stick mobs.
🌟 Overrated: Ha Long Bay, Vietnam (Tour Cruises)
Annual Visitors: Around 4.4 million
Why it’s hyped: Towering limestone cliffs, emerald waters, and UNESCO heritage status make it a dream for cruise lovers.
Why it’s overrated: Many tours follow identical routes with overcrowded boats and polluted waters. Locals say the ecosystem has degraded, and some reviews mention feeling rushed and underwhelmed.
✅ Underrated: Ninh Binh, Vietnam
Annual Visitors: Less than 1.5 million
Why it’s better: Nicknamed “Ha Long Bay on land,” Ninh Binh features majestic karsts rising from rice fields, serene boat rides through caves, and uncrowded temples. It’s more peaceful, affordable, and authentic.
🌟 Overrated: Merlion Park, Singapore
Annual Visitors: Over 3 million
Why it’s hyped: The half-lion, half-fish statue is Singapore’s national symbol. Tourists flock here to snap a photo.
Why it’s overrated: It’s a small statue on a crowded promenade. There’s not much else to do at the site, and the experience feels more obligatory than exciting.
✅ Underrated: Southern Ridges Trail, Singapore
Annual Visitors: Undisclosed but much fewer than Merlion Park
Why it’s better: This 10 km green corridor links parks and nature reserves with sky bridges and forest canopy walks. It’s a refreshing escape from the city and a hidden gem for nature lovers.
Final Thought
Travel is what you make it. Sometimes, the less popular route gives you the richest stories. In 2025, go beyond the glossy postcards and discover the charm in the underrated corners of the world.
