Don't Waste Your Money On The World's 5 Most Disappointing Tourist Attractions

While, according to March 2025 data courtesy of the U.S. Travel Association, European travel to the U.S. is trending downward — as much as 17% for visitors from Western Europe — that doesn't appear to be happening the other way around. A May 2025 study by Allianz Partners Vacation Confidence Index found that four in 10 Americans plan on taking a vacation this year, even though 51% of them say they can't afford to travel. As Americans try to calculate how much of their income should go towards a vacation, an Allianz Partners release via PR Newswire estimates a 10% increase in travel to Europe by Americans for summer 2025. If you happen to be considering travel to Europe this year, you should know that at least two out of the top 10 European destinations for Americans, according to the study, are places with tourist attractions you may be better off avoiding.

A March 2025 Radical Storage report found that a number of popular tourist destinations are little more than tourist traps not worth the trouble of visiting. A top-five list of these most disappointing tourist attractions reveals at least one of them is located in the European country with the worst pickpocketing, while other attractions' issues related to time, customer service, cost, and overcrowding, make travel to specific tourist attractions more of a chore than a positive vacation experience. 

According to January 2025 data courtesy of Statista, Americans were the number one visitors to Italy in 2023, with 1.7 million travelers. According to TurismoRome, run by the city's Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion Department, there were 22 million visitors in 2024, breaking records with an uptick of 5.63% in arrivals. As per the BBC, anywhere from 10,000 to 12,000 tourists were known to visit the fountain daily — that is, until a new queuing rule was announced in 2024 to help control the excited hordes of visitors awaiting their turn to hurl an estimated $10,500 per week in 'good luck' coins into the fountain.

The popularity of the Trevi Fountain is what got it outed by a March 2025 Radical Storage survey as one of the most disappointing tourist attractions. Almost a quarter of people surveyed had a negative take on their experience of the fountain, with just under 17% of people citing the crowds and mobility as the biggest impediments to their enjoyment. Calcium and mold build up in the fountain required a three-month shut down for maintenance, perhaps another reason for resentment. Massive crowds are a boon for petty criminals, and along with new queuing rules, the city is mulling over a reservation charge to further control access. If you're not a fan of crowds, long lines, or pickpockets, just skip it. Check out this cheap destination in Italy with great food and coastal views instead.  

Travel publication, Time Out Magazine, went from promoting the unique travel attractions in cities around the world, to curating their own attraction, Time Out Market Liboa, in Lisbon, Portugal in May 2014. This was just the beginning, as the media company would go on to launch more food halls under the Time Out brand in 11 more cities over the next decade, with several more slated for Europe, Canada, and The Middle East. The goal of the food halls, aside from elevating the company brand, is to bring together each city's culinary heroes and businesses to provide locals and travelers alike with unique food and drink experiences.

According to the Radical Storage survey, 28.4% of visitors to the attraction felt that the food hall experience in Lisbon doesn't seem to match the hype. The biggest complaint appears to be around huge crowds, with 18.4% of travelers citing that as a problem — the average complaint of overcrowding in the survey was 4%. However, Tripadvisor shows an overall rating of 4.3 out of five for the attraction, with flavorful food and scenery helping to raise the score. However, even with the Tripadvisor rating, reviewers noted long wait times driven by bustling crowds, and the addition of higher-priced dining, as distracting from the positives. So while this cultured European country is a great place to retire, as a tourist, you may want to just avoid the food hall. 

Spain's Siam Park has been awarded Tripadvisor's title of best waterpark in the world for 10 years running, beginning in 2014, and continuing its winning streak up to 2024. With that in mind, it's fair to pay attention to what an October 2024 review on Tripadvisor said about this specific attraction. The crowds left little in the way of seating — specifically sun loungers — while adding to hour-long queues for rides. As per an August 2024 Euronews story, Europe experienced a heatwave where temperatures in Spain broke 105 degrees Fahrenheit in 2024, so no available sun loungers and long lines would be understandably uncomfortable. The review also complains of a confusing map of the park, which made navigating the space and finding specific rides a logistical nightmare.

This review tracks with the Radical Storage survey which found that 31.2% of reviews about the waterpark expressed some version of a negative experience. Other complaints mentioned in the survey included inaccessibility for people with disabilities or other mobility issues. Customer service was also questionable, with some of those surveyed claiming body fascism made them feel uncomfortable about their weight. While the survey doesn't make it clear whether this body shaming came from staff or other visitors to the park, the experience was prevalent enough for it to be mentioned. With tickets costing just over $50 USD per adult, it's a reminder of why wasting time is one of many major money mistakes to avoid when traveling.   

According to buddapest, the Széchenyi Thermal Baths and Pool in Hungary has existed since 1913 as one of the premier thermal baths in Budapest. Powered by a pair of hot springs, the minerals found in the natural spring water are believed to offer a form of organic, holistic therapy. With 1.7 million attendees in 2024 alone, Széchenyi Baths and Pool earned over $37.3 million in revenue aided by tourists who made up 35% of visitors. A three-year renovation project begun in 2024 hopes to address some of the complaints around the baths, and includes updating water engineering and fire safety systems, as well as completing the restoration of entrances, locker rooms, and neo-baroque architecture. While this is a step in the right direction, it remains to be seen if this addresses the experiential problems.

The Radical Storage survey found that 37.2% of reviews for the baths were negative, with inaccessibility and the common complaint of large crowds impacting wait times causing this attraction to be placed third-worst. The overcrowding complaint doesn't appear to be an exaggeration according to a June 2025 Tripadvisor review that called the place a disaster, with no available sunbeds and queues of people lining up for an already overcrowded space. Another visitor's October 2024 Tripadvisor review had a different complaint related to hygiene, pointing out that the baths aren't for germaphobes or people who like their space.

Alton Towers is a castle that once belonged to the British aristocracy — the Talbot family controlled the land from as far back as 1412 until 1924 under earlship — until the 18th Earl opened the property up to the public to enjoy circus style performances on the grounds. As time passed and the family's fortunes dwindled, what was left of the remaining land they still owned, after selling off the majority of the estate, would be sold in 1924 to a business consortium. This property was Alton Towers, which would have a second life as a Officer Cadet Training Camp in WWII before officially becoming a theme park on April 4, 1980.

Although a tourist draw for the last 45 years, according to the Radical Storage survey, Alton Towers disappointed 49.4% of visitors. As per the survey, 18% of reviews called out a lack of value for money. A 2024 Reddit thread entitled, "Why is AT so damn expensive?," wrote about spending £900 — equal to around $1,216 USD — to fast track five people through the park for a single day. The Redditor also complains of expensive but terrible food adding, "you have to sell a lung" for a hot dog. While this isn't exactly the type of restaurant travel writer Rick Steves warns tourists to avoid in Europe, it's close. In April 2024, a Tripadvisor reviewer also griped about extortionate prices for low quality food, surly staff, and an unkempt park.