Most Overrated Travel Destinations

There are certain places on this planet that we are regularly told that we should want to go to. Or, perhaps we actually do want to check them out. They're supposed to be where "it all happened," or they're supposed to be incredibly glamorous. Cool as they are supposed to be, the reality is that these kinds of tourist-rich venues tend to be really overblown.

Though there's definitely a lot of interesting tourist venues out in the world, some are going to likely be disappointing for those who expected it to be like in the post cards they'd see at home. Here are some of the most overrated travel destinations, according to travel aficionados.

Bran Castle - Transylvania, Romania

I'll begin by saying that Bran Castle is the home of Vlad Tepes Dracula. Yes, that Dracula. You'd probably expect the place to be massive, spacious, and decked out in gothic stuff.

Well, nope.

It's actually a rather cramped, tiny castle - despite what you'd think from the photos. And it's kind of disheartening for most goths, vampire fans, and movie aficionados to realize that he was a very small-statured man. Moreover, the castle is decked out in Romanian country decor...which really isn't terrifying, aside from the bear skin rugs.

Going here also pops the mystique of Tepes, himself. You can actually tell he was short when you look at his bed, furniture, and the heights of the doors. The rooms are about the same size as your first studio apartment, too.

It's historic and pretty, but at the same time, it's kind of a letdown. You'd expect it to be spookier, right?

Times Square - New York City, NY

Oh, Times Square! It's the place where every business has a neon sign, and to a point, it symbolizes New York City's bustling, action-packed culture. It's supposed to be a unique place where you can catch a show and indulge in real-life New Yorker food.

Except, you know, it's been taken over by cheesy tourist traps like Ripley's Believe It Or Not and chain restaurants like Chevy's. Prices are jacked up to high heaven, and it's really just an overall underwhelming way to get your New York on, and an overrated travel destination.

Four Corners Monument - Southwestern US

This monument is supposed to show you exactly where four different state territories meet - Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. This monument allows you to stand in four different states at the same time. That's cool, right?

Yeah, sort of. However, it's literally just a plaque. There's no tours, nothing too interesting aside from the plaque. Just. A. Plaque. That's not too cool.

Oh, and it's also worth noting that the Four Corners Monument also wasn't placed on the right spot. So, if you want to go there and pretend that you're standing in four different states in the middle of Colorado or New Mexico, by all means do.

The Taj Mahal - Agra, India

We will start off by saying that the Taj Mahal is an absolutely breathtaking work of architecture and high art. It's one of the most beautiful tombs to have ever been made, and we can't deny that.

But, a lot of people who go there have their breath taken away by a number of other things. The claustrophobia-inducing crowds, the foul smell of pollution, and a serious bug problem have made this place kind of hard to tolerate in person.

The tourist industry has started to price gouge visitors and even has gotten to the point that people will hustle tourists for money over absolutely nothing. Moreover, the unmitigated industry has also started to cause pollution that eats away at the monument. These days, the Taj Mahal is stained - literally - by capitalism, making it one of the most overrated travel destinations.

Did we mention you also get heavily searched before you can even set foot there? Yeah, no thanks.

The Great Pyramids - Giza, Egypt

The Great Pyramids really are great in size, but the fact is that they are incredibly disappointing - once again, due to crowds. Crowding is such a huge problem that people often can't even enjoy the views.

Moreover, the tourism industry in Giza has become incredibly price-gouged and restrictive due to the current political climate. The US has actually warned travelers about visiting them due to the unrest and lack of security in the area.

The Louvre - Paris, France

The Louvre is one of the most famous museums in the world, and is the homeplace of some of the most beautiful works of art ever created. Even the Mona Lisa has found its home here. Considering its amazing reputation as a major global art capital, it's understandable why it's such a tourist location.

The problem with this is that there are so many tourists that you literally get bumped into every five seconds.

The Parthenon - Athens, Greece

Yes, it's one of the most brilliantly designed places in Ancient Greek history - and it's undoubtedly historic. Greek philosophers talked here. Senators discussed matters here. Ancient Greece is basically characterized by this small historic building.

However, it's currently under reconstruction work by the Greek government. So, it currently looks more like a very crowded construction site, making it one of the most overrated travel destinations. Yay.

Loch Ness - Loch Ness, Scotland

Let's just be real, here. People usually don't go to this Irish tourist spot because they care about the history of the ruined castles, the local culture, or anything like that.

They go here to go on a stupid little boat, buy plastic tchotchkes in the shape of the stupid squiggle they think is a monster, and try to spot some shadow in the lake so they can say they saw Nessie.

It's a nice area, it's scenic, but oh dear Lord, it's campy. Wouldn't it make more sense to see a cheaper loch instead?

The Hollywood Walk Of Fame - Hollywood, CA

It's a classic part of Hollywood memorabilia, sure, but the fact is that this isn't actually that awesome. It's a very crowded sidewalk, and it's also located in the dingy, rough side of Hollywood. Many of the names are names you might not even recognize.

Between the grimy outlook of the area, the high number of sexworkers and lowlifes nearby, and the the anticlimactic act of looking at pavement, this is definitely one of the most overrated travel destinations.

Plymouth Rock - Plymouth, MA

Yes, this rock used to be a lot bigger, and it used to be a lot more impressive. However, people kept chipping away at it, and they ended up having to house it in a small concrete building. Perhaps they did it too late, because this is a site that has regularly been called "the saddest landmark in America" by visitors.

Nowadays, it's a rock that's around six feet in diameter, and no one can touch it. There's no fanfare, no gift store, and just a small plaque that says that this is where the pilgrims landed. To say the least, it's really, really lame.

Come here, stare at a rock, leave. Done.

The Little Mermaid - Copenhagen, Denmark

Any Hans Christian Andersen fan would be thrilled to see the Little Mermaid statue...until they realize that the poor mermaid is now looking out towards a grey industrial complex right across the way. It's depressing.

Moreover, there is definitely a crowding issue here that makes it really hard to fully enjoy the artwork of the iconic statue. Good luck trying to get a pretty picture of this statue - you'll need it at this overrated travel destination.