Bill

When we were in Munich recently, our bike tour began on the Marienplatz. As we were being briefed by the tour guide (a wise-guy ex-pat New Zealander), he commented facetiously that the famous glockenspiel above our heads is officially one of the three most over-rated tourist attractions in Europe, the other two being the statue of the peeing little boy in Brussels and something in Zurich that I can't recall. Having seen the glockenspiel the previous evening, we had to agree that it was right up there on the list. <BR> <BR>So here's my question: What's the site (or sight) that is the biggest waste of time in relation to its hype in the guidebook. I'm talking about things billed as must-see by the supposed experts... not the European equivalent of "the world's biggest prairie dog" that you convinced your parents to drive 10 miles off the highway to see. <BR> <BR>Obviously, this is very subjective. A lot of people must think the peeing boy and the glockenspiel are real highlights of their trip, or else they wouldn't be so hyped in the guidebooks. My own candidate will cause many of you to howl in protest. It's the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. After waiting in line for an hour, all I could think was "Ooooo-kay; NOW can we go to the van Gough Museum?" My wife, I should point out, thought it was a very profound experience. <BR> <BR>What's your candidate for the site that left you saying "tell me again why people think this is a must-see"?

Chris

I agree with the peeing kid in Brussels, and the Anne Frank House (you're not alone.) <BR> <BR>Here are mine (yes, it's a list): <BR> <BR>The Mona Lisa (for this I came to Paris?), the astrological clock in Prague (and Prague itself -- and I feel this way after having wanted to go to Prague all my life), Circus Maximus (why is it even in the guidebooks?), and Versailles (but I think it's OVER hyped -- just regular hype would be fine). <BR> <BR>I'm sure there are others, but these are the first that come to mind.

Kelli

Bill- <BR> <BR>Not entirely related to the question you've posed, but I'm interested in the bike tour you took in Munich. Which company did you use, and would you recommend it? <BR> <BR>And just to add a little something to your thread, Sentosa Island in Singapore, the London Dungeon and Madame Tussaud's in London are all terrible tourist traps!! <BR> <BR>Thanks in advance and sorry to steer your discussion off path! <BR> <BR>Kelli <BR> <BR>P.S. We're flying into Brussels, so I'll be sure we make it to see the peeing boy.

Lori

The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. What a waste of time! Couldn't see a thing except for the head of the obnoxious lady in front of me. <BR>The Spanish Steps in Rome. Big deal, just big steps with people lounging all over them!

Ursula

The Sacré Coeur, the Eiffel Tower and another vote for Mona Lisa. <BR>I prefer the Sainte-Chapelle and Notre-Dame, la Grande Arche and the Egyptian section at the Louvre. <BR> <BR>PS: Kelli: I am with you regarding Sentosa...

TBH

Well here is my 2 cents worth: <BR> <BR>1. Changing of the guard...what a waste of time. Horseguards is much better. <BR> <BR>2. Mona Lisa...encased in glass, fighting through flashbulb emitting tourists and definitely not worth it...rather see Winged Victory in the same building <BR> <BR>3.Venus Demilo....excuse me but doesn't it look like all the rest, except without arms! <BR> <BR>4. Any of 4,000,000 pictures of the crucifiction in Southern European art museums...seen one, seen them all...looks like we know who paid for all the art south of Northern Germany! <BR> <BR>But enough of that, what about do not miss! <BR> <BR>1. The Roman forum...all that history! <BR> <BR>2. Edinburgh castle...Robert and William rock! <BR> <BR>3. Tower of London..."it all began in 1066..." <BR> <BR>4. Notre Dame in Paris <BR> <BR>5. Prague...medieval square that looks like Disney did it! <BR> <BR>6. Salzburg...just all of Salzburg!!! <BR> <BR>7. Brugges....just all of Brugges!!! <BR> <BR>8. Augustinerbrau Beer Hall in Munich...skip the Hofbrauhaus and go to the real thing! <BR> <BR>9. Newschawnstein (sp)...what a fairy tale castle <BR> <BR>10. York and Rothenberg obder Tauber...medieval at it's best <BR> <BR>11. Krakov...wow, and all this time we laughed at Polish jokes....why??? <BR> <BR>

StCirq

This will also likely elicit howls of protest: The wine town of St-Emilion. Also Colmar, the Mannekin Pis as has been noted, Die Lorelei, and Monaco.

carol

TBH--Excuse me, did you really say if you've seen one painting of the crucifixion you've seen them all? So--no difference between Caravaggio and Da Vinci, Bellini and Raphael, etc. Maybe you could use another shot at Art History 101!!!!!!

Paige

I'd almost forgotten about the Lorelei. Definitely over-hyped. Do you ever find yourself taking pictures of these things, even though they're totally boring and you even had to ask someone what it was? Last weekend I was in Bamberg, Germany, a really nice town. In the big church there's a statue of a man on a horse and it's on postcards all over town. I missed it the first time through the church so we went back later, and by golly, it was an ordinary, albeit old, statue of a man on a horse. I was rather amused that we made an extra trip to the church to see it just because it was on so many postcards and in the guidebooks.

Bill

Kelli - <BR>The bike tour in Munich was "Mike's Tours". They also operate in some other cities. Very well run and highly recommended. My only gripe is that they allowed way too many customers into the group. Our group of 27 should have been split in half. But all the guides are native English speakers, and our guy seemed to know the city quite well. (He was also a stitch with his running patter of sardonic comments and mildly off-color humor.)

TBH

Carol, <BR> <BR>A was using bit of hyperbole regarding the religious art. As a Christian, I appreciate the value of the crucifiction and the various styles of the various artists that depicted it. <BR> <BR>However, try going to the Alte Pentatheteke (sp) in Munich where room after room is full of the same ...and as I said, once you've seen one of these, you've seen them all. <BR> <BR>Thanks, <BR> <BR>TBH

Dan

The black forrest. Just another set of woods with cukoo clocks at ripoff prices.

Travelr

My list <BR>Mozart's birthplace in Salzburg (The womhous is much more interesting) <BR> <BR>Sacre Cour <BR> <BR>The Glokenspeil in Munich. I was thinking that would be mine before I read the post. All those tourists suddenly looking up at the sky as the hour strikes. Its one of the funniest things I've ever seen traceling.

Cindy

Mine are: <BR> <BR>Big Ben in London. People sure like big clocks. <BR> <BR>Crown Jewels in London. Big piles of jewelry, and you're on a moving beltway, so it's hard to really appreciate it for something other than being a big pile of jewelry. <BR> <BR>Circus Maximus in Rome. Where did it go? <BR> <BR>All changing of the guard ceremonies. <BR> <BR>Of those previously mentioned, I must say I really liked Versailles and the Eiffel Tower. <BR> <BR>

Bob-boy

Stradford-upon-Avon

cockney

Cindy: I'm interested that you managed to see Big Ben as I've lived in London all my life and never seen it. Of course I've seen the clock tower when the bell called Big Ben is located.

UncleSam

Cockney, <BR> <BR>Don't you mean "where" Big Ben is located? You must be careful when acting like a witty snob. If you also make a mistake you'll come off as a pompous ass.

Mr. Go

OK, pay attention now. This is my list of very famous sites that are reputed to be over-hyped and over-rated...but are actually worth every bit of hype! <BR> <BR>1. All of Paris. Especially that Mona Lisa. <BR>2. Big Ben tower is absolutely gorgeous in real life...I had no idea! <BR>3. Piazza San Marco & Grand Canal in Venice...ain't nothin' like 'em! <BR>4. Loire Valley chateaux...just don't try to see them all. <BR> <BR>Don't believe the anti-hype, people! You must see these things for yourself!

Leslie

Boy, just goes to show you how varied tastes are! I love Sacre Coeur and Versailles. Mannekin Pis was definitely goofy, but the walk through the area was delightful. Agree with the disappointment of the Mona Lisa. Here's another: <BR> <BR>The leaning tower of Pisa. It's nice but nothing else to see in Pisa and not worth going out of your way for!

touring

Mr. Go -- No one said not to go! That's why they are tourist attractions -- everyone goes! You HAVE to go. You have no choice, you're a tourist. And by saying it's bad, people have to go and see how bad it really is. It's like a reverse endorsement. <BR>