The earlier responses have focused on towers, paintings, and cities. Let me add one for the hikers out there. <BR>The so-called Okopfad above Saas Fee in Switzerland rates at least 4 stars (out of 5)for being both boring and dangerous. The trail starts downward at the Felskin lift station and winds valley-wards down the north face of the cirque in which Saas Fee is nestled. <BR>The early part of the trail is fine, but about halfway down it becomes severely steep and rough; it even has stretches where one hangs on by cable. The views are very limited most of the way because the mountain side blocks the view. So for a combination of high risk, limited views, and a slow, tedious descent, it gets my vote as one journey never to make again. True, ascent is usually less risky (less fear of slipping down), but the views are no better. A German couple we met who were hiking up described it as langweilig, felsig, und steil -- boring, rocky and steep. If you take it, don't go far beyond the mountain restaurant; turn back before you get into no man's land.

And here I was looking forward to going to Pisa because my friend loved it. My biggest disappointment was Greece. The food, the people, the scenery, even the colours were all a letdown. Having said that, I didn't hate Athens and saw the most breathtaking view I've ever seen in my life on a remote Greek Island...so there's some good in everything. My second biggest disappointment - Trinidad.

(Oops, this was supposed to be on Europe.) <BR>

I smiled when I read about the Changing of the Guard as being boring. Just got back from there, having seen it the third time (so my wife's family could say they had seen it), and I suppose the most entertainment I had was seeing a group of continental teenagers doing the most vulgar things to each other--I suppose they were motivated by the shock of the rest of us tourists! I have seen this twice before on the continent. I guess they are trying to make a statement about the sexual repression of us strait-laced Americans, but I get about as much enjoyment out of it as in seeing the barnyard animals on my grandparents' farm! Anyway, I guess the point is that when your in a boring place, look for the entertainment around you.

I know this is Europe-oriented, but those of us who write here are very international in outlook. I don't know if dullest in this context equates to appalling or not. But if we had an international competition among tourist attractions for the most of whatever, be it dullest, most disgusting, most overhyped, or most appalling, I award the booby [sic] prize to a place in the good old USA: Dollywood. <BR>

I have to second the nomination of Mont St. Michel. I was there last summer, and it was dreadful. The traffic leading up to it was congested and slow. The tiny streets were packed with people and junky little shops. And on top of that, the tide doesn't even go in and out- it's just a big puddle surrounding the place. Sure, it looks great from a distance, but take a few photos and just keep on driving!

Yes there is lots of construction in Berlin but there is also Alexanderplatz and the area leading to Brandenburg Gate and many quality museums (not to mention Potsdam a short distance away). <BR> <BR>I would call Berlin big, perhaps overhyped, but not really boring. <BR> <BR>I wouldn't call anyplace that you stay in more than one day really boring. You can always find something. <BR> <BR>The comment about the inside of Neuschwanstein castle struck a cord. (more unfulfilled expectation than boring).

Yes - Pisa was boring but we researched it before we went - drop in in the morning, parked, spent a couple of hours, and then carried straight on to Rome. I found Brussels to be quite boring (althought I loved Brugge). <BR>

Not be completely wishy-washy, but it all comes down to the individuals interests. I loved the National Gallery but found the British Museum and Nat'l Archeology Museum in Athens painfully boring. Those I was with (different people/different trips) loved these two museums. I thought the Costume Museum in Bath was a complete waste of time. I would have much rather spent it exploring this beautiful town than looking at old clothes. I also found the trash and pollution as a downfall in Athens. <BR>

Rick Steves has a list of his dullest spots. I am pretty sure Pisa is on it.I enjoy his opinions. <BR> <BR>I agree with Tony H.about Europe being a continent and not an amusement park and all the others who say it depends what your interests are. Further, I used to go to Europe to escape STARBUCKS SYNDROME, but now there are strong signs that it is spreading to the continent. <BR>There is an interesting article on the proliferation of chain stores in Paris by Christopher Hitchens in Salon. Armani A/X is all over. Not good news.... <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

For those who've said they're going to Pisa despite the bad reviews, the Society for the Appreciation of Pisa (SAP) provides these answers to the question, "What would be left if the Tower fell down?" <BR>The wonderful Nicola Pisano pulpit in the Baptistry. And the font there by I-forget-whom. The frescoes in the Camposanto--badly damaged by Allied bombing in WWII, but there's still a great Last Judgment, if you like that sort of thing--and in the Museo delle Sinopie. Santa Maria della Spina--the interior's usually closed, but the exterior is a Gothic delight. San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno nearby, with a beautiful facade. Pretty arcaded streets between the Piazza dei Cavalieri and the Arno. Some other interesting old facades and a couple of museums. From the south side of the Arno, a lovely view across the wide, slow river to the ochre buildings, quite different from the Arno view in Florence. <BR>Okay, it may not be world-class or unmissable, but it is there. <BR>I'm still trying to think of someplace that I found totally, irretrievably, dull.

I'm astounded. Out of 70 responses so far, something like half dwelt on the dullness of (of all places) Pisa, which is overwhelmingly visited for like an hour on one of those dreadful package tours. And then all those unconsidered comments about the changing of the guard in London and the Mona Lisa. No wonder the responders were bored and/or disappointed! Their scope of reference seems limited in the extreme.

Peter, are you going to enlighten us or just criticize? I'm sure the art historian in particular would appreciate having her frame of reference broadened by a psychic capable of knowing how carefully we have considered our responses.

Oh thank heavens people find things dull; it means, as travelers, we actually SEE what's around us. I was lucky enough to see the Mona Lisa years ago when she just hung on a wall (I also saw the Pieta before it was assaulted and then stuck behind bullet-proof glass) and she's far more impressive without glass in between. And whoever said Milan...oh yeah...as our travel companion noted "do these people spend all their money on clothes and spray paint?" The Last Supper is still pretty impressive; too bad it has been damaged and has faded. I saw Pisa a LONG time ago, but I was a teenager so my impressions don't count. I thought it was just groovy, man. At the same time I thought the Partridge Family was groovy. And I'm with Arizona when it comes to JFK as the most aggravating place on the face of the earth (and I LOVE airports).AAAARRRGGGGHHH!!!! <BR>Ok dullest place on the planet: Palmer, Massachusetts

Mall of America

Gosh ! This one is long, I'm waisting so much time reading youall ! Kidding, I love you, americans, I'm so glad to hear Joanne is scared for what money is doing in the US, and that you're bored for exactly the same things as I am. <BR>Mona Lisa is wonderfull, but tourists make it awfull. <BR>DON'T GO to la DEFENSE. It's as interesting as downtown Dallas -ever wondered why Sue Ellen was always drunk ? <BR>For those who didn't like Mt St Michel, you came at the bad time : when the tide is up, and there's just a reasonable amount of tourists, it's puzzling. As our best-seller Victor Hugo wrote, it DOES GO as fast as a horse, like nowhere else in the world. Read about the dragon before you get there, and attend the monks'office, at 7 am. <BR>Also, we all forgot one place : Monmartre must only be seen from 1/2 km. Closer and it's ugly. But still the view from there is wonderfull, and eating on the hill is just parisian. The church itself has no interest (only that the white stone itself is a material that gets whiter through the years, even withthe polution in Paris !). <BR>I've never been to Pisa, but I don't think I'll go, except for a pizza. <BR>I disagree about Lisbon : it's a bit dirty, but people bear it, and it's lively. <BR>An other bad one : Versailles city itself. Well, coming from this side of the antlatic, it might look nice, but it's so boring ! Everywhere the same. Good that Louis made the castle, otherwise... <BR>Hey : the Mussolini quarter in Rome is a dull. And the typing machine too (Don't remember the name). But that's 2 among 1000 wonders. <BR>The new Opera, in Paris : that's a bad one. We are all ashamed of it, so expensive, already falling down, and it needed to destroy some very old nice stuffs for this piece of concrete...

I have to vote for Salem Massachuessetts. Lisbon was horrible - it was DANGEROUS. The Costa del Sol is also very, very disappointing.

Gregoire, <BR> <BR>I was in Paris ( about my fifth visit) a few summers ago and agree 100% with all you write. I love your Sue Ellen Ewing line! La Defense as Dallas, tres drole. <BR> <BR>

I went to la Defense (the part near the Arche) with some friends on a Sunday, and must admit that I found its very dullness kind of interesting. It was virtually deserted at that time and quite eerie, as if the neutron bomb had fallen, destroying all the people and leaving only the cold, sterile buildings. There actually was an interesting temporary exhibition on human rights in the Arche, so we had some justification for going. Once was enough, though!

Michele, <BR>The joke about Sue ellen is not from me, my boss told it to me first ! <BR>There's an other one, but it's very scarcastic, and more funny in French : if Kennedy was not shot, he would have shot himself in downtown Dallas...