Most over-rated site?
 

In your European travels what has been the most over-rated, over-hyped attraction?

While I love Ireland and the Dingle Penninsula in particular, my pick is the Gallarus Oratory. So it's 1300 years old and the roof doesn't leak. Big deal, as if it's some great mystery how they made a roof that doesn't leak -- they kept jamming rocks into the roof until it stopped! There's no artwork of any kind and it's utterly devoid of historical value. Lots of buildings in Europe are older, still in tact, with lots of artwork and historical value -- and with leak-free roof.

The Golden Roof- Innsbruck.
What's the big deal?

The Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris. The Lourve is fantastic. The well protected Mona Lisa is something we have all seen so much, it becomes a letdown.

As far as cities, London comes to mind as being overrated. Of course, if you're into royality and mindless tabloids constantly "discussing" royality, you'll love the place.

well, I agree totally about the Mona Lisa but disagree all the way about London. I think the Leaning Tower of Pisa was kind of a let down. I peaked around the corner, took a look, and headed for a cafe. I feel that somehow I should not be confessing to this maybe?

Kissing the Blarney Stone

I was 20 years old. I did it. It was slimy. And I got a blister on my lip the next evening.

Lichtenstein. When the most exciting thing about an entire country is their postage stamps, that should have given me a clue.

Ha Ha!
Lichtenstein!
Twice the size of a postage stamp...
and half as interesting!

crefloors, the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

My daughter climbed to the top, and fell going down bless her heart. Thankfully she was not hurt. Her Dad went with her on the climb.
I went into to the Duomo and Bapistry.

So, two of us can confess the Tower was not a "big deal".

There are a few more places that did not send me into orbit but I will keep them to myself as I would probably get blasted if I listed them here.

Kissing the Blarney Stone!! You deserved that blister!! Seriously though, everyones phlegm is all over that stone, and to line up to kiss that disease ridden artifact, well I'd be spraying disinfectant before I gave that chunk of limestone a snog.

LoveItaly: I was there in 1999 and it hadn't been fixed yet so you could go up to the top...not that I would have. Hope your daughter didn't hurt herself.

One more vote for the Tower of Pisa.
And another one for that pityful A'dam RLD.

How different perceptions can be! Down under in NZ, I often think back to visiting the Gallarus Oratory and its enduring quality and how it is just so right in its setting. Probably the most 'right' place I have visited! They did what they could with what they had to hand at the them. Please dont be put off going there, just go quietly and enjoy it for what it is! It will endure long after Edward2005, I think!

Frankly, on some days I think the most "overrated" site is this travel board.

The Eiffel tower.

It's an eyesore. It ruins the skyline. You can't get away from it.

((I))

Stonehenge. It was fascinating for about 15 minutes, but the trip down and back took up a half day I would have rather spent having fun in London.

Another vote for the Blarney Stone! I literally got to the top of the castle, took one look at that blackened greasy spot I was supposed to kiss and the frail old man who was going to hold me as I leaned backwards, and decided I wanted no part of all that, and turned around and went back down....

I liked Lichtenstein! We drove from Zurich to Innsbruck and stoped in Lichtenstein to get our passports stamped and to use the rest of our french francs. the people were very nice
and the river there is a very beautiful
blue color.

Stonehenge.

total waste of time.

oooooh, rocks. Big deal.
Not worth the better part of a day.

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam- They charged full price for a very truncated under-renovation museum. I might give it another try when it is fully open, but I felt ripped off.

Notre Dame in Paris- great building, totally ruined for me by swarming, rude tourists who don't understand the concept of "no flash photography". Thanks for helping to ruin the 800 year old art, jerk.

Hey QC were you not a tourist too?
When I was there of the 100's of tourist
I only saw 1 person take a flash picture
and the guard ask him to stop.

- Madame Tussaud's
- Nottingham Forest
- Waterford Tour
- Athens
- big parts of the Costa del Sol

The Bridge of Sighs. There's nothing wrong with it, and shot in the right light it can even be quite lovely. But it's about the 276th most interesting thing to look at in town.

Of course, that says more about Venice than about the bridge.

I agree about Stonehenge and why on earth didn't they built it nearer the airport?

I feel that I almost should apologise for this, but having been there so many times, I cannot see why people rave about Paris being their favourite world destination.
Don't get me wrong, it undoubtedly has it's charms, and fair share of magnificent edifices...but it also has an astonishing amount of overpriced, bad value restaurants and hotels. I also feel that because in my opinion, it's a city of various 'centres' (Grands Boulevards - shopping, Pigalle - nightlife, Marais, Champs Elysee etc etc), it's a city that lacks a little soul. It's the only major city in Europe who's heart isn't quickened by the success or failure of it's sporting teams, a fact that might not seem important to many of you, but it's certainly something that gives cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon and even Rome an added spark.
I know that many of you out there, mainly Americans it would seem :-), find it their top European destination, but even though I've tried hard, I'm afraid that Paris just doesn't do it for me....

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Not worth the time expenditure.

QC: Was at the Rijksmuseum two weeks ago -- would have to disagree with you. Most of the masterpieces are on view (well, as far as I know, anyway). And it's difficult for me to spend more than two hours in a museum anyway (and I was there for about an hour).

Was there something you wanted to see that wasn't on view? If so I could understand why you might think it's a ripoff. But there're about 400 pieces on view (per the exhibition catalogue) -- i.e., plenty to see.

During the same trip I was also in the Groeninge Museum in Brugge. That charges 8 euros, if I recall, and the most famous works are four Flemish primitive paintings by van Eyck, van der Goes, Memling and Gerard David. I wouldn't call that a ripoff either.

My point is that there're many museums that show even less than the current Rijksmuseum and charge roughly the same prices for admission.

I find the new MoMA in NYC a disappointment (and it charges $20). Not in Europe though.

Nottingham Forest, RickMav? Very subtle!! They are up for relegation so I guess they are over-rated.

The Costa del Sol - I'm sorry I bothered. It was, though, attractive compared to Sidi Bou Said.

> [Paris] the only major city in Europe who's heart isn't quickened by the success or failure of it's sporting teams,..<

Vive la difference!!

((I))

I don't know if it's called a sight, or a site, or just an area -- but the Black Forest looked like other forests in various parts of Europe. Nothing there in the physical entity to turn me on -- but of course there's WW2 history.

The Black Forest is a forest; what were you expecting Wayne?

Waiting in line to put my hand in the Mouth of Truth (Boca della Veritas) in Rome... should have just taken a photo of the drain cover from the side of the line and spent more time inside the interesting church (loved the mosaic floors and how all the columns inside were different).

The Greek ruins--big disappointment, particularly as compared to other ruins I've seen such as Roman, Ephesus, Egypt, Machu Picchu

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace--absolutely love London, but Changing of the Guard was a big yawn

Costa del Sol--it was okay, but nothing to rave about

That's funny, walkabout -- now that you mentioned, I thought that the Roman Forum was a letdown.

Julio, what exactly did you expect to see at Stonehenge?

Goodness, am I the only one who liked the leaning tower of Pisa? I was only able to spend an afternoon there, but I thought it was beautiful. It's more than just a tower; there are a lot of beautiful, ornately decorated buildings at the Square.

Yeah, I was going to say that I liked the tower of Pisa, too, even though it's cliche. I got to climb it once and I like anything I can climb. But I also liked the duomo and the baptistry more than the tower. I guess it was the whole Plaza of Miracles thing I liked (except the row of tacky souvenier stands).

This is interesting and only again points out that we are so blessed to be on this big wide wonderful planet with so many places to see and go to and there is bound to be something for everyone. I guess experience, perceptions, and interests make the difference in each place. MacSporran...boy you had a lot of nerve to post THAT opinion here !!!! LOL My brother would agree with you..it's amazing, we were in Paris together, saw the sites, ate, etc together. I LOVE Paris and if he never went back...well, that would be his preference really. I don't think he ever got over getting "mimed" at Monmartre. Can't wait to see what the other "over-rateds" will be.

Toss-up between Stonehenge (my son dragged me there) and the Spanish Steps.

I was really taken back the first time I saw the tower in Pizza. Riding a bike in from Lucca, came around a corner about two blocks at a visual angle that really dramatized the "lean".

Like a few others, Paris is a place to go from, no to. And to see the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory is not "to die" for.

Trevi Fountain is not worth going out your of your way. The Spanish steps are underwhelming. But Rome is truly a city not to miss.

Changing of the Guard is something that makes you wonder why you even heard about it.