Travellers rank the world's most disappointing tourist attractions. The top five are in Europe
Luggage storage company Radical Storage analysed 95,352 visitor reviews across 200 of the most visited landmarks to reveal the world's most disappointing tourist attractions.
The top five spots were all taken by European sights, a few of which are often considered bucket list-worthy destinations.
Inspired by Disneyland's success in America, the country estate of Alton Towers was transformed into a theme park in the 1980s. With 10 themed areas spread across 910 acres, it is the UK's biggest.
However, the research found that almost half of the reviews for the Staffordshire-based amusement park featured words indicating a negative experience. For context, the average rate of negative reviews in the study is 10.9 per cent.
Alton Towers had the highest percentage of reviews that specifically complained about value for money including misleading ticket information, and expectations to pay for overpriced add-ons such as expensive food and drink or access to different areas of the park.
Comments also suggest it's often not the rides that disappoint customers, but the customer service.
The Széchenyi Baths and Pool in Hungary's capital Budapest is the largest medicinal bath in Europe and has been a wellness tourism destination since 1913.
However, over a third of people who left a review of the baths online reported a less than satisfactory experience. The baths ranked third worst in the crowds and accessibility category (16.8 per cent of all reviews compared to the 4.4 per cent average).
Siam Park in the Spanish Tenerife is Europe's biggest water park, opened by the Princess of Thailand Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in 2007. However, a visit to the 'world's best water park' is not universally enjoyable. Reviewers frequently mention the rude staff and accessibility issues.
Some reviewers mentioned feeling shamed due to their weight and mentioned the park not being disability-friendly. Overall, nearly a third of reviews had something negative to say about their experience.
Planned and built by the magazine Time Out (a British media and hospitality company) in 2014, Time Out Market Lisboa was the company's first venture into food halls.
In 2018 the project earned the prestigious Hamburg Foodservice Award - one of the most respected awards in the food-service industry. But according to reviews, things may have taken a turn for the worse since. Over a quarter of reviewers have left underwhelmed or disappointed.
It seems the Time Out Market Lisboa is a victim of its own success. The attraction had the greatest percentage of reviews mentioning crowds or access issues (18.4 per cent compared to the 4.4 per cent average).
The Trevi Fountain is an iconic Baroque monument in Rome and has been featured in popular films such as Fellini's La Dolce Vita and Wyler's Roman Holiday.
Every year, tourists throw an estimated €1 million into the fountain, and a coin tossed into the water is supposed to guarantee a return to Rome in the future.
Related
Tourists throw over €1 million into Italy's Trevi Fountain each year. Here's what happens to it
'Ugly' pool for coins built next to Rome's Trevi Fountain as city undergoes massive facelift
But if you cast a wish into the fountain, you may want to time your visit wisely. After Time Out Market Lisboa, the reviews had the second greatest proportion of people mentioning crowds or accessibility issues. Overall, one in four people had something negative to say about their experience.
The fountain was also closed for renovations for part of 2024, which may have contributed to some visitors' disappointment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
a few seconds ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Lowe's: Fiscal Q2 Earnings Snapshot
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Lowe's Cos. (LOW) on Wednesday reported fiscal second-quarter earnings of $2.4 billion. The Mooresville, North Carolina-based company said it had net income of $4.27 per share. Earnings, adjusted for costs related to mergers and acquisitions, came to $4.33 per share. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 14 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $4.23 per share. The home improvement retailer posted revenue of $23.96 billion in the period, which met Street forecasts. Lowe's expects full-year earnings in the range of $12.20 to $12.45 per share, with revenue in the range of $84.5 billion to $85.5 billion. _____
USA Today
a few seconds ago
- USA Today
New app-powered sprinkler offers easy, water-conscious lawn care
In a season where rising temperatures and tighter water restrictions are top of mind, Aiper, a company best known for its cordless robotic pool cleaners, is turning its focus to the lawn. The Atlanta-based smart yard brand recently launched its latest product, the IrriSense Smart Irrigation System (Priced at $699.99). The connected, app-driven sprinkler promises healthier grass with less water and hassle. IrriSense takes the guesswork out of lawn care with automated scheduling, responsive watering features and app-based controls, helping homeowners care for their lawns with less effort. The product has earned recognition as a 2025 CES Innovation Award and iF Design Award honoree. Aiper's product lineup has received industry praise, including the Red Dot Design Award. The company has also been recognized as a CES Innovation Awards honoree in 2023, 2024 and 2025, which reflects its ongoing work in connected outdoor solutions. 'At Aiper, we're driven by one simple goal: to use technology to make outdoor living easier and more enjoyable for homeowners,' Aiper CEO Richard Wang said. 'With IrriSense, we're tackling one of the most frustrating parts of lawn care — knowing when, where and how much to water the grass. Just like we reimagined pool cleaning, we've reimagined irrigation to take the guesswork and grunt work out of maintaining a lush, healthy lawn. It's smarter, simpler and built for real life.' Precision watering with minimal setup Designed to eliminate the need for underground piping or complicated installations, IrriSense can be set up in about 15 minutes and controlled entirely through the Aiper app. With sufficient water pressure, the system can reach up to a 39-foot spray radius and cover up to 4,800 square feet — nearly the size of two standard tennis courts — using a single sprinkler. With Aiper's exclusive EvenRain™ technology, simulating natural rainfall for even coverage while preventing overwatering. Gentle water streams protect soil and newly planted seeds. Adaptive Re-Spray technology ensures no blind spots by automatically shortening spray distances after completing the outermost zone. A built-in filter helps keep the system free of clogs, while a backflow valve adds a layer of protection for the home's water supply. These are small but essential features that help ensure long-term reliability. A smarter way to stay connected According to the EPA, inefficient watering methods like evaporation, wind or overwatering waste up to 50% of outdoor water use. By automating timing and targeting, smart irrigation systems like IrriSense help reduce wasted water by delivering it only when it is needed. With the Aiper app, users can manage their watering routines from anywhere. The app lets homeowners map out irrigation zones, adjust schedules on the fly and view live updates — including water usage and timing. It also pulls local weather data to cancel watering on rainy days to combat overwatering. Features like one-touch activation, performance history and irrigation zone mapping give homeowners more control without adding complexity. Designed with the world in mind Aiper is partnering with - bringing safe water to 4,000 people in need. Their donation supports access to clean water, improving health, education and opportunity for communities in need. From cordless robotic pool cleaners that reduce the need for frequent backwashing and water replacement by keeping pools cleaner for longer, to the new IrriSense smart irrigation system that uses real-time weather monitoring to water lawns only when it's needed – Aiper's innovations are designed to help people use water more sustainably. Visit to learn more about its products or to purchase IrriSense, now available at just $499.99 with a limited time offer. Members of the editorial and news staff of USA TODAY Network were not involved in the creation of this content.
USA Today
a few seconds ago
- USA Today
US stock futures lower as investors await more earnings, hint of Fed rate cut
U.S. stock futures are lower as investors wait for more big box retail earnings reports and any hints of an imminent Federal Reserve rate cut. Before the opening bell, Minnesota-based retailer Target and home improvement company Lowe's are slated to report quarterly results. Discount giant Walmart is due the next morning. Large retailer earnings can provide a window into how tariffs are affecting companies and consumer spending. Recent retail sales data showed consumers continued to spend last month, but another report signaled waning consumer sentiment and a pick up in inflation worries. At 6:10 a.m. ET, futures tied to the blue-chip Dow fell -0.18%, while broad S&P 500 futures slipped -0.13% and tech-laden Nasdaq futures lost -0.17%. Aside from retailer earnings, investors are looking for any signs the Fed will lower rates at its next policy meeting in September. Minutes from the last policy meeting are due in the afternoon, and investors will get a glimpse into how the discussion over keeping rates unchanged went and what could flip some members towards a rate cut next month. Fed governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman voted against the central bank's decision to keep rates steady between 4.25%-4.50% last month. It was the first time since 1993 that two governors dissented. The main event, though, comes at the end of the week with Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium of global central bankers and finance chiefs. Investors will be looking for hints Powell may be done waiting to see tariff effects before cutting rates again. Many economists expect Powell to suggest he's open to a rate cut but fall short of signalling one is coming. Nevertheless, the CME FedWatch tool that shows the likelihood that the Fed will change rates at each policy meeting based on market trading suggests an 86.5% chance of the Fed easing rates in September. Corporate news Cryptocurrency Wyoming became the first state to launch a stablecoin. Its stablecoin, the Frontier Stable Token, is designed to offer instant transactions and reduced fees for consumers and businesses. It will be backed by dollars and short-term Treasuries, and available on several blockchains, including Arbitrum, Avalanche, and Ethereum.
