Overrated or Worth It? The Truth About Famous Landmarks

There’s something about famous landmarks that makes people completely lose perspective. You’ll hear them described as life-changing, breathtaking, a must-see before you die. And then you arrive and realise that, actually, it’s just a rather large building, or a slightly wonky tower, or—let’s be honest—a pile of rocks that looks better on the internet.

Some of them are spectacular. Others? They survive purely on reputation, milking tourists for all they’re worth. And to be brutally honest, even the good ones can feel like a letdown if you visit them the wrong way.

That’s where this guide comes in. Which landmarks live up to the hype? Which ones don’t? And how do you actually enjoy them without wanting to flee to the nearest pub?

Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)

Hype vs. Reality Score: 7/10

Verdict: Worth It (from a distance), Overrated (if you climb it)

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognisable landmarks on Earth—which is exactly why seeing it in real life is oddly underwhelming. It’s massive, sure. It lights up at night. It has a nice iron lattice thing going on. But unless you’re deeply moved by industrial engineering, you might find yourself standing there thinking, Right. That’s a big metal structure. Now what?

A view of the Eiffel Tower from Trocadéro at sunset, with people walking across the patterned plaza. — You can’t deny the Eiffel Tower is stunning, but is it overrated?

Climbing it sounds exciting until you realise what you’re queuing for. You’ll spend an hour in line, pay far too much for the privilege, and at the top… well, you’ll have a great view of Paris. But guess what’s missing from the view? That’s right—the Eiffel Tower.

How to Make the Most of It

Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late at night. Avoid midday unless you enjoy slow-moving crowds and overhearing couples arguing in five different languages.
Hidden Vantage Point: Montparnasse Tower—it’s ugly, but it gives you the best view of Paris with the Eiffel Tower actually in it.
Better Alternative: Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre. Stunning views, no queues, and it doesn’t feel like you’re standing in an industrial-era radio mast.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame (Los Angeles, USA)

Hype vs. Reality Score: 3/10

Verdict: Overrated

People talk about the Hollywood Walk of Fame like it’s some grand, glamorous tribute to the legends of cinema. In reality, it’s just a pavement with a lot of names on it. A pavement that also happens to be covered in chewing gum, questionable puddles, and people dressed as Spider-Man trying to charge you for a photo.

A section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame featuring Tupac Shakur’s star on a black terrazzo sidewalk. A person walks past, their legs and shoes visible in motion. Other stars, including Herbert Marshall’s, are seen in the background. — Hollywood Walk of Fame: A must-see or just another crowded sidewalk? Is this star-studded strip worth the hype?

You might imagine yourself strolling through Hollywood history, but what you’ll actually be doing is stepping around street vendors and wondering why there’s a star for someone you’ve never heard of sandwiched between a souvenir shop and a questionable fast-food place.

How to Make the Most of It

Best Time to Visit: Early morning, when it’s quieter. Not because it’s better—just so you can get in and out quickly.
Hidden Vantage Point: The rooftop bar at Mama Shelter LA—great views of the Hollywood sign, and you don’t have to pretend to care about terrazzo flooring.
Better Alternative: Griffith Observatory. A true Hollywood icon, stunning views over the city, and you won’t leave feeling like you need a shower.

Machu Picchu (Peru)

Hype vs. Reality Score: 9/10

Verdict: Worth It

For once, the hype is actually justified. Machu Picchu is as breathtaking as the photos make it look—provided you’re not already out of breath from the altitude. It’s one of those rare places that still feels like an ancient wonder despite the fact that it’s now the backdrop for thousands of annual engagement photos.

A panoramic view of Machu Picchu, the ancient Incan citadel in the Andes Mountains. Green terraces and stone ruins contrast against the towering peak of Huayna Picchu, partially covered by a wispy cloud. The background features lush, misty mountain ranges under a soft, golden sky. — Steep climbs, high expectations—does Machu Picchu live up to the adventure?

That said, getting there is half the battle. You’ll need to navigate trains, buses, and an early morning queue just to get inside, and if you time it wrong, you’ll be sharing your spiritual moment with about 500 other people wearing identical zip-off trekking trousers.

How to Make the Most of It

Best Time to Visit: April–May or September–October. The weather is still good, and you won’t be part of the human traffic jam that is peak season.
Hidden Vantage Point: Hike Huayna Picchu, the mountain overlooking the ruins. Fewer people, better views, and a much stronger sense of accomplishment.
Better Alternative: Choquequirao—another stunning Incan city, far less touristy, and you’ll feel like you’ve discovered something rather than just joined a queue for it.

The Pyramids of Giza (Egypt)

Hype vs. Reality Score: 8/10

Verdict: Worth It, but with warnings

The Pyramids are one of the greatest engineering feats in human history. They’re also right next to a Pizza Hut. No, really.

That’s the thing about Giza—the pyramids themselves are incredible, but the setting might not be what you imagined. The air is thick with sand, heat, and the sound of overenthusiastic camel owners insisting you need a ride. And while standing in front of a 4,500-year-old structure is genuinely awe-inspiring, you might also spend half your time fending off people trying to sell you a plastic pyramid for “a very special price, my friend.”

The Pyramids of Giza stand against a partly cloudy sky, their ancient stone structures rising from the desert. In the foreground, several people ride camels or walk along the sandy terrain, adding a sense of scale to the massive monuments. — History, heat, and hype—do the Pyramids of Giza deserve a spot on your travel bucket list?

How to Make the Most of It

Best Time to Visit: Early morning, before the sun turns the place into an open-air oven.
Hidden Vantage Point: Head to the nearby desert dunes for that perfect pyramid silhouette shot, without a crowd of tourists in cargo shorts ruining it.
Better Alternative: Saqqara. Home to Egypt’s oldest pyramid, fewer crowds, and no one trying to charge you to ‘find’ your own shoe.

Santorini (Greece)

Hype vs. Reality Score: 6/10

Verdict: Overrated (in peak season), Worth It (off-season)

Santorini is undeniably beautiful. The problem is, so is everyone else’s itinerary. The moment you step off the ferry, you realise you’re not discovering a postcard-perfect Greek island—you’re joining a procession. The famous whitewashed houses? Stunning. The caldera views? Spectacular. The experience? Like trying to enjoy fine art in a packed elevator.

A sunset view of Santorini’s hillside village, with whitewashed buildings, windmills, and crowds gathered on terraces. — Santorini, it’s stunning, but maybe that’s part of the problem?

That’s not to say it’s not worth visiting—just that it’s worth visiting intelligently. Timing is everything. Show up in peak season and expect to pay a premium for the privilege of feeling slightly irritated.

How to Make the Most of It

Best Time to Visit: April–May or September–October. Fewer crowds, same sunsets, and a dinner reservation that doesn’t require divine intervention.
Hidden Vantage Point: Pyrgos village. All the charm, none of the chaos.
Better Alternative: Milos. Same Cycladic beauty, minus the sense that you’re waiting in line for Santorini to happen to you.

The Great Wall of China

Hype vs. Reality Score: 9/10

Verdict: Worth It (if you go to the right section)

The Great Wall is exactly that—great. It stretches for thousands of miles, winding over mountains like something out of a fantasy novel. The problem? Most people only see the worst bit of it.

The Badaling section, where tour buses unload by the dozen, is less ‘awe-inspiring wonder’ and more ‘aggressively overcrowded staircase.’ If your dream was to peacefully reflect on China’s ancient history, good luck doing it while being elbowed by someone in a sun visor on a guided tour.

A section of the Great Wall of China winding over lush green hills. A steep stone staircase leads to a watchtower, where visitors walk along the ancient structure. The misty mountains in the background add to the scene’s grandeur. — Is walking the Great Wall an unforgettable experience or an exhausting tourist challenge?

How to Make the Most of It

Best Time to Visit: Spring or autumn. Summer is too hot, winter is too icy, and you don’t want to climb this thing while dehydrated.
Hidden Vantage Point: Jinshanling or Simatai sections. Same epic wall, far fewer people, actual atmosphere.
Better Alternative: Jiankou. A wild, unrestored section where you’ll actually feel like you’re discovering something—not just following a crowd.

Stonehenge (UK)

Hype vs. Reality Score: 5/10

Verdict: Overrated

Stonehenge is one of those places that everyone insists you have to see at least once. And then you go, and you realise that, actually, you’ve seen it just fine on a postcard.

Yes, it’s an impressive prehistoric structure. Yes, it’s mysterious. But it’s also surrounded by ropes, distant from where you stand, and oddly small compared to the way it’s built up in your mind. There’s an undeniable historical significance, but unless you’re a die-hard fan of Neolithic engineering, it’s hard to shake the feeling that you’ve just driven two hours for a very organised arrangement of rocks.

A view of Stonehenge, the ancient stone circle in Wiltshire, England, set on a grassy plain under a cloudy sky, showcasing its iconic and mysterious prehistoric structure. — Stonehenge, world famous yes, worth going out of your way to see with your own eyes?

How to Make the Most of It

Best Time to Visit: Winter solstice. The only time you’re allowed up close, and at least you’ll feel like you’re witnessing something special.
Hidden Vantage Point: The lesser-known stone circles at Avebury. No fences, no crowds, and you can actually walk among the stones.
Better Alternative: Calanais Standing Stones in Scotland. Older, wilder, and significantly less commercialised.

The Colosseum (Rome, Italy)

Hype vs. Reality Score: 8/10

Verdict: Worth It

It’s massive. It’s ancient. It’s also crumbling a bit, but honestly, so would you after 2,000 years. Unlike some landmarks that feel smaller in real life, the Colosseum is just as enormous as you’d hope. You don’t need much imagination to picture the sheer spectacle this place once hosted—gladiators, roaring crowds, the occasional unfortunate lion.

That said, it’s also one of the busiest tourist attractions in the world. In peak season, the crowds inside make you feel more like you’re in a rush-hour metro station than an iconic amphitheatre.

How to Make the Most of It

Best Time to Visit: Go early in the morning or book a night tour. It’s quieter, cooler, and feels infinitely more atmospheric after dark.
Hidden Vantage Point: The Palatine Hill. You’ll get a brilliant view of the Colosseum without needing to shuffle along with the masses.
Better Alternative: The Amphitheatre of El Djem (Tunisia). Looks almost identical, but with a fraction of the crowds.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italy)

Hype vs. Reality Score: 4/10

Verdict: Overrated

It’s a tower. It leans. That’s the experience.

To be fair, it is an impressive architectural mistake, and the fact that it’s still standing is a small miracle. But beyond that, there’s not much to do except take the same forced “holding up the tower” photo as everyone else. Pisa itself is a nice enough town, but if you’re expecting an awe-inspiring experience, it’s more of a 15-minute curiosity than a must-see.

How to Make the Most of It

Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon. It won’t make the tower straighten up, but at least you won’t be swarmed by tour groups.
Hidden Vantage Point: Climb it—if you’re set on going, the view from the top is the best part.
Better Alternative: Bologna’s Two Towers. Just as wonky, twice as interesting, and you won’t have to fight for elbow room.

Taj Mahal (India)

Hype vs. Reality Score: 9/10

Verdict: Worth It

Some landmarks rely on reputation. The Taj Mahal earns it. You can look at a thousand photos, but nothing really prepares you for how stunning it is in person. The symmetry, the detail, the way the marble changes colour with the light—it’s all as breathtaking as advertised.

A stunning view of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, with its iconic white marble dome and symmetrical minarets reflected in the long central water channel, surrounded by manicured gardens and visitors. — Lose yourself in the timeless beauty of the Taj Mahal, where intricate craftsmanship meets serene symmetry in India’s most cherished monument.

Of course, so is the sheer number of people trying to see it. By mid-morning, you’ll be moving shoulder-to-shoulder through the crowds, and any hope of quiet reflection will be drowned out by tour guides herding their groups through the gates. But catch it at the right moment, and it’s genuinely magical.

How to Make the Most of It

Best Time to Visit: Sunrise. The crowds are smaller, the light is perfect, and for a brief moment, it feels like it belongs to you.
Hidden Vantage Point: Mehtab Bagh gardens, across the river. Best place for a quiet, panoramic view without the chaos.
Better Alternative: Humayun’s Tomb (Delhi). Similar architectural beauty, but with far fewer people.

Famous Landmarks: Legendary or Letdown?

Some are worth every bit of the hype. Others? They just happen to be famous, and we’ve all agreed to pretend that’s enough.

But let’s be honest—even the great ones can disappoint if you visit at the wrong time, in the wrong way, or with the wrong expectations. No place is magical when you’re stuck in a queue, overpaying for a ticket, or being herded through a security checkpoint like a mildly confused sheep.

In the end, travel isn’t about ticking off a list of ‘must-sees.’ It’s about finding places that actually resonate with you—whether that’s an ancient wonder or a quiet backstreet café that wasn’t in any guidebook.

But that’s just my take. What’s yours? Which landmark left you awestruck—or just left you wondering why you bothered?