Hate tourist traps? You’ll want to give these attractions a pass on your next trip. Travel website ParkSleepFly analyzed the cost of admission to the world’s top 30 tourist attractions, and then cross-referenced the price against the number of “poor” and “terrible” reviews. The points of interest with the highest ticket costs and worst reviews were ranked as the worst value for the money.
According to the survey, the Empire State Building is the worst value tourist attraction. Although this Manhattan landmark is an iconic part of the skyline, it’s best viewed (for free) from outside. Visiting the main observation deck costs $44 and has a 4.2 percent negative review rate from disappointed tourists.
As one disappointed Google reviewer points out, “Too much hope for this place. There’s rooftop bars around that give excellent views and drinks. $80 just to stand at the top isn’t worth it.”
The World’s Worst Value Attractions
![Three images, from left to right, of the Empire State Building, The Palace of Versailles, and the London Eye](https://www.smartertravel.com/wp-content/webp-express/webp-images/doc-root/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/low-value-tourist-attractions-1024x336.jpg.webp)
Rank | Attraction | Location | Ticket Price | % of Bad Reviews | Value Score /10 |
1 | Empire State Building | New York City | $44.00 | 4.2% | 1.03 |
2 | Buckingham Palace | London | $40.53 | 3.3% | 1.90 |
2 | Stonehenge | Wiltshire | $26.35 | 8.0% | 1.90 |
2 | Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum | New York City | $25.00 | 18.1% | 1.90 |
5 | London Eye | London | $36.48 | 4.2% | 2.07 |
6 | Museum of Modern Art | New York City | $25.00 | 4.7% | 2.59 |
7 | Palace of Versailles | Versailles | $22.67 | 9.5% | 2.76 |
8 | Petra | Ma’an | $70.52 | 2.5% | 2.93 |
9 | Vatican Museums | Vatican City | $19.27 | 8.2% | 3.28 |
10 | Edinburgh Castle | Edinburgh | $23.64 | 2.9% | 3.97 |
However, there are plenty of places around the world that ParkSleepFly deemed as worthy of your money. Admission to the Great Wall of China varies depending on where you enter, but the average ticket price is fairly low, and reviewers are generally impressed by this attraction which is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
The World’s Best Value Attractions
![Three images, from left to right, of the Great Wall of China, The Eiffel Tower, and the Colosseum](https://www.smartertravel.com/wp-content/webp-express/webp-images/doc-root/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/tourist-attractions-high-value-1024x336.jpg.webp)
Rank | Attraction | Location | Ticket Price | % of Bad Reviews | Value Score /10 |
1 | Great Wall of China (Mutianyu) | Beijing | $6.31 | 0.5% | 10.00 |
2 | Taj Mahal | Agra | $14.61 | 1.0% | 8.28 |
3 | Forbidden City | Beijing | $6.31 | 2.5% | 7.76 |
4 | Prague Castle | Prague | $11.66 | 2.4% | 7.59 |
4 | Eiffel Tower | Paris | $12.13 | 2.2% | 7.59 |
6 | Grand Canyon | Arizona | $20.00 | 0.7% | 7.42 |
7 | Victoria Peak | Hong Kong | $9.61 | 2.5% | 7.07 |
7 | Colosseum | Rome | $18.14 | 1.3% | 7.07 |
9 | Acropolis of Athens | Athens | $22.67 | 1.6% | 6.21 |
10 | Louvre | Paris | $17.00 | 2.5% | 5.86 |
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