Not all attractions were created equal – while many will enrapture you with their beauty or historical significance, others will leave you feeling distinctly underwhelmed. The data analysts at Stasher have ranked the world’s 99 tourist attractions to determine which are worth visiting – or avoiding. Focusing on safety, quality of accommodation, distance from the nearest international airport, Google reviews and engagement on TikTok, they've collated the latest city and country-level data to give each attraction an overall score out of ten; the higher the better. The results might surprise you...
The Uffizi sits in the historic heart of Florence and houses some of the most famous works of art from the Renaissance. Here you’ll find The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli, as well as masterpieces by Michelangelo, da Vinci and Caravaggio. The building itself is equally stunning, with triumphant corridors and elaborately decorated ceilings, designed by artist Giorgio Vasari in 1560. Extraordinarily, the building was originally commissioned by the Medici family to house the city’s administrative offices. Now, the museum welcomes around 10,000 visitors a day. Stasher score: 6.73
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is staggering in its scale, made up of 82 domes and four 348-feet-high (106m) minarets. It is one of the only mosques in the region open to non-Muslims and deliberately references Mamluk, Ottoman, Fatimid, Moorish and Indo-Islamic styles in its design. The carpet in the main prayer hall is the world’s largest, hand-knotted by 1,300 Iranian artisans and made up of 2.3 billion knots. But it's the purity of the white marble, imported from Macedonia, and the intricacy of the gold-leaf floral inlays, that leave a lasting impression. Score: 6.76
Built between AD 70-72, the Colosseum is still the largest amphitheatre in the world nearly 2,000 years later. Here, over four levels reaching 157ft high (47.85m), 50,000 Ancient Romans would cheer on gladiators, who often fought to the death. The remains of the hypogeum, where gladiators and wild animals waited before coming up into the arena to fight, can be seen clearly from viewing points. Despite damage from earthquakes, fire and lightning over the years, the Colosseum remains truly monumental, and a must-see on any visit to Rome. Score: 6.78
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The Museo Egizio (Egyptian Museum) in Turin was opened in 1824 and is the only museum outside of Egypt solely dedicated to Egyptian art and culture. Here you’ll find a statue of Ramses II (regarded as one of the most important pieces of Egyptian art in the world), a vast collection of papyrus and 500 funerary and domestic items from the tomb of royal architect Kha. The museum underwent a renovation in 2015, displaying even more items, and is set for a further revamp, with an open courtyard to be added to the space in the coming years. Score: 6.78
You can rattle off all the statistics you like about Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue: 98 feet high (30m) on a 26-foot-high (8m) pedestal; fourth largest statue of Jesus Christ in the world and largest Art Deco statue on the planet – but its position atop Corcovado Mountain makes it truly special. Overlooking Rio with Christ’s arms outstretched, this statue, carved from soapstone, can be glimpsed from most parts of the city and is a true cultural icon for both Rio and Brazil. Score: 6.83
In a city synonymous with style, it comes as no surprise that Milan’s imposing Duomo is one of the most beautiful in Italy. Started in 1386, this Gothic masterpiece took over 600 years to complete, with each generation adding a unique brushstroke to this masterpiece in white Candoglia marble. One of the biggest cathedrals in the world, it dominates Piazza del Duomo but radiates a delicate beauty, particularly thanks to its confection of spires. Head to the roof for truly breathtaking views of the city and of the Alps, often snow-capped, to the north. Score: 6.83
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The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is New Zealand's national museum, opened in Wellington in 1998 after the merging of the National Museum of New Zealand and the National Art Gallery. In the Māori language, Te Papa Tongarewa means 'the treasure box' and that’s exactly what you’ll find inside. Exhibits cover all aspects of New Zealand's natural environment and social history, as well as temporary exhibitions covering subjects ranging from personal accounts of its soldiers at Gallipoli to LGBTQI+ histories across the country. Score: 6.90
According to UNESCO, the Acropolis of Athens is the "most striking and complete ancient Greek monumental complex still existing in our times." It sits on a rocky outcrop, 490 feet (150m) above sea level, overlooking Athens and reminding the city of its proud ancient past. It is made up of several important ancient buildings, including the stunning Parthenon, all constructed under the watchful eye of Pericles between 495-429 BC. Score: 6.91
El Ateneo Grand Splendid is a bookstore quite unlike any other. It started life as an exceedingly sophisticated theatre, designed by architects Peró and Torres Armengol for impresario Max Glücksmann in 1919, before becoming a cinema and now, a bookshop. The frescoed ceilings, elegant rounded balconies and plush red stage curtains remain, but now there are shelves of books where theatre patrons once sat. There’s also a raised café at the back and musicians often play on the stage where Argentina’s greatest tango stars used to dance. Score: 6.99
St Peter’s is regarded as the greatest building of the Renaissance. It was started in 1506, consecrated 120 years later, and counted Bramante, Raphael and Michelangelo amongst its chief architects. Michelangelo designed the basilica’s breathtaking dome, and his sculpture, Pietà, is just one of the major artworks found in the cavernous, 3.7-acre (15,000 sqm) interior. As the universal headquarters of the Catholic church, it is visited by 10 million people each year, many of whom come to hear the Pope preside over a liturgy. Score: 7.03
Angkor Wat represents the spiritual, cultural and architectural peak of Cambodia’s Khmer Empire. When you enter through the monumental gates, under the gaze of benign stone faces, you'll feel like you're stepping onto the set of an Indiana Jones movie. It was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II to honour the Hindu god, Vishnu, but gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple. Set over 402 acres, it remains the largest religious structure in the world, centred on the beautifully preserved main complex, with its intricately carved bas reliefs. Score: 7.04
Plaza de Espana offers a unique overview of Spanish architecture in one delightfully extravagant square. It was designed by architect Aníbal González to be the centrepiece of the 1929 Exposición Iberoamericana, a World Fair celebrating the countries of the Spanish speaking world. In doing so, González transformed Parque de María Luisa into a confection of neo-Mudéjar architecture, fountains and Venetian-style bridges, and one of Seville’s most popular attractions. Hire a boat and row around the canal for the most memorable views. Score: 7.13
The ethereally beautiful Blue Lagoon on Iceland’s otherworldly Reykjanes Peninsula is the country’s most popular attraction. People come from all over the world to soak in its milky, thermal waters and cover themselves in its mineral-rich mud. It looks great on social media too – Stasher’s study found that the lagoon has been viewed over 317.5 million times on TikTok alone. The attraction also scored highly for the quality of its onsite accommodation. Score: 7.15
Disney’s Paris outpost is the fairest of them all, with an average rating of 4.5 on Google reviews and tagged posts on TikTok viewed a staggering 7.9 billion times. Visitors from across Europe are dazzled by the spectacular performances, adrenaline-fuelled rides and photo ops with all the Disney favourites. The resort just celebrated its 30th anniversary with celebrations including an Avengers: Power The Night extravaganza, a spectacular light show featuring iconic superheroes using lights, fireworks and more than 500 drones. Score: 7.17
Number one on the best attractions list is the stunning Hungarian Parliament Building, a forest of 365 Gothic towers with an interior that's pure Baroque opulence. It sits majestically on the banks of the Danube and was designed by architect Imre Steindl, who wanted it to showcase Carpathian excellence. TripAdvisor reviewers are fans – 93.4% of them rated the attraction as 'very good' or 'excellent'. Score: 7.34
Until 1912, no one was allowed to enter the Forbidden City in Beijing unless they gained the Emperor's permission. The problem now, according to Stasher, is that too many people are allowed in. Up to 19 million people squeeze into this grand palace complex each year, with some reviewers saying that the crush to see the stunning Dragon Throne borders on being dangerous. Unhelpful staff, poorly regulated entrances and broken audio guides have all caused this marvel of Imperial China to receive a low score of 5.41.
While Disneyland Paris rated highly in the survey, its older sibling in Florida didn’t fare so well. It may be where the magic of Disney all began, but with over 20 million people visiting each year, many reviewers feel that the park is too crowded. Others say visiting the park is too expensive: day tickets range from £88-£153 ($109-$189), and that’s before factoring in food and drink. Stasher score: 5.41
Straddling the wildest corners of North Carolina and Tennessee, Smoky Mountains National Park is home to some of the most beautiful stretches of the Appalachian Trail. It is also the most visited national park in the United States, with nearly 13 million people visiting in 2022 alone. That’s as many as the next three national parks combined, leaving many reviewers to complain about bad traffic, overcrowded car parks and noise scaring the wildlife away. Score: 5.3
There’s a lot to keep you busy at PortAventura, Spain’s biggest amusement park. There are white-knuckle rides, freefall slides, plus there's a non-stop programme of spectacular shows. It's also home to Europe’s only Ferrari Land, an attraction that promises “emotion, adrenalin and fun”, with a gallery of Ferraris for parents to drool over. The downside? It's expensive. One Google reviewer advises: “Bring a full wallet!” Score: 5.37
Part of the world-famous Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39 is dubbed: "Where San Francisco Meets the Bay to Play". There are shops and restaurants, as well as a video arcade, an aquarium and chowder bread bowls that some say are the best in the city. The views across the bay to Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge and Alcatraz are spectacular, so why the poor ranking? It seems some people are put off by the large colony of sea lions that haul out here. Score: 5.27
Everland is South Korea’s largest theme park, which is both a blessing and a curse. It opened as a traditional theme park in 1976, but has since expanded into a resort with indoor and outdoor waterparks, plus a zoo and safari park. There are five themed areas including Magic Land, Zootopia and American Adventure, plus there's a year-long calendar of festivals and a huge choice of thrilling rides. In fact, reviewers have suggested that there is almost too much to do, resulting in crowds and a Stasher score of 5.17.
Famously visible from space, many regard the Great Wall of China as one of the world’s greatest marvels. It's over 2,000 years old and snakes its way across 23 degrees of latitude. It's also very popular: more than 10 million people visit on average each year, with the Badaling section closest to Beijing receiving up to 100,000 visitors a day. Reviewers have suggested that the tour groups here can get unruly, leading to a low score of 5.05 for one of the world’s wonders.
Sometimes Instagram has a lot to answer for. Images posted of the striking red torii gates at Fushimi Inari-taisha, invariably with a geisha or two, have helped draw over 10 million visitors a year to this beautiful shrine. Japan is one of the safest countries in the world, so the attraction rates highly on that front, but its score is dragged down by the number of reviewers complaining about the zen-busting crowds. Score: 5.04
Hong Kong’s Ocean Park is a marine-themed amusement park offering white-knuckle roller coaster rides, an oceanarium, a giant panda habitat and the world’s largest aquarium dome. The park is divided into two sections, separated by a large mountain, with The Summit and The Waterfront connected by a 0.93 mile (1.5km) cable car system. The park has a strong focus on wildlife education, but some reviewers are uncomfortable that large sea animals, such as dolphins and orca, are kept and forced to perform here. Score: 4.96
Often regarded as one of the most spectacular harbours in the world, this busy stretch of water bustles with life, no matter the hour, with ancient Chinese junks jostling with modern container ships. Yet it scored poorly across all the criteria set by Stasher, with its TikTok engagement numbers particularly low. Some reviewers said they had "expected something more." Score: 4.89
Lotte World is the world’s largest indoor amusement park and extremely popular with the locals of Seoul. In a city of close to 10 million, that can be a problem, especially on weekends, when reviewers have complained about waiting for over two hours to go on a ride. International visitors have also said they found the huge complex difficult to navigate, with many routes leading through the attached department store. So, despite the rides, Lotte World scored a disappointing 4.80.
Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay is a 335-acre animal-themed attraction where the entire park is designed and landscaped to evoke the wildest corners of Africa and Asia. It’s a concept that extends to the rides too, with the park’s longest and most thrilling ride, Cheetah Hunt, touted as a celebration of the world’s fastest land animal. The biggest bug bear with people rating this attraction is the quality of the local accommodation, which has contributed to the gardens' low score of 4.52.
A love letter in ivory marble, the Taj Mahal in Agra draws in up to eight million visitors each year. But it has been ranked down by Stasher due its distance from an international airport, with visitors facing a 143-mile (230km) journey from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. The crowds don’t help either. One reviewer complained that the vast number of visitors made it impossible for her to get her ‘Princess Diana’ shot: sat alone on a bench, with the Taj reflected in its pool. Score: 3.83
Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets. Its construction began in 1455, shortly after the Ottoman conquest of the city, and it has continued to grow. Many reviewers felt intimidated by the labyrinth of alleys and lanes and the aggressive sales tactics of some of the shopkeepers. Building Istanbul’s major new international airport 28 miles (45km) out of town hasn’t helped its rating either. Score: 3.48
The Hollywood Walk of Fame stretches for 15 blocks along Hollywood Boulevard and is one of Los Angeles’ most visited attractions. Here, more than 2,750 stars, rimmed with brass, honour the greats of entertainment – but many visitors are left underwhelmed. The Walk of Fame is meant to epitomise the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, but reviewers complain that parts of it are grimy and sad and full of hustlers dressed as celebrities and cartoon characters. Stasher ranked it the least impressive attraction on its list, with a score of just 3.42 out of 10.
Now check out more destinations that don't always live up to the hype...