They’re crowded, overpriced, and often underwhelming. While millions of people flock to them every year, many walk away wondering whether the experience was worth the hype — or the hefty price tag. They’re ourist traps — attractions that promise iconic moments or local flavor but instead deliver inflated prices, long lines, and a lack of authenticity. And now, a new report has identified exactly which places around the world are the biggest offenders in the category.
According to a global analysis by Nomad eSIM, which examined thousands of online reviews for popular destinations worldwide, the two worst-rated tourist traps on the planet — tied for first place — are both located in the United States.
The first is Wall Drug in South Dakota, a sprawling roadside attraction that began as a small-town pharmacy in the 1930s and built its fame on quirky billboards and free ice water. Today, it’s a full-blown spectacle featuring Western-themed shops, photo ops, and kitschy Americana — and it draws about 2 million visitors annually. But not everyone leaves impressed. Reviews label it “crammed and tacky,” with some warning that visitors are “ripped off by every store owner in town.”
Sharing the top spot is San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, the city’s waterfront strip of seafood joints, souvenir stands, and the occasional sea lion sighting. It pulls in around 12 million visitors a year — but critics say the area is “dirty, run down, and overcrowded,” and “only worth it to see the seals.”
International destinations sit near the top of the list as well, including Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Temple Bar in Dublin, and Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin — all sites that regularly draw huge tourist crowds, and just as regularly show up in online complaints about inflated prices, aggressive vendors, and a lack of local authenticity.
Nomad’s analysis didn’t just look at popularity: It specifically tracked mentions of the phrase “tourist trap” in traveler reviews. It also tallied up the estimated cost of disappointment at several of the world’s most expensive attractions, factoring in entrance fees alongside those negative mentions.
Among the priciest letdowns: Graceland in Tennessee, with an $84 entry fee and hundreds of complaints. The Grand Canyon Skywalk in Arizona and the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina also made the list, thanks to high ticket prices and underwhelming experiences reported by visitors.
While many travelers are still drawn to these iconic places for the photo ops or bragging rights, the data suggests that some may be better admired from afar — or skipped altogether in favor of more authentic, less crowded alternatives.