8 Globally Overhyped Tourist Spots That Might Let You Down (2 of 5)

2. The Mona Lisa — Louvre, Paris

One of the greatest paintings in human history, locked away behind glass and surrounded by a gaggle of frantic tourists—that’s the Mona Lisa for you. Everyone flocks to it, but what they usually get is a sea of elbows and a small painting that feels distant and suffocated. By the time you cross the room, you’re thinking, “Was it really worth it?”

3. Checkpoint Charlie — Berlin, Germany

Once the nerve center of Cold War drama, where tanks might roll and soldiers stand guard, Checkpoint Charlie now reads more like a stage set. Today, it’s lined with cheesy souvenir stalls hawking passport stamps that could even make your travel documents invalid. Visitors call it “Disneyfication of history”—big on picture ops but light on real substance.