The world’s most ‘worth it’ attractions, according to travellers

Whether it’s a gruelling drive through the Australian outback, a stomach-churning cable car at altitude, or a hefty ticket price for a world-renowned museum, some experiences demand more input from you than others. But which attractions do travellers consistently say are worth every bit of time, effort and money to visit?  

To find out, we analysed over three million travel reviews across some of the world’s most expensive and hard-to-reach attractions, analysing positive reviews that specifically mentioned the phrase “worth it”. The result is the ultimate travel cheat sheet of the tourist attractions around the globe where visitors agree that yes, the experience was worth every second. 

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The top 20 most ‘worth it’ attractions in the world

Rank	Attraction	Location	Country	% of Reviews Mentioning ‘Worth It’
1	Kings Canyon Lookout	Northern Territory	Australia	28.7%
2	Skellig Michael Monastery	Kerry	Ireland	26.3%
3	Franz Josef Glacier Viewpoint	Franz Josef	New Zealand	21.9%
4	Great Wall (Jinshanling Section)	Beijing outskirts	China	21.8%
5	Abu Simbel Temples	Aswan	Egypt	21.0%
6	Batad Rice Terraces	Banaue	Philippines	20.3%
7	Twelve Apostles	Victoria	Australia	19.7%
8	Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe	Jungfraujoch	Switzerland	19.7%
9	Quiraing	Isle of Skye	UK	17.6%
10	Moraine Lake	Banff	Canada	16.0%
11	Matterhorn Glacier Paradise	Zermatt	Switzerland	15.6%
12	Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb	Sydney	Australia	15.2%
13	Mitre Peak Viewpoint (Milford Sound)	Fiordland	New Zealand	15.1%
14	Victoria Falls Rainforest Entrance	Victoria Falls	Zimbabwe	14.6%
15	Uluru	Uluru	Australia	14.6%
16	Cape of Good Hope	Cape Peninsula	South Africa	13.6%
17	Valley of the Kings (Tutankhamun Tomb)	Luxor	Egypt	13.4%
18	Shanghai Tower Observation Deck	Shanghai	China	12.8%
19	Sossusvlei Deadvlei	Namib Desert	Namibia	12.2%
20	Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park	Arizona	USA	12.1%

1. Kings Canyon Lookout, Northern Territory, Australia 

Percentage of reviews mentioning “worth it”: 28.7% 

Topping the list of most worthwhile attractions ranked by the travellers who’ve been there, is Kings Canyon, in Australia’s northern territory. The canyon sits 330km from Alice Springs, a long drive through the outback being the only way in. One in four reviewers say it pays off, especially for the Rim Walk, a 6km loop along the sandstone rim above 100-metre walls. The effort of the hike itself gets the same verdict, with the colours of the rock at sunrise or sunset repeatedly mentioned as the moment that makes it all worthwhile. 

2. Skellig Michael Monastery, Kerry, Ireland 

Percentage of reviews mentioning “worth it”: 26.3% 

Rising from the Atlantic off the southwest coast of Ireland, Skellig Michael is one of Europe’s most physically demanding heritage sites. Reaching the sixth-century monastery at its summit means climbing around 600 uneven stone steps, often in unpredictable coastal weather, with no handrails for much of the ascent. More than one in four reviews say it’s worth it, with the climb itself often mentioned as part of what makes it special. Boat access is limited and weather-dependent, which only adds to the sense that getting there is something earned. 

3. Franz Josef Glacier Viewpoint, New Zealand

Percentage of reviews mentioning “worth it”: 21.9% 

Sitting on New Zealand’s wild West Coast, the Franz Josef Glacier Viewpoint gives visitors a close-up look at one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most accessible glaciers, one that descends from the Southern Alps almost to rainforest level. Travellers often say the viewpoint is worth the walk, with many adding that the sheer scale of the glacier on arrival is difficult to put into words. 

4. Great Wall of China (Jinshanling Section), Beijing outskirts, China 

Percentage of reviews mentioning “worth it”: 21.8% 

The Badaling section draws the crowds, but it’s Jinshanling, the less-visited stretch of the Great Wall further from Beijing, that has the highest ‘worth it’ rate. Nearly one in five reviews mentions the phrase, with many comparing it favourably to the busier sections. Travellers say the extra travel time is worth it for the quieter, more dramatic stretch of wall, and several reviews note that the ruined watchtowers and unrestored sections make it feel far more authentic. 

5. Abu Simbel Temples, Aswan, Egypt

Percentage of reviews mentioning “worth it”: 21.0% 

Built by Ramesses II over 3,000 years ago and moved in its entirety during the 1960s to save it from rising floodwaters, Abu Simbel sits around 280km south of Aswan. Most visitors make the journey as a pre-dawn excursion, leaving in darkness to arrive at sunrise. It’s a significant commitment of time and energy, but reviewers are consistent: the temples are worth getting up for. Many describe the moment the facade comes into view as genuinely awe-inspiring, with the scale of the carved figures regularly cited as something that photos simply don’t prepare you for. 

6. Batad Rice Terraces, Banaue, Philippines 

Percentage of reviews mentioning “worth it”: 20.3% 

Carved into the mountains of northern Luzon over 2,000 years ago by the Ifugao people, the Batad Rice Terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site that most visitors never reach, and that’s precisely the point. Getting there requires a combination of jeepney rides along rough mountain roads and a steep hike down into the village, with no paved access to the terraces themselves. Reviewers are consistent in saying the journey is worth every effort. Many also mention staying overnight in the village adds significantly to the experience, giving them time to explore at sunrise when the terraces are at their most atmospheric. 

7. Twelve Apostles, Victoria, Australia

Percentage of reviews mentioning “worth it”: 19.8% 

The Twelve Apostles are among Australia’s most recognisable natural landmarks, a series of limestone sea stacks rising from the Southern Ocean along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. While the site is well-visited, reviewers consistently say it’s worth the trip along the famous coastal road to get there, with many noting that no photograph quite captures the scale of the formations or the drama of the waves crashing below. Visiting at sunrise or sunset comes up repeatedly in reviews as something that makes the experience genuinely memorable. 

8. Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, Jungfraujoch, Switzerland

Percentage of reviews mentioning “worth it”: 19.7% 

At 3,454 metres above sea level, Jungfraujoch is the highest railway station in Europe, and the ticket price reflects that. The journey winds up through the Bernese Alps on a cogwheel train, taking up to two hours from Grindelwald. Reviewers are overwhelmingly in agreement that the cost is worth every penny, with many specifically calling out the ticket price as justified by what you get. Reviewers say the views from the observation deck are worth every penny, offering views of the glacial landscape stretching in every direction and the Alps below you. 

9. Quiraing, Isle of Skye, UK

Percentage of reviews mentioning “worth it”: 17.6% 

The Quiraing on the Isle of Skye is one of the most spectacular landscapes in the UK, and one of the most changeable. The hike across its terrain of rock pinnacles, hidden plateaus and sheer cliffs is consistently described in reviews as worth doing despite the unpredictable Scottish weather. Travellers regularly say it’s worth the soggy boots, the challenging terrain and the drive to reach the start of the trail, with many calling it the single best thing they did on Skye. 

10. Moraine Lake, Banff, Canada

Percentage of reviews mentioning “worth it”: 16.0%

Moraine Lake is one of Canada’s most photographed spots, its vivid turquoise water fed by glacial meltwater and sitting beneath a ring of jagged Rocky Mountain peaks in Banff National Park. Demand has grown so significantly that private vehicle access is now restricted during peak season, requiring visitors to book shuttle buses or arrive by bike. Reviewers say the enhanced planning required and early starts are entirely worth it.

Beyond the top ten, the list spans some of the world’s most remote destinations. Uluru in Australia (14.6%) draws consistently, while the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa (13.6%) earns its place as much for the drive through Cape Point nature reserve as the viewpoint itself.  

In Egypt, the Valley of the Kings (13.4%) draws visitors willing to brave Luxor’s heat, with the painted burial chambers repeatedly described as worth the high-ticket price. Namibia’s Sossusvlei Deadvlei (12.2%) and Monument Valley in the American Southwest (12.1%) round out the list, both described as landscapes that feel worth a trip to see. 

The least ‘worth it’ attractions in the world

We also looked at the attractions where reviews mentioned the phrase ‘worth it’ the least, and the results were nothing short of surprising. Some of the world’s most visited attractions are among the ones real travellers described as not worth the time, effort or expense to visit. 

The top 10 least ‘worth it’ attractions in the world 

Rank	Attraction	Location	Country	% of Reviews Mentioning ‘Worth It’
1	Sagrada Familia	Barcelona	Spain	0.56%
2	Colosseum	Rome	Italy	0.61%
3	Eiffel Tower Summit	Paris	France	0.63%
4	Louvre Museum	Paris	France	0.84%
5	Park Güell Monumental Zone	Barcelona	Spain	0.90%
6	London Eye	London	UK	0.91%
7	Empire State Building Observatory	New York	USA	0.94%
8	Top of the Rock Observation Deck	New York	USA	1.14%
9	Tower of London	London	UK	1.37%
10	Christ the Redeemer Statue	Rio de Janeiro	Brazil	1.41%

European attractions dominate the list, and all are among the most-visited attractions in the world, carrying premium ticket prices. The Sagrada Familia, Colosseum and Eiffel Tower are routinely described in reviews as places where the experience around the attraction, the crowds, the wait times, the surrounding tourist infrastructure, can overshadow the attraction itself. 

Of course, they are still iconic for a reason. But if you’re looking to visit any of these, planning is your friend. Research the right timing, book in advance, prepare for busy crowds or higher tickets costs, and embrace realistic expectations. 

One thing that’s always worth it when you travel is getting annual travel insurance, which will cover your upcoming adventures in one policy so you can spend less time worrying about cover and more time planning your next trip. 

Methodology

To find the world’s most ‘worth it’ attractions, we analysed travel reviews across a range of expensive and hard-to-reach destinations. For each attraction, we recorded the total number of reviews, then used the platform’s search and filter tools to identify reviews mentioning “worth it”, filtering to 4- and 5-star reviews only to ensure results reflected positive sentiment. The percentage of reviews mentioning “worth it” out of total reviews forms the basis of our rankings. 

All data correct as of April 2026.