It is the ultimate tourist trap.
Trying to avoid the crowds this Christmas? You might want to steer clear of Universal Studios, which is said to be the most crowded tourist attraction on Earth in the winter, according to a study by student travel company Rustic Pathways.
“Some attractions remain overcrowded in the winter, as everyone has the same idea of looking for seasonal fun,” said Shayne Fitz-Coy, the platform’s CEO.
To find the most crowded Yuletide travel hubs in the world, the Rustic Pathways crew analyzed Tripadvisor reviews complaining of overcrowding and long waits at over 900 winter-specific destinations around the world.
They searched for key terms including “crowded”, “overcrowded”, “long wait”, “crowded” and “chaotic”.
The number of negative reviews was compared to the total number of reviews to give a complaint rate per 1000 reviews, which was then converted to a percentage.
Universal Studios
The findings revealed that Universal Studios in Hollywood, California was the most haunted winter travel destination. Almost 40% of reviews mentioned “clogging” or “long waits”, really putting the tinsel in Tinseltown.
A December review said the theme park was “very crowded,” while in January another reviewer said, “[kids] they would have lost their minds in such long lines.”
Rockefeller Center
Do you want to 30 rock around the christmas tree? Fir-gettaboutit. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree surprisingly ranks as the second most crowded Yuletide travel destination with over a third (34.9%) of Tripadvisor reviews worrying about the crowds of visitors with pain for him every December.
Many called the crowds “seriously dangerous”, while another declared there was “0 crowd control”.
But there is a lot of work for this moist attraction, which has been a Big Apple tradition for 93 years. This year’s tree — a 74-foot-tall Norway spruce from Massachusetts — was chosen from 100 hopefuls unveiled by Long Island-based arborist Erik Pauze, who had chosen the Rockefeller Center piece for four decades.
In fact, Rockefeller Center is generally a zoo during December. In 8th place with a complaint ratio of 27.2% was Top Of The Rock, a circular climbing platform on the 70th floor of the Center that moves up to 13 riders 900 feet in the air.
Silverwood Theme Park
Idaho’s Silverwood Theme Park ranked third with 31.29% of comments hailing it a tourist trap for the holidays in terms of crowds. Complaints were mostly about miles-long lines.
Busch Gardens
Similarly, 31.20% of visitor comments complained about foot traffic at the fourth-place mall, Busch Gardens. The Tampa, Florida-based amusement park, which sees about 4 million visitors a year, was ripped for its long lines and overcrowding. Rustic Pathways attributed the buzz to Busch Gardens’ status as a haven for snowbirds looking for festive fun in the sun.
Incidentally, reusable storage container firm Stasher named it the fourth worst tourist destination on Earth in 2023 due to its second-rate accommodations.
Nuremberg Christmas Market
The first non-US tourist center on the list, the Nuremberg Christmas Market ranked fifth with 29.8% of Tripadvisor reviews complaining about overcrowding.
One review claimed the attraction was “full to capacity” while another labeled it “so busy you can barely walk through it”.
Perhaps these comments are not surprising given that Nuremberg is widely regarded as one of the best Christmas markets in the world.
Highlights include handmade Christmas decorations, gingerbread and almond cookies and hanging bratwurst, making it look like something out of a Yuletide fairy tale.
We’ve listed the top ten most popular holiday attractions below:
1. Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California (38.99%)
2. Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City, NY (34.85%)
3. Silverwood Theme Park in Athol, Idaho (31.29%)
4. Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida (31.20%)
5. Nuremberg Christmas Market in Nuremberg, Germany (29.78%)
6. Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey (28.16%)
7. Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park, Utah (27.22%)
8. Top of the Rock in New York City, NY (27.2%)
9. Rathausplatz Christmas Market in Vienna, Austria (27.18%)
10. Snowshoe Mountain Resort in Snowshoe, West Virginia (27.08%)
Fitz-Coy attributed the rampant overcrowding in part to the rise of online registrations.
“Social media has also fueled overcrowding as people post their tourist photos online, inspiring more visitors than ever to flock to the same places,” the travel boss claimed. “If you’re planning to visit busy spots, try going on weekdays or during off-peak hours to avoid the crowds.”
He added, “Always be mindful of personal space, especially in high traffic areas, overcrowding can spoil the experience and even pose safety concerns.”
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