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London While Paris may be among Europe's most frequented cities for tourists, it can often feel overhyped as a vacation spot. Similarly, this could also apply to another highly regarded city in Europe.
According to Luke Hoogmoed @lukepatrickh ), a 25-year-old individual traveler from the Netherlands , who has traveled to 40 different European nations.
The bold explorer has revealed his list of least favorite overly praised European spots and suggested alternative locations to visit, as reported by MailOnline Travel.
Continue reading to discover why the lone traveler experiences a sense of unease in London and which European capital they believe is overrun with garbage and rodents.
Swap Oslo for Tallinn
The seasoned traveler recommends swapping the 'dull' Norwegian capital for Estonia's 'enchanted' capital as an alternative.
I personally found Oslo somewhat dull," says Luke. "As far as I'm concerned, you go to Norway for its natural beauty rather than its urban areas. To me, Oslo seems too gray and clinical.
Tallinn boasts a Nordic allure, with its enchanting medieval Old Town and more affordable costs. Entering this place feels like diving into a fairy tale, enhancing the stark juxtaposition even further.
Ditch Amsterdam for Wroclaw
Luke, who hails from the Netherlands, shares this insight: "Certainly, the capital of my country boasts numerous distinctive and stunning sites. However, if you seek a safer, cleaner, and more budget-friendly option, I would recommend Wroclaw."
Wrocław, pronounced as 'Vrots-vaf,' is a Polish city located close to the Czech border.
Luke shares: "Wrocław has a comparable atmosphere to Amsterdam, yet it lacks the crowds, steep costs, and trash-filled roads. The architectural style in numerous Polish cities mirrors that of Amsterdam."
Exchange Antwerp for Gdansk
According to Luke, Antwerp, which is a port city in Belgium, ranks as "one of the least attractive cities in Europe." He attributes this primarily to issues with safety, cleanliness, and general appearance.
The travel expert suggests visiting the Polish harbor town of Gdańsk instead, calling it "much more charming." He appreciates that Gdańsk is "budget-friendly, secure, and spotless" with "remarkable structures" worth seeing.
Exclude London from the list in favor of Prague.
Although London is one of Europe's top tourist attractions, Luke finds it overrated, stating that he experiences "a feeling of unease" when visiting the city.
Luke shares: "I have visited London several times, and although I acknowledge its grandeur in aspects like history, architecture, and culture, it personally feels quite overpowering to me."
I wouldn’t want to upset any British friends, but each time I go over there, I experience an uneasy feeling. This probably stems from my own tastes since I’m not particularly fond of large, bustling, and opulent urban centers such as London and Paris. Nonetheless, I cannot overlook the safety issues. Each time I look up 'knife attacks in London,' I come across recent news stories posted mere hours before. Such information does little to ease my mind.
For Luke, Prague stands out as a superior and more affordable vacation spot compared to London. He elaborates, "The architectural beauty, historical depth, and lively ambiance of Prague come with only a fraction of what you'd pay in London. Additionally, it feels far safer. I believe it’s the most picturesque capital city in all of Europe."
Desert Paris for Budapest
Luke admits: 'Paris is Paris and you simply have to visit it at least once to see its iconic landmarks. Even the places I consider overrated have their unique charms.'
However, the traveler claims that he believes Budapest outshines Paris in nearly every aspect.
Luke shares his thoughts: "Despite attracting numerous tourists, Budapest retains its authentic Hungarian charm. Although it can become crowded at times, safety isn’t an issue. Having been there seven times myself, every visit has been absolutely flawless."
Even so, Luke states: "The Eiffel Tower isn’t in Budapest, so I still urge you to explore every location on the list and develop your own views instead of simply following my recommendations."
Change Bodrum for Antalya
According to Luke, the coastal retreat of Bodrum ranks as Turkey's most overhyped vacation spot.
He states: "The genuine Turkish ambiance is gone; now it functions as a holiday destination for the upper class."
While another coastal retreat might offer something else, Antalya continues to preserve a deep-rooted Turkish heritage and past. For this very reason, I would suggest exploring Antalya rather than Bodrum. Additionally, the cuisine in Antalya is truly outstanding.
Substitute Stockholm for Riga
Luke's issue with Stockholm is similar to his problem with Oslo. He says he finds the Swedish capital 'quite dull and grey'.
The travel pro adds: 'In my experience, it's also surprisingly dirty and generally not that interesting. Again, you visit Scandinavia for its nature, not necessarily for its cities.'
Luke prefers Latvia's capital, Riga. He explains: 'It has a similar Nordic feel but is more authentic, safer and more affordable. I might be biased since I studied in Riga for a year and the city feels like my second home but I genuinely believe it's a better option.'
Abandon Brussels for Ghent
The Belgian capital hasn't impressed Luke, who says the city has streets 'filled with trash and rats'.
He explains: 'I've been to Brussels twice and both times my experience was disappointing. Let's start with the positives, the historic centre is beautiful, the fries and waffles are delicious and the atmosphere almost feels like a theme park.
However, once you venture beyond the old town area, the scene changes dramatically. The streets are cluttered with refuse and rodents, and the issue of homelessness is quite evident. This is truly unfortunate for a city with such an illustrious past.
Alternatively, I would suggest going to Ghent – an appealing and neatly kept university town in Belgium that is friendly towards visitors.
Chuck Barcelona for Porto
In recent years, Barcelona has had difficulty dealing with overtourism, which is why Luke suggests skipping it.
The avid traveler remarks: "Barcelona has grown so inundated with visitors that it's no longer pleasurable."
He shares, "In Portugal, Porto provides vibrant architecture, exceptional cuisine, and top-notch wines—all at more favorable prices compared to Barcelona. Additionally, it boasts lower instances of pickpocketing. Porto stands out as being more budget-friendly, tranquil, and clean. Furthermore, it does offer beach options!"
Drop Venice for Perast
Luke has included Venice, known as Europe's ' Floating City,' on his overrated list due to its tendency to be 'swarmed by visitors.' He believes that the city’s efforts to ‘tackle this problem,’ like implementing a tourist tax, could potentially help ‘bring back some of its original charm.’
In the interim, he suggests visiting Perast in Montenegro. The traveler shares, "Perast is among the most stunning locations I have ever laid eyes on."
Although it doesn’t match Venice exactly, Perast surpasses Venice when considering factors like security, tidiness, cost-effectiveness, and genuine charm.
Looking for more content from Luke? Follow him on Instagram - @lukepatrickh .
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