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London While Paris may be among Europe's most frequented cities for tourists, it could be considered overhyped when it comes to vacation spots. Similarly, this description can also apply to another one of Europe’s heavily toured locations.
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 less favorite overcrowded European spots along with alternative recommendations 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 refuse and rodents.
Swap Oslo for Tallinn
The seasoned traveler recommends swapping the 'mundane' Norwegian capital for Estonia's 'enchanted' capital as an alternative.
I actually found Oslo somewhat dull," says Luke. "As far as I'm concerned, when you go to Norway, it’s all about the natural beauty rather than the urban areas. To me, Oslo seems quite gray and impersonal.
Tallinn exudes Nordic allure with its medieval Old Town and more affordable costs. Entering this place feels like diving into a fairy tale, enhancing the stark difference even further.
Ditch Amsterdam for Wroclaw
Luke, hailing from the Netherlands, shares his thoughts: "Certainly, the capital of my country boasts numerous distinctive and stunning locations. However, if you seek a safer, cleaner, and more budget-friendly option, I would recommend Wroclaw."
Wrocław, pronounced as 'Vrotswaf,' is a Polish city located close to the Czech border.
Luke shares: "Wrocław has a comparable atmosphere to Amsterdam, yet it lacks the throngs of tourists, 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, a Belgian seaport, ranks as "one of the least attractive cities in Europe." He attributes this perception to issues with safety, cleanliness, and general appearance.
The travel expert suggests visiting the Polish port city of Gdańsk instead, calling it "much more picturesque." He appreciates that Gdańsk is "budget-friendly, secure, and tidy," featuring "remarkable structures" worth seeing.
Exclude London from the list in favor of Prague.
Although London ranks as one of Europe's premier tourist attractions, Luke finds it overrated. He mentions experiencing an unsettling feeling 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 for me."
I wouldn’t want to upset anyone from Britain, but each time I go there, I experience an uneasy feeling. This probably stems from my own preferences since I’m not particularly fond of large, bustling, and opulent cities such as London and Paris. Nonetheless, I cannot overlook the security issues. Each time I look up 'stabbing incidents in London,' I come across reports from mere hours earlier. Such information does little to ease my mind.
For Luke, the Czech capital surpasses the Big Smoke as a preferable and more budget-friendly vacation spot. He elaborates: "Prague offers remarkable architecture, an enriching historical backdrop, and a lively ambiance—all at a significantly lower price compared to London’s expenses. Additionally, it's far safer. Personally, I consider it the most picturesque capital city in Europe."
Desert Paris for Budapest
Luke acknowledges: "Paris is Paris, and one must visit it at least once to witness its famous attractions. Despite finding some spots overrated, they still possess distinct allure."
However, the traveler claims that he believes the Hungarian capital excels over Paris in nearly every aspect.
Luke clarifies: "Despite attracting numerous tourists, Budapest retains its genuine Hungarian character. It may become crowded at times, but it continues to be quite secure. Having been to Budapest seven times, I have always enjoyed flawless visits."
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 town 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."
On the contrary, Antalya [another coastal retreat] continues to preserve a vibrant Turkish heritage and history. For this reason, I would suggest exploring Antalya rather than Bodrum. Additionally, the cuisine in Antalya is truly exceptional.
Substitute Stockholm for Riga
Luke's concern about Stockholm mirrors his complaint regarding Oslo. He mentions finding the Swedish capital "rather boring and drab."
The seasoned traveler comments: "From what I've seen, it tends to be unexpectedly filthy and usually lacks intrigue. You go to Scandinavia for its natural beauty rather than primarily for its urban areas."
Luke favors Riga, which is Latvia’s capital. He elaborates, "The place offers a comparable Scandinavian vibe yet remains more genuine, secure, and budget-friendly. Given that I lived in Riga during my studies for a year, the city holds a special spot as a second home for me. Honestly, I strongly think it stands out as a superior choice."
Abandon Brussels for Ghent
Luke finds the Belgian capital disappointing, describing the city as having streets "clogged with garbage and rodents."
He elaborates: "I have visited Brussels two times, and unfortunately, I found each visit underwhelming. To begin with the bright side, the historical downtown area is stunning, their fries and waffles are mouthwatering, and the ambiance somewhat resembles being inside an amusement 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 particularly unfortunate for a city with such an illustrious past.
'I would suggest going to Ghent instead—a beautifully preserved, delightful university town in Belgium known for being traveler-friendly.'
Chuck Barcelona for Porto
In recent years, Barcelona has had difficulty dealing with overtourism, which is why Luke suggests avoiding it.
The enthusiastic traveler remarks: "Barcelona has gotten so swarmed with visitors that it's no longer pleasurable."
He discloses: "In Portugal, Porto provides vibrant architecture, exceptional cuisine, and top-notch wines—all at lower costs compared to Barcelona. Additionally, it boasts a smaller risk of encountering pickpockets. Furthermore, Porto is more budget-friendly, less noisy, and cleaner. Indeed, it also features sandy shores!"
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 tourism 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 encountered."
Although it doesn’t match Venice exactly, Perast surpasses Venice when considering factors like safety, cleanliness, cost-effectiveness, and genuine charm.
Looking for more content from Luke? Follow him on Instagram - @lukepatrickh .
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