Ten Things That Are Not Overrated About Europe
Greetings from the Coliseum in Rome, Italy! Today I’m sharing with you ten things that are not overrated about visiting Europe. We have two videos on things that are overrated in Europe, but there are some things that are spot on when it comes to visiting Europe.
#1 Long Lines At Major European Landmarks
The long lines you’ve heard about at the best European landmarks are not overrated! We’re here in January, and there’s a very long line to get into the coliseum. The lines at the Vatican Museum are equally long. In winter! If you come in summer, the lines are really crazy long, up to two kilometers long in some places. If there’s a museum in Europe that you really want to visit, check to see if they have online reservations that will allow you to bypass the long lines. For attractions like the Louvre or Vatican Museum, you can book tours online. I can’t recommend this enough, especially in summer. In the offseason, you might get into the Louvre in five minutes, while high season can be as long as two hours to get in to any of the most popular European landmarks.
#2 Some of the Countries With the Best Food Are in Europe
French and Italian food are not overrated. Both cuisines are amazing. In France, you’ll love the bread and the cheese, but there is much more. You’ll have duck, frog legs and escargot. In Italy, it’s not just pasta and pizza. They have amazing meets and cheeses, and fantastic wines. Even if you go to places that aren’t known for their cuisine, like Sweden or Finland or England, you’ll still find dishes that are really good. When you are traveling, make sure you eat local. Don’t just go to McDonald’s or the local kebab place, but make sure you’re eating where the locals do. Europe really does have some of the countries with the best food, including France, Italy and Greece.
#3 European Low-Cost Airlines
The low cost European airlines really do have great deals! EasyJet and RyanAir have ridiculously cheap fares around Europe. I can fly from Rome to Berlin for 35 Euros. These fares are more easily found if you book a few months in advance. If you wait until the last minute, it will be more expensive. So, the idea that you have to take EuroRail or InterRail isn’t the case any more as it can be just as cheap to fly now. You can find the cheapest flight to the U.S. and then catch low-cost carriers to go elsewhere in Europe. Sometimes, this can actually be cheaper than some of the train tickets. The best thing about these low-cost carriers is they have made it affordable to see all of Europe.
#4 The Top European Landmarks are Well Worth Visiting
There’s a reason the lines are so long at places like the Coliseum and the Vatican. It’s because they really are fantastic, and you will not regret visiting the Louvre in Paris, the Prado in Madrid or the Pergamon in Berlin. When your guidebooks mention the top European landmarks, they are well worth going to. Some of the secondary sights, like Madame Tussaud’s, may not be worth the hype, or may be overpriced.
#5 European Beer
Let’s be honest. If you’re having over some friends you want to impress; do you buy an American beer or a German beer? Germany, Czech Republic and Belgium have tons of local brewers and a history of brewing. Germany even had a beer purification law for hundreds of years because their beer is so good. If you find yourself in any of these countries, make sure you try the local beer: it’s not overrated! When you come back home, the beer just won’t taste the same as European beer fresh from the brewer.
#6 The Expensive Countries Really Are Expensive
England, Switzerland and Scandinavia are much more expensive than other European countries. For what you would spend on one week in Switzerland, you could spend two weeks in Portugal or Spain. So, if you are planning to visit any of these expensive countries, plan to spend significantly more on food, lodging and transportation than you would if you went to Italy, Spain or Portugal.
#7 Fashion Trend Setting in Cities Like Paris & Milan
When you visit Milan and Paris, you will notice that everyone around you (minus the tourists) is impeccably dressed in the latest fashion. Milan and Paris are on the cutting edge of fashion, so you’re likely to see new styles that won’t pop up elsewhere for six months or a year. There is a very different sense of style in Europe than in the U.S. If you want to blend in a little bit, you might want to do some research on fashion in Europe. Your white tennis shoes, white socks and baseball caps will mark you as a tourist, and possibly a pickpocket target, right away.
#8 Pickpockets & Beggars in Europe
There are a lot of pickpockets and beggars in Europe. Yes, we have them in the U.S. as well, but you’ll see many more in Europe, especially at the major sights. At the Coliseum, or in Barcelona, you really have to pay attention for pickpockets. Keep your valuables safe when visiting these popular sights around Europe. There are also many beggars, and some of them are children, which can be shocking the first time you see it. Do not give money to the beggars, as it’s usually part of a racket that you don’t want to help support.
Watch: 13 Ways Pickpockets Rob You!
#9 European Tour Groups Will Run You Over
The European tour groups are everywhere and they will run you over. If you see a tour group coming, get out of the way as they will not stop! Keep your kids close so they aren’t swept away in the crowd. I’ve been run over in Versailles, and my kids were pushed aside for a photo opp at the Vatican. It’s best to get way ahead of a European tour group, or just step aside and let them pass by.
#10 Summer Eurofunk on Public Transport
In the summer, you might experience the Eurofunk, or a peculiar smell, especially on public transportation. In Europe, people do bathe, but just like on Chicago’s CTA in the summer, be prepared for some funky smells in close quarters. All you can do is make sure you are clean and using deodorant so you’re not adding to the problem. After spending many summers in Europe, I can verify this is a real thing!
These are my top ten things that are not overrated about coming to Europe. Check out some of our other Europe videos:
