Hey there, fellow travelers! People talk a lot about Europe, and we obviously love coming here, but there are some places in Europe, and rumors about traveling in Europe, that are overrated.
Today, we’re talking about the most overrated European cities and attractions. If you’re planning a trip to Europe and aren’t sure where to go, you’re going to want to read this first.
#1 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels is neat, but it’s not nearly as cool as London or Paris. The reason we think it’s one of the most overrated cities is that anytime US News is reporting from the European Union, it’s often from Brussels. Hearing about Brussels so much makes people think it’s a “must visit” city in Europe, but there are better places to visit. Yes, the Grand Place in Brussels is beautiful, but beyond that, there are only a handful of museums and Mannikin Pis which is also totally overrated. If you really want to visit Belgium, we recommend Bruges, Ghent or Antwerp over Brussels.
#2 Running of the Bulls in Pamplona
The truth is, they have bull runs all over Spain. For some reason, Pamplona has become the most famous bull run, but it’s mostly drunk American college students taking over the town. Most people that get injured during the running of the bulls are drunk, and they get hurt because they are being stupid, usually having nothing to do with the bulls. If you want to watch a running of the bulls without the crazy crowds, find a smaller town near Barcelona. Running of the bulls isn’t just a tourist attraction; it’s actually how they get the bulls to the bullfights, so it’s happening all over Spain, without the overrated fanfare of Pamplona.
#3 Eastern Europe Deals
A lot of people want to visit Eastern Europe for a cheap vacation. It may be slightly more affordable, but as tourism in Eastern Europe continues to grow, prices are becoming more on par with Central Europe. Especially when it comes to hotels, you’re going to pay a lot and not get much in return. It’s more affordable than London or Paris, but it’s not as cheap as Southeast Asia. Also, remember Prague is Central Europe, not Eastern Europe, so the prices there are more on par with Austria and Germany than with Eastern European countries.
Read: Tips for Spending and Exchanging Money in Europe
#4 Anti-Americanism
I lived in Europe for 13 years and easily made friends in many countries. Sure, there will be Europeans who don’t like America, but it’s generally an opinion on the politics of the US, not you personally. There seems to be this fear that Europeans hate Americans, and some American travelers even go so far as to put a Canadian flag on their bags to avoid harassment. This Anti-Americanism is totally overblown and virtually non-existent. Even in France, we’ve never experienced any Anti-American sentiments.
#5 Seeing Only One Major City
Many travelers will visit London or Paris and then say they’ve been to Europe. While technically this is true, it’s akin to visiting New York City and thinking you’ve “seen America.” Europe is an incredibly diverse continent with diverse cities, small villages and anything in between. Europe has 44 different countries, each with their own culture, language and cuisine. Many countries have very different cultures within their borders, too. To really see “Europe,” you really need several visits across multiple countries.
#6 Arrogant Europeans
There’s this perception that Europeans are all arrogant, and we tend to picture the French when we think of this. In truth, Europeans are incredibly friendly. Of course, each culture is different, as we already mentioned, but in general, we have had wonderful interactions in every European country that we’ve visited.
#7 French Riviera
The French Riviera is known as the playground for the rich and famous of Europe, so it has this reputation as a very “chic” destination. That reputation translates to really high prices and huge crowds in the summer. Expect to pay a lot for your hotels and you have to book them very early to get what you want. It can feel like all of Europe is on the French Riviera in the summer. With crowds, you’ll also see a lot of pickpockets and tourist scams. The crowds and the thieves tend to take away from the “chic-ness” of the French Riviera.
Read: The Most Common Pickpocket Techniques
#8 Leaning Tower of Pisa
The town of Pisa in Italy is totally overrated. There’s nothing to see besides the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and it looks exactly like every photo you’ve already seen. If you really want to see the tower, take a day trip from Florence or Lucca. Don’t plan to stay in Pisa as you’ll run out of things to do very quickly.
#9 Gondola Rides in Venice
People seem to think a gondola ride in Venice is this peaceful, romantic outing. In truth, it’s super expensive, around 70-80 Euros for a ride, and the gondolier doesn’t always sing. In general, it’s a touristy rip-off and there are better ways to spend your money in Venice.
#10 Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in London
For whatever reason, tons of tourists want to visit this attraction in London to see wax replicas of the Royal Family, celebrities or American politicians. It’s super expensive; when I visited it was around 50 US Dollars. It’s really a pretty cheesy tourist attraction; there are much better things to do with your time and money in London. Go to the British Museum or the National Gallery, which are both free.
#11 Expense of European Vacations
Americans have this perception that European vacations are super expensive. It’s just not true; we travel to Europe often and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Yes, the flights can be pricy, but once you are in Europe, you don’t have to spend a ton of money to have fun. If you think Europe is too expensive, there are ways to save money while traveling.
These are some of the things we find that are overrated, or overblown, about traveling to Europe from the United States. What are some of the most overrated cities or attractions you’ve experienced in Europe? Tell us in the comments below! And if you want more travel tips and advice, check out these blog posts and videos: