Europe’s charm has made it the world’s most visited continent, but not every destination lives up to the hype.
Together with my own opinion and combing through Reddit threads where travelers share their disappointments, I’ve compiled this list of Europe’s worst tourist destinations.
While these cities all have redeeming qualities, they frequently leave visitors wondering if they should have chosen differently.
15 Worst Cities for Tourists in Europe
These destinations regularly appear in travelers’ “disappointment” lists.
Whether it’s overcrowding, high prices, dirty, full of scams, or just failing to meet expectations, here’s why you might want to reconsider—or at least adjust your expectations.
1. Milan, Italy
Milan’s reputation as a fashion capital doesn’t save it from being one of Europe’s most underwhelming major cities.
Beyond the impressive Duomo and Last Supper fresco, visitors often find limited historic charm compared to other Italian destinations.
The city’s industrial feel and high prices for mediocre attractions disappoint many visitors, though Milan is a great base for day trips.
Alternative Suggestion: Turin offers elegant streets, magnificent palaces, and a vibrant aperitivo culture without Milan’s prices or tourist crowds.
2. Dublin, Ireland
Dublin’s skyrocketing accommodation costs and tourist-trap Temple Bar area have damaged its reputation.
Many visitors find themselves paying London prices for a city with relatively few major attractions beyond the Guinness Storehouse.
Dublin delivers little beyond expensive hotels and overpriced pints in tourist-packed bars
Alternative Suggestions: Cork or Galway deliver authentic Irish hospitality, music scenes, and pub culture at more reasonable prices.
3. Brussels, Belgium
The administrative capital of Europe often feels soulless compared to Belgium’s more charming cities.
Beyond Grand Place and a handful of museums, many tourists find Brussels unwelcoming, with dirty streets, beggars and scammers, and lacking in distinctive character.
The indifferent food at high prices fails to compensate for these shortcomings
Alternative Suggestions: Ghent combines breathtaking medieval architecture with a vibrant student atmosphere and canal views.
4. Marseille, France
France’s gritty second city has improved but still struggles with cleanliness issues, petty crime, and areas that feel unsafe for tourists.
he beautiful coastline is often marred by trash, and many visitors find the city center disappointing compared to other Provençal destinations.
Alternative Suggestions: Nice or Montpellier has better beaches, cleaner streets, and the perfect blend of urban amenities and coastal charm.
5. Berlin, Germany
While beloved by many, Berlin’s sprawling size and modern reconstruction leave some visitors cold.
The city often feels grey and bland—even its monuments lack the grandeur of other European capitals.
Despite fascinating Cold War and WWII history, Berlin’s vastness makes it feel like a ‘normal city’ rather than a tourist destination.
Many travelers report experiencing an unwelcoming attitude from locals and an underlying uneasiness that detracts from the experience.
Alternative Suggestions: Dresden or Leipzig deliver fascinating German history, stunning architecture, ain more navigable, picturesque settings.
6. Geneva, Switzerland
Switzerland’s diplomatic hub consistently ranks among Europe’s most overpriced cities with the least to show for it.
The lake and fountain are nice, but beyond that, many find Geneva sterile and lacking character, with astronomically priced hotels, restaurants, and attractions.
Alternative Suggestions: Annecy, just across the border in France, offers alpine lake beauty with medieval canals at a fraction of Geneva’s prices—the “Venice of the Alps” without the Swiss price tag.
7. Thessaloniki, Greece
Greece’s second city often disappoints with its concrete jungle appearance, traffic congestion, and beaches that don’t match the country’s island paradises.
While it has interesting Byzantine history, many find the city’s charm hidden beneath layers of urban grime and development.
Alternative Suggestions: Nafplio charms visitors with its Venetian architecture, seaside promenade, and nearby ancient sites.
8. Naples, Italy
Despite incredible food and proximity to Pompeii, Naples shocks many tourists with its gritty streets, chaotic traffic, and reputation for petty crime.
The constant vigilance required against pickpockets and the city’s trash management issues overshadow its authentic Italian character for many visitors.
Alternative Suggestions: Sorrento provides the perfect gateway to the same attractions (Pompeii, Amalfi Coast) with cleaner streets, and breathtaking sea views.
9. Barcelona, Spain
Once a beloved destination, Barcelona now suffers from extreme overtourism.
While the food scene is exceptional, most visitors remember the constant harassment from street hustlers, rampant pickpocketing, and the palpable disdain from locals.
The beautiful Port, La Sagrada Familia, Olympic Village, and Gràcia neighborhood can’t compensate for the overpriced, gimmicky feel that have come to define the visitor experience.
Alternative Suggestions: Valencia delivers stunning architecture, beautiful beaches, and authentic Spanish culture without Barcelona’s overtourism problems.
10. Frankfurt, Germany
Germany’s financial center feels more like a business hub than a tourist destination.
Its reconstructed old town lacks authenticity, and visitors often find little to do beyond the banking district and museums.
The city’s high prices reflect its business travel focus rather than tourist value.
Alternative Suggestions: Heidelberg captivates with its castle ruins overlooking the Neckar River, a vibrant atmosphere, and picture-perfect old town.
11. Athens, Greece
Though home to the Acropolis, Athens disappoints many with its concrete sprawl, air pollution, and graffiti-covered neighborhoods.
In summer, the extreme heat and crowds at archaeological sites create an exhausting experience, while scammers target tourists around major attractions.
Alternative Suggestions: Nafplio charms visitors with its Venetian architecture, seaside promenade, and nearby ancient sites.
12. Venice, Italy
Perhaps the ultimate “love-hate” destination in Europe. During high season or when cruise ships dock, Venice becomes nearly unnavigable, with St. Mark’s Square resembling a human parking lot.
Overpriced gondolas, tourist-trap restaurants, and the ecological impact of mass tourism have damaged the experience.
However, personally I love visiting Venice in the off-season while staying on the island (to explore when the crowds have left) as it reveals the magical city that earned its reputation.
Alternative Suggestions: Trieste offers beautiful coastal architecture with Venetian influence, while Padua delivers stunning art and architecture without the tourists.
13. Monaco
The world’s second-smallest country disappoints with its concrete density, artificial atmosphere, and prohibitive prices.
Unless you’re arriving by yacht with unlimited funds, Monaco often feels like an expensive theme park designed for displaying wealth rather than experiencing culture.
Alternative Suggestions: The French coastal towns of Menton or Villefranche-sur-Mer deliver the Riviera experience with more authentic charm and reasonable prices.
14. Paris, France
The City of Light suffers from “Paris Syndrome”—the disappointment when the romantic ideal collides with the reality of crowds, scams, and attitude.
Peak season brings hour-long lines for major attractions, aggressive scammers, and inflated prices for often mediocre food and accommodation.
Alternative Suggestions: Lyon combines extraordinary food, beautiful riverfront districts, and Roman ruins without Parisian prices or attitude.
15. Rome, Italy
The Eternal City becomes eternally frustrating in peak season, when the Colosseum and Vatican turn into crushing human traffic jams.
Tourist restaurants around major sites serve overpriced, mediocre food, while scammers and pickpockets target distracted visitors.
Even though I really love Rome in any season outside of summer peak season, its magnificence is often lost in the summer chaos.
Alternative Suggestions: Bologna offers extraordinary Italian architecture, the world’s oldest university, and the country’s best food scene without the crowds.
Final Thoughts On The Most Overrated Cities in Europe
Every city on this list has redeeming qualities and can be enjoyed with proper planning.
Visit during shoulder season, stay in residential neighborhoods, and venture beyond tourist zones for the best experience.
The disappointment often comes from mismatched expectations or unfortunate timing rather than the destinations themselves.
Want to make the most of your European adventure? Check out these helpful guides:
- How to Visit Europe on a Budget
- Most Photogenic Destinations in Europe
- Cheap Underrated Destinations in Europe to Visit
Discover more European travel blog posts on our blog.
