The most over-touristed cities in Europe

[Ken555]

I brought up Paris because I think the tourists there are worse than Rome, even though there are apparently fewer of them to be annoying.

I've been visiting Rome since the early 1980s. I don't find it particularly dirty. Old, sure. And I go to the tourist spots, too. But I make sure to take a route that is not as direct and not as well-beaten. Ducking in, from elsewhere is my strategy with Rome. Because tourists tend to clump there. They are predictable. But more importantly they are easily avoidable. Best of all, these side streets are another Rome -- the Rome generally only seen by locals.

Unlike Paris, where the only way to escape the tourists is to be so far out in the hinterlands that nobody goes there.

Rome was filthy during my first visit. Your suggestions don’t change my experience. I have very little inclination to return to Rome soon… I was there a few years ago, and I typically get to Italy every year or two tho I don’t visit Rome. No need since I’m really happy going elsewhere. I’ll be back in Italy next spring.

And fwiw, I’ve also lived in Europe so I understand the benefits of public transit as you earlier suggested, etc.

Oh, and I didn’t have the same tourist problem in Paris as I did in Rome.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[WinniWoman]

I always had Italy on my list of places to visit, especially since everyone raves about it and I am Italian. But I hate crowds, I’m not worldly, husband is even worse. I hate flying, I hate the idea of navigating in a foreign country, etc etc. the money exchange, language. What about cell phone coverage? Travel/ medical insurance.

Seems exhausting. So never went.

This said our passports run out in 2026 and we’re getting older. Then there’s my degenerative back issue.

I tend to like places north so I thought northern Italy and Switzerland. But husband wants Sicily- he’s Sicilian.

So on a whim I booked a resort there oct 2024 ( an hour away from Palermo) that I didn’t have to prepay and can cancel almost right up to departure.

But it’s a 10+ hour plane ride of course. Ugh.

I have no idea what I’m doing. We will not rent a car. The resort has a bus that goes to Cefalu. That’s about it. I like the idea of just staying in one place in terms of the hotel. Supposedly all the meals are included and I like that also since will not have a car and less navigation to seek out places to eat.

It’s on the coast and nothing else around anyway. 8 days so I figure 2 are traveling. 2 just hanging out at the resort. One in Cefalu.

But then what for the next 3 days?

So I’m also exploring tours also instead of this but the itineraries are so crammed and touristy..

 

[ScoopKona]

I have no idea what I’m doing. We will not rent a car. The resort has a bus that goes to Cefalu. That’s about it. I like the idea of just staying in one place in terms of the hotel. Supposedly all the meals are included and I like that also since will not have a car and less navigation to seek out places to eat.

It’s on the coast and nothing else around anyway. 8 days so I figure 2 are traveling. 2 just hanging out at the resort. One in Cefalu.

But then what for the next 3 days?

Google Agrigento. It's on the south side of Sicily. That would be one of my days. It's going to be five hours each way in a slow train -- so take the first train of the day. The scenery along the way is best described as "drop dead gorgeous" and the temples there put the Acropolis to shame.

This was my wife's second trip ever and she still talks about it.


Edit: It's Agrigento. Typo fixed above.

 

[ScoopKona]

But then what for the next 3 days?

So I’m also exploring tours also instead of this but the itineraries are so crammed and touristy..

Also, to further answer your question EAT.

There is no monolithic "Italian" food. The food in Piedmont is shockingly different than the food in Sicily. It's all great. (My favorite cuisine on Earth.) But it also is nothing like the Italian-American "Sunday Gravy" that most Americans think of when they think "Italian food."

Of the various regions, Sicily is among the best. Loads of seafood, citrus and olives -- because that's what they have. If this was my trip, I'd buy a TrenItalia pass so I could hop on any train in Sicily -- and then take a leisurely trip each day. Travel in a new direction each day so that you see as much of Sicily as possible. Bring a picnic breakfast to enjoy on the way. The train stations almost always have a store selling bread, cheese, sparkling water and wine. Only travel as far as you're comfortable. And then get out, walk around, and if you see a restaurant brimming with locals, eat there. You can simply point at one of your neighbor's dishes and that's what you'll get.

There's going to be considerably less English spoken there than the more cosmopolitan areas. But that's a good thing -- it keeps the tourist crush down. I've never had a bad meal or a bad experience in Sicily.

But I also wouldn't tell anyone "I'm Italian" or "I'm Sicilian" unless you can do so with a clean accent. "My grandmother once lived here" is usually more accurate.

 

[vacationtime1]

Sicily is awesome.

Yes, Agrigento. The Concordia Temple looks just like the pic @ScoopKona posted above (I didn't see the torso in the foreground however). There are dozens and dozens of other temples and structures in the square kilometer Valley of the Temples (not as well reconstructed)

Yes, Syracuse. Beautiful and historic. Make sure you walk through the town square at night.

Yes, Palermo. I don't know why this city has such a bad reputation. Good food, good architecture, and we did a great food tour.

No to Cefalu. A mediocre, stony beach and a schlocky beach town (which will be empty in October).

But I wouldn't stay at an isolated resort on Sicily.

 

[ScoopKona]

Sicily is awesome.

Yes, Agrigento. The Concordia Temple looks just like the pic @ScoopKona posted above (I didn't see the torso in the foreground however). There are dozens and dozens of other temples and structures in the square kilometer Valley of the Temples (not as well reconstructed)

Yes, Syracuse. Beautiful and historic. Make sure you walk through the town square at night.

Yes, Palermo. I don't know why this city has such a bad reputation. Good food, good architecture, and we did a great food tour.

No to Cefalu. A mediocre, stony beach and a schlocky beach town (which will be empty in October).

But I wouldn't stay at an isolated resort on Sicily.

Empty in October? Win!

I'm willing to bet they aren't spending any time at the beach. So where they stay is basically irrelevant -- so long as they can easily get to a train station. The one thing I don't like is "all meals included." Nope. Nope. Nope.

I'd go someplace new every single night and eat some of the best food that can be found anywhere in the world. When I visit "best in the world" food destinations like Sicily, I don't even use the menu. "One antipasti to share. Two different primi. Two different secondi. And one formaggi. Let the chef decide."

Not once ever have they sent "the most expensive items on the menu." (But if they did, I'd just pay the bill and have a chuckle about it. Some restaurant is eventually going to use my omakasi strategy to maximize their profits. Hasn't happened in 20 years. But eventually it will.) And since typically only people in the business ever order this way, I occasionally get invited to the kitchen, where I can see a dish I like as it's made (and even make it a few times to make sure I have the technique down.) This is how I poach recipes. And this is one of the big reasons I travel -- I have dozens and dozens of meals which came from "going out to eat and making friends with the chef."

And very rarely, I order like this, and the restaurant sends out a few bites of every single dish they make. This has only happened a few times in my life. (It's not hard for a restaurant to do this -- tell the cooks to "make a little extra" of everything and put some on a small plate.) Best of all, they always charge for what I ordered. So I get a little of everything for the price of a normal dinner.

EDIT -- But there is a good chance this "all inclusive" is throwing down quality food every day. Sicily gives a damn about food in a way that most places do not. So, if they are, that isn't such a bad thing. Early breakfast and coffee, train, lunch afield, and then return for dinner. I can see that working -- if the kitchen isn't phoning it in.

 

[caterina25]

Here are the top twenty and most do not have timeshares (for those that do, Hapimag has the most)

The European Cities Most Overloaded with Tourists

Dreaming of a summer escape to your favourite European city? You may want to think twice about these locations. These are the most overloaded cities in Europe you may want to avoid during the summer. But fear not, we have also the best times to visit these destinations, so you don’t have to miss...

www.holidu.co.uk

https://cdn.statcdn.com/Infographic/images/normal/30115.jpeg

I confess, I have been to 18 of the 20 myself (all but #5 and #19)

I just returned from an Italy trip.We went to Venice ,Rome,Positano and Capri.The most crowded during day the was Venice and Capri but by evening it was better.

 

[Ken555]

Yes, Palermo. I don't know why this city has such a bad reputation. Good food, good architecture, and we did a great food tour.

I was in Palermo in May and it was great.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk