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London isn't overrated as a place to visit, just overpriced. Granted you can eat and drink fairly cheap if you get off the beaten track, but the tourist attractions are a rip off. However that applies all over Britain to a large degree.
Amsterdam is my nomination: it's dirty, expensive, full of British riffraff and has only one must see (Anne Frank's house). If you want to ride on canal boats admiring old buildings, and drink nice beer without lager louts/druggies on the next table, go to Bruges.
I liked Barcelona and all Spanish cities I've seen, and don't think Paris is overrated, but I agree with the sentiments about Marseille. To put it bluntly, it looks and feels like a 3rd World city. Nice, Montpellier, Perpignan are all fine places, but Marseille is a blot on the southern French coast.
Strange, because I never heard anyone rave about Milan.
So true. My first thought after stepping out of the train station, was " wow, I'm in the Moscow of Italy ".
Other areas though were better….but never fell in love with the place.
Paris exceeded my expectation, which was already pretty high. I doubt I will ever visit a city I like more than Paris.
I was underwhelmed by Venice. It is like a zoo. Berlin was underwhelming too, even though I didn't expect it to be all that exciting.
London's architecture is generally boring and the city not so pretty, but I like the tube and the energy.
With Venice you have to go in late spring. Not as many tourists, but still busy. A few minutes walk and you're away from the crowd and it's just old men, nuns, a few cats and laundry blowing in the wind.
What about Paris is overrated? I'd like to hear why the great sights aren't so great...not, 'but it was so dirty..etc.' Does dirt detract from the greatness of Notre Damme or the Louvre??
Does dirt detract from the greatness of Notre Damme or the Louvre??
well my friend the dirt is not the only culprit ....with it come the odors ;;;; from bum feces to cold tobacco to car exhaust to ... simply grit. Look at the color of your shower water back at the hotel after a day strolling in The Dirt Capital of Western Europe, tell me, does it smell roses ?
What about Paris is overrated? I'd like to hear why the great sights aren't so great...not, 'but it was so dirty..etc.' Does dirt detract from the greatness of Notre Damme or the Louvre??
Paris is not dirty by any stretch. The comments are probably made by some suburban American who are not used to live in highly dense cities.
I was actually not that impressed by Notre Dame or the Louvre. Paris is not really about the tourist attractions for me honestly. It is just a lively city with consistently beautiful architecture and landmarks. The city is full of exquisite things that your eyes get tired from looking at them. Plus, all the display at the local patisseries and boulangeries at each of the street corners just make it so inviting and full of life. I can walk in central Paris for a whole day without getting bored, even outside the tourist area. Can't say this about most other cities. London for example gets pretty dull outside certain districts.
Paris is not dirty by any stretch. The comments are probably made by some suburban American who are not used to live in highly dense cities.
I was actually not that impressed by Notre Dame or the Louvre. Paris is not really about the tourist attractions for me honestly. It is just a lively city with consistently beautiful architecture and landmarks. The city is full of exquisite things that your eyes get tired from looking at them. Plus, all the display at the local patisseries and boulangeries at each of the street corners just make it so inviting and full of life. I can walk in central Paris for a whole day without getting bored, even outside the tourist area. Can't say this about most other cities. London for example gets pretty dull outside certain districts.
The London tourist areas are boring to me - you need to explore beyond Trafalgar Square or Piccadilly Circus to see the real, interesting London IMO. The city is almost polycentric - the West End and the City dominate the economy/leisure aspect, but since London is a city made up of former towns and villages, it has many thriving and interesting local centres. My favourites are Islington and Camden Town.
I could easily visit Paris and London 10 more times.
For me, Athens was easily the most overrated.
Rome would be a distant second. Rome had it's charm, but I found it to be a huge tourist trap. Everyone trying to get their hands in your pockets.
Athens really was crap for me too. Chaotic ugly city.
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