London and Paris might be two of Europe’s most visited cities but they’re completely ‘overrated’ as holiday destinations. 

That’s according to Luke Hoogmoed (@lukepatrickh), a 25-year-old solo traveller from the Netherlands, who has visited 40 European countries. 

The intrepid traveller has shared his least favourite overrated European destinations and the places he thinks you should go to instead with MailOnline Travel. 

Read on to find out why the solo traveller feels a ‘sense of discomfort’ in London and which European capital he thinks has streets ‘filled with trash and rats’….

Swap Oslo for Tallinn 

The travel pro suggests switching the ‘boring’ Norwegian capital for Estonia’s ‘fairytale-like’ capital instead. 

‘I actually found Oslo a bit boring,’ explains Luke. ‘In my opinion, you visit Norway for its nature, not its cities. Oslo feels too grey and sterile for me. 

‘Tallinn has Nordic charm, a medieval Old Town and lower prices. It’s like stepping into a fairytale, making the contrast even more striking.’ 

Ditch Amsterdam for Wroclaw 

Luke, who is from the Netherlands, explains: ‘Of course, the capital of my country has many unique and beautiful places, but if you’re looking for a safer, cleaner and more affordable alternative, I’d choose Wroclaw.’ 

Wroclaw, pronounced ‘Vrots-waff’, is a Polish city that’s not far from the Czech border. 

Luke reveals: ‘Wroclaw offers a similar vibe to Amsterdam, but without the crowds, high prices and littered streets. The architecture in many Polish cities resembles that of Amsterdam.’ 

Exchange Antwerp for Gdansk 

A Belgian port city, Antwerp is ‘one of the least appealing cities in Europe’, according to Luke. He explains this is ‘due to safety concerns, lack of cleanliness and overall aesthetic.’ 

The travel expert recommends exploring the Polish port city of Gdansk instead, which he describes as ‘far more beautiful’. He loves that Gdansk is ‘affordable, safe and clean’ with ‘amazing buildings’ to see. 

Leave London off the list for Prague 

It might be one of Europe’s leading tourist destinations but the British capital is overrrated, according to Luke, who says he feels ‘a sense of discomfort’ there. 

Luke reveals: ‘I’ve been to London a couple of times, and while I recognise its magnificence in terms of history, architecture and culture, I personally find it overwhelming.

‘I don’t want to offend any Brits, but every time I visit I feel a sense of discomfort. It’s likely due to my personal preference as I’m not a fan of big, busy and luxurious cities like London and Paris. However, I can’t ignore the safety concerns. Every time I search for “stabbing London”, I see news articles from just a few hours ago. That’s not reassuring.’ 

For Luke, the Czech capital is a better – and cheaper – holiday destination than the Big Smoke. He explains: ‘Prague boasts stunning architecture, rich history and a vibrant atmosphere – at a fraction of London’s cost. Plus it’s much safer. In my opinion, it’s the most beautiful capital in Europe.’ 

Desert Paris for Budapest 

Luke admits: ‘Paris is Paris and you simply have to visit it at least once to see its iconic landmarks. Even the places I consider overrated have their unique charms.’ 

But, the traveller says that he thinks the Hungarian capital ‘surpasses Paris in almost every way.’ 

Luke explains: ‘Budapest remains authentically Hungarian despite being a major tourist destination. And while it can get busy, it’s still very safe. I’ve visited Budapest seven times and I’ve never had anything less than a perfect stay.’ 

Despite this, Luke says: ‘You won’t find the Eiffel Tower in Budapest, so I still encourage you to visit all the destinations on the list and form your own opinions rather than blindly following me.’ 

Change Bodrum for Antalya 

The seaside resort of Bodrum is Turkey’s ‘most overrated’ holiday destination, says Luke. 

He claims: ‘It no longer has an authentic Turkish atmosphere, instead it has become a resort town catering to the elite.

‘Antalya [another seaside resort] on the other hand, still retains a rich Turkish culture and history. I’d recommend visiting Antalya over Bodrum for this reason. Plus, the food in Antalya is absolutely incredible.’ 

Substitute Stockholm for Riga 

Luke’s issue with Stockholm is similar to his problem with Oslo. He says he finds the Swedish capital ‘quite dull and grey’. 

The travel pro adds: ‘In my experience, it’s also surprisingly dirty and generally not that interesting. Again, you visit Scandinavia for its nature, not necessarily for its cities.’ 

Luke prefers Latvia’s capital, Riga. He explains: ‘It has a similar Nordic feel but is more authentic, safer and more affordable. I might be biased since I studied in Riga for a year and the city feels like my second home but I genuinely believe it’s a better option.’ 

Abandon Brussels for Ghent 

The Belgian capital hasn’t impressed Luke, who says the city has streets ‘filled with trash and rats’. 

He explains: ‘I’ve been to Brussels twice and both times my experience was disappointing. Let’s start with the positives, the historic centre is beautiful, the fries and waffles are delicious and the atmosphere almost feels like a theme park. 

‘But the moment you step outside the old town, it’s a different story. The streets are filled with trash and rats and the homelessness problem is striking. It’s a shame for a city with such a rich history. 

‘Instead, I’d recommend visiting Ghent – a well-maintained, charming student city [in Belgium] that’s welcoming to travellers.’ 

Chuck Barcelona for Porto

Barcelona has struggled to cope with overtourism in recent years and it’s for that reason that Luke recommends swerving it. 

The keen traveller says: ‘Barcelona has simply become overrun with tourists to the point where it’s no longer enjoyable.’

He reveals: ‘Porto [in Portugal] offers colourful architecture, amazing food and world-class wine – all at better prices than Barcelona. Plus it has fewer pickpockets. Porto is also more affordable, quieter and cleaner.  And yes, it has beaches too!’ 

Drop Venice for Perast 

Luke has put Europe’s ‘Floating City’ on his overrated list because it tends to be ‘overwhelmed by tourists’. He hopes that the city’s measures to ‘address the issue’, such as a tourist tax, might be able to ‘restore some of its authenticity’. 

In the meantime, he recommends heading to Perast in Montenegro. The traveller reveals: ‘Perast is one of the most breathtaking places I’ve ever seen. 

‘While it’s not identical to Venice, Perast outshines Venice in terms of safety, cleanliness, affordability and authenticity.’ 

Want more from Luke? Follow him on Instagram – @lukepatrickh.