'I visited 17 European cities in a year — skip these 3 for a better time'
One woman has revealed the three European destinations she'd avoid going to again, having visited 17 different cities last year. Sooyeon, who lives in San Francisco in the US, went on the adventure of a lifetime to visit the continent.
Having stopped off at more than a dozen cities, she found herself disappointed by three locations in particular. On her TikTok channel @soos. foods, she revealed: "These are three cities I probably would've skipped," before clarifying, "Doesn't mean these are bad destinations, I just didn't enjoy them as much as other cities."
Madrid topped her list of disappointments, reports the Manchester Evening News. Despite spending two and a half days there in 2022 following a visit to Barcelona, she confessed that the coastal city won her over far more than Spain's majestic capital.
She explained: "The main reason is because I went to both Madrid and Barcelona on the same trip, and I feel like Madrid didn't have as many interesting things to do for me at least, other than the palace and museums.
"...If I were to do this trip again, I would probably skip Madrid and spend more time in Barcelona." Catania proved another destination that failed to meet Sooyeon's hopes.
Situated on Sicily's eastern coastline, the ancient port city initially appeared like a perfect 'Italian holiday' destination, yet it didn't match her expectations. Sooyeon shared: "The city just felt a little run down and not the safest.
"People were also not afraid to stare at you - I'm sure they weren't trying to be rude or mean, but it felt a little uncomfortable as a female traveller." Berlin also featured on Sooyeon's list, though her concerns with the German capital differed from her gripes about Catania and Madrid.
She recognised Berlin's 'welcoming' atmosphere and its selection of 'cool cafes, shops and roads', yet felt something was missing. "Don't get me wrong, I would love to live in Berlin," Sooyeon confessed.
"But, as a tourist, I feel like the main attractions are history museums which I personally am not the biggest on, especially because at this point on my trip I was getting severe museum fatigue."
She also observed that the dining scene was rather international, making it trickier for her to discover genuine local dishes, which remains a priority during her travels.
"The food scene was also pretty international, so I didn't find as many options for authentic local food, which is something I try to eat everywhere I go. Again, this is just my experience - what doesn't work for me, could work for you."
Sooyeon's honest assessments triggered a wave of reactions on TikTok, with users split over her views on these beloved destinations. One user championed Madrid, declaring: "I will not accept any Madrid slander! I've been like four times and it's an incredible city."
Others urged travellers not to dismiss Catania, with one comment stating: "Everyone here pls don't skip Catania," whilst another user challenged her perception of Berlin's cleanliness: "Berlin is clean? What girl?"
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