Rick Steves Ranks His Favorite And Least Favorite Europe Destinations
By Audrey Fox
VACATIONS
Worst: Bratislava
This Slovakia city is a relic with little pull for casual travelers. Steves has called out the city for being one of the worst for tourists — with a caveat.
Steves mentions that the city has undergone a significant revitalization in recent years, and he now considers it an unlikely tourist destination that's off the beaten path.
Best: Bruges
Rick Steves considers Belgium a very underrated vacation destination. He's especially fond of Bruges, a European town with picturesque canals.
Visitors can find moments of peace in Bruges that have been lost to Europe's more popular cities. Steves calls it "one of Europe's medieval gems, a wonderfully preserved town."
Worst: Blarney Stone
Blarney Castle in Ireland is full of visitors intent on kissing the Blarney Stone, as legend says that those who do so acquire the "gift of gab."
Steves includes the Blarney Stone in his list of the Top 10 European Tourist Traps. At the end of the day, he writes poetically, "the stone is slathered with spit and lipstick."
Best: Istanbul
Istanbul is one of Steves' favorite destinations. He fell in love with the city for its chaotic atmosphere and rough-around-the-edges charm back in the 1970s.
Steves is particularly drawn to its "Old World magic," calling it a "rich and rewarding" experience, especially for those who have already done the Western Europe circuit.
Worst: Black Forest
The Black Forest lacks the gothic eeriness many visitors expect, as the area is just a forest. Steves believes many tourists will be let down by it.
Steves says, "the average American visitor who's seen more than three trees in one place would prefer mountainous southern Bavaria, or the countryside around the Rhine."