The Most Overrated Cities In Europe, According To Rick Steves' Travel Guide

Rick Steves is one of the most famous travel writers in the world, and Europe is his specialty. Along with his team of cowriters, he's published multiple editions of his 24 guidebooks, many of which are bestsellers. He visits Europe for around a hundred days each year, and takes thousands of tourists on guided trips to some of his favorite destinations. As part of his enterprise, he employs a talented team of other travel experts, including Cameron Hewitt who Steves calls, "well-traveled, smart, and insightful."

During his career with Rick Steves' Europe Inc., Hewitt has worked in the Travel Center, as a tour guide, and as a co-writer, researcher, and editor of the guidebooks. Like Steves, he spends around 100 days of each year in Europe doing research. He also is the author of Cameron's Travels, a blog that is featured on Steves' website.

Throughout his journeys, Hewitt has fallen in love with many small towns and big cities. He's also visited places that he felt didn't live up to their reputations as incredible destinations. In an article posted on Rick Steves' website, he discussed his favorite (and least favorite) places in Europe also calling attention to three cities he considers overrated — Milan, Salzburg, and Vienna.

The opinion Cameron Hewitt has of the city of Salzburg is low, to say the least. In a rather harsh blog post entitled, "My Best Advice for Salzburg: Get Out of Town" he likens the city to, "a sofa covered in plastic so nobody spills anything on it." Salzburg is best known for being the birthplace of the genius composer Wolfgang Armadeus Mozart as well as for its beautiful architecture. It's also famous due to a starring role in the iconic film "The Sound Of Music" which follows the beloved Von Trapp family as they flee from Nazi occupied Austria. Nestled within the majestic Alps, it's considered by many travelers to be the most beautiful city in Austria and one of the most romantic cities in the world.

Salzburg's picturesque Old Town will transport you back in time as you wander the narrow streets surrounded by towering baroque-style buildings. It's one of Europe's most walkable cities and the Historic Centre has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A few highlights include Salzburg Cathedral, DomQuartier, and the Mirabell Gardens. The epic Hohensalzburg Fortress, the largest preserved castle in Central Europe, looms nearby. Originally constructed in the year 1077 to protect the archbishops, it is now full of fascinating museums. From the castle, you can enjoy epic panoramic views of the city.

Even with all of the awesome historic sights in Salzburg, it's just not Hewitt's' cup of tea. He thinks it is too "sterile" and "feels more like a theme park than a city." Although he does consider part of his problem with the city is that he's mostly visited during gloomy weather. "When the sun comes out, Salzburg springs to life," he conceded in his blog post.

Milan – nicknamed the "fashion capital of the world" is one of Italy's largest cities. It's known for design, art, architecture, and delicious Italian food. Millions of tourists visit Milan each year, but according to Cameron Hewitt — the city is overrated.

"Most of downtown Milan lacks the charm of smaller Italian cities," Hewitt wrote in a blog post. He also referred to the city as, "a snarl of tram tracks, double-parked motorinos, and sterile bank headquarters." He considered the hip artsy neighborhood of Naviglio Grande, known for its cool cafes, vintage shops, and lively nightlife, pretty underwhelming. The food wasn't as exciting as he hoped and he found that the whole area was, "co-opted by tacky tourism."

Hewitt was able to find a few redeemable qualities about the city. He enjoyed exploring what he called "a few pockets of Old World Charm," throughout the city, mentioning neighborhoods in the Brera Gallery area which have cobblestone streets and medieval architecture. Milan is one of the world's best cities for clothes shopping, and Hewitt did feel that it lived up to the hype when it came to fashion. He also enjoyed attending happy hour, or aperitivo, with the locals.

Perhaps Cameron Hewitt just isn't a fan of Austria as a whole, because the city of Vienna also made his list of the three most overrated cities in Europe. Perhaps his distaste for the country stems from his dislike for "The Sound of Music." In a Facebook post, Rick Steves mentioned that "Cameron freely admits he's not a fan of the movie ... and it shows."

In another blog post on Rick Steves website, Hewitt discussed his harsh criticism of some of Austria's most popular cities, and the iconic movie filmed there. "You may be wondering why someone who isn't a fan of the movie would be given this assignment. I would counter that someone who isn't a fan of the movie may just be the perfect person for this assignment. My steely-eyed analysis isn't clouded by gauzy memories of whiskers on kittens and schnitzel with noodles."

Fair enough, but perhaps his eyes are clouded by his distaste for the movie, because Vienna, Austria is widely considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It's the capital of Austria, and makes an ideal destination for travelers who hope to experience some Old World European Charm. The historic city was once home to multiple famous composers, and the opera is still incredibly popular amongst locals making it a must-visit destination for classical music lovers. Fans of art, architecture, and history will adore visiting Vienna's best museums. Europe's largest river, the Danube, flows just a few minutes away from the city center offering a natural oasis that's perfect for swimming during the warmer months. Vienna has been named the most livable city in the world, so even though it isn't one of Cameron Hewitt's favorite destinations, it's well worth a visit.