7 overly-romanticized places in Europe that American's need to stop wasting their time on (and where to go instead)

You know what? I'm going to say it: the Eiffel Tower is overrated.

There, I said it. After spending the better part of a decade in the luxury hospitality world and traveling to Europe annually for culinary inspiration, I've learned something that might ruffle some feathers. Many of the places Americans dream about visiting in Europe are tourist traps that'll leave you disappointed, broke, and wondering why you flew 8 hours for this.

Look, I get it. We've all grown up with these romanticized images of European destinations. Movies, Instagram, and travel blogs have sold us on certain spots that supposedly define the European experience. But after watching countless Americans shuffle through overcrowded attractions looking more exhausted than enchanted, I think it's time for some real talk.

The truth is, Europe has so much more to offer than the same tired circuit everyone else is doing. So let's break down the places you can skip and where you should go instead.

1. Skip the Eiffel Tower, explore Montmartre instead

Every year, 7 million people wait in line for hours to ride an overpriced elevator up a metal tower. You'll spend most of your time surrounded by selfie sticks and aggressive street vendors trying to sell you miniature towers for 20 euros.

Here's what you should do instead: spend your day wandering Montmartre. This is the Paris that actually feels like Paris. Cobblestone streets, local artists, tiny cafes where people still smoke and argue about philosophy. Head to the back streets behind Sacré-Cœur early in the morning. You'll find bakeries where locals grab their morning croissants and small squares where life moves at a human pace.

During my last visit, I stumbled upon a tiny wine bar run by a former chef who'd given up his Michelin pursuit to pour natural wines and serve simple charcuterie. That three-hour lunch taught me more about French culture than any monument ever could.

2. Forget Times Square of Europe (Piccadilly Circus), discover Borough Market

Piccadilly Circus is literally just a traffic circle with giant LED screens. That's it. You'll stand there for five minutes wondering why this is famous while dodging crowds of confused tourists doing the exact same thing.

Borough Market, on the other hand, is where London actually eats. This thousand-year-old market is where you'll taste real British cheese, proper Scotch eggs, and meet the farmers who grow the produce. Go on a Thursday or Friday when it's less crowded. Grab some oysters, a pint of local ale, and watch the city rush by from the edges.

The vendors here have stories. One taught me the difference between Somerset and Welsh cheddars. Another let me try six different types of British honey. This is the London that locals love.

3. Venice's St. Mark's Square is a nightmare, head to Bologna

St. Mark's Square in summer is basically Disneyland without the rides. You'll pay 15 euros for a coffee while pigeons attack your pastry and cruise ship crowds trample through your photos. The whole experience feels like being cattle-prodded through a Renaissance theme park.

Bologna is what you actually want. Medieval towers, incredible food scene, and enough authentic Italian life to make you consider never leaving. The university here is almost 1,000 years old, which means the city has this incredible energy from all the students.

Order tagliatelle al ragù (this is where Bolognese sauce actually comes from) at a trattoria where nobody speaks English. Climb the Asinelli Tower for views without the Venice crowds. Walk the porticoed streets in the evening when locals come out for their aperitivo. This is the Italy of your imagination, just without the tourist markup.

4. Amsterdam's Red Light District is depressing, explore Utrecht instead

Can we be honest about the Red Light District? It's mostly drunk British bachelor parties, overpriced bars, and an atmosphere that makes everyone uncomfortable. You didn't fly to Europe to gawk at sex workers or dodge vomit puddles at 2 PM.

Utrecht, just 30 minutes away by train, is everything Amsterdam promises but actually delivers. Canals? Check. But these have wharf cellars turned into cafes and restaurants at water level. Bikes? Everywhere, but ridden by actual Dutch people going about their lives, not tourists crashing into each other.

The Dom Tower gives you views of the entire Netherlands on a clear day. The Saturday market around the church fills with local vendors selling everything from fresh stroopwafels to vintage vinyl. This is the Netherlands that exists beyond the coffee shops and tourist traps.

5. Santorini is an Instagram lie, try the Azores

Those blue-domed churches in Santorini? You'll wait 45 minutes in line for your turn to take the same photo as everyone else. The sunset in Oia that everyone raves about? You'll watch it shoulder-to-shoulder with 5,000 other people while someone's iPad blocks your view.

The Azores are what you're actually looking for. Volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic with hot springs, whale watching, and hiking trails that'll make you question why anyone goes anywhere else. São Miguel, the main island, has crater lakes that change color with the weather, and tea plantations that are the only ones in Europe.

I spent a week there last spring and barely saw another American. Local restaurants serve fish caught that morning. You can have an entire volcanic hot spring to yourself. The whole place feels like Iceland and Hawaii had a baby that somehow ended up Portuguese.

6. The Vatican is a crowded museum, visit Ravenna's mosaics instead

The Vatican Museums are basically a human traffic jam with some art on the walls. You'll shuffle through packed hallways, crane your neck to glimpse the Sistine Chapel ceiling for three minutes before guards shout at everyone to keep moving. The spiritual experience you're seeking gets lost in the cattle call.

Drive three hours north to Ravenna instead. This small city has Byzantine mosaics that'll make you forget all about Rome. The Basilica of San Vitale has mosaics from 547 AD that shimmer like they were made yesterday. The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is so beautiful that Carl Jung said it inspired his theories about the collective unconscious.

Best part? You can actually sit and contemplate these masterpieces. No crowds, no rush, just you and 1,500 years of artistic genius. The pasta here is pretty incredible too.

7. Finally, skip Dubrovnik's overtourism, discover Ljubljana

Dubrovnik went from hidden gem to overtouristed nightmare thanks to a certain TV show about dragons. The old town is so packed in summer you literally cannot move through the main street. Cruise ships dump thousands of day-trippers who clog everything up without contributing much to the local economy.

Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, is the secret that Dubrovnik used to be. A castle on a hill, a river running through the center with outdoor cafes lining the banks, and enough culture to keep you busy without the suffocating crowds. The whole city center is pedestrian-only, designed by the same architect who reimagined Prague.

Friday nights, the museums stay open late and the whole city turns into an outdoor party. The food scene here is absolutely exploding, with young chefs combining Italian, Austrian, and Balkan influences into something entirely new.

Final thoughts

Here's what I've learned after years of traveling: the best experiences rarely come from the places everyone tells you to visit. They come from the moment you turn down a side street, strike up a conversation with a local, or decide to skip the main attraction for something quieter.

Europe isn't a checklist of monuments to photograph. It's a living, breathing place where people work, eat, love, and argue about football. The magic happens when you stop trying to recreate someone else's vacation and start having your own experience.

Next time you're planning a European trip, ask yourself: do you want to see Europe, or do you want to experience it? Because those are two very different trips, and only one of them is worth your time and money.