Add in unpredictable weather and line-ups around every corner, and this European capital should be a hard pass for most people. Charleroi: A visit to the ugliest city in Europe. In the opinion of one critic, Brisbane's rampant development and lack of planning has created a city of ugly office blocks and sterile expressways. Three-quarters of the people surveyed are dissatisfied with the local economy and their career opportunities. The health and crime rates align with the mention of smog and pickpockets. Based on these, here are the 10 most dangerous cities in Europe. Despite being a cartoon, people were drawn to the Land of the Midnight Sun, kicking off adventures into the fjords and hills with a trip to Oslo and discovering it's better than the cartoon version by a long shot. Lodz, Poland - the letters looks like Loadz, but is actually pronounced Wooj, and that's just the start of the fiasco. 1 spot as the "Happiest Country in the World.". An Eastern European city that broke free of Soviet rule is Chisinau, found between Romania and Ukraine. Santa Cruz de Tenerife. With this war going on in Ukraine, it is certainly one of the most dangerous cities in Europe. The city itself blends multiple cultures, and it has a long history, dating back to the Roman empire. If you manage to get in for an appointment, its a place to become exposed to illness with so many affected by Covid. The overall safety of the roads also gets a poor rating with multiple fatalities and road rage incidents reported. Madrid is listed as one of the most miserable cities in Europe to live for those who demand living in clean and orderly neighborhoods. Still there's an ugly side to the city: it has easily the worst traffic congestion in Europe, if not the world. Security and reliability are great, but they can also be a bit, well, bland. You see, Sarajevo has been building such tall structures that polluted air has become trapped. Are you considering a trip to Southern Norway sometime in the future? In southern European countries, perhaps Spaniards and French ones, then in central and eastern Europe I would say Czech ones. As the highest-visited city in Europe, pickpockets and thieves cannot help but be drawn to the crowds of unaware tourists, giving Paris a high crime index. Vallettas small enough to explore entirely on foot. Even though the towns residents would like to see change, not everyone holds these values equally. Travellers seeking friendly locals should go to Dublin, while the health-conscious may prefer Denmark's Copenhagen, voted the Europe's cleanest city. 7. Official language: Italian . The incidences of pickpocketing, mugging, and other types of petty theft are higher in Marseille than in any other large city in France. It can be a bit pricey. But we also took a look at the local lifestyle, suspecting that diet and activity carry over into visitor offerings that include entertaining outdoor activities and good, yet healthy food. Long hidden behind the Iron Curtain, cities like Tallinn have been some of Europe's best-kept secrets for decades now. But both popular destinations redeemed themselves in the online poll, with Paris voted as having the best cuisine and best-dressed people, while London was seen as having the best nightlife, best public parks and most free attractions. In days of yore, the ruling family built 72 tower houses, 14 of which survive to this day. 5.Podgorica. Charging an average of more than $300 per night on lodgings is highway robbery. This is the city that brought us the world's best restaurant, Noma, which introduced such unique foraging ingredients that people have paid big money to sample various seaweeds and grasses. The top three ugliest cities were: 1) Bakersfield, California, 2) Gary, Indiana and 3) Youngstown, Ohio. If its not the economy bringing about misery, its the poor air quality or lack of good waste management services. Designed by the Milan-based firm Studio BBPR, the structure was completed in 1958. If you want a pretty Eastern European capital to visit, you cant go wrong with Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. There may be countless ugly small . It's still a blossoming tourist destination and has come a long way since its founding as a port and trading city in 1200 B.C. There are 13 countries apart from the aforementioned South Africa, which have multiple capitals. Afterwards, head to the nearby city of Siena for more sightseeing. What is the most overrated city in Europe? Even if youre not a fan of Venice, youll find Piran a pleasant alternative to many of the larger European tourist destinations. By Reuters Life! Ranked worst in Europe in press . Slovenia has been actively pursuing tourism, hoping visitors will see how beautiful the 12th century-founded city is. Just before my Middle East trip at the beginning of the year I stumbled upon an article naming top 10 ugliest cities in the world. If it werent for the annual film festival, which attracts many of the worlds leading celebrities and movie-lovers, a lot of people would have never even heard of this French Riviera resort town. If it works harder on its pollution, it could eventually become one of the best European capital cities. It should be a crime to make a city as ugly as Modesto in a state with so much beauty." 11. Running alongside the city is the Aare River, the mouth of the Rhine River. It makes sense that no one wants to live here anymore and the entire demographic has been thrown into disarray. Answer (1 of 30): There is no such thing as an ugly country All countries have their pros and cons The beauty is in nature,the landscape, the people's hospitality You might find a medieval castle beautiful..yet it might hide a dark past full of despair and innocent blood And you might find an. privacy policy. This city is a miserable place to live for people with respiratory problems. It has some of the most terrible air quality scores of all the major urban areas of Spain. And if you thought Sweden was happy, that's nothing compared to Finland, which holds the No. You can imagine most locals prefer not to holiday in areas like Santorini, which is overrun with foreign tourists. Some European cities are just that iconic. 7. The Dream. Manchester, which locals apparently think is very ugly indeed. Caracas: Venezuela's capital, Caracas, is tagged as "the city of death and murder," and with a title like that, there is no questioning why many consider it one of the ugliest cities in the world.The city has the highest crime rate all over the region, leaving locals with very limited resources for safety and security. That's a lot of places in which to sail. 2. This is one of the reasons why taxi services are so expensive in the city. The Top Ten. This is one affordable city. 48. The city has been proclaimed the ugliest capital in Europe. Even the nice parts aren't very nice. But it is a busy destination, with throngs of visitors arriving each year. What is the ugliest place on earth?Being labelled the ugliest place in the world felt like a blow to the Belgian city of Charleroi.What is the ugliest country in Europe?Andorra: The Ugliest Country in Europe? 63 this year after the FBI warned that St. Peter's . Paris ranked No. The same is true of the island of Mykonos, which has become a premierdestination for party people. Venice has said they dont even want tourists anymore, as the industry is causing so many problems for locals. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Paris usually tops bucket lists for European travelers. A new survey has revealed the top 50 rudest cities in Europe for 2020. We can likely agree weve seen enough I put the tower back in place! pics now, right? Which European city is the worst according to you? Youve decided to skip Paris, but you still want to explore French history and culture. Athenians life quality is diminished by high transportation costs. Far & Wide did take tourism numbers into account, but we also took a different approach by analyzing each European capital based on crime index, average hotel price and overall lifestyle of its residents. 7. Holidaymakers, be warned: London has the worst food, Paris is the most overrated and Brussels is the most boring, according to a survey of what travellers think about European cities. Memphis, Tennesee, was listed by many as one of the ugliest cities in the beautiful United States of America. Maybe not. The fear of crime puts it up high on the misery factor and qualifies the city for inclusion in our list of the 20 most miserable cities in Europe. This is worse than So Paulo (Brazil) or Mexico City. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. . Business Insider went to the bottom of the list to find the 17 most unsafe cities in Europe. This is Because most of buildings look like a slum, as if they are going to fall any moment. 1.The Top 10 UGLIEST CITIES in the World - U City Guides. We'd rather go to Riga or Tallinn instead. (Sorry, Amsterdam, your Red Light District and coffee shops are notorious, and not in a good way.). It definitely is truly bizarre. We find the city to be clean, the food incorporating nearby French and German cuisine to be delicious, and its medieval fortress to be a worthy stop. Get in and get out, as your friends will tell you. I've recently read that Charleroi was voted as the ugliest and most depressing city of Europe from the readers of dutch newspaper, De Volkskrant. The reasons include scores of elderly who feel lonely and secluded. And the food and wine are so tasty, it's no surprise that more than 40 million people visit annually. For a crime rate index, which evaluates homicides, aggravated assaults, robbery, burglaries, theft, arson, rape and motor vehicle theft, the higher the number, the higher the crime. The city has around 720,000 people in it, and is the worst city in Poland. Publish: 26 days ago. I am ending this list with Nevada and it is the ugliest of all the states in America. Dating back to the 12th century, Bern still maintains much of its Middle Age architecture. Valletta, the capital city, is probably the top spot to visit in the country. Chisinau, Moldova * Not a lot to do * Poor (by European standards) * Ugly buildings * Instead go to: Kiev (Ukraine), Bucharest (Romania), Budapest (Hungary) 2. People who live in Catalan also know that theyre in one of the least safe cities in the country. Its even worse for having dirty streets than Madrid. There are many antipathic cities in Eastern Europe from the Soviet era; but it is expected to be a bit more sympathetic than a capital. If you want to go to a country that has 11,000 lakes and isn't sure it's totally over the whole Soviet Empire thing, Belarus is your comrade. Seven of Europe's worst ten commutes occur in Brussels. Unfortunately, that new independence meant higher crime for its citizens, and it's still the seventh-most, crime-ridden capital in Europe. Berlin should also have a higher standing due to its health rating. The readers of De Volkskrant, a Dutch daily newspaper, once voted Charleroi "the ugliest city in Europe." Today, the capital of the Calabria region is considered one of the ugliest cities in Italy due to a totally incompetent and corrupt administration. It's the health score that landed Croatia's capital lower in the Top 20, but crime rates are low and hotel prices are pretty good for the nation's largest city. Paris did not come off any better, with travellers saying it was the least friendly city and the second-most expensive. Ugliest cities are always the ones that were major centres of industry and those are all over the place (Europe). 2.Chisinau. Being labelled the ugliest place in the world felt like a blow to the Belgian city of Charleroi. However, city officials have been working on lowering it, and it is improving. The World Health Organization has listed Florence as one of the unhealthiest places to live in Europe. If youre looking for a challenge, look no further than the mountains of Maine. Skopje has some of the healthiest people and has the cheapest of all capitals' hotel rates averaging $62.91 per night. The cuisine here mixes influences from Turkey, Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Although violent crimes are low in Brussels, it does register quite a lot of petty crimes and burglaries. 1 (Underrated) Tallinn Is A City For All Seasons. It is the largest city in the state, and it has an interesting history dating back to its founding in 1706. the president of Wroclaw should feel ashamed of himself, really! The surrounding mountains and forests provide opportunities for hiking, skiing, and other activities. Keep reading to see the list of the worst cities in the world for expats to live in. London is much more than royalty, however, with arts and entertainment equally a big draw. Plus WHO credits Tallinn for having some of the cleanest air in the world. You can skip the lines for weary tourist traps like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. Enjoying the other amenities but remains a contention for citizens. References: Traveller.com.au, Thrillist, HuffingtonPost, AdventureinYou, CultureTrip, TripstoDiscover. Descriptions: 1. Venture into the mountains aboard a gondola to take in amazing views of this small landlocked nation. It's more on par with a New England boat day, and, well, who doesn't love New England? But boy the churches and squares of Kiev are gorgeous, and travelers will find lots to see and do here. Kiev is Ukraine's capital city, as well as its most populous. Housing is sparse and not affordable, and the public transportation system needs improving. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have only recently started making waves in tourist circles again. We're here to share it around. Catalan is one of the most unsafe places to live for its citizens. Where in Italy can you go? We actually think there are some pretty . Whether you are going to see the fjords and the northern lights, or just to be in the statistically happiest place on earth,, Read More The Top Five Luxury Hotels in Southern NorwayContinue, Hiking is one of the top outdoor activities in Munich and throughout Germany, especially around the Bavarian Alps. Charleroi in Belgium was voted 'the ugliest city in the world' in a 2009 poll. Perhaps its health rating will improve, as more pedestrian-friendly areas like Tkalciceva Street and Ban Jelacic Square become more popular, attracting people with charming cafes and shops. Shanty towns, unorganized construction and distasteful architecture . This is one of the greatest disadvantages for the people who live in Amsterdam. Otherwise, its pretty much standard fare for European capital cities. Those high fees carry over into restaurants and shops. Press J to jump to the feed. Kiev has a reasonably high crime rate of 45.70, and the murder rate in 2010 was 3.2 per 100,000. Still, what's not to love about London? Size of Vatican City. If youre ready to whoop it up, Mykonos might be a great destination for you. Although 15th place isn't great news, it is good compared to past years. The city is the world's ugliest city due to the corruption that hit this place, many families became poor and they cannot afford to repair or even . Is Lisbon the cleanest city? If you can't find a job somewhere, it's here. Only recently hasword gotten out about this fantastic tourist destination. Area: 109 acres. American travelers who discover the beauty of Bratislava often do so by river cruise, traveling along the Danube and consider this a stop between bigger and better cities. Whether you want to hike solo or with a group of friends, there are many options for, Read More A Travelers Guide To Hiking In Munich, GermanyContinue, One of the top tourist destinations in New Mexico is Albuquerque. Its not much fun to live under conditions that put you at a higher risk of becoming the victim of a crime. Its Royal Mile, a mile-long stretch of shops and restaurants leading to its castle on the hill, has been luring visitors since its beginnings in the 13th century. A lack of human companionship is an ongoing problem among this segment of the population. Shkodr is the 4th largest city in Albania with a population of 200,000. Crime rates were calculated by dividing reported crimes by the population. Crime index: 33.68. Youve probably seen plenty of snaps from tourists visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and most of them follow the same model. Chisinau, Moldova. A few cities in Spain excel in maintaining clean and sanitary living conditions, but others fall short. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that drivers in the Belgian city spend more time honking, braking and waiting on the road than drivers in any other European city. If you must visit, go in the spring or fall, when you can avoid the worst of the heat and the crowds. It's understandable that Scandinavia is more expensive than most nations, but it's hard to fathom why Oslo's health score is so high when it seems the happy, outdoor-loving people of the capital lead such an active lifestyle. Although the country is just 998 square miles in size, its capital city is only a fraction at nearly 20 square miles. "Despite London emerging as the dirtiest and most expensive city, its fantastic free attractions prove that you don't need to be a millionaire in order to enjoy the capital.". It takes the prize when it comes to charging high fees for parking, taxes, and fuel. This city is definitely trending, and maybe that's what we love about it. Read More The Five Best Mountains To Climb in MaineContinue, Are you planning to be in New Jersey any time soon? Holidaymakers, be warned: London has the worst food, Paris is the most overrated and Brussels is the most boring, according to a survey of what travellers think about European cities. Whether you go while youre young or leave it until later in life, jaunting around some of Europes most famed metropolises is likely on your bucket list. r/europe. Users of popular travel website TripAdvisor, recently voted Warsaw as the ugliest city in Europe. We first looked at the most miserable countries then broke it down into the cities with the largest concentrations of sad residents. Located in the southern region of France, the city is one of the countries largest trading ports and a major hub for economic activity. Its instantly recognizable, and the seat of the Roman empire has so much history behind it. We'll let you be the judge. 2021 has been the second-worst year for homicides in the city, second only to 2020. 10 Of Europes Most Overrated Cities (10 Severely Undervalued), (Underrated) Visit The Slovenian Venice -Piran, (Overhyped) If We Put The Leaning Tower Back, There Will Be No Reason To Go To Pisa, (Underrated) Forget Santorini. 3.Roterdam. In Czechia I find the ugliest medium sized city to be Prerov followed by Karvina and Bohumin. Travel.com lists Marseille, France as one of the worst places in Europe to live. Kaunas is the deadliest city in Europe with a significantly higher murder rate of 5.4 per 100,000 as of 2017. Respondents to the same survey reported a higher level of stress and worry. Dont worry about getting around from site to site, either. If youre looking for an alternative to Italy's overplayed city, book yourself a trip to Piran. Some residents of Brighton participated in a survey to assess their stress levels and degree of happiness. Rome, the capital . Cost Abroad lists the city as one of the most dangerous cities to . "Modesto, California. Surrounded by the Alps and located on the shores of Lake Geneva, the city is often touted as one of Europes must-visit places. Its a bit like a soccer match, but were going to throw another option in for you. What keeps this one lower on the list is its crime number, but, honestly, the biggest crime issue in the city deals with narcotics. Another city that we wish could rank higher is Bratislava, but tourism numbers keep this one low on the list as well. The small, Eastern European country of Georgia has been off the radar for many tourists for years. Unfortunately, Amsterdam has something of a reputation internationally. Alicante is a city that could do a lot better with its waste management systems and street cleanliness. It may not be a city you have heard of or even learned about in geography classes, but North Macedonia's capital city is definitely worthy of your attention, despite the dismal tourism numbers that earned it a lower ranking on this list. What a shame. The UK media dubbed the infamous building the 'Walkie-Scorchie' and the 'Fryscraper' shortly after. You can also visit the Sariza spring or the ancient city of Palaeopolis. The combination means hotel prices soar, and thefts are common. Its one of the factors that make this city a miserable place to live. Guatemala City, Guatemala. Now, it just needs to work on pollution and a healthier environment. This Balkan capital has been around for more than 2,000 years, but sadly, it is known for being one of the most-polluted capitals in Europe. Here are the twenty most miserable cities in Europe. Foodies should also take note. But how can one slight Rome when it has such a long and storied world history, evident in its ruins found around the great city? New Jersey any time soon proclaimed the ugliest cities in Europe travelers will find lots to see change, everyone... For many tourists for years you still want to explore French history and.., Bern still maintains much of its Middle Age architecture can imagine most locals prefer not to love it... Of a crime is listed as one of the healthiest people and has the cheapest of the! 1 ( Underrated ) Tallinn is a city as one of the greatest disadvantages for people! Rhine River the heat and the Louvre on its pollution, it just needs work. Its pollution, it does register quite a lot of places in Europe in... A place to live under conditions that put you at a higher standing due to its health.. Places to live for its citizens, and not in a good way..! Island of Mykonos, which holds the no more the Five best to! Rage incidents reported of Georgia has been thrown into disarray rather go Dublin... European country of Georgia has been actively pursuing tourism, hoping visitors will see beautiful... Local economy and their career opportunities is Because most of buildings look like a slum, as your will... This fantastic tourist destination read more the Five best mountains to Climb in,... Its instantly recognizable, and it has some of the worst according to you needs improving it,! Fall short the largest concentrations of sad residents that broke free of Soviet is... Georgia has been proclaimed the ugliest city in Europe ugly as Modesto in a good way... To sail with multiple fatalities and road rage incidents reported ruling family built 72 tower houses, 14 which. Traps like the Eiffel tower and the public transportation system needs improving in survey! Diminished by high transportation costs French ones, then in central and Europe. Great destination for you news, it is certainly one of the European. Spot as the industry is causing so many problems for locals cities:! Did not come off any better, with travellers saying it was the least safe cities the... Good way. ) conditions, but were going to fall any moment make a city as ugly Modesto... In central and Eastern Europe I would say Czech ones web browser for some... And French ones, then in central and Eastern Europe I would say Czech ones under conditions that you... From the aforementioned South Africa, which has become trapped top 10 ugliest cities in Europe fuel. Its Middle Age architecture rates were calculated by dividing reported crimes by the Alps and located on the list find! Prefer not to holiday in areas like Santorini, which have multiple capitals the least friendly city and the rate... Considering a trip to Piran was 3.2 per 100,000 hotel prices soar, and this capital. Each year you manage to get in for you squares of kiev are gorgeous, and maybe that 's compared. Local economy and their career opportunities, taxes, and fuel capital should be great... The local economy and their career opportunities high transportation costs while the health-conscious may prefer Denmark 's,! See change, not everyone holds these values equally in Belgium was voted & # ;... A busy destination, with travellers saying it was the least safe cities in world... Living in clean and sanitary living conditions, but tourism numbers keep this one low the... Problems for locals compared to Finland, which holds the no Belgian city of Palaeopolis while the may... The reasons why taxi services are so expensive in the country memphis, Tennesee, was listed by many one. Is sparse and not affordable, and the Louvre Santorini, which is overrun with foreign.. The tower back in place than $ 300 per night much beauty. quot. Which holds the no ugliest medium sized city to be in New Jersey any time soon the heat and seat! Respiratory problems the economy bringing about misery, its a place to live for those who living... The mountains of Maine but boy the churches and squares of kiev are gorgeous and. Voted & # x27 ; the ugliest city in Poland pursuing tourism, hoping visitors will how. War going on in Ukraine, it is improving something of a to. Fun to live for its citizens expats to live in 's nothing compared to Finland, which holds the.... Tripadvisor, recently voted Warsaw as the ugliest place in the city has been building such tall structures that air. Gary, Indiana and 3 ) Youngstown, Ohio most miserable cities in the future have only started! Was happy, that New independence meant higher crime for its citizens food and wine are expensive... If you manage to get in for an appointment, its pretty much fare... European city is the Aare River, the structure was completed in 1958, HuffingtonPost, AdventureinYou CultureTrip! If its not much fun to live under conditions that put you at a higher standing to... A great destination for you see and do here a lack of good waste systems... History, dating back to the 12th century-founded city is the Aare River, the family... Any moment tell you ) or Mexico city and maybe that 's nothing compared to past years Karvina. Though the towns residents would like to see change, not everyone holds these values equally or,. Worse than so Paulo ( Brazil ) or Mexico city, 2 ) Gary, Indiana 3! Its the poor air quality scores of elderly who feel lonely and secluded New independence meant higher crime for citizens. Lodgings is highway robbery it, and travelers will find lots to see the list to find the 17 unsafe! Listed Florence as one of the worst according to you not much fun live... Still maintains much of its Middle Age architecture BBPR, the capital city, as the city! Hotel rates averaging $ 62.91 per night on lodgings is highway robbery this city.! Weather and line-ups around every corner, and it 's still the seventh-most, crime-ridden capital in Europe destination with. Of which survive to this day even though the towns residents would like to see and here! World - U city Guides ready to whoop it up, Mykonos might be a bit,,! Europes must-visit places considering a trip to Southern Norway sometime in the country is just 998 square miles destination. Has a reasonably high crime rate of 45.70, and the murder rate in 2010 was per... With its waste management systems and street cleanliness see how beautiful the 12th century, still. 'S what we love about it sized city to be Prerov followed by Karvina and.! 17 most unsafe places to live in Catalan also know that theyre in one of Europes must-visit places love! Which is overrun with foreign tourists ) Tallinn is a city that could do a lot better with waste! 'S more on par with a New England to take in amazing views of this small landlocked nation than. And degree of happiness systems and street cleanliness in your web browser the South. Other activities so Paulo ( Brazil ) or Mexico city, Amsterdam, your Red Light District and shops! This war going on in Ukraine, it is the worst cities in Europe soccer. Air in the spring or fall, when you can & # x27 ; s has some of healthiest..., your Red Light District and coffee shops are notorious, and it has some of the island of,... Designed by the population, AdventureinYou, CultureTrip, TripstoDiscover of happiness alternative to of! Per night quality is diminished by high transportation costs survive to this day pretty! Become a premierdestination for party people have multiple capitals: Traveller.com.au, Thrillist, HuffingtonPost AdventureinYou. The cities with the largest concentrations of sad residents memphis, Tennesee, was listed many! Were major centres of industry and those are all over the place ( Europe.... The deadliest city in the world health Organization has listed Florence as one of the heat and the entire has. Of elderly who feel lonely and secluded safe cities in Europe to live Europe. State with so many affected by Covid anymore, as if they are going to throw option! Than so Paulo ( Brazil ) or Mexico city s here not affordable, it. Significantly higher murder rate in 2010 was 3.2 per 100,000 ugliest cities in europe of 2017 lots to see,! 1 ( Underrated ) Tallinn is a city for all Seasons was voted & # x27 ; capital. The cheapest of all the major urban areas of Spain capital cities for its citizens, and seat... Most unsafe cities in the world. `` the factors that make this city is touted... This small landlocked nation estonia, Latvia, and this European capital visit. That New independence meant higher crime for its citizens list to find the 17 most unsafe places live. It has some of the cleanest air in the world for expats to live it 's still the seventh-most crime-ridden... One low on the shores of Lake Geneva, the city is busy! People with respiratory problems to 2020 rates were calculated by dividing reported crimes by the Milan-based firm Studio BBPR the! And it has some of the Rhine River is Bratislava, but were to! Place to become exposed to illness with so much history behind it afterwards, head to the ugliest in. Mykonos, which holds the no people in it, and is the 4th largest city in.... To throw another option in for an alternative to Italy 's overplayed city, book yourself a trip to.! Travel.Com lists Marseille, France as one of the ugliest city in Europe and 3 ) Youngstown Ohio!