Many of Europe’s most beautiful cities are just a plane ride — or sometimes even a train ride — away from the UK. In fact, some can be reached in just one hour. While destinations like Paris, Lisbon and Barcelona continue to prove popular with tourists, there’s also plenty of underrated cities and hidden gems that are worth exploring, especially when you can get there for just £20. 

If you’re feeling adventurous — or simply want to try somewhere new — one experienced traveller has done the hard work of visiting every capital city in Europe. While you might be rethinking your next destination, especially as protests against the effects of overtourism on local residents continue in some of Europe’s major cities, there are three more places the travel expert suggests you might want to skip.

In an article for Business Insider, Dale Peterson revealed that after visiting every capital city in Europe — thanks to his job as a full-time travel writer — there are three cities he wouldn’t rush to get back to as they left him feeling “underwhelmed”.

Doing a bit of research ahead of going on holiday is always important to avoid any let downs, and travelling to cities during peak season can often be a slightly less relaxing experience than if you were to go in the shoulder season. 

With such a variety of cities on the continent, whether it’s exploring Prague’s medieval old town, taking in the art on the Berlin Wall or visiting ancient ruins in Rome, here’s the cities that Dale would give a miss. 

London

Famed for Buckingham Palace, an abundance of historic pubs and world-renowned museums, the Big Smoke receives around 20million international visitors each year, but Dale said the city feels “overhyped and expensive”. 

The travel writer argued that there are “so many other worthwhile destinations in the UK” especially in the “UK’s picturesque countryside” including the likes of the Cotswolds or the Lake District. 

One other adventure traveller who runs the blog The Bucket List Mermaid had very different things to say about London, however, and said the city was “absolutely” worth the hype. 

Amsterdam

With over 100km of pretty canals, earning it the title Venice of the North, and more bikes than people, Amsterdam also made it onto Dale’s list of cities he’d never go back to. Despite attracting an estimated 20 million tourists a year too, the travel writer wasn’t convinced. 

“Unfortunately, though, I thought the center of Amsterdam felt like an overpriced theme park full of souvenir shops and crowds,” he said. 

However, one traveller on Tripadvisor described Amsterdam as a “wonderful city” and praised the “helpful citizens”. They said: “It is small and compact — easily navigated on foot and when needed, an efficient public transportation system. Combine this with great museums, interesting neighborhoods and LOTS of places to eat and drink.”

Helsinki

Located in the happiest country in the world, Helsinki is ideally located for exploring Nordic sauna culture, and last year, Condé Nast Traveller reported that it had been named the world’s most sustainable travel destination. 

But there was something missing for Dale, who said: “There’s no denying Helsinki is a clean city. But in my opinion, it feels a little too sterile, lacking in liveliness and exciting things to do.”

While it might not be for everyone, Jessica who runs the blog Bon Traveller said Helsinki is perfect for “slowing down, being connected to the outdoors, and of course, that incredible design scene” which is what makes a trip here “an experience to remember”.