Most Expensive Cities in Europe NOT Worth Visiting

Overview

The video argues that several well-known European cities are “expensive but not worth prioritizing” on a traveler’s first trip. The host suggests saving these destinations for later and getting better value elsewhere.

Cities Called Out

Zurich, Switzerland

• Framed as Switzerland’s pricey banking-and-shopping hub, especially around Bahnhofstrasse.
• Notes attractions such as Lake Zurich, churches, and museums, but says the overall costs don’t match the value.
• Recommends visiting Lucerne, Interlaken, or Geneva first for Switzerland.

Milan, Italy

• Acknowledges Milan’s strengths: jobs, restaurants, nightlife, and major sights including:
  • The Last Supper
  • The Duomo
  • La Scala
  • Shopping
• Still claims Milan is too costly for tourists compared with other Italian options such as Rome, Venice, Florence, and Lucca.
• Suggests leaving Milan for a later Italian trip.

Dublin, Ireland

• The host generally likes Ireland, but calls Dublin poor value for the money.
• Suggests:
  • Fly into Dublin
  • Rent a car
  • Leave quickly
• Then explore Galway, Kinsale, Killarney, and other regions—returning to Dublin only briefly at the end.

Brussels, Belgium

• Criticizes Brussels partly due to the EU-related cost environment.
• Says major attractions like Manneken Pis and some museums don’t justify the prices.
• Recommends Bruges or Ghent instead.

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

• Described as both super expensive and (referencing a previous video) unfriendly.
• Argues there’s limited “stuff to do” relative to the cost.
• Suggests visiting it later, after travelers have already seen many other major nearby countries/cities.

Frankfurt, Germany

• Portrays Frankfurt as dominated by business travel (“Manhattan” style), which drives up prices.
• Mentions positives like apple wine and museums, but says it’s not worth visiting as a destination.
• Suggests it’s mainly useful for arriving/departing or a brief stop.
• Recommends Heidelberg, Berlin, or Munich instead.

Monaco / Monte Carlo (France-side)

• Characterized as glamorous and opulent, but claims it’s “everything is expensive” with relatively few major sights.
• Suggests skipping it as a full destination.
• Recommends visiting Nice, with Monaco as a day trip.

Helsinki, Finland (and broader Nordic advice)

• Says Helsinki is pricier than the rest of Finland and less compelling for what you get.
• Recommends exploring other parts of Finland instead, especially:
  • Lake regions
  • Saunas
  • Archipelago/islands
• Also claims Copenhagen or Stockholm offer more to do, even if they remain expensive.

Oslo, Norway

• Presented as extremely expensive (the host humorously claims they don’t even drink beer there).
• Recommends using Oslo mainly as a gateway to explore:
  • Bergen
  • Fjords
  • Other nature-focused destinations
• Argues the budget goes further outside the capital.

Key Takeaway

The video’s overall message is that these cities are still worth seeing, but they’re poor “bang-for-buck” options—especially for travelers trying to prioritize value on a first Europe trip.

The host invites viewers to share other overpriced cities in the comments and mentions they have a separate video on “expensive cities worth it”, noting that Paris is on that list.

Presenters or Contributors

• Mark (Walter’s World) / Walter’s World (as referenced in the subtitles)