Europe's major cities draw visitors with their unique culture, stunning sights, and a wide range of leisure activities. However, if you're planning a short trip, you'll quickly notice that popular attractions, large airports, and bustling shopping streets often attract huge crowds, leading to long wait times that can test your patience in many cities in Europe.
A recent study by the car rental company Avis highlights cities in Europe where travelers tend to lose significant time due to long queues or delays when transferring from the airport to the city center. For tourists, it's beneficial to consider alternatives to avoid the stresses of tourism and make the most of every holiday moment.
A comprehensive analysis of nearly 3.3 million Tripadvisor reviews was conducted to identify the cities that are the most time-consuming. The research team specifically looked for terms such as "queues" and "waiting times" related to the most popular attractions in each city.
In addition, the study considered travel time from the airport to the city center, average waiting times at the airports, and mobile internet speeds in the area. These factors were included in the ranking to account for time lost due to slow network connectivity in major cities. In these ten European metropolises, time crawls at a snail's pace:
Athens
In Athens, the Greek capital, travelers often face significant delays—long queues at the airport, a sluggish mobile phone network, and large crowds at popular attractions like the Acropolis can make the experience challenging. However, there is a silver lining: the journey from the airport to the city center is quicker than in other cities in Europe.
Istanbul
Istanbul ranks second among the most time-consuming cities. The queues in front of attractions are longer here than anywhere else, mobile Internet is constantly active, and the journey from the airport to the city center takes nearly 40 minutes. However, there's a silver lining: airport travel is relatively quick for passengers.
Berlin
Traveling in Berlin can also be quite time-consuming. The journey from the airport to the city center can be frustrating, and the mobile internet connection could be faster. Additionally, regarding queues at popular attractions and waiting times at the airport, Berlin ranks somewhere in the middle compared to other cities.
London
Long lines at popular attractions and the long trips from Heathrow and Gatwick to the city center make every visit to London a test of patience. However, the city does offer fast mobile Internet and surprisingly short waiting times at the airports, which provide a slight relief amidst the stresses of urban life in London.
Lisbon
Lisbon ranks fifth in the list of time-consuming challenges for visitors. Long queues at the airport and popular attractions can test travelers' patience. However, the journey to the city center is relatively short, an advantage setting Lisbon apart from many other major cities.
Krakow
In Krakow, things often move at a snail's pace. From slow mobile Internet to long queues at the airport, patience is essential. While the travel time from the airport to the city center and waiting times for attractions are average compared to other cities, Krakow must excel in these areas.
Madrid
Traveling in Madrid requires a good deal of patience and strong nerves. The famous attractions are often very crowded, and even at the airport, passengers frequently face long wait times. However, the availability of mobile Internet and the relatively quick travel time to the city center provide some relief. Overall, Madrid does well in these aspects, balancing the challenges of tourism with accessibility.
Milan
Traveling from the airport to the city center in Milan can be time-consuming, so patience is essential when navigating the sights and using mobile Internet. Surprisingly, things at the airport typically move along quickly.
Warsaw
Mobile Internet is increasingly frustrating in Warsaw, with only a few European cities performing worse speed. The drive to the city center and the waiting times at the airport can be equally nerve-wracking, placing the Polish capital in the middle of the pack. On a positive note, travelers can still enjoy the sights without significant delays.
Rome
Rome offers impressively fast waiting times at the airport, but unfortunately, that's where the good news ends. Visitors often find themselves stuck in crowds at major attractions, the mobile internet speed is sluggish, and the trip into the city center can be lengthy. Plan for an extra day to tackle your must-see list and fully enjoy all the Italian capital offers.
