So-Called 'Tourist Traps' That Rick Steves Loves

Not all tourist traps are created equal. Sometimes you can have a blast visiting an extra-touristy place, too. While hot spots like the Amalfi Coast, Venice, or Toledo may be filled with tourist trap attractions and restaurants, these destinations are still among the most beautiful in the world. Listening to the advice of travel experts like Rick Steves will help you organize your trip in the most enjoyable manner — no matter how big the crowds are.

The American TV show host and author is well-known for his love of underdog destinations and under-the-radar places. Still, there are uber-popular European getaways that Rick Steves loves despite all the shortcomings of overtourism. At the end of the day, it's not so much about where you go as it is about how you plan your time there. Let's embark on this grand tour of European destinations that often get described as "tourist traps," with Rick Steves as a guide.

There's hardly a dreamier village in the world than Hallstatt. Hugged by the crystal-clear waters of Hallstätter See and dramatically placed against an alpine backdrop, it's a photogenic delight, with its 18th-century stone Evangelical Church and streets filled with fairytale-like colored houses. Moreover, Hallstatt also boasts the oldest salt mine in the world. No wonder tourists want to see these shores, the scenery is irresistible. The surge of popularity of Hallstatt is so big that in 2023, locals blocked the tunnel leading to the village, demanding caps on daily visits.

Rick Steves writes about Hallstatt as a more peaceful alternative to Salzburg. The host recommends spending a night to fully escape the crowds. With the majority of visitors being day-trippers, staying overnight will allow you to immerse yourself better in the joys of alpine living, greet the spectacular sunrises over the lake, and have a village largely to yourself when the main visitors have boarded their tour buses and left. Hallstatt is also a getaway to the stunning Dachstein Mountains with plenty of hiking and cycling trails.

Four million. That is the number of visitors the UNESCO-protected Cinque Terre National Park received in 2023. The five dramatically perched villages on Italy's Ligurian coast are among the most alluring European attractions. Car-free, reached only by train and connected by an epic hiking trail with spectacular coastline views, Cinque Terre gets incredibly crowded during the high season. The tourist trap restaurants prey on visitors on the narrow streets and sea-facing piazzas of the tiny villages, making people spend more on less than authentic cuisine. But Cinque Terre remains a stronghold of tradition, a place to "inhale slower-paced Italian culture in perhaps its purest form," per Steves.

The travel guru is a passionate admirer of the national park, and Vernazza is among his favorite European beach getaways. Steves enjoys what is known as "la vita pigra di Vernazza" (or the lazy life of Vernazza). That includes sipping gelato on the bench while people-watching, taking long passegiatas (serene strolls), admiring the craggy coast and infinite Liguarian blue, and tasting locally-produced wine on scenic restaurant terraces. Just stay overnight to experience the peaceful Cinque Terre without the day trippers.

Spanning over 2,320 square miles in the southeast German state of Baden-Württemberg, the Black Forest has space for everyone to enjoy its green delights. Here, thick woods meet idyllic valleys, the mountain ranges rise over the quaint towns, and the rivers create idly saunter by — heaven for anyone looking for a natural escape. However, it is also among Germany's biggest tourist traps, according to Rick Steves. But worry not; that status primarily applies to the spa town called Titisee, which is packed with tacky memorabilia stores, tourist crowds, and all things cliché. Steves loves the other parts of the Black Forest, untouched and fresh air-filled.

The best way to experience the blissful side of this region is by venturing into the countryside and exploring the sleepy, small towns. Steves recommends the spa town of Wolfach as a must for any Black Forest itinerary. It boasts a picturesque cafe-dotted market street, a logging history museum in the castle, and excellent access to hiking trails. The TV host also advises trying the Black Forest cake, a mouthwatering local dessert made of dark chocolate and finessed with cherry filling.

For Steves, Venice is a tale of two cities. One is "garishly touristic," as the TV host writes. It's the overpriced St. Mark's Square restaurants, rip-off souvenirs produced a thousand miles away, crowds invading the narrow bridges, daytrippers providing nothing to the local economy, and selfies, selfies everywhere. It's a tale of a fragile urban ecosystem pushed to the limits of its capabilities where tourists are not welcome anymore.

Yet, worry not, another Venice exists. Rick Steves promotes the "romantic and tranquil" side of the city that you can encounter by booking an overnight stay and getting off the beaten path. Early morning and late evening see La Serenissima at its most sublime, as the pathways become deserted, the canals exude stillness, and the boats peacefully sway to the rhythm of unhurried lagoon waves. That's exactly the kind of Venice you should aim to discover. And don't forget to check out the under-the-radar lagoon islands like Giudecca with white marble Santissimo Redentore Church, San Giorgio Maggiore with spectacular Venice views, and luscious Lido, representing the classic Italian Adriatic resort experience.

San Gimignano is the original Manhattan of the ancient world. At the height of its power during medieval times, this Tuscan town boasted 72 so-called tower houses – erecting one was a show of wealth for local patrician families. Even though only 14 towers lived to see the 21st century, San Gimignano epitomizes Italian architectural genius. The town is a time capsule, as the whole historic core has been left largely intact throughout the centuries. As an authentic Tuscan gem, it also receives loads of tourists who mostly come here for day trips.

"Despite its tourist-trap feel, it's still worth slotting into your Italian itinerary," says Steves, who suggests staying overnight for a special romantic experience. As with other popular small towns around Europe, the magic returns once the daytrippers disappear. Visitors stay among the wonderful rolling hills, olive groves, and wineries of the region, a perfect recipe for a high-quality slow travel holiday.

"Amalfi Coast towns are pretty but touristy, congested, overpriced," laments Rick Steves, yet he seems to love it there and features this alluring part of Italy among his all-time favorite European beachside hideaways. There's no mystery here; the Amalfi Coast is stunning, and nothing can prepare you for seeing this crescendo of natural beauty for the first time. Cascading towns challenge the rules of engineering, ultra-narrow roads offer head-turning vistas with every curve, and the Tyrrhenian Sea glistens under the blissful sun.

But with all its merits, the Amalfi Coast can make your holiday miserable very quickly. More accurately, its minefield of tourist traps can be a challenge for unprepared travelers. That's why it's important to do your homework before coming here. Research restaurant prices beforehand, spend extra time to find the most suitable accommodation, choose times outside of peak hours for commuting, and keep in mind the challenging geography when arriving in a rented car.

"Even with crowds, overpriced souvenirs, and a nearly inedible pastry specialty (the over-promoted, fried ball of pie crust called a Schneeball), Rothenburg is still the best," opines Steves about one of his favorite towns in Germany. Set in the Bavarian region of Middle Franconia, it's a medieval open-air museum of a town. Only the payment terminals at the local cafes and the selfie-taking mobile phones of thousands of tourists give hints that we are in the 21st century. Rothenburg is a lesson in preserving a medieval city core that manages to be both overly touristy and super cute simultaneously.

The town is quite special for Rick Steves, as the TV host fell for its quaint charms during a backpacking trip in his youth. Back then, it was a largely undiscovered part of Germany. Today, Rothenburg attracts more than 2 million visitors yearly (with daytrippers making up the majority). As with other small gems, Rick Steves' best advice to avoid crowds is to book a room and spend the night. This way, you will enjoy the picture-perfect beauty of Rothenburg to yourself in the evening and witness the sleepy town wake up with a coffee cup in hand in the morning.