Rick Steves Reveals How to Easily Find Peace in Europe’s Major Cities with His Tips

We hear quite a bit about how overtourism affects locals in Europe. As they try to go about their days, large tourist groups are packing the streets, creating longer lines for public transport, and taking up tables at their favorite restaurants. More hidden effects include higher housing costs as property owners turn apartments into short-term rentals like Airbnbs. However, tourists feel the negative effects of overly crowded places too. A relaxing vacation does not feel so relaxing when you’re squeezing your way through a sea of people at every turn. Even with overtourism concerns, travel expert Rick Steves says you can still find crowd-free leisure in the most popular European cities. 

Steves is always in search of authenticity rather than visiting a place just because it is popular. This means going off the beaten path, but you might not have to go far. On his website, Steves cites the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam as a crowded attraction, yet the informative Dutch Resistance Museum is just a short walk away — and with much fewer people. “Remember, ninety percent of Europe has no crowd problems,” Steves explained.

Knowing when places will be hectic is also important for a relaxing trip too. To find moments of tranquility even in busy cities, it’s best to be an early bird or a night owl. “The easiest way to enjoy the mainstream sights without the commotion, selfie-sticks, and intensity of modern commerce is in the fringiest of hours — very early,” he explained in a blog post. “Some of my best travel experiences happen at dawn.” If early mornings aren’t your thing, nighttime exploring can be quite tranquil as well. For, example, Rome is Italy’s busiest city, but Steves says this European icon “becomes intimate and approachable” at night.

Big crowds aren’t the only reasons why you might find yourself seeking out quieter corners of large European cities. Pickpockets know where the most tourists tend to hang out, which makes these petty crimes more common in such popular places. City parks are not only calming respites, but the extra space makes it harder for pickpockets to make their moves undetected. Perhaps have a picnic in Dublin’s St. Stephen’s Green or London’s Richmond Park. These spaces help you slow down enough to really soak in your surroundings with less pickpocket worries.