Friday

29th Mar 2024

Brussels most boring city in Europe

Brussels, the capital of Europe, is the most boring city on the continent, despite its renown for its waffles, chocolates, and comic books, according to a survey of international travellers published on Wednesday (12 March).

The city just beat out Zurich and Warsaw for the title, who came second and third in the race for the most somniferous town in Europe.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Get the EU news that really matters

Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

The survey of some 1,400 travellers, conducted by travel firm Trip Advisor, also found London to be simultaneously the most expensive and the town with the best nightlife. Amsterdam and Paris also came tops in the latter category.

Despite its veritable production line of celebrity chefs in recent years, London was not on the list of towns with the best cuisine. Paris topped that line-up, followed by Rome and Florence.

But Paris and Rome also joined London in being among the dearest towns in Europe, while Prague, Budapest and Lisbon were singled out for being the best value for money.

Paris and Rome were also, unsurprisingly, found to be the most romantic of getaway destinations, along with the floating city, Venice.

They may not be romantic, according to the survey respondents, but Zurich, Stockholm and Copenhagen were described as the cleanest, while London, Paris and Rome were derided as the dirtiest.

Dublin has the friendliest, most helpful locals, while Parisians, true to stereotype, were viewed to be the least welcoming.

Some 65% of respondents are planning to travel to Europe in the next year, and though the American dollar may have taken quite a tumble, half the survey respondents from the US still plan to visit Europe in 2008, the same figure as a year ago.

"Americans are still drawn to Europe, despite unfavourable exchange rates and economic concerns," said Michele Perry, a spokesperson for the travel firm.

Opinion

EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania

Among the largest sources of financing for energy transition of central and eastern European countries, the €60bn Modernisation Fund remains far from the public eye. And perhaps that's one reason it is often used for financing fossil gas projects.

'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told

Italian central banker Piero Cipollone in his first monetary policy speech since joining the ECB's board in November, said that the bank should be ready to "swiftly dial back our restrictive monetary policy stance."

Opinion

EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania

Among the largest sources of financing for energy transition of central and eastern European countries, the €60bn Modernisation Fund remains far from the public eye. And perhaps that's one reason it is often used for financing fossil gas projects.

Latest News

  1. Kenyan traders react angrily to proposed EU clothes ban
  2. Lawyer suing Frontex takes aim at 'antagonistic' judges
  3. Orban's Fidesz faces low-polling jitters ahead of EU election
  4. German bank freezes account of Jewish peace group
  5. EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania
  6. 'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told
  7. Moscow's terror attack, security and Gaza
  8. Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Join EUobserver

EU news that matters

Join us