Bagels for rubles: 20 traps for tourists in European cities

What could be worse during a vacation than becoming a victim of fraudsters? It seems that they are everywhere: on the old streets of Florence, and in the city of love – Paris, and in other famous tourist cities. Of course, it is impossible to get rid of them, but you can arm yourself with knowledge about how not to fall into their traps. Reddit users have shared tips on which attractions to avoid while traveling to popular tourist destinations. Find out where not to go in European countries, so as not to run into scammers, from our material.

Where the tourism business thrives, fraud also thrives. Many people want to make money on naive tourists by offering services at exorbitant prices. Users of social networks shared useful information and tips on how not to become a victim of fraudsters while on vacation in Europe.

Here are the 20 best tips and life hacks from travelers from all over the world on how to spend a vacation in European cities and not get hooked by scammers.

Thousands of people are making their way through a narrow alley to see this little balcony. In fact, this is a "new model" - the attraction was created after Shakespeare wrote the play.

One of the most popular locations for photos. Crowds of tourists come here just to make a good shot. However, there are sights in this region that are much more interesting than a leaning tower. Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni and Lucca are more worthy of your attention than Pisa.

Women who rotate in shop windows will soon cease to be something amazing. There is no opportunity to take a good walk and relax, because groups of curious men are wandering everywhere. Especially uncomfortable in the red light district at night. There are other places in Amsterdam, and they are much more colorful and interesting.

In Spain, stay away from restaurants that offer paella for dinner. Real Spaniards eat paella only at lunch. You should also avoid cafes with bright enticing photos of food.

In fact, the Mona Lisa is a very small painting, which is difficult to see because of the backs of the crowded tourists. The Louvre houses many masterpieces that deserve no less attention than the Gioconda.

To spend a whole day in Blaua-Lownid, you need to pay 40 - 60 euros (about 3000 - 5000 rubles). In addition, all the services and food there are very expensive. In Reykjavik, you should avoid the popular tourist shops Puffin Shops, in which all prices are significantly inflated. It is better to buy the necessary things in local markets.

Danes do not advise to have lunch or dinner in Nykhavna because of too high prices. In addition, the legendary Little Mermaid is not at all impressive, although thousands of tourists come to her.

The iconic festival in Bavaria is not the only opportunity to taste good beer in Germany. It is offered in any bar in the country. In addition, it is better to avoid large flea markets in Berlin, because these are real traps for tourists.

Avoid smartshops in Amsterdam. They claim to sell products containing marijuana. In fact, there is no weed here, and you can only buy cannabis in local coffee shops.

Residents of the German capital are not advised to go to Checkpoint Charlie - a border checkpoint created after the construction of the Berlin Wall. The museum here is very mediocre, and photos with mummers "actors" cost a lot of money. You should not go to the Mauerpark flea market, because it is a real trap for tourists.

It is better not to have lunch or dinner on the famous Friedrichstrasse, because prices in restaurants are inflated at times. The same applies to all cafes in the center of the capital. You can eat tasty and inexpensive in inconspicuous establishments on ordinary streets.

Locals recommend visiting the New Palace in Potsdam instead of the popular Sans Souci. In Berlin, it is worth seeing the Charlottenburg Palace.

Do not pay 25 euros (about 2,200 rubles) to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower. The same beautiful view opens from the roof of the Printemps Haussmann department store, and you can enjoy it for free.

There are many beautiful islands in Greece, where everything will cost several times cheaper than in Santorini and Mykonos. In addition, there is not such a huge number of tourists as in these popular points.

In Barcelona, it is better not to go to the Rambla Street. The shops on it are ordinary, and the prices in them are inflated several times. Locals never buy anything there and do not dine here in restaurants. In addition, the Sagrada Familia was not built by Antonio Gaudi. He has just completed one of the facades of the building.

The Monastiraki flea market in Athens is filled with shops for tourists who sell souvenirs, low-quality clothes and trinkets at cosmic prices. Here you can easily become a victim of a street thief, because they trade on every street. After visiting the Acropolis, do not go to Monastiraki, but buy the same goods in other areas of the city. It will cost much cheaper.

This advice is common to travelers all over the world. If the restaurant is located next to a popular attraction, and its menu is compiled in two or more languages, then it is designed for tourists. In Venice, for example, you should not have dinner in luxury establishments and order fish and seafood. Visitors are deceived by hundreds of euros, saying that the price on the menu is indicated for 100 grams, and not for a whole serving.

Avoid communicating with beautiful girls with pink umbrellas, which can be found in many cities of the country. They invite you to a strip club, treat you to free drinks with mixed sleeping pills, and then steal wallets.

Do not go to restaurants located near the Eiffel Tower. You will be served unfrozen food at a crazy price.

In a tourist seaside town, go to a cafe that is located away from the embankment. It is best to ride the London Eye Ferris wheel after sunset. In large cities, it's worth going to a football match or a derby on the weekend.

Going to see Stonehenge, stop by Bath on the way: there you will see a lot of interesting things. If you want to walk around the Lake District or other national parks, dress warmly, stock up on water and food and wear comfortable shoes. Many popular routes are much more complicated than it seems. Dozens of people are lost and killed on them every year.

In Istanbul, in tourist places, you can often meet seemingly friendly people who start a normal conversation. Then they offer to go to a bar, have a drink... and don't go there. Prices in such bars reach up to hundreds of euros for beer. These "comrades" just work for institutions. It's better not to answer the guys on the street who invite you to have a drink.

It's enough to walk along Taksim Street for an hour to see all this. Try not to linger there, because the atmosphere attracts tourists like a trap. The motley crowd consists of 60% Syrian refugees, 10% fraudsters, 25% tourists and 5% locals.

In Brussels, take the tenth road around the block near the main street Rue des Bouchers. Tourists like cute streets, but the restaurants located on them serve the most expensive and tasteless food.

Meanwhile, in the Canadian province of Manitoba, there is a hotel on wheels, where you can spend the night next to polar bears. He stops right in the middle of their natural habitat.