When you think of travelling to Europe, three cities should come to mind immediately: London, Paris, and Rome.
In terms of number of visitors, experiences, and history, these three top all other names in tourism. But are they worth your time?
The short answer is yes.
The longer answer is not so black and white unfortunately!
In terms of budget travel, the Big Three can burn a hole through your pocket quickly. The conversion rate for pounds alone can rack up a large bill without you realizing.
While I do have a personal favorite between the Three, let’s review each individually.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM:
London is an iconic location, well-known through movies and T.V. shows, with Big Ben, the London Eye, and the Tower Bridge being prominent monuments.
One thing easy to misunderstand about London, however, is how large it is.
While walkable in theory, the distance between Big Ben and the Tower Bridge alone is 2.5 miles of pavement, crosswalks, and, more than likely, rain. Add in Buckingham Palace, and that’s almost 4 miles of walking. Doable for the go-getter budget travelers I’m sure, but I’d rather feel my legs at the end of the day.
With how large it is, you either need to add in the cost of public transit – which London has a rather robust system with an easy tap payment process – or shell out for frequent taxis.
One thing London does have going for it, is the abundance of free sites! Of course, there’s Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Tower of London, and the Churchill War Room – popular sites that cost a pretty penny to visit, but there are also the free museums, markets, parks, and viewpoints.
A majority of the museums in London are actually free to the public, which is a financial boon if the focus for your visit in history!
For other sites, however, you might need to weigh your interest vs. the demands of your wallet – the Tower of London, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the site of Anne Boleyn’s execution, cost about the equivalent of $45 to visit. And the costs don’t go down, as the London Eye, the famous Ferris wheel with a panoramic view of Big Ben and the Parliament, costs approximately $37 for a ticket. The average meal can also cost between $20 to $50 per person.
Prices are, of course, in part due to the unfavorable exchange rate between USD and GBP, which can cause some shock, and is a something that impacts a traveler no matter where they are in the United Kingdom. But London is especially pricey and having been raised on the East Coast of the U.S., London feels like an adventurous New York. More interesting history, definitely, but similar in terms of prices and activities – I could just as easily ride the ferry past the Statue of Liberty as I can ride a double-decker bus past Big Ben. I could, of course, shell out to go to the top of the Empire State Building or the Eye of London, but fail to see a reason to, when I could spend that money at a good Indian restaurant instead.
Speaking of food, I don’t travel to the United Kingdom’s for its cuisine. If I’m in the UK, especially if I’m in London, you can BET I’ll be visiting the Indian restaurants.
Another thing London has going for it is the ease of language! Generally, I have no fear visiting countries where I don’t know the language as the power of Google Translate and basic charades has saved me more than once. But I cannot deny that it is reassuring to be in a country where the official language is my mother tongue. It feels too easy sometimes, but reassuring none-the-less.
I’ve spent about a week in London, and while I enjoyed my time in the gardens and markets, it wasn’t a life-changing experience. Rather, I spent time in other towns in Scotland, England, and Wales afterwards, and enjoyed myself so much more! I still had price-shock (realizing I spent $45 for one person at a regular Indian restaurant for a meal that would cost me $25 in the U.S. is something I still struggle with), but the average daily price, the sites, and the people were significantly better than London.
Overall, I give London a solid 2/5 – will I go back? Probably, it’s a very convenient layover city. But I would rather explore the rest of the country, maybe finally get over to Cambridge or the Lake District.
ROME, ITALY:
It took a lot of time and effort to change my first opinion of Rome.
Rome was the first European city I ever traveled to without my family and was the very start of my 3-month study abroad in Italy.
Like many cities, you really can’t judge a location based off the area surrounding the train station. And honestly, I did! I arrived in Rome after a long flight and stepped out from the train station and immediately scrunched up my nose.
I was raised in the suburbs, and only sparingly visited major cities growing up. Rome just reminded me of a shorter New York – similar smells, similar noises, similar crowds.
I’ve since visited Rome again, after three years of traveling around Europe, and have learned to better appreciate the city. But for all it’s amazing sites and history, Rome is still a crowded and blazingly hot location (especially in the summer) and I happily recommend a dozen other cities in Italy as an alternative for a long-term stay.
Of the three cities listed, Rome definitely has something the others do not – it’s ancient history on display! Rome is a modern city, just like London and Paris, but the pride and attention Italy places on its Roman history (as they should!), means the city is dotted with intact and prominent Roman ruins snuggled right next to more modern structures, like the Colosseum and the Pantheon. For all that London and Paris both spent time as Roman cities, the vestiges of that history can be hard to see when presented with the more modern monarchical history.
Italians are very proud of their ancient history, though not as proud as they are of their food. And unlike with London and the UK, Italian food is frequently listed as one of the best cuisines in the world! Yes, while it is easy to land yourself at a basic or subpar restaurant, even in Rome, it should be noted that part of that is due to the location. I’ve always more wary of restaurants in the main square of a city, as they are clearly tourist traps designed for the view to make up for the price and taste.
If you want good Italian food, go down an alley or two and find a small restaurant with no photos on their menu – and no one standing outside to usher you in. You don’t need to pay an arm and a leg for good Italian food – some of the best meals I had in Italy were only $15-$20.
Overall, I give Rome a 3/5 – I’ll definitely be back at some point, but probably during the off-season. I’d really rather not deal with the summer heatwaves or contribute to the crowds. Instead, I’d rather check out Calabria or explore Apulia.
PARIS, FRANCE:
The City of Love has well earned its name, with its café lined streets and dazzling lights, the iconic sight of the Eiffel Tower and the Siene a staple for countless romantic getaways.
Paris, over the centuries, has been home and inspiration for hundreds if not thousands of artists and writers, their passion spurred on by the vibrant energy of the city. Dozens of art museums and art galleries litter the city, including the Louvre, the most visited, and largest, museum in the world.
Unlike London, the vast majority of Paris’s museums are not free to visit. In fact, as of 2026 and following the shocking, viral Louvre heist, the cost of visiting the museum for non-EU citizens rose by 10 euro, to a whopping 32 euro.
While there are free activities in Paris, such as watching sunset on the Eiffel Tower or walking along the Siene, majority of the activities in Paris can cost a pretty penny – and that’s without getting into the cost of accommodations.
As long as you aren’t looking to stay in the heart of the city, next to the Louvre or overlooking the Siene, you’ll be able to find a private room at a hotel or an Air BnB for around $90 a night for most of the year, especially if you venture to the Montmartre district in the northern part of Paris. I wouldn’t consider it the most expensive city for accommodations that I’ve been to, but its pretty high on the list. It’s one of the main reasons half of my visits to Paris are in groups – splitting the bill for a couple days or even staying in a shared hostel room is worth the money saved.
In case the blatant favoritism managed to get past you, Paris is my favorite city of the Big Three. And at this point, I’ve been to Paris five times. Sometimes I’m in the city to visit a new sight, sometimes to just chill at a café with family or friends as I take in the view of the Eiffel Tower peeking out between buildings. There is still so much I haven’t seen in Paris, but I also delight in going back to see things again and leisurely roam through the streets.
Overall, I give Paris a 4/5 – I’ll 100% be back, as much like London, Paris is an excellent layover city and one that lands you on the main land of Europe, allowing for an easy transition to a secondary location. And while there is still so much I want to see in Paris, after a day or two to explore the museums and sit down along the Seine, I’d rather hop on a train and explore Brittany or Provence.