Rick Steves' Favorite 'Second Cities' In Europe Are Just As Magnificent Without Tourist Prices

Vacationers heading over the Atlantic to explore Europe have a lot to look forward to. Every part of the intercontinental experience is different from standard domestic travel, and that only becomes more apparent after touching down on the other side. For most, major transit from America will see a destination in one of the continent's major cities — which are also frequently a national capital. Rome, Athens, Berlin, and London are all significant air hubs, and make for truly phenomenal visits as well.

However, there's much more to see in a country than just the 'primary' city it might be best known for. This is especially true according to Rick Steves' travel planning strategies. While the travel writer, and longtime European explorer, has been a consistent lover of major hubs like Paris and Dublin, Steves actually advises a different course of action for most travelers — and for a number of important reasons. While there is a reason why larger European cities enjoy a certain level of magnetism and popularity, it could be worth visiting a country's second city instead.

From hotel rooms to dinner out in the evening, just about everything you'll encounter in a city that's not the main tourist draw for a country will be cheaper. London, Rome, and Amsterdam are all infused with a tourism-focused identity. And while these places offer amazing vacation spots to travelers, the volume of people that come from abroad and spend money in their restaurants, bars, hotels, and entertainment venues ultimately pushes prices up. It's also worth avoiding Scandinavia if you're in the market for a budget-friendly jaunt on the continent, as this is generally the most expensive region.

With such an enormous part of the local economy driven by tourism, there's not much room for competitive or favorable pricing in these major cities. Hotel rooms are scooped up by those coming from elsewhere, meaning that demand ensures higher prices. The same can be said for things like souvenirs, which can be found in abundance in capital cities but also come with an expected capital price tag. Instead, for those who are willing to branch out a bit father, Rick Steves suggests destinations like Antwerp in Belgium, Glasgow, in Scotland, and Portugal's Porto (as well as Belfast, Marseille, Lyon, and Hamburg). In England, Steves highlights Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, and Liverpool as great options to explore the local scene without having to subject yourself to London pricing on everything from a pint of stout to a Tube ride across the city.

Not only will a trip that features — or at least includes — stops in smaller tourist destinations be lighter on your budget, but there are other benefits, too. Rick Steves makes a note of highlighting an additional phenomenon that takes place in second cities. In Madrid, Budapest, or Copenhagen, you're likely to see a large number of other American tourists. However, by including alternative communities in your plans, you'll encounter a much larger volume of domestic travelers and locals rather than those who have come from beyond the country's borders. Couple this with a stay in a B&B instead of a hotel and you're in for great savings and serious cultural immersion. This can be a wildly positive change of pace.

In Steves' estimation, the makeup of tourist demographics allows these second cities to be more authentically themselves. There's an element of theater that comes into play in a tourist hub that caters to foreign visitors. That factor disappears in cities that might avoid tourism altogether, or instead support a thriving domestic travel industry — but ultimately may not welcome too many foreigners. Instead of needing to play up to a perceived 'English-ness,' or 'French-ness' in the DNA of the city, these places have the breathing room necessary to just be what they are. What that means for travelers seeking an authentic adventure is a special destination with plenty of charm and character alongside a budget-friendly experience.