Most overrated - Paris.<BR>Most underrated - Netherlands (the whole country) and Germany (Most of the country). <BR>BYW Sebastian Octoberfest is not necessarily just a drunk fest, if you speak a little of the language and know some of the drinking songs it can be a blast (I've never been drunk at the Octoberfest and have been there 5 times.)

Ok, I'm already wincing about the responses I'll be getting:<BR><BR>Over-rated: <BR>Musee d'Orsay<BR>the view from the Eiffel Tower<BR>the clock in Prague<BR>coffee in Vienna<BR>Versailles<BR><BR>Under-rated:<BR>St Chappelle<BR>the view from Notre Dame<BR>Italian coffee <BR>Schonbrunn

LONDON.

Overrated:<BR><BR>Florence and the Uffizi (saw more interesting pieces at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich)<BR>Milan<BR><BR>Underrated:<BR>Bologna<BR> Munich<BR>Umbria

In France:<BR><BR>Most over rated: Area around the Pompidou Center, Montmartre<BR><BR>Most under rated: The French countryside and small towns where there are very few tourists

Most Under-rated - Melk Abbey in Austria, the Bayeux Tapestry near Normandy and the Paris Museum Pass which lets you bypass all the crowds.<BR><BR>Most Over-rated: Aix-en-Provence. The worst place I have visited in Europe. Crowded and polluted. <BR>Runner-up: The Uffizi Gallery in Florence. They had the windows open so the sun shone on many paintings making them virtually impossible to see. We enjoyed the Pitti Palace much more.

Over-rated:<BR>Athens. the smog is terrible.<BR>Tivili Gardens. so bad that I can't remember where it is.<BR>London.<BR><BR>Under-rated:<BR>Augsburg, Germany. lots of history from middle ages and Roman empire.

I'll go along with Zoe. The Lot is the most under-rated part of France and I'll add the Bois in Paris.

overrated -- Salzburg, Rothenburg, Berchtesgaden.

underrated -- Salzkammergut, Black Forest, Assisi.

Most frustrating -- Berner Oberland. Utterly gorgeous scenery, but the Swiss way of making everything into a turnstyle ruins it (for me).

Overrated: Stresa (small city on Lake Maggiore)

Underrated: Basilicata region of Italy

Overrated: Paris

Underrated: Puglia region of Italy

In touristic terms:
Overrated:
Paris, I must be missing something that so many other people experience and rave about.
London: I used to love it but it seems to have lost it's charm and just doesnt' seem English anymore.

Underated:
In terms of ancient history, Ireland which has sites that make Stonehenge seem modern.
In terms of food, also Ireland, I love their dark bread and the food overall.
In terms of friendly people, the South of France and the deep South of Italy.
In terms of beauty, Zugspitz.

Over-rated? French food. It can be great, but you can't depend on it being so everywhere you go.
Under-rated? German food. Consistently superb, everywhere. Not all meats and sausage either - their salads are to die for. And consistently cheaper than the French equivalents.

Under-rated? That would have to be Barcelona, which totally blew us away. Abosolutely incredible architecture. Gaudi was a genius. Would go again in a heartbeat in spite of the fact my husband was pickpocketed on the subway - a most unpleasant occurence to an otherwise awesome trip. Stay near Las Ramblas!

Florence was very disappointing to me, but I'm not a huge fan of Renaissance art. I thought it pretty much just a dirty, polluted, crowded city. I guess if I was a Renaissance freak it'd be OK.

Over rated = Vienna Under rated = the entire Czech Republic.

Most over-rated: Capri. Yes the scenery is beautiful but it is packed with tourists and overloaded with expensive, trendy shops. I liked Anacapri much better, more local color and culture, less crowded.
Most under-rated: Northern Portugal. We took a walking tour through some small towns and villages. Women still wear the traditional black garb and headress, the people are gracious, devoutly religious, and the food is just wonderful. These little towns were not at all crowded, mostly just local people.

Overrate: Brugge - Disney does Amsterdam. Brussels - Paris-wannabe.

Underrated: Vaison-la-Romaine, Provence - great food, wine, people and amazing views.

How amusing to glance over the under and over-rated! Yes, I could post a list myself, including foods such as pizzas over-rated in Italy and red oranges under-rated in Greece, when compared to U. S. products, that is.

Sure enough, what one person under-rates another will disagree with, e.g., Florence and the Louvre with such marvelous art, Stonehenge (yes, Avebury is good), even Pisa (being there including Cathedral on Easter was a boost). So while one person likes the Spanish countryside in comparison with English countryside, I would vote the reverse.

OK, for my European spots so far with treasured memories: Salamanca, Capri, Sorrento, Hexham, Delphi, Bergen, York, Cashel, Dingle, Lucerne, Copenhagen, Avila, Edinburgh, Glendalough, Sigtuna, Rhodes City, and many more yet to come I hope.

Bill in Missouri [email protected]

I'll admit it. I'm a newbie. My sister and I will be travelling to Great Britain next year. I agree with the post that says &quot;different strokes for different folks&quot;. Everyone has to start somewhere. This will be the first trip to Europe for both of us. I thought a great way to get our feet wet would be to see London &amp; Edinburgh. We have friends in London that can help us out...we're small town girls. Any ideas for must sees? Or travel tips for first time international travellers from US?