Travelling the world and choosing your next holiday destination is no easy feat.
Yet, globetrotting San Franciscan influencer Sooyeon might have some insights to offer holidaymakers searching for their next city break.
On her TikTok account @soos.foods, she reflected on visiting an impressive 17 European cities in the course of a year. However, there were three places she felt fell short of expectation.
“These are three cities I probably would’ve skipped,” Sooyeon remarked candidly on TikTok. “Doesn’t mean these are bad destinations, I just didn’t enjoy them as much as other cities.”
Firstly, Madrid made it onto her list, where she stayed for a fleeting two-and-a-half days in 2022 after being charmed by Barcelona.
Sooyeon confessed that compared to the coastal gem, Madrid seemed less intriguing, remarking: “The main reason is because I went to both Madrid and Barcelona on the same trip, and I feel like Madrid didn’t have as many interesting things to do for me at least, other than the palace and museums.”
She even went so far as to say: “…If I were to do this trip again, I would probably skip Madrid and spend more time in Barcelona.”
Then comes Catania, tucked away on Sicily’s eastern shores. The historic port city may seem an idyllic Italian escape; nonetheless, it didn’t live up to Sooyeon’s vision of ‘la dolce vita’.
She said: “The city just felt a little run down and not the safest. People were also not afraid to stare at you – I’m sure they weren’t trying to be rude or mean, but it felt a little uncomfortable as a female traveller.”
Berlin also earned a spot on the list, but Sooyeon’s quibbles with the German capital were quite different when stacked against Catania and Madrid.
Unlike the other cities, Berlin was not marred by feelings of danger or boredom. In fact, she commended it for its ‘welcoming’ vibes and ‘cool cafes, shops and roads’.
However, she felt something crucial was lacking. “Don’t get me wrong, I would love to live in Berlin,” Sooyeon admitted.
“But, as a tourist, I feel like the main attractions are history muesums which I personally am not the biggest on, especially because at this point on my trip I was getting severe museum fatigue.
She added: “The food scene was also pretty international, so I didn’t find as many options for authentic local food, which is something I try to eat everywhere I go. Again, this is just my experience – what doesn’t work for me, could work for you.”
Sooyeon’s candid takes ignited a plenty of comments on TikTok, with the online community split over her views on these beloved destinations.
One defender of Madrid wrote: “I will not accept any Madrid slander! I’ve been like four times and it’s an incredible city.”
Another implored: “Everyone here pls don’t skip Catania,” while a baffled user questioned: “Berlin is clean??? What girl???”