Skip to main content

The surprising European cities where travelers waste the least — and most — time on vacation

Luxembourg tops the list as the most time-efficient European city.

Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris, France
Michelle_Raponi / Pixabay

In an effort to help vacationers make the most of their time, a new study by Avis has unveiled which cities allow travelers to make the most of their vacation – and which ones can lead to significant time wasted. The findings reveal that vacationers typically spend an average of 5 hours and 45 minutes of their vacation waiting in lines and navigating delays, highlighting the importance of efficient travel planning.

Topping the list of efficient destinations is Luxembourg, where visitors can enjoy a quick 12-minute car journey from the airport to the city center. Paired with an efficient public transportation system, Luxembourg emerges as the clear leader for time-conscious travelers. 

Recommended Videos

Following closely behind are Vilnius and Stuttgart, both of which benefit from relatively low annual passenger volumes (4.4 million and 8.4 million, respectively) along with low TripAdvisor Queue Scores of 9 and 7. 

In stark contrast, Athens, Greece, has been identified as the city where tourists face the longest delays, scoring the lowest overall for airport waiting times with a rating of just 2.25 out of 5. With a TripAdvisor Queue Score of 164, Athens epitomizes the challenges many travelers face when navigating busy tourist hotspots. Istanbul and Berlin also rank poorly and are known for their lengthy queues and waiting times that can easily dampen the excitement of exploration.

Europe’s most time-efficient cities

A view of Helsinki and the Gulf of Finland
Ninara / Flickr
  1. Luxembourg
  2. Vilnius, Lithuania
  3. Stuttgart, Germany
  4. Zagreb, Croatia
  5. Lyon, France
  6. Helsinki, Finland
  7. Belgrade, Serbia
  8. Zurich, Switzerland
  9. Naples, Italy
  10. Nice, France

Europe’s least time-efficient cities

The Parthenon in Athens, Greece
Dimitris Kiriakakis / Unsplash
  1. Athens, Greece
  2. Istanbul, Turkey
  3. Berlin, Germany
  4. London, England
  5. Lisbon, Portugal
  6. Krakow, Poland
  7. Madrid, Spain
  8. Milan, Italy
  9. Warsaw, Poland
  10. Rome, Italy
Amanda Teague
Amanda, an accomplished freelance writer featured in several online publications, is a dedicated explorer of both the world…
Is it safe to visit Thailand right now? Here’s what travelers need to know
Your guide to staying safe when visiting one of Southeast Asia's most popular destinations
temple in Thailand

Over the years, I’ve known quite a few people who’ve traveled to Thailand, some with a backpack and a tight budget, others on luxurious beach holidays or cultural adventures through ancient temples. No matter the style of travel, they’ve all come back with glowing reviews: the food, the scenery, the people – it’s easy to see why Thailand has become such a go-to destination.

But lately, I’ve noticed a shift. With recent earthquakes in the region and ongoing unrest in some neighboring countries, a growing number of would-be travelers are asking the big question: Is it safe to visit Thailand right now?

Read more
This Virginia city was just named the most underrated US travel spot
Williamsburg, Virginia, just earned big travel praise for 2025
Williamsburg VA

If you’re tired of crowded tourist traps, pricey tours, and the usual vacation clichés, Williamsburg, Virginia, might be the quiet getaway you’ve been searching for. According to Wander, a luxury vacation rental service that analyzed data from Google, Numbeo, Tripadvisor, and Instagram, Williamsburg ranks as the most underrated travel destination in the United States for 2025.

Scoring an impressive 9.29, Williamsburg boasts over 150 museums and galleries per 100,000 residents and 265 sights and landmarks. Despite its abundance of offerings, it remains under the radar online, with just over 31,000 annual searches and fewer than 3,000 Instagram posts, meaning visitors can enjoy a peaceful, less crowded experience. The city also earned a perfect 100 out of 100 rating from visitors for safety, cleanliness, and ease of walking around.

Read more
Real travelers share their favorite bucket list travel destinations
Real travelers share the best places they've ever been
Kristiansand Norway

When you search for bucket list travel destinations, the same names always seem to pop up: the Northern Lights in Iceland, a romantic week in Paris, or the iconic skyline of New York City. And don’t get me wrong, those places are absolutely worth visiting. But I couldn’t help wondering: what would seasoned, real-world travelers choose if they had just one dream trip to take?

So, I asked a group of travel experts and globetrotters from around the world to share the destinations that have stuck with them long after they unpacked their bags. Some of their picks were no surprise – classics make the list for a reason. But others were refreshingly unexpected, places that sparked transformation, connection, and that wide-eyed feeling of awe we’re all chasing.

Read more