The most boring cities in Europe. The most boring city in Norway

12.03.2021

(the average: 5,00 out of 5)

Today I am reviewing the most boring cities in the world that I have visited in my centuries-old tourism career. Cities where nothing happens. Cities, which, in their charisma, lose even to a dish called "jellied meat". The percentage of dullness of being is especially visible if you find yourself in them alone. Places where the most important thing, as my friend Nikita says, is not to sober up. Otherwise, there is no salvation. Let me explain that in this case it is boring cities that are considered, and not the so-called "assholes of the world." I will do a review of zestiness and city extreme sometime next time.

For the sake of patriotism and diplomacy, I excluded Russian cities from the list, although there were already 4 applicants! For even in the most boring cities I have friends (even if I don't know about it), and pouring provocative dirt is not my method.

The first place and forever the leading position was kept by the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei - Bandar Seri Begavan.

The final place. Walking along Bandar Seri Begawan it seems that there were more people at the peak. Well, it's not that there are no people at all, but there are no pedestrians! Everyone, absolutely everyone drives cars. During a three-hour walk, we met 3 (!) People walking. By Brunei standards, one might say, they walked in a crowd! Oh yeah, another Chinese man was blowing his nose outside his store. Okay, a total of 3.5 people!

A visit to this one of the most developed countries in Asia has been the most absurd travel investment I've made in the past few years. Even a day to visit it is a lot. For two days in Brunei, I envied the citizens of Israel - they are not allowed here under any circumstances. There is nothing else in this city.

Kulyab is the last stronghold before the Afghan border and the road to the Pamir. One hotel, opposite the market, between them - the road. Everything. This is Kulyab. And, the only salvation in this city is the bus station. You can leave from here. The entrance to the city is crowned with an inscription on the house. "Do not leave children unattended".

For $ 70 at the Khatlon Hotel, you will receive an idle air conditioner, a torn cornice, twisted light bulbs, mosquito corpses smeared on the curtains and a refrigerator (and it was!) With a "minibar" in the form of an unfinished bottle of Cola left by previous residents.

Through the holes in the shower stall, the hands of guests from the lower floors could well have pushed through. Well, at least the light in the bathroom did not turn off at all - the switch was broken. Because all the fauna of Kulyab, which lived there, still needed it for reproduction. At night, mosquitoes paid a return visit from there.

As usual, the ray of light is the locals. Kulyab is the case when the phrase "But we have good people!" quite apt as salvation. There is nothing else in this city.

If the orangutan hospital was not located nearby (and it is not located there), a trip to rainy Kuchin would be meaningless. And for the sake of a couple of orangutans, there is no point in flying to Borneo. There is nothing else in this city.

Oh, no ... Dakar is still on the list "The most vicious cities in the world"... The busiest city I've ever seen.

After 8 pm it is strongly advised not to leave the hotel, and it would be for what! But you listen to advice and as a result you feel like a diplomat in a besieged embassy on the territory of another country. An extremely littered city with a dominance of McDonald's, guarded by men with double-barreled guns. This whole endless dump is crowned with a lonely tree with a flock of shabby vultures guarding it. Here in the cartoon "Treasure Island" the same vultures watched every passing pirate. And in their eyes Blind Pew was reflected there. There is nothing else in this city.

p.s. Although Honduras are very beautiful, in my opinion. And he can be trusted. I didn't even find a photo from Honduras, so I am attaching a photo from Nicaragua. One hell.

If you are not a fan of archaeological stupas, do not read any guidebooks and go around Bagan. Even from a hot air balloon, at dawns, sunsets, from underground - from everywhere Bagan has already been filmed three thousand times. Stupas sticking out every ten meters in 40-degree heat provide little visual pleasure. There is nothing else in this city.

Kunming is a large and spacious city. But in a series of other Chinese cities that I met on the way, in Kunming there is nothing to catch my eye. Near Kunming there is a steep place of red soil, but not a single taxi driver agreed to take it there with the description of the desired direction and price, which lowered Kunming even more in my eyes. And there is nothing else in this city.

There is a street of scavengers in Cali - dirty people sit there and recycle garbage. A beggar came up to me near her and told me not to go there because “how to drink” they would rob. Perhaps, if not for this advice, then Cali would have migrated to the list of vile cities before Bogota and Medellin later got there. But I listened to that beggar and did not go to that area. And there is nothing else in this city.

I went to Macedonia with high expectations of something ethnically cool. But the capital disappointed with its routine. An unthinkable number of statues (it seems that the Macedonians have erected monuments to everyone) in the midst of unremarkable architecture. The brightest flash was the Chichko Stoilko stall selling some kind of shawarma. And there is nothing else in this city.

In Guayaquil we lived on the outskirts of the city. But one day I got to the center, walked on it and yawned until I came across a fire in one of the shopping centers. And there is nothing else in this city.

A gray, unremarkable city in the north of Sumatra. In principle, Sumatra is not at all distinguished by any charisma of its cities. That is why you meet the first tourist here on the fourth day of your stay on the island. But this is the closest of the Indonesian points to the talented Singapore. And there is nothing else in this city.

Sancti Spiritus is still not quite deservedly located here. "Not the city, but the almshouse." Of the sights - a mobile pub, which has a constant crowd of local bums, and, it seems, never opened cinema "Conrado Benitez" - just opposite my window. I lived in the central square. And housing ... I've dreamed of this all my life. A huge hall with such sunshine that it fills it with its fiery shades from 2 to 6 pm. But the euphoria from him quickly gives way to melancholy. The city itself is boring. Typical Latin American yawning province. At the beginning of the third day, a biplane flies over the city. This is the most significant event of the day. On Tuesday, asphalt was laid on all the streets at once. One should have seen the bewilderment of the Cubans, unable to cross the street from one sidewalk to another. Well, there is nothing else in this city.

The city consists of an embankment. She doesn't even need a river. Moreover, neither one nor the other does not save the situation. With the same success, Laos could place its capital in any other city on its territory. I did not notice that they are somehow different. The embankment, a couple of prostitutes, ... well, perhaps that's all. And there is nothing else in this city.

By the way, tell us which cities in your life made you yawn and mope. Help others avoid them!

In general, there is a strange warning "Not recommended for visiting ..." You still have to manage to get into such cities. But, in fairness, it should be noted that the impression of this or that city is formed by a lot of circumstances, from the weather to the company, the amount of drink and just luck and coincidence. And then the most depressive backwater will sparkle with bright colors of adventure... Remember this always!

In contact with

Today I am reviewing the most boring cities in the world that I have visited in my centuries-old tourism career. Cities where nothing happens. Cities, which in their charisma lose even to the dish called "jellied meat". The percentage of dullness of being is especially visible if you find yourself in them alone. Places where the most important thing, as my friend Nikita says, is not to sober up. Otherwise, there is no salvation. Let me explain that in this case it is boring cities that are considered, and not the so-called "assholes of the world." I will do a review of zestiness and city extreme sometime next time.

I have absolutely nothing to say about some cities. And sometimes I couldn't even find photos, so soulless Google maps will represent this or that city. But it is very important that you read this post to the end, because the last paragraph is the whole point.
So let's go ...
1. Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei)
The first place and forever the leading position was kept by the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei - Bandar Seri Begavan.

The final place. Walking along Bandar Seri Begawan it seems that there were more people in Chernobyl at its peak.
Well, it's not that there are no people at all, but there are no pedestrians! Everyone, absolutely everyone drives cars. During a three-hour walk, we met 3 (!) People walking. By Brunei standards, one might say, they walked in a crowd! Oh yeah, another Chinese man was blowing his nose outside his store. Well, okay, a total of 3.5 people !!

2. Kulyab (Tajikistan)

Kulyab is the last stronghold before the Afghan border and the road to the Pamir. One hotel, opposite the market, between them - the road. Everything. This is Kulyab. A! the only salvation in this city is the bus station. You can leave from here.
The entrance to the city is crowned with an inscription on the house. "Do not leave children unattended".

For $ 70 at the Khatlon Hotel, you will receive an idle air conditioner, a torn cornice, twisted light bulbs, mosquitoes smeared on the curtains and a refrigerator (and it was!) With a "minibar" in the form of an unfinished bottle of Cola left by previous residents.
Through the holes in the shower stall, the hands of guests from the lower floors could well have pushed through. Well, at least the light in the bathroom did not turn off at all - the switch was broken. Because all the fauna of Kulyab, which lived there, still needed it for reproduction. At night, mosquitoes paid a return visit from there.
As usual, the ray of light is the locals. Kulyab is the case when the phrase "But we have good people!" quite apt as salvation. There is nothing else in this city.

3. Kuchin (Borneo, Malaysia)

If the orangutan hospital was not located nearby (and it is not located there), a trip to rainy Kuchin would be meaningless. And for the sake of a couple of orangutans, there is no point in flying to Borneo. There is nothing else in this city.

4. Dakar (Senegal)

oh no ... Dakar is still on the list "The most vicious cities in the world"... The busiest city I've ever seen.

5. Tegucigalpa (Honduras)

p.s. Although Honduras are very beautiful, in my opinion. And he can be trusted. I didn't even find a photo from Honduras, so I am attaching a photo from Nicaragua. One hell.

5. Bagan (Myanmar)

If you are not a fan of archaeological stupas, do not read any guidebooks and go around Bagan. Even from a hot air balloon, at dawns, sunsets, from underground - from everywhere Bagan has already been filmed three thousand times. Stupas sticking out every ten meters in 40-degree heat provide little visual pleasure. There is nothing else in this city.

6. Kunming (China)

Kunming is a large and spacious city. But in a series of other Chinese cities that I met on the way, in Kunming there is nothing to catch my eye. Near Kunming there is a steep place of red soil, but not a single taxi driver agreed to take it there with the description of the desired direction and price, describing the desired direction and price. Which lowered Kunming even more in my eyes. And there is nothing else in this city.

7. Cali (Colombia)

There is a street of scavengers in Cali - dirty people sit there and recycle garbage. A beggar came up to me near her and told me not to go there because "how to drink" would be robbed. Perhaps, if not for this advice, then Cali would have migrated to the list of vile cities before Bogota and Medellin later got there. But I listened to that beggar and did not go to that area. And there is nothing else in this city.

8. Skopje (Macedonia)

I went to Macedonia with high expectations of something ethnically cool. But the capital disappointed with its routine. An unthinkable number of statues (it seems that the Macedonians have erected monuments to everyone) in the midst of unremarkable architecture. The brightest flash was the "Chichko Stoilko" stall selling some kind of shawarma. And there is nothing else in this city.

9 Guayaquil (Ecuador)

In Guayaquil we lived on the outskirts of the city. But one day I got to the center, walked on it and yawned until I came across a fire in one of the shopping centers. And there is nothing else in this city.

10. Medan (Indonesia)

A gray, unremarkable city in the north of Sumatra. In principle, Sumatra is not at all distinguished by any charisma of its cities. That is why you meet the first tourist here on the fourth day of your stay on the island. But this is the closest of the Indonesian points to the talented Singapore. And there is nothing else in this city.

11. Sancti Spiritus (Cuba)

Sancti Spiritus is still not quite deservedly located here. "Not the city, but the almshouse." Of the sights - a mobile pub, which has a constant crowd of local bums, and, it seems, never opened cinema "Conrado Benitez" - just opposite my window. I lived in the central square. And housing ... I've dreamed of this all my life. A huge hall with such sunshine that it fills it with its fiery shades from 2 to 6 pm. But the euphoria from him quickly gives way to melancholy. The city itself is boring. Typical Latin American yawning province. At the beginning of the third day, a biplane flies over the city. This is the most significant event of the day. On Tuesday, asphalt was laid on all the streets at once. One should have seen the bewilderment of the Cubans, unable to cross the street from one sidewalk to another. Well, there is nothing else in this city.

In general, a strange warning "Not recommended for visiting ..." You still have to manage to get into such cities. But, in fairness, it should be noted that the impression of this or that city is formed by a lot of circumstances, from the weather to the company, the amount of drink and just luck and coincidence. And then the most depressing backwoods will sparkle with bright colors of adventure. Remember this always!

When I said that I was going to Hanover, one of my acquaintances raised an eyebrow in surprise.
- To Hanover? This is the most boring and colorless city in Germany. I would go to Hamburg, there really is something to see.

But I was invited to Hanover, they promised me a city tour. I went and did not regret it.

They promised to meet me, but just in case they agreed. If anything, we miss each other, we meet under the "tail".

I was a bit stunned from such a meeting place. But right away, it became clear that in Hanover "under the tail" is one of the most popular meeting places.

The famous "tail" belongs to the horse of the King of Hanover, Ernst August. The tail is the very first thing that anyone who comes to Hanover sees. Only by going out to the station square and turning to face the station can you see the king himself. His sculptural image, of course. The station square bears the name of the king. He is loved and revered in Hanover. This, by the way, is written on the pedestal. They say that he was the first king to live permanently in Hanover.
Since we're looking at the station, it's worth noticing. Hanoverians are proud of their train station.
Built in 1876, this station is the first railway station in Germany to be planned according to a through scheme. Convenient, by the way.

I noticed a long time ago that Germans in general, and Hanoverians especially love convenience. And not only for yourself. The service bureau for tourism in Hanover (it is located here, on the square opposite the station) will gladly help you, book a hotel if necessary, and provide information. In Hanover, guests are loved and taken care of. Look under your feet. See the red line under your feet?

If you find yourself in Hannover alone and there is no one to show you the city, do not despair! Feel free to follow the red lane painted on the pavement. This is the famous Hanoverian red thread for tourists and visitors to the city.
You will need two to three hours. A pleasant, interesting and informative walk with sightseeing in Hanover awaits you.

I invite you now for this walk! I'm lucky. I had great guides. People in love with their city. We didn't just walk and watch. Our walk was accompanied by interesting stories and details.

Elegant Louise

Built relatively recently, in 1987, the shopping arcade is called "Gallery Louise". Hanoverians say "Louise". The shopping complex is 155 meters long and 12 meters high. Glass transparent roof. The shopping center has about 40 shops and boutiques. Very festive and elegant. They say you can buy absolutely everything here. From fashionable clothes to flowers and furniture.
But please forgive me. I'm not a fan of shopping ... not a connoisseur, no. Yes, and we are going for a walk! And who will drag the purchases ??? And those two or three hours allotted to us for a walk will fly by here, we won't notice.
Come out, girls, come out!

Here, look, there is another shopping arcade right in front of the Louise gallery. It is called by different names. Some, the younger sister of Louise, some of the Kröpke Passage. But there, even just to look, you really please without me. You know how to get there, but do not say that I did not warn you about the frenzied prices. I warn you!

By the way, we are on Kröpke square... Yes, she is very close to the station. So close that if you go underground, you will find yourself on a busy underground street that connects Kröpke Square with the main train station. Of course, there is trade here again. The Kröpke metro station is considered the main interchange hub of the city metro.

We rise to the surface of the earth. There are always a lot of people here. But despite the huge crowd of people, you will be able to find a place to sit on the sidelines and watch the life of one of the busiest squares in the city.
If you ever hear about a meeting in Hanover on the news, it most likely took place here. And here on the square they make appointments. Here at this clock.

In the winter before Christmas, a traditional pyramid and carousel are erected on this square.

In the old days, there was a parking lot for carriages right under the roof of the theater facade. Currently, the parking problem is solved in a slightly different way. There is an underground car park under the square. It has access to the theater.
The theater building was built in the classicism style. Its facade is decorated with statues of famous poets and composers.
The building was erected by the outstanding architect Georg-Ludwig Laves from 1814 to 1864. It was conceived and built for the royal court theater.
During the bombing of the city in July 1943, the theater burned down. It took 5 years to restore it.
The theater has excellent acoustics. It accommodates 1220 spectators.

We go out into the street named after one of the English kings. It turns out that George III from 1814 to 1820 was simultaneously the king of Great Britain and Hanover. The street is named after him.
In almost all guidebooks you will find information that Georgstrasse locals affectionately call "Shorze", that on it you can find many small shops, that here the townspeople like to just "stagger". It is also possible to mention the "steintor" - stone gates on the section of the pedestrian zone.

For some reason, they do not write (I did not find it) about the monument to Jews tortured by the Nazis, created in 1994 by the Memorial Group. There are many surnames. I stood and read. I have no Jewish relatives, but it was still nice to meet such a universal monument, right here in the center of western Germany.

The three stone gentlemen are not familiar to me. It turns out these are monuments:
Louis Streumer - surgeon and orthopedist (1804-1876)
Karl Carmarsh - famous technician (1803-1879)
Heinrich Marschner - Hanoverian Kapellmeister (1795-1861).
Well, well, the locals know them.

We continue our walk. We pass the grandiose buildings in the French late Gothic style (of course, this is a bank, what else could be located in such a respectable building?), Past the tables of a street cafe.

And suddenly we find ourselves in a completely different era. This is nothing more than a remnant of the fortress wall. It has been preserved since the 14th century.

Here was church of st. Aegidia... Only the churchyard has survived from it.

Ancient stones entwined with ivy and wild grapes create a unique solemn picture. The Kneeling Monument is already a modern creation of the Hanoverian sculptor Lehmann. Isn't that so, he very harmoniously blended into the atmosphere of memory?

Here, at the place where eras and events are intertwined, I was told that the church of St. Aegidia witnessed the main events of the Hanoverian Reformation. During the bombing in 1943, the church was destroyed. Apart from the Baroque tower and the outer wall of the churchyard, nothing remained. Now this corner is a mournful memory of the events of the Second World War.
Who would have thought that the sister city of Hannover is the Japanese city of Hiroshima. This bell of friendship is a gift to Hannover from Hiroshima.

I was mesmerized by the atmosphere of this corner of living history in the center of a huge modern city. I took pictures, trying to understand and convey rather conflicting feelings. I am not in Russia, I am in a country that has unleashed a war. But here, too, do they grieve and remember?
As if confirming my thoughts, bells began to play on the restored tower of the old church. Once again I envied the Germans. They know how to preserve history.
My friends told me that the bells on this tower ring four times a day, reminding the victims. The Germans are not silent about the unpleasant events in their history. They treat history like history. It was. And to comprehend it to us, alive.

We will, of course, continue our walk through Hanover. For now, let's stand here for a while. Let's forget that there are city streets nearby. See how beautiful the leaves of the wild grapes twine along the walls of the old city are. Can you hear the bells? What are they singing or crying about?
What is mournfully silent about Hiroshima's gift?
People! Don't let me! Don't let it happen again!

The trip to Kiev is over, and the new adventure has not yet begun, so we will return to Israel and continue to explore our beloved country. Since my goal is to visit all cities and write about them, sometimes I have to go to not the most, how to put it accurately, "sexy" places. One of these trips was Netanya - a gray, dreary and completely incomprehensible city.

Probably you all know that when you drive along Highway 4 towards the north of the country, you can see ancient ruins next to the new stadium in Netanya?

This time, before going to the city itself, I decided to visit them.

Many people think that there was once a Crusader fortress here, but in fact it is Birkat (Biarat) Hanun - a residential house and agricultural farm of the Hanun family from Tul Karem.

The construction of the complex began at the end of the 19th century, and was equipped until the end of the British Mandate. It belonged to the Hanun family until 1948. In addition to the mansion, there were citrus groves, a well (hence the name), a reservoir and even an aqueduct that led water to the farm.

When the construction of the stadium began here, a hard "fight for the fire" was waged in an attempt to preserve the historic farm. Most, as I understand it, managed to be defended and not destroyed during construction, but since then the complex of the Hanun family has remained abandoned. There is no attempt to transform it into something human, and, as I understand it, there will not be.

The next attraction of Netanya is also a little away from the city center - Beit HaBeer

The building, which today serves as a museum of the history of the city, is the only surviving structure of the Pardes Ha-Gdud farm, founded in 1927 by five descendants of the Jewish Legion (Ha Gdud Ha-Ivri) two years before the founding of Netanya. The museum tells about the history of Netanya during the years when the city was still a moshav (1928-1948).

During the construction of the complex, a square courtyard was built here, the house was located in the eastern part, and the director of the farm lived on the second floor.

Well, now let's go to the center

Herzl street. Of the interesting things here, perhaps only Beit HaMosadot

This building was built in the thirties of the last century, when it became clear that the moshav was expanding, and one place was needed where all the institutions would be centralized.

Let's turn to HaMeyasdim street and go out, perhaps, to the most beautiful house in the city

Beit Landa. Built by the Landa family in the 30s in an International style with typical Bauhaus elements

Nowadays, the house is abandoned and is slowly being destroyed. And as far as I understand, this fact does not bother anyone too much.

We leave on the main "promenade".

Street musicians

A fountain in the main square (Kikar ha-Atzmaut) and some kind of modern installation

Behind it is another fountain, sort of like a symbol of the city.

It was sort of moved to a new location. It used to stand in the center of the square.

In recent years, the square has been restored and updated. However, it seemed to me that she did not have much gloss. What yes - even during the day it is full of people, everyone is sitting in a cafe, and it seems that no one is working. Obviously due to the fact that most of the population of the center of Netanya is rich French Jews)

There is nothing particularly interesting in the city, except for a few cool graffiti

It seems that the locals have an idea of the "grayness" of their city, and are trying to somehow decorate it.

Honestly, although it was a beautiful sunny day, Netanya made a very depressing performance on me.

Of course, the city does not give the impression of destruction like Tiberias - or hopelessness like Kiryat Gat -

But the feeling is that it is unbearably boring here, and living in Netanya, you can wither away very quickly.

Although it could probably be worse. Recently I was in the super-touted city of Ra'anana, and there you can definitely die of boredom. In Netanya, at least there is a sea, and there, on the main street, there is one unfortunate pastry shop a la cafe, in which everyone is sitting - that's all. Not a single beautiful house, nothing. And real estate there is worth millions of dollars, and many residents claim that they have real "Europe" there. I didn't even have photos for the post.

That's all. There is no continuation of Netanya)