As someone who is prefers mountains and forests to highways and sky scrapers, I tend to avoid cities when I travel, often escaping sprawling metropolises in favor of smaller outdoorsy areas.

Yet western Europe has always been a place I wanted to visit, particularly some of the well-known cities that I have only experienced through movies, books, and stories from other travelers. Known for its rich history, phenomenal train system, and culinary offerings, western Europe seemed like it would be a fun vacation destination as a whirlwind trip through multiple cities. Yes, I would have to bookend this trip into urban areas with a healthy dose of nature (ahem, the Scottish Highlands), yet I would also have to try my best to avoid the tourist traps in said cities.

Thus, I worked diligently – sometimes successfully, sometimes not – to find the non-touristy gems in each of the following cities: Glasgow, Edinburgh, London, Paris, Lyon, and Geneva.

It wasn’t always easy, and there were many times when I questioned my life choices to visit these famous cities in peak summer travel season. All in all, it was a positive experience, and now I share my thoughts (and rankings) with you.

1. Glasgow

Glasgow in and of itself is actually not a very “touristy” city. I feel like I didn’t need to try very hard to avoid crowds, especially when it was raining out and the herds of tourists headed indoors (I travel prepared, of course, and merely donned a rain jacket).

My favorite Glasgow activity was to simply walk around the city, avoiding the main drag that was a shopper’s paradise. Instead, I walked concentric circles away from the center of town, enjoying the street art and architecture. There were street performers, quirky little coffee shops, and a creepy necropolis that overlooked the city.

At night, per a local’s suggestion, I found a pub in the area that had stand-up comedy. It was quite cringe-worthy, but I enjoyed a good regional brew alongside of Scotland’s famous steak pie.

Escape-the-tourists rating: 8/10

2. Edinburgh

Edinburgh was one of my favorite cities. I absolutely loved the architecture. Unfortunately, on the days I was scheduled to be there, King Charles III decided to also visit, and the city was exceptionally overrun with tourists. The Royal Mile street was blocked off, cops were everywhere, and it was a little tricky (and frustrating) to navigate.

I quickly found out, however, that walking into the lower city afforded me an escape from the crowds and a sterling view of Edinburgh castle. I also explored Dean Village one morning, a quiet residential area in a lesser known part of Edinburgh. I grabbed an egg sandwich and coffee takeaway breakfast, meandered up and down the cobblestone streets, and enjoyed the cool morning area overlooking my namesake village.

At night, the tourists intent on seeing the King seemed to vanish, leaving a city bustling with nightlife but in an authentic way with a local vibe.

Escape-the-tourists rating: 7/10

3. London

I decided that I couldn’t got to London and not see some of the main sites. My first evening there, I booked tickets on the London Eye and enjoyed the up-high views of Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and an entire stretch of the Thames.

The following morning I got up early and headed towards Bankside, an artsy, cultural area that has lots of fun eateries and things to do. My favorite was Borough Market (London’s oldest) and The Clink museum. Yes, I took photos of Tower Bridge, and I enjoyed snapping a pic of the Globe theater from a distance.

By the time 11 am rolled around, the place was crawling, so I ventured to…

Shoreditch!

This is one of the coolest neighborhoods I’ve been to. I took a street art tour, found fun shops on Brick Street, and of course had some of the best curry I’ve ever tasted.

Escape-the-tourists rating: 6/10

4. Paris

Goodness gracious. Paris is a busy, overwhelmingly touristy place! Check out this photo of the Eiffel Tower on a Sunday evening:

Apparently everyone had the same idea: picnic in the park. My first day in town, I was discouraged at how commercialized and un-special Paris felt. I was determined to find my own little spots in the city that were local and authentic.

Solution: Take an E-bike along the Thames early Sunday morning. Success – At 7 am, there were only a handful of dog walkers out. I checked out the outdoor sculpture garden, and then enjoyed a pastry and coffee on a side street that could only be described as “cute”.

Later that day, I decided to embrace the fact that Paris in July will simply be busy! I navigated crowds around the Arc de Triomphe and Louvre, and then escaped up side streets to find fun fabric shops, thrift stores, and unique patisseries.

Escape-the-tourists rating: 4/10

5. Lyon

Many Americans have never heard of Lyon, France, but it’s pretty well-known in Europe, and boasts an incredible foodie scene that is traditional and steeped in historical happenings.

Like most cities in western Europe, Lyon has quite a diverse population, and, depending on the specific neighborhood, you can find lots of shops, music, and treats that represent a French-[pick your country] fusion.

I enjoyed walking along the rivers, exploring the Traboules (tiny passageways in between main streets), and strolling through the Botanical Gardens. The French locals love to have picnics in the park, and I even took part in a dog birthday party with a bunch of strangers.

Lyon was fun, explore-able, and had a rich culture that was easy to take part in.

Eascape-the-tourists rating: 8/10

6. Geneva

Geneva: known for the United Nations headquarters and this cool fountain that sprays water really high. Geneva was the last city that I visited on my trip, and by this point, I was tired of staying in hostels and not having central A/C. Nevertheless, I gave Geneva the ol’ college try, and attempted to find the unbeaten path.

I found some fun book stores, a free water fountain that spews out sparkling water, and lots of little parks with live animals and free wayside exhibits.

Most of the sites in Geneva were easily accessible, and I didn’t really encounter crowds or long lines for anything.

Escape-the-tourists rating: 7/10

It was an adventurous summer with new experiences (European trains!). Although I probably wouldn’t do a trip containing these many cities again, I have no regrets and learned a lot about how to navigate crowds.

Cheers to those of you who embrace the tourists traps with a positive attitude and willing spirit. Hats off to you who find the locals, grab a regional beverage, and enjoy a city for all its worth.