Denver Tops List of US Cities Travelers Want to Avoid

Denver, Colorado, has been named by travelers as a city they have "no desire to return to," with some describing the urban area as "evil" and "awful." More than 30,000 people reportedly agreed with one traveler's assessment of the city's sinister atmosphere.

One visitor described Denver as feeling like "the entire city is under a spell or a trance," adding, "The entire city just felt really evil almost like a place where people go to get stuck in a time loop, but something sinister is definitely going on there." Another called Denver a "Hellmouth," while a former resident stated, "There was always something that felt very off-putting about it. The people are off, the vibes are off, it just feels kind of stagnant, and dare I say, evil?"

This sentiment suggests a feeling of stagnation and unease among some visitors. The city, situated at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, is often used as a gateway to Colorado's ski resorts and hiking destinations, with some travelers indicating they visit Denver only to travel elsewhere.

Other destinations also received negative feedback. Naples, Italy, was criticized for its rubbish-covered streets and graffiti, with one traveler calling it "one of the sketchiest places I've ever travelled to." Paris, France, failed to meet expectations for some, with complaints about it being dirty, rude, and plagued by scammers. The phenomenon of "Paris syndrome," where tourists experience psychological distress when the city falls short of romanticized expectations, was mentioned.

Las Vegas, Nevada, known for its casinos and nightlife, was described by some as having a "zombie movie" atmosphere in its residential neighborhoods, feeling like a "ghost town" when not host to major events. Havana, Cuba, evoked descriptions of sadness due to observed poverty and shortages, with a visitor noting difficulties in accessing basic necessities like running water.

Closer to home, some Australian travelers shared unsettling experiences in their own country. Queenstown, Tasmania, a former mining town, was described as eerie with an unusual, barren landscape. Aberdeen, New South Wales, left one visitor feeling isolated and that the town was "lonely and dead." Belanglo State Forest in New South Wales, infamous as the dumping ground for serial killer Ivan Milat's victims, was reported to have an eerie silence. Port Arthur, Tasmania, known for its historic convict ruins and the site of a 1996 massacre, also left some visitors with uneasy feelings, with reports of unexplained noises and an oppressive atmosphere.