Some destinations are at the top of the list for every traveler to visit at least once . . .
. . . while other cities are labeled as “boring” and uneventful and nobody ever thinks of giving them a try.
Check out the list of the most boring cities in the world and see if you agree with their rankings.
Fort Wayne, Indiana
What is there to do in Fort Wayne, Indiana?
According to WalletHub, not much.
In a WalletHub report on 2022’s Best and Worst Cities for Recreation, Fort Wayne ranked 100 – dead last.
Yikes.
Wayne 15 news reported:
“Fort Wayne was 91st in the amount of parkland across the city, 90th in percent of the population with walkable park access, and 89th in swimming pools per capita. It scored high in tennis courts per capita (32nd), but low (81st) in bike rental facilities per capita.”
Ok, so maybe it doesn’t have a lot of recreational opportunities – but Fort Wayne does have a walkable downtown area and riverfront travelers of all ages can enjoy.
Kids can play in Promenade Park and families can take a relaxing boat cruise – or simply sit outside near the water and grab a bite to eat or drink.
Don’t knock this midwestern city off your list just yet.
Lubbock, Texas
Almost a decade ago, Lubbock was nicknamed “America’s most boring city” – and it hasn’t been able to come back from that devastating blow ever since.
The real estate Movoto gave Lubbock the insulting title.
Defending its rating in calling Lubbock boring, Movoto wrote:
“Lubbock isn’t exactly full of culture either, as the arts per capita ranked 73rd and the music venues per capita ranked 83rd. Where Lubbock really took a nosedive was in the dining department, so much so that it ranked dead last in the non-fast food restaurant category (fast food is borrrring).
The one thing this city didn’t totally fail at was nightlife, where it ranked a pretty middle-of-the-pack 58th. We guess if you’re an older college student who isn’t into art, who’s living on fast food and cheap drinks, Lubbock might be for you.”
Locals disagree, and claim they enjoy the quiet pace in Lubbock while appreciating the simple things in life like a beautiful sunset with its bold colors displayed against the wide-open Texas sky.
I guess “boring” is a matter of perspective.
Nagoya, Japan
Nicknamed as Japan’s most “boring city”, Nagoya isn’t known as a popular destination for international travelers.
Even some of the locals diss Nagoya and want nothing to do with it.
CNN reported:
“Nagoya might not have the international draw of Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka, but it certainly doesn’t deserve the sobriquet of “Japan’s most boring city.”
The city and its surrounding region, known as Chukyo, are filled with a wealth of attractions. These include historical castles, delicious food, scenic rail journeys, exciting theme parks, a thriving local bar scene and some of Japan’s best museums.
So why does it have a reputation amongst some Japanese residents for being dull? It reportedly all started in 2016, according to the Japan Times, when Nagoya wound up last on a survey asking residents in eight cities to select which ones were the most appealing as travel destinations.”
But defenders of Nagoya claim its anything from boring.
Art and culture buffs love the wide variety of museums while foodies gravitate towards the hidden restaurant gems serving up authentic Japanese food.
Little kids (or adults who are little kids at heart) will have a blast playing and exploring Nagoya Legoland.
Don’t knock Nagoya off your bucket list just yet – give it a try.
And remember – “boring” is a matter of opinion.
If you have a heart for adventure – you can have fun in any city – and might even deem it a challenge to find exciting things to do in places others have simply dismissed.
What city do you consider to be boring?
Would you visit any of the cities we listed above?
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