Budapest Crowned World’s Dirtiest City in New Global Ranking
A new report reveals a surprising list of urban centers struggling with cleanliness, with Budapest, Hungary, taking the unwanted top spot.
Globetrotters seeking pristine destinations may want to reconsider travel plans to several popular cities, according to a recent analysis by global luggage storage firm Radical Storage. The firm’s research, released this week, identified Budapest as the world’s dirtiest city, based on an assessment of online reviews highlighting cleanliness – or lack thereof. Italy dominated the rankings with four cities in the top ten, while even the glitz of Las Vegas couldn’t mask underlying issues with urban grime.
Methodology: Digging Up the Dirt Online
To compile the ranking, Radical Storage analyzed approximately 70,000 Google reviews from the past year, focusing on the top 10 attractions in 100 cities selected from Euromonitor’s Top 100 City Destinations Index. The analysis pinpointed the frequency of terms like “clean” and “dirty” to assign a cleanliness score to each city, reflecting the percentage of negative reviews related to hygiene. To ensure accuracy, the firm excluded cities with fewer than 100 reviews, filtered out ambiguous phrasing like “not clean,” and limited the analysis to English-language reviews.
Budapest’s Struggle with Tourism and Waste
Budapest topped the list with 37.9% of cleanliness-related reviews mentioning dirt or poor upkeep. The report attributes this to the city’s waste management infrastructure struggling to keep pace with a surge in tourism. “Hungary’s tourism industry increased 8.3% in September,” the report states, “with Budapest alone recording a 12% jump from the same month in 2024.” This influx of visitors appears to be overwhelming the city’s resources. A photograph accompanying the report depicts graffiti-covered walls and discarded blankets, visually illustrating the city’s challenges.
Italy’s Cities Face Grime Concerns
Italy’s presence on the list is particularly striking, with Rome, Florence, Milan, and Verona all appearing in the top ten. Rome secured the second spot with 35.7% of reviews mentioning dirt, prompting one tourist to lament, “Rome is a truly beautiful city, but the rubbish problem is utterly disgusting.” The issue has become so pervasive that it’s attracting unwanted wildlife. Reports indicate mounting garbage has drawn hordes of wild boars seeking easy meals. Online forums, including Reddit, are filled with complaints from visitors consistently encountering filth in the Italian capital.
Las Vegas and New York City: Urban Challenges
Across the Atlantic, Las Vegas landed in third place, with 31% of cleanliness-related reviews being negative. Radical Storage attributes this to the city’s 24-hour nightlife and high visitor turnover, acknowledging that maintaining spotless streets is a significant challenge. However, the report also highlights local initiatives like “Pick It Up Las Vegas,” demonstrating efforts to address the issue. One TripAdvisor reviewer described Las Vegas as a “dangerous ‘dump’ with ‘feces and urine everywhere.’” New York City, often dubbed “the City That Never Sleeps,” came in 12th place, leading some to jokingly suggest a new nickname: “the City That Never Sweeps.”
The Top Ten Dirtiest Cities
Here’s a complete list of the ten dirtiest cities, according to Radical Storage:
- Budapest, Hungary (37.9%)
- Rome, Italy (35.7%)
- Las Vegas, US (35.7%)
- Florence, Italy (29.6%)
- Paris, France (28.2%)
- Milan, Italy (26.8%)
- Verona, Italy (26.2%)
- Frankfurt, Germany (24.6%)
- Brussels, Belgium (24.4%)
- Cairo, Egypt (23.6%)
A Brighter Side: The World’s Cleanest Cities
Fortunately, travelers seeking immaculate destinations have options. Radical Storage also identified the world’s cleanest cities, led by Krakow, Poland, with 98.5% of cleanliness-related reviews using positive language.
The Top Ten Cleanest Cities
- Krakow, Poland (98.5%)
- Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (98%)
- Singapore (97.9%)
- Warsaw, Poland (97.8%)
- Doha, Qatar (97.4%)
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (96.9%)
- Prague, Czech Republic (96.4%)
- Muscat, Oman (96.4%)
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates (96.3%)
- Fukuoka, Japan (96.3%)
The rankings serve as a stark reminder that even the most beloved tourist destinations can struggle with maintaining cleanliness, and that a little research can go a long way in ensuring a pleasant travel experience.
