Rome and Florence ranked second and fourth worldwide for tourist complaints linked to dirtiness, according to a recent survey cited by La Nazione.
The ranking is based on a late 2025 study by Radical Storage, which analysed online visitor reviews published over the past 12 months. It places the two Italian cities among the cities most frequently described as “dirty” by tourists, despite their global reputation for art and heritage.
The research does not assess environmental data or official sanitation standards. Instead, it focuses on visitor perception of dirtiness or cleanliness. Analysts reviewed comments on travel platforms and tourism websites, identifying references to cleanliness using keywords such as “clean” and “dirty”.
How the ranking was compiled
Radical Storage selected 100 cities featured in Euromonitor’s Top 100 City Destinations Index. For each city, researchers examined ten of the most visited attractions. Reviews were then analysed to measure how often dirtiness was mentioned.
Rome ranked second and Florence fourth, with 37.5% and 29.6% respectively of analysed reviews referring to dirt or poor cleanliness. Budapest topped the list, followed by Rome and Las Vegas. Paris ranked fifth, just behind the Tuscan capital.
Tourism pressure and historic centres
The study suggests that high visitor numbers play a significant role in shaping these perceptions. Both cities have a high footfall of tourists. Radical Storage commented that for Rome, “The uncleanliness levels of the city may directly reflect the dissatisfaction of residents. In 2023, the city came 7th bottom for how satisfied people living in the city were, with 71% saying not satisfied, and bottom for residents staying the quality of life in the city increasing compared to the previous five years, with only 3% agreeing that it had improved.”
Florence’s historic centre has narrow streets and crowded public spaces which can make cleaning more difficult and more noticeable to visitors. Radical Storage, however, mentioned that “the city is doing what it can to make a difference, introducing AI bins to make waste disposal interesting and easier for residents across the city.”
According to La Nazione, the findings highlight a familiar tension. Florence’s cultural prestige often contrasts with how tourists experience day-to-day urban conditions in busy areas. Tour Guides in the city would also point to unlicensed street vendors who clutter the streets with their goods, piling boxes along the walls and leaving rubbish at the end of the day.
While the survey reflects opinions rather than verified data, it reinforces an issue that frequently appears in tourist feedback. The ranking has circulated widely online, underlining how visitor perceptions can influence a city’s international image, even when based on non-scientific analysis.
