Which travel destination in Europe is the most popular for taking selfies? No, it is not Heathrow or Barcelona airport, nor Big Ben, but Eiffel Tower in Paris. That’s what British tourists ranked the highest when they were asked about their favorite selfie shooting locations in Europe.
Even though France managed to take the top position in the ranking for the most popular selfie location, the most popular countries in top ten are Spain and Italy. Here is the top 10 list for the most popular selfie locations in Europe as voted by British tourists.
Eiffel Tower – Paris, France
Colosseum – Rome, Italy
Tower of Pisa – Italy
Stonehenge – Wiltshire, England
Piazza San Marco – Venice, Italy
Ibiza Old town – Balearic Islands, Spain
Sagrada de Familia – Barcelona, Spain
Las Ramblas – Barcelona, Spain
Brandenburger Gate – Berlin, Germany
Palacio Real – Madrid, Spain
Brandenburger Gate, Berlin.
The survey was conducted by Vueling Airlines.
Other bits and pieces of information from the survey:
– 46% of tourists say they have taken a selfie at a landmark, and left after that without really exploring the sight.
– 25% travelled to a site just to take a picture they could then post on social media.
– The average British tourist takes 88 photos on a holiday trip.
If the same survey was conducted to an Europe-wide audience, London’s landmarks like the Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Piccadilly Circus would probably rank high on the selfie list.
What does a selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower prove? I was here, or I remember you my friend even when I am traveling far from home? It is actually an old custom to prove that a traveler has visited a specific place.
Selfies may not be as new and hot thing as many believe. Yes, taking a selfie in front of a mirror or in front of a landmark is extremely popular, but even before cameraphones existed, people used to take selfies. Before digital cameras, selfies were taken with film cameras, but because the development of every photo in the film roll has to paid for, every photo was carefully considered.
Another way to prove to friends and relatives that you had visited a famous landmark was to send a postcard. What a mess it used to be! First, you had to buy postcards, then find a shop that sold stamps, find street addresses of all the people you intended to write to, and finally, find a mailbox where to drop the cards. Today, Instagram, Flickr, Twitter and many other social media services make it so easy to send digital postcards for the whole world to admire.
Selfie survey news discovered via Mirror.