Before They End Up on Every Itinerary
Over-tourism is a real and growing problem. Venice is sinking under the weight of day-trippers. Santorini’s famous sunsets are now watched by thousands of people standing shoulder to shoulder. Bali’s rice terraces have Instagram queues. The places that were discovered by intrepid travellers and made famous by word of mouth are now victims of their own appeal.
The solution is to go somewhere before the crowds arrive. Here are ten destinations that are extraordinary — and still largely undiscovered.
1. Faroe Islands
Perched between Norway and Iceland in the North Atlantic, the Faroe Islands are one of Europe’s last genuinely undiscovered destinations. Clifftop villages, waterfalls that cascade directly into the sea, puffin colonies, and some of the most dramatic coastal scenery on earth — all without the crowds that Iceland now attracts. Getting there requires effort, which is exactly why it’s still special.
2. Tbilisi, Georgia
Georgia (the country, not the US state) is having a quiet cultural moment that hasn’t yet reached mainstream travel itineraries. Tbilisi is a fascinating city — Soviet architecture alongside ancient churches, a thriving contemporary arts scene, extraordinary food, and wine culture that goes back 8,000 years. Georgia is widely credited as the birthplace of wine and takes this heritage seriously. Prices are extremely low by European standards.
3. Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s second city is one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities and has a stunning old town of colourful 19th-century houses, Roman ruins you can walk through for free, and a genuine contemporary arts scene that earned it a European Capital of Culture designation in 2019. It’s dramatically undervisited relative to its quality and remains very affordable.
4. Huacachina, Peru
A tiny oasis town — a natural lagoon ringed by palm trees and restaurants — sitting in the middle of Peru’s coastal desert, surrounded by some of South America’s largest sand dunes. Sandboarding and dune buggy rides at sunset are the main activities and they’re extraordinary. Easily combined with a visit to the Paracas wildlife reserve and the Nazca Lines.
5. Luang Prabang, Laos
While not entirely undiscovered, Luang Prabang retains a serenity that most Southeast Asian destinations lost long ago. The dawn alms-giving ceremony — monks in saffron robes collecting offerings as the sun rises over the Mekong — is one of Southeast Asia’s most moving experiences. Dozens of ornate temples, French colonial architecture, and extraordinary food complete the picture.
6. Kotor, Montenegro
Montenegro’s walled medieval city sits at the foot of dramatic limestone mountains on one of Europe’s most beautiful bays. It offers Dubrovnik-level scenery at a fraction of the price and crowds. The drive around the Bay of Kotor is one of Europe’s finest road journeys. The old town is small enough to explore thoroughly in a day, making it perfect as part of a broader Balkans itinerary.
7. Oman
The Middle East’s most underrated destination. Desert dunes, ancient mud-brick forts, dramatic fjords (the Musandam Peninsula feels like Norway transplanted to the Arabian Sea), pristine diving reefs, and some of the warmest hospitality in the region. Oman is as safe and welcoming as it is visually spectacular — and it remains significantly less visited than Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
8. Matera, Italy
Italy’s ancient cave city in the deep south is finally gaining recognition but remains far less visited than Rome, Florence, or the Amalfi Coast. The city is carved into a ravine — thousands of years of human habitation in cave dwellings (sassi) that have been occupied continuously since prehistoric times. Several caves have been converted into remarkable boutique hotels. It’s unlike anywhere else in Europe.
9. Chefchaouen, Morocco
The Blue City of Morocco’s Rif Mountains is increasingly photographed but the reality still exceeds even the most beautiful images. The blue-painted medina is genuinely enchanting to walk through, the mountain scenery provides a dramatic backdrop, and the pace of life is beautifully unhurried compared to Marrakech’s intensity. Best visited as part of a northern Morocco circuit.
10. The Albanian Riviera
Albania’s coastline along the Ionian Sea — with its crystal-clear water, dramatic clifftop villages, and almost entirely undeveloped beaches — is what the Greek islands looked like 40 years ago. Himara, Dhermi, and Ksamil are the headline spots. Prices are among the lowest in Europe. The infrastructure is improving rapidly, which means now is the time — before it becomes the next Croatia.
How to Travel These Places Well
- Visit in shoulder season — you’ll have a better experience and the destination benefits from year-round tourism rather than seasonal overload
- Stay in locally-owned accommodation and eat at locally-owned restaurants — your money stays in the community
- Learn a few words of the local language — even basic greetings make a remarkable difference to how you’re received
- Respect local customs, photography expectations, and environmental rules
- Be thoughtful about what you share on social media — precise GPS coordinates of sensitive natural spots can trigger visitor surges that damage them
The Right Time Is Now
Every destination on this list will eventually become more popular — that’s the nature of travel. The question is whether you visit them while they’re still extraordinary or after they’ve been loved to the point of diminishment. Go now. The crowds will follow later.
