18 Travel Dupes (that I recommend).
I had never heard of the term “Travel Dupes” before this year. But anyone who’s read this blog knows I’ve always believed in avoiding highly-touristed destinations in favour of lesser-known ones.
I actually hate the term “Dupes” (short for “duplicates”). For me it not about duplicating a destination. You can’t duplicate places like Venice, Prague or Dubrovnik. BUT you can substitute well-known and expensive destinations for less-discovered and cheaper destinations. You might even discover a lesser-known place that inspires you more than you ever thought possible *. Travel “dupes” are especially important if planning to go somewhere during peak seasons (which I always tell people to avoid. But in many cases people just don’t have much flexibility).
*I always say that finding a great lesser-known or “off the beaten track” destination is like discovering a good bottle of wine. Sure, it’s great when everyone tells you about a great bottle and you try it and love it. But it’s even better finding a great bottle of wine that few people know about. That’s what’s special about discovering places that are lesser known.
In this post, I’ll cover some popular “travel dupes”. Some I agree with, some I don’t. Then I’ll give you 18 travel dupes that I recommend – all places I’ve been and enjoyed. In some cases I find the dupes to be better than the originals…
Popular Travel Dupes
It’s always interesting to see what experts recommend as travel dupes. I haven’t been to some of the places mentioned below so I’ll reserve judgement (but feel free to tell me what you think). On a few others I put in my two cents.
Here we go…
Swap London (UK) for Liverpool. The last time I was in London was 20 years ago. I’ve never been to Liverpool so no opinion on this one…
Swap Lisbon (Portugal) for Palermo (Italy). We haven’t been to Palermo but we have been to Lisbon. Lisbon is a pretty city but you have to avoid it in summer. We went in mid-summer a few years back which was a big mistake (crowded, expensive, hot). Palermo during that time will be just as hot but it will be significantly cheaper and nowhere near as crowded.
Swap Taipei (Taiwan) for Seoul (Korea).
Swap Paris (France) for Quebec City (Canada). I grew up near Quebec City. I think for a North American thinking of a short vacation, Quebec City can be a substitute for Paris: it has a European vibe, it’s closer to home so you’ll save a lot on airfare, it’s overall much cheaper than Paris. What to see in Quebec City is quite limited so you can’t compare Quebec City to Paris for a longer vacation. But if you’re willing to rent a car, Quebec city is close to some stunning geography (see my posts on the Gaspé and on Quebec’s North Coast). Add these to the equation and you might end up with a trip that far surpasses a holiday in Paris…while saving money.
Swap Santorini (Greece) for Crete (Greece).
Swap Amsterdam (Netherlands) for Ljubljana (Slovenia). I’ve seen quite a lot of travel dupes suggesting Ljubljana (another popular one is substituting Venice for Ljubljana). It might be an option if looking for 2-3 days away…but Ljubljana is a very small city and just doesn’t measure up to Amsterdam or Venice. So I’m not sure about this one…
Swap Barcelona (Spain) for Valparaíso (Chile). I really dislike Barcelona so I’m up for any travel dupe as far as Barcelona is concerned. I don’t know Valparaíso but I have my own travel dupe suggestion which I think is much more comparable and in the same time zone (see in my recommended travel dupes further below).
Swap Venice (Italy) for Porto (Portugal). I understand swapping Venice for another location, especially in high season (at any other time, go see Venice, it is spectacular). But I don’t understand swapping Venice for Porto which is also very, very popular. It just seems to defeat the purpose for me.
Swap Istanbul (Turkey) for Sarajevo (Bosnia & Herzegovina). Both stimulating cities. Istanbul has gotten very popular (3rd most touristed city in Europe according to this) so Sarajevo makes for a good substitute (at a much cheaper price tag) if looking for something different. More here: Sarajevo and all the reasons it’s worth visiting.
Swap Prague (Czech Republic) for Krakow (Poland). Prague is our favorite European city but it does get crowded with tourists in summer. BUT so does Krakow – we were there a few years back and it was also very busy. So like the Venice for Porto swap above, what’s the point? I have a better Prague dupe below in my recommendations.
Swap Bangkok (Thailand) for Pattaya (just down the coast from Bangkok). This is just the worst travel dupe recommendation I’ve seen. We spent a few days in Pattaya a few years ago and enjoyed it solely because we went for the Songkran festival. Otherwise, it’s a dirty beach town full of prostitutes, sex tourists and gawkers, and a coastline brimming with raw sewage. Besides which, there are absolutely no highlights to see in Pattaya. Versus Bangkok which has lots to see…and is only 150 km away. What’s the point of coming to Thailand to skip Bangkok and to go to Pattaya instead? Horrible recommendation.
Swap Florence (Italy) for Guanajuato (Mexico). I actually think this is a genius swap as long as there’s no festival going on in Guanajuato (it can get very crowded). But I’ve got an even better Florence-for-Mexican-city-dupe in my recommendations. Note: duping Italy for a long flight to Mexico might not make sense if you’re located in Europe. But if you’re in the US there are some incredible Mexican cities you can experience while saving a ton of money. Like I say, more on that below.
Swap the Maldives for Zanzibar (Tanzania).
Swap the Italian Riviera for Montenegro. Love the Montenegrin coast and Kotor is one of the most spectacular places anywhere.
Swap Vienna (Austria) for Bucharest (Romania).
Swap the Greek Islands for Albania. Albania has been at the top of our list for a while. A great jumping off point is the Greek island of Corfu from where you can take a 40 minute boat across to Sarandë. Inland is the UNESCO town of Gjirokaster. We’re hoping to get to Albania before the world discovers it.
Swap Brugge (Belgium) for Ghent (also Belgium). I’ve heard a lot of people, even before “travel dupes” became a thing, insisting that Ghent is a fantastic destination and more interesting than the overhyped cities of Amsterdam or Brugge (Bruges).
Swap Perth (Australia) for Sydney (also Australia).
What’s your opinion on some of the above??
18 travel dupes I recommend
I can’t criticise other people’s recommendations without putting some of my recommendations out there.
So here are 18 travel dupes I recommend:
Dubrovnik for Kotor. I mention above that Kotor is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. I first visited Kotor in 2015 and even then I wrote that I preferred Kotor to Dubrovnik. We’ve since gone back to both cities. They’re both spectacular. But I still prefer Kotor and that’s doubly so in the summer when Dubrovnik is teeming with tourists. Note: Kotor does get more tourists now than it used to, especially when the cruise ships come in. But it’s still nowhere near as popular as Dubrovnik. And if you come here in winter (as we did in early 2020) you may find you have Kotor all to yourself.
Barcelona for Valencia. I pretty much despise Barcelona. We now live in Spain and I can list you so many places that are more spectacular and much, much cheaper than Barcelona. I fact I wrote about that here: 10 Places to visit in Spain other than Barcelona. One of those is the beautiful city of Valencia which is about 350 km (220 miles) down the coast.
Prague for Brno. Like I said, you can’t duplicate Prague. I think it’s the most beautiful city in the world. But Prague can be jammed-packed with tourists in the summer. An alternative is Brno, the Czech Republic’s 2nd city. We stayed there a month a few years ago and enjoyed the city and region. Why go to Brno? It’s an authentic slice of the Czech Republic known for its wine and rolling countryside. You’ll see few tourists, save a lot of money and have an enjoyable and relaxing holiday in a place few people know anything about. All about Brno. Note: this recommendation is for peak-summer travel. Otherwise there’s no reason to swap Prague for anywhere…
Český Krumlov for Olomouc (also Czech Republic). Český Krumlov is beautiful but it’s the most popular daytrip from Prague. Hordes of tourists in the summer, most of them day-trippers swarming off large tour buses. Just as beautiful, with few tourists, is Olomouc in Moravia. Plus, it’s easier to get to (in less time) than Český Krumlov.
Madrid for Mexico City. Madrid has some of the world’s great museums. But other than that, I don’t understand why people go to Madrid (it’s the 14th most visited city in Europe with 5.6 million annual visitors). Mexico City, in my opinion, is a much more interesting destination. And if you are in Canada or the US, there’s no reason to take a long flight to Europe when Mexico City is just a few hours away. You’ll save a ton of money in the process.
Swiss Alps for Morrocco. The Swiss Alps are majestic. Many years ago we explored the Lauterbrunnen area, hiking and seeing incredible geography. But it’s super expensive (I see rooms in the simple hotel where we stayed now cost 178 Euros/night). Compare that to Southern Morocco where I hiked for 3 days, paying $35/night in a small hotel and having a personal hiking guide with me for my hikes (another $35/day). I didn’t ride any fancy trains or cable cars up the mountains (you can ride a mule if you wish though)…but some of the geography reminded me of Switzerland. A fantastic experience at a fraction of the cost. My days in the Atlas mountains were the highlight of 5 weeks in Morocco.
Ayutthaya for Sukhothai (both in Thailand). Ayutthaya is a popular day trip from Bangkok offering some beautiful temples. It was the 2nd capital of Thailand and is a UNESCO World heritage site. But it is usually crowded and far from pristine. If you’re in Thailand and looking to spend a few days visiting temples, then swap Ayutthaya for Sukhothai. Sukhothai was the 1st capital of Thailand and is also a UNESCO World heritage site. The big difference from a visitors’ point of view is that Sukhothai is a protected, compact area (clean, and you can easily go from site to site with a bike) and you’ll see far less visitors. It’s just a better overall experience. More: Ayutthaya or Sukhothai – which to Visit?
Florence for Siena. Florence is fantastic but it gets a LOT of tourists. 80 km away, Siena somehow falls under the radar of most travellers. And Siena has tons of impressive sites. Even The Guardian agrees with me.
Florence for Guanajuato Zacatecas (Mexico). Another Florence dupe. I mentioned up above the Florence for Guanajuato travel dupe which came recommended by travel experts. It’s a good one. But I’d take it one step further – go to Zacatecas instead which is little known and possibly the most beautiful city in Mexico.
The truth is that there are some incredibly beautiful cities in Mexico which are a great (and cheap) alternative to Florence. Zacatecas, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende…all great Mexican cities that will blow your socks off. If you live in the Americas: no need to take a plane across the Atlantic when you have so much beauty at your doorstep.
Penang for Ipoh (both in Malaysia). I’ve been to Penang twice with a separation of 17 years. The first time I enjoyed Penang’s charm and uniqueness. Coming back, I witnessed a place full of traffic and tourists taking selfies. It had lost its charm. Ipoh on the other hand was what Penang used to be…add to that cave temples, karst geography and hot springs.
Phuket for Prachuap Khiri Khan (both in Thailand). Phuket is another place I’ve been twice and that’s gone downhill over time. If you’re looking to party then by all means go to Phuket. But if you’re looking for a beautiful beach destination with karst geography, adorable monkeys and affordable costing, then consider Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Marrakesh for Fez. Marrakesh has some interesting sites. But I honestly hate the place (I’ve never been hassled and hustled anywhere in the world the way I’ve been hassled and hustled in Marrakesh). I prefer Fez hands down: the oldest city in Morocco, the first imperial capital and an old city which many say is the best-preserved old city in the Arab world. And you won’t be hassled and hustled in Fez the way you would in Marrakesh. More here: Fez or Marrakesh?
Budapest for Belgrade. I’ve been to Budapest 3 times, it used to the grittier alternative to Prague. With each visit I’ve found it to be dirtier, more crowded, and increasingly full of young drunk partygoers. Want an authentic alternative? Belgrade. It’s a large cosmopolitan city with a lot of attractions including the huge Belgrade fortress (which lies at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers) and some beautiful orthodox cathedrals. It is a young, happening city that has gained a reputation as a party city in recent years. People are cosmopolitan, friendly, and there are some excellent bars and restaurants. It’s also very inexpensive. More on Belgrade.
Ronda for Antequera. Ronda, in Andalusia, is a very popular place among tour groups. We were amazed to see a huge amount of Asian tour groups traipsing through town, even in early January. Ronda is impressive…but just an hour away is Antequera which I think is more impressive (we’ve lived in Antequera for a year so maybe I’m biased). Somehow Antequera gets few tourists despite having a UNESCO World Heritage site (the Dolmens of Antequera), a Moorish fortress sitting atop the city, countless incredible churches, lots of viewpoints…and one of the most impressive natural parks in Spain just outside the city (El Torcal de Antequera). More: 30 Photos that will make you want to visit Antequera.
Istanbul for Mostar. I mentioned that one of the recommended dupes by travel experts was Istanbul for Sarajevo. I actually think Istanbul for Mostar (also in Bosnia and Herzegovina) is more appropriate – Mostar reeks of the Middle East and its location is spectacular. Don’t expect all the attractions of Istanbul…but for a weekend getaway Mostar is a fantastic and interesting alternative (at a fraction of the cost). And don’t forget you can easily combine it with Sarajevo for a longer holiday. More on Mostar.
Vienna for Sarajevo. I mention above that experts recommended duping Istanbul for Sarajevo. I actually think Sarajevo is a better dupe to Vienna then Istanbul. Note: I’m not a fan of Vienna, several years ago I wrote a post comparing Vienna to Beyoncé’s soulless eyes. I just didn’t find the city inspiring.
Sarajevo shares a past with Vienna: it was a part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. It was in Sarajevo that Franz Ferdinand, the eldest son of the archduke of Austria (and the heir to the throne) was assassinated. It set off World War I in 1914.
But besides that, Sarajevo is an interesting (and in my opinion inspiring) city with lots of history, most of it tragic. More: Reasons to visit Sarajevo.
Tallinn (Estonia) for Vilnius (Lithuania). I was kind of surprised to read that Tallinn gets 4 million foreign visitors a year. That’s the same number of visitors as Hamburg and Budapest. That’s shocking considering that Tallinn is so small. While Tallinn is pretty, it’s a Disney-ish version of a European old town with too much kitschiness for our taste. It reminded me of Prague’s Celetna street. Prague can absorb a certain amount of kitschiness because it’s big. Tallinn can’t.
We much preferred Vilnius (Lithuania). A ‘real’ city with more highlights, cheaper prices and the least visitors of the 3 Baltic countries. More: What to see and do in Vilnius.
Venice for Padua. I don’t know if this is really a travel dupe. The first time we visited Venice we stayed in Venice itself. It was crowded and expensive. When we came back to the region a few years later we based ourselves in nearby Padua (Padova) for a month. On all the major train lines, it made for an excellent base to visit Venice (30 minutes), Verona (45 minutes), Bologna (1 hour to 90 minutes) and even Rome (3 ½ hours).
Nobody knows Padua. But after having researched all the above cities for affordable accommodation it’s what I came up with. And surprisingly, it is a pretty city with a lot of highlights: Saint Anthony’s Cathedral (a cathedral visited by millions of Catholic pilgrims every year), the Pretto della Valle (Europe’s biggest square), and the UNESCO Heritage site botanical gardens (the first botanical gardens in the world). More on Padua.
Summary: There are different reasons for “travel dupes”. The first is for alternative destinations during peak holiday periods when the most popular cities just get TOO popular. The second is for a comparable experience in a destination that gets less visitors. The third is all about saving money: swapping a destination which is expensive for a more budget-friendly alternative. The over-riding theme though, whatever the reason to “dupe” a destination, is to shine the spotlight on lesser-known places.
Thoughts? Do you have your own “travel dupe” recommendations?
Related: Avoiding Europe in the summer…and other places to go instead
Related: Tourism…and when the locals hate you
I agree that Ghent and Valencia are great, underrated travel destinations. I would add Seville (instead of other more popular Southern European cities), Stockholm (can replace Vienna) and Nuremberg. There are also lots of really nice smaller German cities: Heidelberg, Tübingen, Erfurt etc. Small town Germany as a whole is underrated. In Scandinavia where I live Aarhus (Denmark) and Visby (Sweden) are super underrated by foreign tourists.
I haven’t been to Trieste and Ljubljana but I suspect that they are underrated too.
Thanks RJA! Some good recommendations there. Totally agree with Erfurt and Tubingen. I didn’t want to recommend Seville because it gets a lot of tourists, but I guess all relative – that year when we were in Lisbon our next stop was Seville and it was much less crowded. And it’s, in my opinion, the most beautiful Spanish city. Don’t know Aarhus and Visby so thank you, I’ve noted them down.
I think you might like Visby, it is very picturesque with buildings and ruins from the middle ages. One can also make excursions around Gotland, for example to where Ingmar Bergman lived and recorded many of his famous movies. It’s a very peculiar, stark landscape with weird rock formations. Would be perfect to combine with Stockholm in early June or very late August (when the weather is decent but outside the domestic tourist season). One can take a boat to Gotland from outside Stockholm (Västervik), or fly in 30 mins. I’d say 5-6 days in Stockholm, and 2-3 days in Visby/Gotland is ideal. Perhaps a nice opportunity to escape the Spanish heat for a while 🙂 I’m thinking Scandinavia might become a popular tourist destination for Southern Europeans in the summer if the heatwaves get worse…