Overcrowded places…and where to go instead

Overcrowded places and where to go instead.

Year after year, there are more and more people travelling for pleasure. Most go to the same (predictable) destinations.

There are many reasons why popular places are popular. Places like Venice, Prague and Dubrovnik are extraordinary. But you CAN substitute well-known and expensive destinations for less-discovered and cheaper destinations. Alternatives are especially important if planning to go somewhere during peak seasons. You might even discover a lesser-known place that inspires you more than you ever thought possible*.

*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 lesser-known places that I recommend as alternatives to those popular, overcrowded destinations. In some cases I find the alternatives to be better than the originals…

 

 

Overcrowded places…and where to go instead

 

So here are 19 alternatives to popular tourist spots that I recommend:

 

1) Kotor instead of Dubrovnik

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.

 

 

 

---

---

 

 

2) Valencia instead of Barcelona

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.

 

 

 

3) Brno instead of Prague

You can’t replace 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 2^nd 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…

 

 

 

---

---

 

4) Olomouc instead of Český Krumlov 

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.

 

 

 

 

5) Mexico City instead of Madrid

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 14^th 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.

 

 

 

---

---

 

 

6) Morocco instead of the Swiss Alps

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.

 

 

 

 

7) Sukhothai instead of Ayutthaya

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? . On top of that, you have Si Satchanalai Historical Park, another UNESCO World Heritage site, just an hour away and it is even quieter than Sukhothai. Visit both if you can.

 

 

 

---

---

 

 

8) Siena instead of Florence

Florence is fantastic but it gets a LOT of tourists. 80 km away, Siena isn’t unknown…but it gets a lot less visitors than Florence. And Siena has tons of impressive sites. Even The Guardian agrees with me.

 

 

 

 

9) Zacatecas (Mexico) instead of Florence

Another Florence dupe. Actually, there’s a few places in Mexico that could fit the bill here, the most stunning being the city of Guanajuato. 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.

 

 

 

---

---

 

 

10) Ipoh instead of Penang

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.

 

 

 

11) Prachuap Khiri Khan instead of Phuket

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.

 

 

---

---

 

 

12) Fez instead of Marrakesh

 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?

 

 

 

 

13) Belgrade instead of Budapest

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.

 

 

 

---

---

 

 

14) Antequera instead of Ronda

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 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. Plus: it is easier to get to (25 minutes by train from Malaga) than Ronda (1 hr, 20 min by bus from Malaga).

 

 

 

 

15) Mostar instead of Istanbul

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 the fascinating city of Sarajevo for a longer holiday. More on Mostar.

 

 

 

---

---

 

 

16) Sarajevo instead of Vienna

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. Instead visit Sarajevo.

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.

 

 

 

17) Vilnius instead of Tallinn

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.

 

 

---

---

 

18) Padua instead Venice

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.

 

 

 

19) Peles Castle instead of Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is incredibly popular. We went many years ago and I remember being herded in like cattle for our 30 minute tour. It was incredibly underwhelming. 

Instead visit Peles Castle in Romania. It is incredible and many have compared it to Neuschwanstein, maybe because it was built at around the same time (Peles in 1873,  Neuschwanstein in 1869) with both being designed by German architects. Even the dramatic mountain scenery in the background is similar to that of Neushwanstein’s. 

Peles Castle is in the town of Sinaia, on the train line halfway between Bucharest and Brasov (about 1 hour away from each). So there’s lots to see in the region.

 

 

 

Summary: There are different reasons for alternative destinations. The first is for replacements 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 find an alternative to a destination, is to shine the spotlight on lesser-known places.

 

Thoughts? Do you have your own “alternative destination” recommendations?

 

 

Related: Avoiding Europe in the summer…and other places to go instead

Related: Tourism…and when the locals hate you