Have you ever arrived in a dream destination and find yourself surrounded by thousands of other tourists, all with the same photo to take? This disappointment is increasingly common, therefore, after years of observations and research, it clearly emerges that the most authentic experiences are often found a few kilometers from the most famous destinations.
Here are the best alternatives to the most popular destinations.
Instead of Salento … Basilicata
Salento has become the most popular summer destination in Southern Italy, and often its most beautiful beaches are literally invaded by tourists. Basilicata, on the other hand, holds hidden treasures that few know. Scanzano Jonico boasts a crystal clear sea that has nothing to envy to the Salento waters, with golden beaches and transparent seabed where it is still possible to find corners of paradise in solitude.
The real magic of Basilicata lies in the incredible landscape variety: a stone’s throw from the sea stand by the Lucanian Dolomites, a natural amphitheater of sharp rocks and built villages that seems to transport to another dimension. Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa then offer the emotion of the “flight of the angel”, while Matera with his Sassi Unesco heritage completes a unique travel experience in the world. Basilicata is certainly the perfect destination for those looking for sea, mountains and culture in a single region.
Instead of Venice … Treviso
Venice is magical, but often the experience is ruined by the crowds that make it impossible to enjoy the city.
Treviso comes precisely nicknamed “Little Venice”, because it offers equally fascinating canals but without the tourist chaos that grips the Serenissima. It preserves a perfectly preserved medieval historic center, crossed by the canals in which the Sile river flows.
The Venetian walls surround the center as a protective embrace, while the arcades and squares tell the centuries of mercantile history; You can walk along the canals in peace, discover the most genuine taverns, where you can enjoy the famous Radicchio of Treviso, and admire the medieval frescoes without having to shake in the crowd, looking for a living space.
As widely underlined, Treviso is the perfect destination for those looking for the Venetian atmosphere without the Venice Overurism.
Instead of Florence … Lucca
Florence can be suffocating, especially when Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery are literally invaded by tourists. Lucca, on the other hand, is a Tuscan jewel that maintains all its Renaissance authenticity: surrounded by perfectly preserved sixteenth -century walls, the city is an open -air museum where it is still possible to breathe the atmosphere of a more human -sized Tuscany.
The walls today have been transformed into an elevated urban park, a truly unique peculiarity, with a unique walk in the world overlooking the city and apuane. The historic center holds the Romanesque churches, medieval towers and the famous square of the amphitheater, built on the remains of a Roman amphitheater. You can pedal quietly through the streets of the center, which is unthinkable in Florence, and discover a beautiful city unknown to most.
Instead of Paris … Amiens
We move from the cousins of Oltralpe, where we will talk about Amiens, a city of high France that embodies all the French charm without the chaos of the capital. City located in the north of France, it hosts a Gothic cathedral that literally leaves you speechless – is one of the largest in Europe – and that can be visited in peace, away from the crowd.
The canals that cross the city create a fairytale atmosphere, especially at sunset, when the lights are reflected on the water. To Amiens you can really feel like a place, and not as a simple passage tourist.
Instead of London … Bath
Another European destination, this time in England: Bath’s thermal city can be safely configured as a real revelation for anyone looking for elegance without chaos. While London can overwhelm with its frenetic rhythm, Bath will conquer you with grace and elegance: concrete example the Roman spas, still functioning after two thousand years, an experience that connects directly with ancient history.
Georgian architecture finds its maximum expression in Royal Crescent, the famous residential complex built between 1767 and 1774, a 100%British place.
Instead of dubrovnik… korčula
Dubrovnik is beautiful, but has now become a themed park. The city of Korčula, on the other hand, maintains the soul more than a real Adriatic city. The medieval walls enclose a labyrinth of alleys where it is still possible to really get lost, not only metaphorically.
The sea is splendid, like architecture and history that pervades this place. The city of Curzola – in Italian – has an ancient and varied history: it was founded by the Greeks of Cnido, it was bishop’s seat between 1300 and 1828 and for a short period he was part, between 1941 and 1943 of the Kingdom of Italy.
Instead of Santorini … Naxos
Santorini can disappoint: too many tourists, stars prices and that feeling of being in a film set.
The island of Naxos, on the other hand, returns a more hidden Greece that many chase without too many hopes. The beaches are equally beautiful, but it is still possible to find your corner of paradise without too many people around.
The mountain villages of the interior retain millennial traditions, and it happens to participate in village festivals where foreigners are a rarity. Moments like this are priceless.
Instead of New York … Philadelphia
We take the plane, cross the Atlantic and move to the USA New York overwhelms, Philadelphia embraces. Here American history comes to life without the chaos of the big apple. Walking on the streets where the founding fathers wrote US history has a certain importance, and doing it without being pushed by the crowd is a completely different experience.
The gastronomic scene is surprising – there are restaurants that would have been stormed in New York, but here it is possible to dine calmly and maybe exchange a chat with the chef. And then it’s Rocky Balboa’s house, let’s not joke.
Instead of Ibiza … Formentera
Those looking for the crystal clear sea of the Balearics without the confusion of Ibiza will find their paradise in Formentera. Here the weather expands, the days flow at the rhythm of the waves and pedaling along dusty paths.
The beaches seem private even when they are not, and the water has shades of blue that change with light. It is the perfect place to really disconnect and reconnect with yourself.
Instead of Barcelona … Girona
Barcelona can be overwhelming destination, between the crowds of tourists and high prices, while Girona could certainly guarantee the same Catalan essence in a more intimate format. City of medieval origin, with many colorful houses that are reflected in the Onyar river, is an architectural jewel that still maintains a certain authenticity.
The Jewish neighborhood is one of the best preserved in Europe, while the Gothic cathedral of Santa Maria dominates the city from above. Girona is famous Ance for the refined gastronomic scene – here is the famous El Celler de Can Roca restaurant – but at prices much more accessible than the Catalan capital. It is the ideal place for those who want to discover true catalonia without tourist chaos.
Instead of kyoto … takayama
While Kyoto struggles with Overurism, a phenomenon that has transformed some of its historical neighborhoods into real human zoo, the city of Takayama in the Japanese Alps preserves the atmosphere of traditional Japan. Known as “Little Kyoto”, it is a mountain center that can boast a historic center perfectly preserved with wooden houses and Sake Brewery with a centenary history.
The morning markets offer an authentic experience of local culture, while the Ryokan – the traditional inns – allow you to really live Japanese culture. The proximity to the Alps also offers splendid landscapes and the possibility of discovering wonderful rural villages where time seems to have stopped. It is the perfect destination for those looking for a more genuine Japan without the crowds of Kyoto.
Instead of bruges… ghent
Bruges has become a living postcard, but often suffocated by organized tours. Ghent is the real gem of the Flanders that the Belgians prefer to keep to themselves. With medieval canals, the Castle of the accounts of Flanders and a vibrant university cultural scene, Ghent combines history and modernity in a perfect way.
The city has a respectable nightlife thanks to the presence of students, and its historic coffees still serve the best Belgian beers without inflated prices for tourists. The medieval center is equally spectacular than that of Bruges, but here you can still hear the heartbeat of a living city, not of an open -air museum.
Our advice
After years of chasing the “must-see” destinations, we must understand that the most beautiful experiences can be found even in the lesser-known places, where tourism has not reached alarming levels: an alternative destination is often more man-made, with accessibility and welcome as flagships. It is not a question of avoiding large cities in principle, but of consciously choosing where to invest our time and our energies, especially if in the periods of greater turnout, such as the summer one.
Sustainable tourism starts from our choices. Choosing the least beaten road means avoiding crazy, but also helping to preserve the authentic beauty of the places we visit. And trust me: you will return home with much more interesting stories to tell.
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