The best travel experiences are often just one stop away from the famous ones.
The modern travel experience is often a battle against the crowds. The world’s most famous and iconic destinations have become so overwhelmed that a visit can feel more like a stressful ordeal than a dream come true. The secret that seasoned travelers know is that for almost every major tourist hotspot, there is a nearby “detour destination” that offers a similar, and often more authentic, experience without the crowds.
Choosing the detour is the key to having a more relaxed, more personal, and ultimately more rewarding journey.
1. Instead of the crowds at Stonehenge, visit the Avebury stone circle.
The prehistoric monument of Stonehenge is iconic, but the experience of visiting it is often a disappointment. You are kept at a distance from the stones, herded along a roped-off path with hundreds of other tourists. Just a short drive away, the village of Avebury is home to a massive, and arguably more impressive, Neolithic stone circle that you can actually walk among and touch.
The huge circle, which is so large that it encircles the entire village, offers a much more intimate and powerful connection to the ancient past, and it is almost completely free of the commercialism and the crowds of its more famous neighbor, as shared by HuffPost.
2. Instead of Florence’s Duomo, explore the beauty of Bologna.
Florence is a city of incredible art, but it can be overwhelmingly crowded. For a similarly beautiful and historic city with one of the best food scenes in all of Italy, take a short train ride to Bologna. The capital of the Emilia-Romagna region is a vibrant university town with a stunning, red-brick medieval center and miles of beautiful, covered porticoes.
The city is a paradise for food lovers, the home of Bolognese sauce and mortadella, according to Good Housekeeping. It is a much more authentic and less-touristy city that will give you a real taste of Italian life.
3. Instead of Barcelona’s Las Ramblas, get lost in the Gràcia neighborhood.
Las Ramblas, the famous central boulevard of Barcelona, is a chaotic and stressful crush of tourists and souvenir stalls that most locals avoid. For a much more authentic and charming Barcelona experience, head to the neighborhood of Gràcia, USA Today reported. This former independent town has a distinct, bohemian vibe, with beautiful, leafy plazas, independent boutiques, and fantastic, local tapas bars.
It feels like a small village within the larger city. It’s the perfect place to get lost, to wander, and to experience the real, creative soul of Barcelona, far from the tourist hordes.
4. Instead of the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, drive to the North Rim.
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the United States, and it can be incredibly crowded, especially in the summer. For a much more peaceful and wild experience of the canyon, make the extra effort to visit the North Rim. The North Rim receives only 10% of the visitors that the South Rim does.
The views are just as spectacular, but the atmosphere is completely different. It is higher in elevation, cooler, and has a more serene, end-of-the-road feel, offering a more contemplative and personal connection to this natural wonder.
5. Instead of the Amalfi Coast, escape to the island of Procida.
The cliffside towns of the Amalfi Coast are stunningly beautiful, but they are also incredibly crowded and expensive. For a much more authentic and affordable taste of a colorful Italian island, take a ferry from Naples to the small and often-overlooked island of Procida. The island’s main harbor, with its tangle of pastel-colored houses, is one of the most beautiful and unspoiled in all of Italy.
The island has a sleepy, local feel that has been lost on the more famous islands of Capri and Ischia. It is a true hidden gem of the Bay of Naples.
6. Instead of Prague’s Old Town, visit the city of Olomouc
The city of Prague is a fairytale, but its Old Town can be so packed with tourists that it’s hard to move. For a city with an equally beautiful historic square, but with a fraction of the crowds, head to the Moravian city of Olomouc. The city’s magnificent, UNESCO-listed Holy Trinity Column and its astronomical clock are just as impressive as Prague’s.
The city is a vibrant university town with a friendly, laid-back atmosphere and a much more authentic Czech feel. It’s a place where you can enjoy the stunning architecture without the overwhelming tourist crowds.
7. Near the main canyon of Zion, hike in the Kolob Canyons.
The main canyon of Zion National Park is one of the most popular and crowded places in the entire U.S. National Park System. A fantastic and much quieter alternative is to visit the Kolob Canyons section of the park, which has its own separate entrance and is about a 40-minute drive north of the main gate. This section is much less visited but equally spectacular.
The Kolob Canyons are a series of dramatic, finger-like canyons of red Navajo sandstone. The area offers a number of beautiful and uncrowded hiking trails with stunning views, a peaceful escape from the madness of the main canyon.
8. Instead of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, stay in Teton Valley, Idaho.
The town of Jackson Hole has become a playground for the ultra-wealthy, and it has the prices to match. For a much more affordable and down-to-earth home base for exploring the stunning Teton Mountains, simply drive over the Teton Pass to the Teton Valley in Idaho. The towns of Victor and Driggs offer the same incredible access to the mountains and the national parks.
The views of the Tetons from the “quiet side” are just as spectacular, and the area has a friendly, unpretentious, and much more affordable vibe. It’s the secret that the locals know.
9. Instead of Kyoto, Japan, discover the city of Kanazawa.
Kyoto is the cultural heart of Japan, but its most famous temples and gardens can be overwhelmingly crowded. For a city with an equally rich history and a beautifully preserved traditional atmosphere but with a fraction of the tourists, take the bullet train to Kanazawa. This city was one of the few to be spared from bombing during World War II, and it has a stunning geisha district and a samurai district.
Its crowning jewel is Kenroku-en, considered one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens in all of Japan. It’s a chance to experience the beauty of old Japan in a much more peaceful setting.
10. Instead of Banff, Alberta, visit the town of Canmore
The town of Banff is the famous gateway to the Canadian Rockies, and it is often packed with tourists. Just a few miles outside the national park entrance, the town of Canmore offers access to the exact same stunning mountain scenery but with a much more local and less commercialized vibe. The hiking and outdoor adventure opportunities in and around Canmore are just as world-class as those in Banff.
You can still easily make day trips into the national park, but you will be based in a town that feels more like a real, working mountain community than a tourist resort, with better and more affordable restaurants.