The world’s most visited sights are popular for a reason (who can resist the lure of New York’s lights or the picture-perfect Amalfi Coast?). But as overtourism becomes more and more prevalent, we think it’s time to give the bucket-list spots a breather. After all, for every well-known wonder, there’s a lesser-known, often cheaper, alternative.
Fancy joining us off-the-beaten-track? Read on for a taster of some of our favourite alternative travel destinations. For the complete list, check out Go Here Instead: the Alternative Travel List.
Fancy joining us off-the-beaten-track? Read on for a taster of some of our favourite alternative travel destinations. For the complete list, check out Go Here Instead: the Alternative Travel List.
Go Here Instead
View BookSeoul: the alternative to Tokyo
Dreaming of a trip to Tokyo? Can we tempt you to Seoul instead? South Korea’s spirited city is a worthy rival of Japan’s capital. As in Tokyo, skyscrapers rub shoulders with traditional temples and powder-pink cherry blossoms bloom all through the spring. A dynamic food scene is also on the menu here, with Seoul’s edible delights promising to keep you satiated for days. All this and we haven’t even mentioned K-Pop? Add Seoul to your bucket list, before everyone else does.
Pisac: the alternative to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu’s ruins aren’t Peru’s only Inca treasures. The well-preserved citadel of Pisac is still, remarkably, under-the-radar and travellers won’t have to battle with fellow hikers for a view here. High above the Sacred Valley, the complex features temples, tombs, ceremonial baths, and residential quarters – all tumbling down a scenic hillside.
Corsica: the alternative to the Amalfi Coast
If you’d rather be whizzing around coastal roads than stuck in summer traffic, consider a roadtrip around Corsica rather than Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Here, too, pretty houses sit precariously on cliff edges, secret coves are lapped by turquoise waters and gorgeous viewpoints emerge at every turn. Better yet, Corsica also has a wilder side. Swoop up to the island’s northwest coast and you’ll find yourself driving beneath huge rocky spires and curving around aromatic fields of maquis shrubs. Amalfi Coast who?
Manchester: the alternative to London
Sure the royal capital features all the big sites, but you’ll likely be competing with the crowds to see them. Instead, look north to England’s second city: Manchester. This cutting edge metropolis promises equally impressive museums, galleries and architectural sights – with the added bonus of fewer crowds, cheaper prices and a side of Mancunian charm. Our highlights? Mackie Mayor food hall for a bite, the Whitworth for art and The Daisy for drinks.
The Ellora Caves: the alternative to Petra
Petra’s iconic monuments may be on everyone’s bucket list, but they’re also Jordan’s most-visited tourist attraction. To see rock-hewn marvels without the crowds, head to the Ellora Caves in India. Chiselled out of basalt cliffs in the 6th and 9th centuries, this epic complex features towering temples and intricately crafted statuary. It’s one that has to be seen to be believed.
Montenegro’s Islands: the alternative to the Greek Islands
If you haven’t got time for an epic Greek odyssey, set your sights on Montenegro instead. The country’s Adriatic coastline, as well as the beautiful Bay of Kotor, host a dozen or so islands that are perfect for exploring. Some are natural havens (picture sweeping sandy beaches or lush forests) while others have only enough room for a tiny church (Our Lady of the Rock is the most famous). Whichever island-hopping route you choose, you’re guaranteed far fewer crowds than in Greece.
Christmas Island: the alternative to the Great Barrier Reef
Coral reefs dotted with colourful Christmas tree worms, underwater caves dripping with stalactites, rare endemic fish darting beneath your feet: this is a diving experience unlike any other. And, no, we’re not at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Welcome to Christmas Island, an aquatic Garden of Eden rarely seen by travellers – venture underwater here and you’ll likely have the ocean all to yourself.
Pyramids of Saqqara and Dahshur: the alternative to the Pyramids of Giza
Did you know there are pyramids more ancient than the famous Giza giants? Looming over the desert just south of Cairo, the Pyramids of Saqqara and Dahshur are oft-overlooked in favour of their more modern counterparts, yet they’re just as intriguing. These monumental sights highlight the architectural experimentation of the ancient Egyptians – and also provide a chance to explore some pyramids without the typical tour buses and touts.
Philadelphia: the alternative to New York City
New York is one of the most-visited cities in the world for good reason, but if you’re looking for a cheaper slice of the Big Apple, Philly has your number. This lesser-visited city is packed with historical attractions, like Independence Hall and the Museum of American Revolution. Its outdoor art scene also gives New York’s a run for its money: the world’s largest outdoor art gallery can be found here as well as Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (a fantastical display of mosaics). Food wise, you’ll likely pay less and eat better in Philly. Tempted yet?
Sol de Manana: the alternative to Iceland
When it comes to natural wonders, Iceland usually steals the spotlight. For an epic geothermal adventure away from the crowds, try Sol de Mañana. High in Bolivia’s hinterland, this fantastical landscape hosts an array of wonders (picture bubbling mud pots, ominous stratovolcanoes and steaming geyser fields). And that’s not all. Tours of Sol de Mañana also stop at Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flats, and Laguna Colorada, a surreal, red-hued lake. This wild region is more than a match for Iceland.
Read next
Take our quiz to find your next alternative bucket list adventure
Take the quiz below and discover incredible travel destinations off the beaten track!