I think that's exactly right. One of the unintended consequences of social media is that it turns discovery into consumption. A place can go from "hidden gem" to "crowded attraction" in a single season.
I've also found some of my favorite travel memories came from ignoring the lists altogether and simply wandering. The trick, though, is choosing the right place to wander. It's a lot easier to stumble onto something memorable in a city that isn't already overwhelmed by visitors.
That's part of what I'm interested in exploring this summer: not just how to avoid the crowds, but how to find places where serendipity still has room to operate.
"Americans come to Europe for authenticity then join the longest line to experience its opposite."
This line made me pause. I am not American, but I have done the same thing. I have chased the famous fountain, the viral café, the place everyone insisted I "had" to see. In the end, I just felt worn out.
The idea of turning off Google Maps is the real invitation here. It means wandering, getting lost, and choosing a restaurant because it looks interesting, not because 4,000 strangers gave it four stars.
Lecce, Ljubljana, Gdańsk, Erfurt. I have not visited any of these places, but now I want to.
Thank you for reminding us that it is okay to skip the lines.
Thanks, Ferdousi. And honestly, I think we've all done it. I've certainly stood in my share of famous lines only to wonder later what I missed while standing waiting and waiting.
One of the pleasures of travel is allowing serendipity back into the equation. Not every meal needs stars. Not every square needs to be ranked. Some of my favorite discoveries happened because I made a wrong turn.
If you make it to Lecce, Ljubljana, Gdańsk, or Erfurt, let me know what you find. Those are exactly the kinds of places that reward wandering off-piste.
I don't pay attention to influencers or social media generally. If anything, the "must-sees / must-dos" and previously hidden gems are good things to avoid. Better to just wander around and see what you stumble across.
As full time travelers, I couldn’t agree more. We now avoid the “must do” “ultimate guide” “24 hours in” places if humanly possible. Our greatest loves of the last 3 years of travel - Warsaw, Poland; Tallinn, Estonia; Vilnius, Lithuania; Luang Prabang, Laos; Georgetown, Penang Island, Malaysia; Bordeaux, France; San Pancho, Mexico. I realize the irony of listing these places in case the travel hordes focus their sites there. But I share them to say that there is so much more to the world than the standard lists - visit the second and third largest cities, the places celebrating tourism instead of being corrupted by it, the places where you enjoy the pace of local life and not just the checklist of “top 10” attractions.
Bravo! One of modern travel's great mistakes is assuming the #1 city in a country is automatically the most interesting.
I think #2 and #3 cities tell you more. They haven't been polished into global brands yet. They're still living places before they're tourist "products."
Some of my best experiences were in towns that sit just outside the spotlight: Cleveland instead of Chicago, Spokane instead of Seattle, Lecce instead of Florence. Not because they're "better," but because they haven't been loved to death.
The world is full of famous places. What's becoming rare are places that still feel like discoveries.
I think the sweet spot is a city that's happy you're there but doesn't need you there. That's where conversations happen, prices remain sane, and local life still outruns the visitor economy. Do you think so, too?
I hope we get a reappraisal of what makes an attraction interesting. I think a lot of people go to a place because "I am supposed to do this" rather than "I want to do this." Go wander and explore. Find out what's just around the block from the popular site. Chances are it will also be rewarding to you.
Of course I’m being a little facetious. And a recession might not affect the wealthy people who do more travel anyway.
You’re quite a good writer, and I enjoyed reading your article, and I hope more people listen to your advice.
I’m a budget traveler. I could never afford a luxury hotel or a high priced cocktail in a fancy bar. And over the last few years mostly I travel to lesser known destinations anyway. But I have visited some big ones, it’s just that I’m traveling in winter or shoulder season. It’s never crowded and the accommodations are dramatically less expensive.
Some people have school-age children and have to travel in the summer, but it always mystifies me why people who don’t have that responsibility go to Italy or somewhere similar in in July. It’s unpleasantly hot and crowded. As you said, the crowds define the experience.
I was in Lecce in March 2025. A beautiful city center. And it was pretty much deserted and the weather was quite mild. I’m not sure I could handle southern Italy in July or August. Then I went up to Rome, and although it was a bit rainy that week, I was easily able to easily get tickets to the Caravaggio show.
I think people always need to be reminded that alternative destinations exist. Each year Italy, for example, welcomes lots of people new to it. They need to know it's okay to not 'follow the plan.' And you're so right about Lecce, a favorite of mine, too. I include it in my Nat Geo book "Here Not There" on counterintuitive destinations. Happy wandering.
I think that's exactly right. One of the unintended consequences of social media is that it turns discovery into consumption. A place can go from "hidden gem" to "crowded attraction" in a single season.
I've also found some of my favorite travel memories came from ignoring the lists altogether and simply wandering. The trick, though, is choosing the right place to wander. It's a lot easier to stumble onto something memorable in a city that isn't already overwhelmed by visitors.
That's part of what I'm interested in exploring this summer: not just how to avoid the crowds, but how to find places where serendipity still has room to operate.
"Americans come to Europe for authenticity then join the longest line to experience its opposite."
This line made me pause. I am not American, but I have done the same thing. I have chased the famous fountain, the viral café, the place everyone insisted I "had" to see. In the end, I just felt worn out.
The idea of turning off Google Maps is the real invitation here. It means wandering, getting lost, and choosing a restaurant because it looks interesting, not because 4,000 strangers gave it four stars.
Lecce, Ljubljana, Gdańsk, Erfurt. I have not visited any of these places, but now I want to.
Thank you for reminding us that it is okay to skip the lines.
Thanks, Ferdousi. And honestly, I think we've all done it. I've certainly stood in my share of famous lines only to wonder later what I missed while standing waiting and waiting.
One of the pleasures of travel is allowing serendipity back into the equation. Not every meal needs stars. Not every square needs to be ranked. Some of my favorite discoveries happened because I made a wrong turn.
If you make it to Lecce, Ljubljana, Gdańsk, or Erfurt, let me know what you find. Those are exactly the kinds of places that reward wandering off-piste.
I don't pay attention to influencers or social media generally. If anything, the "must-sees / must-dos" and previously hidden gems are good things to avoid. Better to just wander around and see what you stumble across.
As full time travelers, I couldn’t agree more. We now avoid the “must do” “ultimate guide” “24 hours in” places if humanly possible. Our greatest loves of the last 3 years of travel - Warsaw, Poland; Tallinn, Estonia; Vilnius, Lithuania; Luang Prabang, Laos; Georgetown, Penang Island, Malaysia; Bordeaux, France; San Pancho, Mexico. I realize the irony of listing these places in case the travel hordes focus their sites there. But I share them to say that there is so much more to the world than the standard lists - visit the second and third largest cities, the places celebrating tourism instead of being corrupted by it, the places where you enjoy the pace of local life and not just the checklist of “top 10” attractions.
Bravo! One of modern travel's great mistakes is assuming the #1 city in a country is automatically the most interesting.
I think #2 and #3 cities tell you more. They haven't been polished into global brands yet. They're still living places before they're tourist "products."
Some of my best experiences were in towns that sit just outside the spotlight: Cleveland instead of Chicago, Spokane instead of Seattle, Lecce instead of Florence. Not because they're "better," but because they haven't been loved to death.
The world is full of famous places. What's becoming rare are places that still feel like discoveries.
I think the sweet spot is a city that's happy you're there but doesn't need you there. That's where conversations happen, prices remain sane, and local life still outruns the visitor economy. Do you think so, too?
Keep exploring!
100%!
We need a worldwide recession to cool things off!
I hope we get a reappraisal of what makes an attraction interesting. I think a lot of people go to a place because "I am supposed to do this" rather than "I want to do this." Go wander and explore. Find out what's just around the block from the popular site. Chances are it will also be rewarding to you.
Of course I’m being a little facetious. And a recession might not affect the wealthy people who do more travel anyway.
You’re quite a good writer, and I enjoyed reading your article, and I hope more people listen to your advice.
I’m a budget traveler. I could never afford a luxury hotel or a high priced cocktail in a fancy bar. And over the last few years mostly I travel to lesser known destinations anyway. But I have visited some big ones, it’s just that I’m traveling in winter or shoulder season. It’s never crowded and the accommodations are dramatically less expensive.
Some people have school-age children and have to travel in the summer, but it always mystifies me why people who don’t have that responsibility go to Italy or somewhere similar in in July. It’s unpleasantly hot and crowded. As you said, the crowds define the experience.
I was in Lecce in March 2025. A beautiful city center. And it was pretty much deserted and the weather was quite mild. I’m not sure I could handle southern Italy in July or August. Then I went up to Rome, and although it was a bit rainy that week, I was easily able to easily get tickets to the Caravaggio show.
I think people always need to be reminded that alternative destinations exist. Each year Italy, for example, welcomes lots of people new to it. They need to know it's okay to not 'follow the plan.' And you're so right about Lecce, a favorite of mine, too. I include it in my Nat Geo book "Here Not There" on counterintuitive destinations. Happy wandering.