I’ve been chasing crowds for years without realizing it. You know the feeling – you finally make it to that famous viewpoint or must-see attraction, only to find yourself shoulder-to-shoulder with hundreds of other people, all trying to capture the same Instagram shot. Last summer, I decided to flip the script and started seeking out the places that don’t make it onto the typical tourist trail.
My first discovery was a small coastal town in Portugal called Aveiro. While everyone flocks to Porto and Lisbon, Aveiro sits quietly with its colorful boats and art nouveau architecture, practically untouched by mass tourism. I spent three days there and barely saw another camera that wasn’t attached to a local’s phone. The morning light hitting those striped moliceiro boats was pure magic, and I had the entire canal to myself.
The secret, I’ve learned, is timing and research. Even famous places have their quiet moments. I visited the Cliffs of Moher at 6 AM on a Tuesday in October and had one of the most dramatic coastlines in Europe almost entirely to myself. The tour buses don’t arrive until 10, and most people don’t venture out in the shoulder season fog – but that’s exactly when the cliffs feel most mysterious and powerful.
Urban exploration has yielded some incredible finds too. In Prague, everyone heads to the Charles Bridge and Old Town Square, but I discovered the most stunning city views from Petřín Hill on weekday mornings. The climb up through the park is gentle, the tower gives you 360-degree views, and you’ll maybe encounter a handful of local joggers. Meanwhile, the famous astronomical clock below is completely mobbed by noon.
I’ve started keeping a running list of these hidden gems – places that deliver incredible experiences without the crowds. The key is looking just slightly off the beaten path. Instead of Santorini, try Milos. Skip the Amalfi Coast for the quieter Cilento Coast. Rather than fighting for space at Machu Picchu, explore the equally dramatic ruins at Chachapoya in northern Peru.
What I love most about these discoveries is the authentic connection you can make with a place. When you’re not constantly navigating crowds or waiting in lines, you actually have time to sit, observe, and appreciate. I’ve had conversations with local fishermen, discovered family-run restaurants that don’t need to cater to tour groups, and captured photographs that feel genuinely unique because they’re not the same shots that thousands of others have taken.
The internet makes it easier than ever to find these spots. Local photography forums, travel blogs by people who actually live in these places, and even Google Earth for scouting potential locations. Sometimes the best discoveries happen when you’re simply willing to take that unmarked trail or explore the neighborhood one district over from where all the hotels are clustered.
