5 Overrated Travel Spots I’d Skip — And 10 Underrated Ones That Blew Me Away
Ever felt let down after visiting a hyped tourist spot? You’re not alone! I’ve spent years exploring both famous landmarks and hidden gems around the world.
Some popular destinations simply didn’t live up to their Instagram fame, while others without the spotlight absolutely took my breath away. Here’s my honest take on where to go and where to skip on your next adventure.
1. Overrated: Paris’s Champs-Élysées
My dreams of elegant Parisian shopping crumbled when I arrived at this famous avenue. Instead of chic boutiques, I found overpriced chain stores packed with tourists. The sidewalks were so crowded I could barely walk, and street vendors constantly hassled me for money. Cafés charged €8 for a basic coffee!
For a more authentic Paris experience, I suggest wandering through Le Marais or Canal Saint-Martin instead, where local life thrives and your wallet won’t empty quite so quickly.
2. Overrated: Bali’s Kuta Beach
Stepping onto Kuta Beach for the first time left me shocked by the contrast between travel brochures and reality. Trash littered the shoreline while vendors aggressively pursued me offering massages, bracelets, and boat rides.
The water wasn’t the crystal blue I’d imagined, and surfing meant dodging hundreds of other beginners in the waves. Nightlife along the strip felt more like a chaotic spring break than a tropical paradise. Head to Uluwatu or Amed instead for cleaner beaches and more relaxed vibes without the overwhelming crowds.
3. Overrated: Times Square in New York
Bright billboards and flashing lights can’t hide the tourist trap that Times Square has become. My visit consisted of dodging costumed characters demanding tips for photos and navigating through selfie-taking crowds that moved at glacial speed.
Food options were limited to overpriced chain restaurants serving mediocre meals at premium prices. The surrounding shops sell the same souvenirs you can find at any airport.
New York has so much authentic culture just blocks away in neighborhoods like Greenwich Village or the Lower East Side where you’ll find the city’s true character.
4. Overrated: Cancun’s Hotel Zone
Sprawling all-inclusive resorts dominate this narrow strip of land, creating a bubble that barely resembles Mexico. During my stay, I realized I could have been anywhere in the world – nothing felt authentically Mexican. Beach access was surprisingly limited, with many resorts claiming their stretch of sand as private.
The nightclubs charged outrageous cover fees and served watered-down drinks to tourists who rarely ventured beyond this artificial paradise. Just an hour south, Tulum offers a more connected experience with local culture, or head to nearby Isla Mujeres for beaches that aren’t overrun.
5. Overrated: Santorini During Peak Season
Those perfect white-and-blue Instagram shots don’t show the reality of visiting Santorini in July. I could barely move through the narrow streets of Oia, let alone find space to watch the famous sunset without someone’s selfie stick in my face.
Restaurants with caldera views charged triple for basic Greek dishes, and many servers seemed tired of tourists. Finding accommodation without booking months in advance was impossible, and what I found was twice the price of similar islands.
If you must visit this Greek icon, try May or October when crowds thin but weather remains pleasant.
6. Underrated: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Hidden between Italy and Croatia, Slovenia’s capital charmed me instantly with its car-free center and riverside cafés. Dragon Bridge and the hilltop castle provide perfect photo spots without the crowds of Prague or Vienna.
Food markets overflow with local produce, and restaurants serve delicious Slovenian wines that rarely make it to export. I spent afternoons chatting with locals who were genuinely curious about my travels.
The city serves as an ideal base for day trips to Lake Bled or the Postojna Caves, making it a perfect week-long destination that most travelers overlook.
7. Underrated: Galway, Ireland
While tourists flock to Dublin, Galway captured my heart with its colorful buildings and lively street performers. Traditional Irish music spills from pubs where locals welcomed me into conversations and even taught me a few dance steps.
Fresh seafood chowder and brown bread became my daily ritual, costing half what I’d pay in the capital. The Wild Atlantic Way stretches from here, offering dramatic coastal drives where I often had viewpoints entirely to myself.
Connemara National Park is just an hour away, with hiking trails through landscapes that look straight out of a fantasy film.
8. Underrated: Valparaíso, Chile
Vibrant street art transforms entire neighborhoods in this hillside port city, creating an open-air gallery unlike anything I’ve seen elsewhere. Riding the century-old funiculars up steep hills costs less than a dollar but delivers million-dollar views of the Pacific Ocean.
Chilean poets and artists have drawn inspiration from these colorful streets for generations. I spent days wandering without a map, discovering hidden cafés serving fresh empanadas and local wine.
Unlike Santiago’s metropolitan rush, Valparaíso moves at a relaxed pace where locals stopped to share stories about their city’s bohemian history and pointed me toward viewpoints tourists rarely find.
9. Underrated: Taipei, Taiwan
Night markets buzzing with food vendors selling stinky tofu and bubble tea provided my first taste of Taipei’s incredible food scene. Unlike other Asian capitals, prices remained reasonable, and locals eagerly helped translate menus for me.
Modern skyscrapers stand alongside ancient temples where I watched morning tai chi sessions. The efficient metro system made exploration easy, with signs in English and incredibly helpful station attendants.
Day trips to natural hot springs in Beitou or the tea houses of Maokong gave me peaceful escapes from city life, all accessible via public transportation for just a few dollars.
10. Underrated: Porto, Portugal
Lisbon gets the spotlight, but Porto stole my heart with its riverside charm and genuinely friendly locals. The city’s layers of history revealed themselves as I climbed narrow streets lined with azulejo tiles in shades of blue and yellow.
Wine cellars across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia offered tours and tastings for a fraction of what you’d pay in France. I spent afternoons sipping coffee in historic cafés where J.K. Rowling once wrote, spotting details that inspired Hogwarts.
Fresh seafood dinners with local white port cost less than fast food back home, and sunset views from the Dom Luís Bridge rivaled any in Europe.
11. Underrated: Luang Prabang, Laos
Morning mist hanging over the Mekong River greeted me daily in this peaceful Buddhist town. Unlike Thailand’s tourist centers, Luang Prabang maintains a gentle pace where monks in orange robes collect alms at dawn through quiet streets.
French colonial architecture blends with ornate temples, creating a unique atmosphere I haven’t found elsewhere in Southeast Asia. The night market offered handmade textiles from hill tribes at fair prices without aggressive bargaining.
My favorite memory remains swimming in the turquoise pools of Kuang Si Falls surrounded by jungle, a natural wonder that somehow hasn’t been overrun despite its beauty.
12. Underrated: Tbilisi, Georgia
Between Europe and Asia sits Georgia’s capital, where I found myself extending my stay from three days to two weeks. Ancient sulfur baths still operate in the old town, offering $10 treatments that would cost ten times more at home.
Wine culture here dates back 8,000 years, with family vineyards producing amber varieties using traditional qvevri clay pots. Khachapuri – boat-shaped bread filled with cheese and egg – became my obsession, especially when paired with local wines.
Hospitality reached new levels when strangers invited me to family celebrations, insisting I try homemade chacha (grape vodka) and learn traditional dances.
13. Underrated: Oaxaca City, Mexico
Forget Cancun – Oaxaca gave me Mexico’s soul through its incredible food scene and indigenous traditions. Seven different types of mole sauce, each more complex than anything I’d tasted before, became my culinary education in local restaurants where grandmothers still run the kitchens.
Mezcal tastings introduced me to smoky varieties of this artisanal spirit, often in family-run palenques where production methods haven’t changed for centuries. Markets overflowed with handwoven textiles in natural dyes and intricate black pottery.
Day of the Dead celebrations here are authentic community events rather than tourist spectacles, with families welcoming respectful visitors to share their traditions.
14. Underrated: Matera, Italy
Ancient cave dwellings carved into limestone cliffs form one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited settlements. Walking through Matera’s sassi districts felt like time travel, with homes and churches dating back thousands of years. Unlike the Amalfi Coast’s crowds, I often had panoramic viewpoints to myself.
Local restaurants served handmade orecchiette pasta with ingredients grown in nearby farms at prices that seemed frozen in time.
My most memorable experience was staying in a cave hotel – a former family home sensitively converted with modern comforts while preserving its ancient character, complete with stories from the owner whose grandparents once lived there.
15. Underrated: Essaouira, Morocco
Marrakech’s chaos faded away as I reached this laid-back coastal town where blue fishing boats bob in the harbor and seagulls swoop overhead. Game of Thrones used Essaouira’s ramparts as filming locations, yet tourist numbers remain manageable.
Fresh seafood grilled right at the port became my daily lunch, costing just a few dollars for a feast. Wind keeps the summer heat bearable and attracts kitesurfers who create a relaxed international vibe.
Gnawa music originated here, and I stumbled upon impromptu performances in small cafés where musicians welcomed me to join their rhythmic clapping as sunset painted the whitewashed buildings gold.