5 Quieter Alternatives To Crowded Travel Destinations
Image: Pexels/Ana Kenk
Holidays
/

5 Quieter Alternatives To Crowded Travel Destinations

The amplifying effects of social media are rarely more obvious than when you step off a plane and into a suddenly overcrowded holiday destination. To stay ahead of the pack, you need to start making some smarter swaps. Here are five lesser-known alternatives to some of Instagram’s favourite places…
Image: Pexels/Ana Kenk
PEXELS/GEORGE ZOGRAFIDIS

THE ISLAND

Swap Santorini For Tinos

Tinos combines whitewashed villages, excellent food, rugged beaches and a strong craft tradition without feeling as though every corner has been designed for an Instagram Reel. There are more than 40 villages to explore, from marble-filled Pyrgos to the strange granite landscape around Volax, while the island's wine scene is becoming a destination in itself.

WHAT TO SEE

Hire a car and head to Pyrgos, where marble remains central to local life, then head to Volax to see its enormous granite boulders. For the beach, Apigania is worth the walk down, while Agios Markos is a better bet when the Aegean wind is doing its thing.

Food should also be high on the agenda. Try local cheese, capers, artichokes and figs, and make time for a proper meal at To Thalassaki or To Perivoli tis Kardianis. Tinos also has an increasingly interesting wine scene, with producers including T-Oinos and Volacus.

WHERE TO STAY

For a polished stay, Odera Tinos is the obvious choice: a luxury resort overlooking a turquoise cove. For something smaller and more design-led, Pnoēs Tinos has a handful of contemporary villas, while Under the Sun Cycladic Village is a stylish eight-suite retreat between Kardiani and Isternia.

NEED TO KNOW

Flight Time From London: Around 3h 45m to Athens, followed by a transfer to Rafina and a 2h ferry to Tinos.

Average Summer Temperature: Around 28-32°C.

Best Time To Go: June or September. July and August can be hot and windy.

PEXELS/DRBDRB

THE CITY

Swap Venice For Trieste

On the Adriatic Sea in the northeastern reaches of Italy, Trieste is a unique and intriguing mix of Italian and Central European influences. Once the main port of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it has much of Venice’s cinematic appeal – grand architecture, elegant squares, waterfront promenades – but without the crowds. 

WHAT TO SEE

Start at Piazza Unità d’Italia, a huge square opening directly onto the sea, then wander through the historic centre towards Canal Grande, stopping for coffee along the way. Trieste has a serious café culture – Caffè San Marco is the classic stop, offering beautiful interiors and literary history alongside your morning cappuccino.

Make time for Miramare Castle, a 19th-century white-stone palace overlooking the Adriatic just outside the city. The surrounding gardens are worth exploring too. Back in town, visit Castello di San Giusto for panoramic views before heading down to the waterfront for an aperitivo.

Local food specialities reflect Trieste's multicultural history. Expect to find jota, a hearty bean and sauerkraut soup, and burek, a Balkan pastry. For something more refined, book Harry's Piccolo, the city's two-Michelin-starred restaurant.

Trieste also makes a good base for exploring beyond Italy. Slovenia is less than an hour away by car, while the nearby Carso plateau is known for vineyards, caves and dramatic limestone landscapes.

WHERE TO STAY

For old-school grandeur, Grand Hotel Duchi d'Aosta is the clear choice. Sitting directly on Piazza Unità d'Italia, the historic five-star hotel has a classic European feel. For something more contemporary, YouMe Design Place Hotel is a smaller, design-led option in the centre, with modern rooms and a spa. For a stay outside the city, Hotel Riviera & Maximilian’s sits on the coast near Miramare, with Adriatic views and direct access to the seafront.

NEED TO KNOW

Flight Time From London: Around 2 hours 10 minutes to Trieste

Average Summer Temperature: Around 27-29°C, although the Adriatic breeze can make evenings feel cooler.

Best Time To Go: May/June or September. July and August are warm but can be busy and humid.

Pexels/Ana Kenk

THE MOUNTAINS

Swap The Dolomites For The Julian Alps

The Dolomites are almost too photogenic for their own good. Their most famous viewpoints now come with queues. Slovenia's Julian Alps offer the same essential ingredients – dramatic peaks, alpine lakes, hiking trails and excellent mountain food – but with a little more breathing room. The region is centred around Triglav National Park, home to Slovenia's highest mountain, while Lake Bohinj, the Soča Valley and Kranjska Gora all make compelling bases.

WHAT TO SEE

Skip the temptation to spend the entire trip at Lake Bled. Beautiful though it is, Lake Bohinj is the quieter and more outdoorsy alternative. Walk around the lake, take the cable car up Vogel for the views, and hike further into Triglav National Park. For food, make a reservation at Milka in Kranjska Gora, one of the region's standout restaurants, or base yourself in Bohinj and make dinner at Sunrose 7 part of the trip.

WHERE TO STAY

Sunrose 7 is the romantic choice: an adults-only boutique hotel with just 18 rooms, a natural pool, wellness facilities and that restaurant we just mentioned. 

NEED TO KNOW

Flight Time From London: Around 2h 15m to Ljubljana.

Average Summer Temperature: Around 22-27°C.

Best Time To Go: June to September for hiking.

pexels/Polona Mitar Osolnik

THE CULTURE HUB

Swap Kyoto For Kanazawa

Kyoto deserves every superlative it gets – which is precisely the problem. Kanazawa, a city on Japan's western coast with traditional tea houses, offers samurai history, beautiful gardens, contemporary art and one of the country's strongest craft traditions – all of which can be enjoyed at a more manageable pace.

WHAT TO SEE

Begin at Kenrokuen, one of Japan's most celebrated gardens, before wandering through the historic Higashi Chaya tea district. The Nagamachi Samurai District offers a glimpse into the city's feudal past, while the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is worth making time for. Then there is the food. Kanazawa's position on the Sea of Japan means excellent seafood, particularly in winter, while its markets are ideal for an unplanned lunch.

WHERE TO STAY

For convenience, Hyatt Centric Kanazawa is a smart modern option near the station. If you want more space and a residential feel, Hyatt House Kanazawa has 92 rooms, 78 of which include kitchens. For a more traditional experience, look for a small machiya-style townhouse or ryokan in the historic districts.

NEED TO KNOW

Flight Time From London: Around 14-16 hours to Tokyo, then roughly 2.5 hours by the Shinkansen (bullet train).

Average Summer Temperature: Around 25-31°C

Best Time To Go: March to May or October/November. Autumn is particularly good, with cooler temperatures and clear skies.

Pexels/Alex Bian
PEXELS/MIKHAIL NILOV

THE ESCAPE

Swap Bali For Lombok

Bali has officially become the victim of its own success. The beaches are beautiful, the hotels are excellent and the food scene is hard to fault, but there are traffic, crowds and relentless development now too. Lombok, just east of Bali, offers a different version of Indonesia. Think surf beaches, waterfalls, jungle, rice fields and Mount Rinjani. It isn't undiscovered – that ship has sailed – but it still feels considerably more adventurous.

WHAT TO SEE

Base yourself around Kuta in southern Lombok and spend your days beach-hopping. Tanjung Aan is one of the island's best-known stretches of sand, while Selong Belanak is popular with surfers and beginners. For something more ambitious, tackle part of Mount Rinjani or head north to the waterfalls around Senaru. If you have time, add a few days on one of the Gili Islands.

WHERE TO STAY

For design-conscious travellers, Innit Lombok is the one to know. The tiny property on the island's southeast coast has just seven beach houses inspired by traditional local architecture, with an emphasis on privacy and the landscape. For something more established, the Oberoi Beach Resort Lombok remains a strong luxury option, while Tampah Hills is ideal if you want a villa with a private pool and plenty of space.

NEED TO KNOW

Flight Time From London: Around 17-20 hours to Lombok, usually with one or two stops.

Average Summer Temperature: Around 27-30°C.

Best Time To Go: May to October is Lombok's dry season.

DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at [email protected].