Thanks to cheap flights, easily-available accommodation and our insatiable appetite to explore the world’s most beautiful locations, travel is thriving once more. But while tourism can be a fantastic boost to a nation’s economy, it can also put a strain on the infrastructure, damage the local environment and lead to overcrowding. 

Read on for 20 alternatives to some of the world’s best-loved but busy destinations...

Each year around 8 million tourists flock to Belgium’s most famous medieval city, drawn to its cobbled streets, beguiling chocolate shops and mirror-like canals. But with visitors outnumbering locals by three to one on busier days, authorities have taken measures to limit the influx, including reducing the level of advertising they give the city.

Just 24 miles (39km) away from Bruges is the significantly less touristy but no less enjoyable town of Ghent. Here, you’ll find cobbled streets flanked by colourful gingerbread houses, and fairy-tale towers and turrets aplenty. Meander alongside the winding canals, then head to De Dulle Griet where you’ll find more than 250 Belgian beers to choose from. At Korenmarkt, the city's central square, stop at one of the street vendors to try cuberdons, the famous cone-shaped Belgian candy. 

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Boracay Island may be just under four square miles, but it was visited by over two million tourists in 2017. Many were drawn to the sugar-soft sands and party scene, but in 2018 it was closed for a six-month rehabilitation project after the president of the Philippines called it a “cesspool”. It’s said that after one party weekend, 10 tonnes of rubbish were collected from the beach. In 2022, the island attracted 1.8m tourists.

This dazzling gem in the south-central Philippines offers pristine beaches, fringed by aquamarine waters. With its brilliant corals, dolphins and barracudas, it’s a haven for divers but there’s plenty to explore on dry land too. Drive across the bridge to Bohol and you’ll find the famous Chocolate Hills – more than 1,268 dome-shaped mounds scattered across the landscape.

Thanks to its popularity with cruise ships and having been used as a filming location for the hugely successful TV series Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik has become a mecca for tourists. But the massive influx of visitors piles an enormous strain on the town’s infrastructure, leading UNESCO to warn that Dubrovnik’s World Heritage Site Status was in jeopardy unless it reduced the number of tourists.

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Rovinj’s terracotta rooftops, pastel-coloured Venetian buildings and majestic Baroque church make it every bit as enchanting as Dubrovnik. Perched on the North Adriatic, this pretty Istrian fishing harbour has narrow, cobbled streets, fantastic seafood and centuries-old buildings to explore. For incredible views, visit the 18th-century Church of St. Euphemia and climb to the top of the bell tower.

More than 30 million tourists visit Tuscany each year, drawn to the allure of Florence, Siena and Pisa, as well as the cypress tree-peppered landscape. But with 10 visitors for every local, there are concerns that mass tourism will increase the cost of living. 

Umbria is Tuscany’s lesser-known but just as beautiful little sister. Here you’ll find truffle-laced pasta, full-bodied wines and olive groves, all for a fraction of the cost. There’s no shortage of art either – visit the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi in Assisi, where you’ll find Giotto’s famous fresco telling the story of Saint Francis. The captivating hilltop town of Orvieto is another must-see, perched high on its rocky outcrop.

Thanks to its Mediterranean climate, coastal location and party vibe, Barcelona is on many a bucket list. Add to that Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia and the Picasso museum, and it’s not hard to see why an estimated 32 million visitors descend on the city each year. But recently, authorities have become increasingly concerned about overcrowding and an increase in antisocial behaviour. There are rising ecological fears too, largely due to often high-polluting cruise ships.

With its gargantuan Gothic cathedral, moreish tapas and dazzling Museum of Fine Arts of Seville, Seville offers a fantastic – and quieter – alternative to Barcelona’s crowded streets. Visit the 14th-century Alcázar, one of the world’s oldest palaces. Here you’ll find sumptuous golden ceilings, ornate ceramic tiles and tranquil gardens, dotted with glistening pools.

This stunning stretch of sand shot to fame in 2000, when The Beach was released, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. But a peak of just under 2 million visitors in 2017, and up to 6,000 daily visitors have wreaked havoc on the tropical idyll. Thanks to pollution from boats, litter and sunscreen, it’s believed that more than 80% of the coral has been devastated. In a bid to save Maya Bay from further destruction, Thai authorities closed the bay for two years between 2020 and 2022, re-opening it in January 2022 with strict new rules and regulations on visiting.

This tiny island on Thailand’s Andaman coast offers powdery coral sand, jungle-clad hills and panoramic sea views over limestone karsts. Don’t expect a party scene – there are few resorts here and no roads. Instead you’ll experience tranquillity, stunning scenery and crystal-clear waters. Kick back without the crowds and explore the coral reef, where you’ll find angelfish and clown fish.

With its glassy turquoise lakes, spectacular mountains and hot springs, it’s not hard to see why more than four million tourists are drawn to Banff National Park each year. But some conservationists have called on Parks Canada to start limiting the number of people who can enter, fearing that swelling crowds and congestion are threatening the fragile ecosystem and tarnishing the visitor experience.

Instead of jostling for a snap of Lake Louise, why not hop over into British Columbia and visit Yoho National Park instead? Parks Canada is actively encouraging visitors to make the leap and for good reason. Here you’ll find azure lakes (Emerald Lake is a must-see), thundering waterfalls and 248.5 miles (400km) of trails. Better still, visitor numbers are eight times less than those heading to Banff.

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For decades tourists have piled into Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, excited by the possibility of an exhilarating trek to the top of its iconic, rusty-red monolith. But in 2019, after years of controversy, climbing Uluru itself (previously known as Ayers Rock) was finally banned. Not only is it an intensely sacred place for the Aboriginal people, but tourists have been blamed for littering, eroding the rock’s ancient surface and polluting nearby waterholes.

Instead, make a journey to this majestic natural amphitheatre in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges National Park. Dating back some 800 million years, it has an almost-sheer outer rock face but visitors can explore the inner basin by foot on a series of walks. Keep an eye out for the local wildlife which includes the red kangaroo, eagles, dingos and several types of snake.

Amsterdam is expected to attract around 23 million yearly tourists by 2025, thanks to its historic canals, art galleries and notorious Red Light District. But there are fears that mass tourism is threatening the soul of the city, as new shops and restaurants increasingly cater for visitors and a lack of affordable housing squeezes out locals. Authorities have also voiced concerns over antisocial behaviour, such as public drunkenness and urinating in canals.

It’s often overshadowed by Amsterdam but Utrecht offers tree-lined canals, medieval architecture and a vibrant café culture. Explore the winding waterways from a rowing boat or hire a bike and join the city’s many cyclists. If you’re feeling energetic, climb the 465 steps up the Dom Tower where you can admire 13 enormous bells and soak up panoramic views over the city below. Utrecht also has a thriving music scene, with venues playing everything from classical to jazz and rock.

With its warm, milky-blue waters and dramatic volcanic landscape, there’s little doubt Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is a spectacular way to while away an afternoon. But it also comes with tourists, and lots of them. In 2022, 1.7 million people arrived, keen to wallow in the 37-40°C (98.6-104°F) waters, sweat it out in a sauna or steam room and plaster on a silica-rich face mask.

Instead, why not travel to Mývatn Nature Bath in the north of the island. It may not offer all the glitz of the Blue Lagoon but you’ll find similar milky-blue waters, with temperatures of 36-40°C (96.8-104°F), at around half the price. As well as the pools themselves, there are two geothermally heated steam baths, plus changing rooms with organic body products. Once you’ve had your watery fun, head to the café for goulash and the famous geyser bread, which is baked underground.

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This mysterious prehistoric stone circle, perched on Wiltshire’s rolling fields, deservedly draws crowds from across the globe. But anyone hoping to soak up the atmosphere in solitude is likely to be disappointed – more than one million people visit Stonehenge each year and in peak season the chances are you’ll find yourself rubbing shoulders with several other tourists eager to catch a glimpse of the iconic boulders. Plus, you can't even get up-close to the stones – they're roped off to preserve them.

Just a 40-minute drive north from Stonehenge is the quiet village of Avebury, where you’ll find the largest stone circle in the world. This architectural sensation, which dates back to Neolithic times, is free to visit and only attracts a fraction of the tourists heading to Stonehenge. Best of all, you can wander at your leisure between the vast boulders and out of season, you may only have a few local sheep for company.

Everest’s once-pristine slopes are said to have become the world’s highest rubbish dump, thanks to the hordes that come to scale its snow-capped peaks. In 2019 it was reported that more than three tonnes of rubbish had been removed from the area, including tents, used oxygen cylinders and plastic. However, the problem persists due to overcrowding and a lack of waste infrastructure.

Ladakh may not give you the chance to conquer the world’s highest peak but the region does offer snow-dusted mountains, majestic scenery and hiking to suit most abilities. Here you can trek through the lower Himalayas, which are dotted with precariously positioned Buddhist monasteries and home to the endangered Tibetan antelope. Start your adventure in the town of Leh with its impressive nine-storey royal palace.

In 2017, UNESCO threatened to put Machu Picchu on its list of world heritage sites in danger, due to concerns that persistent overcrowding could damage the fragile ruins. Visitor numbers have since been limited to 4,000 a day and tourists are requested to stick to specific trails, instead of freely clambering over the ancient rocks. However, these numbers still exceed UNESCO's recommendations and many still fear the Inca citadel remains vulnerable.

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Just 40 miles from Machu Picchu is Choquequirao, a lesser-known Inca citadel that’s thought to be three times bigger. The only snag is that in order to explore its magnificent terraces, palaces and temples, you currently need to undertake an exhilarating four-day hike. But the trek makes the end result even more worthwhile – plus it ensures you won’t be fighting off camera-wielding crowds once you get there.

In 2019, thousands of excited tourists were thwarted in their attempts to visit the Louvre in Paris when staff went on strike. The reason? They claimed the museum was “suffocating” as a result of overcrowding and that conditions were deteriorating for visitors and employees. Post-COVID, the situation has only got worse, with more than 10 million people visiting each year to catch a glimpse of artworks such as the Mona Lisa, Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous masterpiece.

While nothing can rival the sheer scale of the Louvre, the Musée Marmottan Monet offers a collection that’s sure to delight art buffs. It may look unassuming from the exterior but inside you’ll find one of the city’s largest Impressionism collections. There are more than 100 works by Monet himself, as well as paintings by Degas, Manet, Gaugin, Renoir and Pissarro. Best of all, you won’t find yourself battling the crowds.

With its pastel houses seemingly clinging to the cliffs, Italy’s Cinque Terre has become a magnet for tourists. But popularity comes at a cost to this community of five picturesque fishing villages, connected by train. Tourists continue to arrive in droves (numbering around 2.5 million each year), putting a huge strain on the area’s fragile infrastructure.

Dramatically poised on Corsica’s rugged limestone cliffs, many of Bonifacio’s buildings look like they’re almost suspended over the sea below. Explore the town’s meandering cobbled streets and take a walk to Capo Pertusato lighthouse, where you’ll find staggering views over the glistening waters. If you fancy a dip, take a hike along the coastal path to L'Arinella, a pretty beach where you’ll find peace and quiet aplenty. 

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Just under six million tourists visited Prague in 2022, drawn to its spectacular 9th-century castle, stunning spires and the famous Charles Bridge. But the streets are increasingly congested with sightseeing groups and there are fears that mass pub crawls, fuelled by cheap beer, are rapidly eroding the locals' quality of life. In a bid to improve the status quo, posters are dotted throughout the city asking tourists to be quiet on the streets at night – if they ignore the warnings, they could face fines of up to €400 (£345/$437). 

Like Prague, this Estonian city is home to fairy-tale spires, cobblestone streets and a myriad of pretty buildings, yet it has far fewer visitors. Wander around the impressive city walls, linked by 20 towers, then head to the Kohtuotsa viewing platform on Toompea Hill, where you’ll be greeted with breathtaking views over the harbour below.

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More than five million people visit this colossal natural wonder each year, keen to experience the mesmerising views and hiking trails that the vast chasm has to offer. As a result, conditions can get somewhat congested in the most popular areas during busy periods, with long entry queues, a wait for buses and limited parking. And at the most iconic viewpoints, the chances are you’ll find yourself one of a crowd.

With its dramatic canyons, vivid rainbow rocks and bizarre, haunting beauty, Badlands National Park wouldn't look out of place in a sci-fi movie. Granted, it doesn’t have the sheer magnitude of the Grand Canyon but it also doesn’t have the crowds. Explore by foot or by car, and you’re more likely to find yourself rubbing shoulders with bison or prairie dogs than hordes of other travellers.

Travellers throng to Bali for its palm-fringed beaches, tranquil rice fields and exotic temples but in 2017 the authorities declared a “garbage emergency” across a section of the island’s once-unspoiled coastline. A mass clean-up ensued but some fear overtourism is taking its toll on the island’s fragile environment. Meanwhile, the Bali Tourism Board is promoting an advertising campaign asking travellers to behave more respectfully in the destination. 

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This Indonesian archipelago offers jungle-clad islands, pristine beaches and stellar birdlife. Here, lush limestone karsts protrude from the azure sea which teems with tropical fish and, if you’re lucky, dolphins too. Start your travels at Waigeo Island where you can explore the richly forested interior before embarking on an underwater adventure.

Beautiful Budapest has been drawing legions of visitors for years, thanks to its magnificent thermal baths, vast array of museums and stunning Vajdahunyad Castle. But its huge popularity has also led to a growing party scene which has enraged residents thanks to the noise, littering and, at times, antisocial behaviour.

The stunning Georgian capital, situated on the banks of the Kura River, is a mesmerising blend of historic churches, deserted monasteries and cobblestone streets. Like Budapest, the city is known for its thermal spring baths, famed for their rejuvenating properties. Many locals still use the baths today, in the hope that the waters will help ease eczema, arthritis and digestive problems.

It’s won the hearts of billions of people from across the globe but Venice is suffering from a serious case of overcrowding. Every day, hordes flock to the Rialto Bridge and St Mark’s Square, tramping through the city’s winding streets. And with the number of annual visitors projected to reach 38 million by 2025, the tourism industry is feared by many to be threatening its future. Meanwhile, Venice has been hit by the highest tides in 50 years, causing terrible flooding.

Escape the throngs and do Venice’s strained infrastructure a favour by making a trip to the medieval city of Bassano del Grappa instead. Just over an hour from Venice, it’s perched prettily on the River Brenta and offers stunning views of the Venetian Prealps. Once you’ve soaked up the Palladian architecture, Renaissance palaces and ancient churches, pay a visit to the Ponte degli Alpini, an enchanting wooden bridge that straddles the river’s banks.

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