Last Updated on: 12th December 2023, 09:38 pm
Summer is prime travel season in many parts of the world. But often the most popular tourist destinations get crowded and expensive during these peak months.
That’s why underrated summer travel spots that offer significant value and one-of-a-kind experiences deserve some spotlight.
From lesser-known cultural cities to overlooked natural wonders, here are 25 delightfully underrated ideas for your next warm weather adventure:
Main Topics of 25 Underrated Summer Travel Ideas for 2024
Underrated European Destinations for the Summer of 2024
Europe brims with blockbuster capitals and tourist hotspots. Paris and Rome are packed with tourists. Italian beaches are overcrowded. The Dolomites are chocked full of hikers.
But some Old World gems fly unfairly under the radar during summertime.
Image by ??????? ????? from Pixabay
1. Aberdeen, Scotland
With far fewer crowds than Edinburgh, Aberdeen charms with medieval architecture, Scottish heritage attractions, and culture minus high prices.
Image by Marcel Gnauk from Pixabay
2. Porto, Portugal
Porto’s postcard-perfect coastal scenery, wine tours, and relaxed pace attracts a fraction of Lisbon-bound travelers despite offering similar charm.
3. Ljubljana, Slovenia
Slovenia’s enchanting capital wows visitors with its lush green spaces, vibrant cafe culture, and scenic location along the Ljubljanica River.
Image by Rainer Süvirand from Pixabay
4. Tallinn, Estonia
The exceptionally preserved medieval Old Town in Estonia’s underrated capital tops many travelers’ lists for atmospheric Baltic beauty without large crowds.
Thrilling Asian Adventures
Asia dazzles with diverse landscapes, cuisines, and cultures ripe for summer vacations minus masses of tourists at mainstream destinations.
Image by Kanishka Ranasinghe from Pixabay
5. Kandy, Sri Lanka
Far cooler than Sri Lanka’s popular coasts, the hillside tea town of Kandy delights with sacred sites, rich traditions, and breathtaking train journeys through mountains.
6. Sapa, Vietnam
Sapa offers picture-perfect mountain vistas, hill tribe villages, lush jungle treks and rice terraces without the tourist fatigue you’ll find elsewhere in Vietnam.
7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Often skipped for beaches, Malaysia’s dynamic capital unveils delightful contrasts between shiny skyscrapers, bustling Chinatown markets and peaceful gardens.
Image by giulianabencovich from Pixabay
8. Bohol Province, Philippines
Swap packed Philippine beaches for Bohol Island’s chocolate hills, jungle waterfalls, historic sites and wildlife like tiny tarsiers – the world’s smallest primate.
Underrated U.S. Destinations
The United States bubbles over with dazzling summer escapes if you veer away from hotspots like Disney, Vegas, or National Parks during peak season.
Image by Leudy Espinal from Pixabay
9. New Haven, Connecticut
With Ivy League charm, superb dining, rejuvenated industrial quarters and easy beach access, New Haven captures quintessential New England vibes minus crowds.
Image by Chanh Nguyen from Pixabay
10. Atlanta, Georgia
Looking beyond heavily Instagrammed Savannah, Atlanta impresses with free attractions like the world’s largest aquarium, civil rights history, culinary creativity and urban green spaces perfect for summer exploration.
Image by Filip Filipovi? from Pixabay
11. Monterey County, California
Monterey offers Big Sur’s beauty, Carmel’s luxury, and breathtaking Pacific coastlines without battling traffic jams and summer crowds farther south in California.
12. Portland, Maine
Portland’s plentiful microbreweries, emerging food scene focusing on fresh local seafood, nearby lighthouses and islands let visitors tap into quintessential laidback Maine summer living.
Sensational South American Spots
South America simmers with capitals and communities often overlooked compared to marquee destinations like Machu Picchu and Rio offering their own understated allure.
Image by Rodrigo Vargas Sainz from Pixabay
13. Sucre, Bolivia
Featuring UNESCO World Heritage architecture and Andean highland charms, vibrant Sucre serves as the perfect basecamp for exploring Bolivia well off the main tourist circuits.
Image by Leiamais.ba from Pixabay
14. Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
A ferry ride from Buenos Aires lands you in picturesque Colonia, where cobblestoned streets and Portuguese colonial architecture unfurl along the calm Rio de la Plata coastline bereft of big crowds.
15. Aruba
Beyond peak season Spring Breakers, Aruba dazzles with candy-colored Dutch Caribbean architecture, stunning sandy beaches, otherworldly desert landscapes, and vibrant coral reefs waiting to be explored.
Image by Veronika Schaale from Pixabay
16. Asunción, Paraguay
Paraguay’s riverside capital unveils dynamic urban markets, modern museums and 18th-century Spanish colonial churches to delight culture lovers looking beyond mainstream South American options.
Intriguing African Destinations
Venture outside mainstay safari circuit hotspots to find enchanting African cities, coasts and communities devoid of annoying crowds and droves of jeeps when visiting during summer.
Image by FlorianJung from Pixabay
17. Essaouira, Morocco
Trade packed Marrakesh for magical port town Essaouira on Morocco’s Atlantic coast where boutique riads (hotels), fresh seafood grills, surfing beaches, and charming souks await ignoring crowds.
18. Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Skip Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti to unwind along the Indian Ocean discovering Swahili culture, watersports, seafood barbecues and lush nature preserves around Tanzania’s bustling “Haven of Peace.”
Image by Gerdos Line from Pixabay
19. Maputo, Mozambique
Mozambique’s waterside capital surprises with palm-tree promenades, vibrant nightlife, rich Portuguese colonial architecture, and scrumptious seafood minus safari crowds.
Image by photosforyou from Pixabay
20. Nosy Be, Madagascar
This lush Indian Ocean island paradise off Madagascar impresses visitors seeking alternatives to crammed Mauritius and Seychelles during summer with its eco-resorts, lemur adventures and stellar beaches.
Unexpectedly Enchanting Spots
Looking beyond peak season heavy hitters, underrated destinations around the world offer memorable magic.
21. Banff, Canada in Summer
Ditch packed winter slopes to soak up epic scenery on crowd-free hiking trails, shimmering lakes, and misty waterfalls surrounding Banff town.
22. New Mexico’s Santa Fe
Detour from congested Southwestern national parks to find refreshingly uncrowded adobe architecture, vibrant arts traditions and colorful culture concentrated in arty haven Santa Fe.
Saint Peter’s Pool in summer
23. Malta in June
Malta dazzles visitors in summer escaping the Mediterranean’s August peak when hotel rates drop, cultural fests pop up across the islands, and sacred temple sites open for moonlight tours.
Check out my list of the best things to see in Malta.
Image by Siggy Nowak from Pixabay
24. Brisbane, Australia
Sydney and Melbourne grab Australia’s tourism spotlight, letting vibrant Brisbane and nearby Sunshine Coast beaches fly under the radar despite fantastic weather, surfing, and cuisine waiting for summer visitors.
25. Dominica
The underrated eco-adventure island of Dominica promises natural serenity, spectacular waterfalls, hot spring soaks and hiking routes less trafficked than neighboring peaks like St Lucia or Antigua.
Start Planning Your Underrated Adventure
Escape the ordinary and unexpected awaits! Research these summer alternatives minus crowds now to unlock travel beyond the tourist trail.
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