Lebanon instead of Rome: the eight most underrated places where there are no crowds of tourists

If there were competitions among popular cities, then there would certainly be a winner in the category "excessive tourism". And not one. Today there are so many desirable places that millions of people visit, that even the cities themselves are tired. So, 2018 was marked by the fact that Boracay and the islands in Thailand were closed due to pollution, because of mass tourism, protests took place in Mallorca and Barcelona, and at the beginning of this year, Venice announced that it wants to levy a tax on entry into the city . But the situation is unlikely to change: a new generation of travelers is growing up who do not yet have Instagram photos on the background of Sagrada Familia. So for those who are tired of the crowds and do not want to stand in line to take a selfie near the Trevi Fountain in Rome, we suggest looking for an alternative.

Underestimated Baalbek in Lebanon instead of Rome

If you want to communicate with the ancient gods in private, then in Rome it is very difficult to do this, because crowds lie in wait everywhere. But in the ancient city of Heliopolis, today known as Baalbek in Lebanon, you can still walk in silence among the ruins and enjoy the peaceful landscape of the buildings of the period of Ancient Rome.

Underrated Koh Rong in Cambodia instead of Maya Bay, Thailand

Fate with Maya Bay played a cruel joke: in the film "Beach" the picturesque bay was a special secret place, which only a select few know about. Today, everyone knows about Maya Bay, and everyone certainly wants to go here. However, this is not the only idyllic place in Southeast Asia: the Cambodian island of Koh Rong combines all the charms of this region: coral reefs, clear sea, waterfalls. And the bonus is deserted beaches and the lack of crowds. True, getting to the islands is not as easy as getting to Taya, but the road is not scary for avid travelers.

The underrated island of Spetses instead of Santorini in Greece

The most popular island of Greece is languishing from the annual 5.5 million tourists. But the island of Spets undeservedly remains on the sidelines. True, there are no dizzying volcanic landscapes, but luxurious architecture, turquoise water and pine forests are easy to find here!

Underestimated Padua in Italy instead of Venice

Padua is the little brother of Venice, where there are also canals, bridges, water, elegant buildings soaring above it, but there are no entry fees, crowds and cruise liners. Enjoying walks around the city on the water, walking along the picturesque bridges over the water and not mingling with hundreds of people - all this will give you an underestimated Padua. Well, if you still want to mix with the crowd, then Venice will not last long - half an hour on a high-speed train.

Underestimated Malaga in Spain instead of Barcelona

Many residents of Barcelona believe that tourists have turned the city into a beach resort, and are very unhappy with this. But the Spanish Malaga will not mind that it was called a beach resort, if only because it stands on the seashore. Restaurants on the beach, historic sites, amazing architecture, excellent museums, sophisticated hotels - all this is about Malaga. And of course, like Gaudi in Barcelona, Malaga has its own talent - Picasso, who was born in the city.

Underestimated Faroe Islands instead of Iceland

Yes, in the Faroe Islands you can’t see glaciers and volcanic eruptions, but there is its own charm with hidden bays and such a cold, but bewitching sea. The nature here is truly northern: harsh and incredibly beautiful. So if you want privacy, the Faroe Islands are the perfect place for this.

Underestimated Zagori region in Greece instead of Italian Tuscany

Green gorges, bridges and roads paved with stone, mountains - an idyllic picture of the Greek region of Zagori. There are many small villages, houses in which are also built of stone. These houses surprisingly harmoniously fit into the bosom of nature, as if they were not built by people, and they themselves grew out of the earth. Great food, excellent wine, authentic architecture and no fuss - it is surprising that such places are still preserved in Europe.

Underestimated Luang Prabang in Laos instead of Ubud in Bali

Once Ubud was a small town, but today, having absorbed all the neighboring villages, it has turned into a busy transport hub. Probably the same fate awaits Luang Prabang, but so far this colorful town is taking its first steps in the field of tourism. It has everything: ancient Buddhist temples, chic hotels, souvenir shops and hundreds of travel agencies that offer Mekong cruises and elephant rides. But at night everything is still calm and dark, the road is safe to cross, and markets give more pleasure than hassle.