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Do you want to travel off the beaten track? Enjoy all the beauty of some of the world’s most famous attractions but without the crowds?
I love off-path travel and finding dupes and hidden gems that many other people wouldn’t think to explore.
But this time, Time Out has done all the hard work for me! They’ve revealed their most underrated travel destinations in the world. And it’s a great list!
Here are the top six:
6. Sibiu, Romania
Romania is already one of the most underrated, and most affordable, European destinations.
But this Romanian city doesn’t want to use cliches to attract tourists: it presents itself on its own terms.
This means you won’t find Count Dracula merchandise here. But you will find a very cool and understated town with a unique cultural identity.
Time your visit to coincide with one of its many cultural festivals.
These include the ARTmania art festival or Sibfest, which is a renowned but little-known international theater festival.
Sibiu is the place to be for culture vultures, who can explore cobbled streets and relax in ancient squares while mingling with locals who share their interests.
5. Prince Edward Island, Canada
Canada isn’t an unusual destination, especially for American travelers who often visit their neighbors in the north, but Prince Edward Island is one of this vast country’s hidden gems.
The smallest Canadian province, Prince Edward Island really packs a punch when it comes to things to see and do.
You can enjoy sandy shorelines, and picturesque red sandstone cliffs.
There are 23 supervised beaches here in the summer months if you want a relaxing beach day.
The island also boasts a whopping 67 lighthouses. The Covehead Harbour Lighthouse is perhaps the most famous of these.
Prince Edwards Tours offers a lighthouse and winery tour if you’re interested in learning more about these fascinating structures and the history of the island (as well as enjoying a glass of wine or two).
Don’t forget to pack your appetite. Prince Edward Island is renowned for seafood like lobster and mussels.
4. Con Dao, Vietnam
It’s hard to imagine that there is anywhere left in Vietnam that is off the beaten path. This country has been well-explored by travelers and backpackers for decades.
But Con Dao feels comparatively untouched, making it an ideal spot if you want to get away from the throngs.
You’ll need to take a 45-minute plane ride from Ho Chi Minh City to reach this archipelago, which is actually a huge national park.
And you’ll never feel closer to nature. Incredible white beaches, vibrant reefs, and sandy inlets that provide a home to nesting turtles are fringes with jungle-clad mountains and forest trails.
Visiting Con Dao is like exploring Vietnam before the tourists arrived!
3. Sao Sebastiao, Brazil
Sao Paulo may attract the crowds and the attention in Brazil, but if you drive just 3 hours south then you will find this perfect corner of paradise.
Crowd levels are low, and the atmosphere is calm and relaxing. Sao Sebastiao is a popular spot for kite surfers and scuba divers, but beach lovers of all kinds will feel right at home here.
This is a great spot to beach-hop and get closer to nature.
But if you’re interested in history and architecture then you would be disappointed either.
Sao Sebastiao’s colonial old town is one of the oldest town of the country and oldest of the region.
It’s well worth taking a day away from the beach to explore.
2. Douz, Southern Tunisia
Tunisia is not the most famous of the North African nations (that award would go to Morocco or Egypt) but it deserves much more love as a tourist destination than it currently receives.
Often referred to as the gateway to the Sahara Desert, Douz is home to rolling sand dunes and Tunisia's biggest oasis; the palmeraie here is among the largest of all the Tunisian desert oases, with nearly half a million palm trees. This means that the outskirts of the town attract a lot of attention.
But the town itself is well worth exploring. The streets are compact, lending the city a magical, maze-like effect. And the small folk museum (Musee du Sahara) provides a fascinating insight into the lives of the people who call the desert home too.
If you want to head off path in North Africa then Tunisia in general, and Douz in particular, are well worth exploring.
1. Filandia, Colombia
You’ve probably never heard of Filandia (I know I hadn’t!) but there’s so much here to appeal to off path travelers.
And it’s a destination whose stars are on the rise thanks to its recent award as one of the world’s best tourism villages, according to the UN World Tourism Organization.
It’s a title that’s well deserved because this diminutive town is completely charming. Think multicolored balconies and white-washed buildings set against a backdrop of rolling hills.
These rolling hills and its high vantage point mean that Filandia offers some of the best views in Colombia. And when you’re tired of the views there’s plenty of other things to see and do here too.
Visit a coffee plantation, hike or horse ride through the Andes, hop in a jeep and set off on a rural adventure.
The Barbas Bremen Nature Reserve on the outskirts is not to be missed. For $88 per person you can take a guided tour through this fascinating location and taste tropical, exotic, and endemic fruits as part of the experience.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.