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You may not be thinking about the United Nations (UN) as your favorite travel resource, but with good intentions they put on their Travel Off Path hat for a moment to reveal a plethora of undiscovered villages ready for the spotlight.
No less than a total of 52 unsung gems Spanning the globe, from Guatemala to Vietnam, our expert team has taken a deep dive into the Mariana Trench in every last destination to compile an insightful overview of the 7 most exciting destinations for your next adventure abroad.
The following 7 little-known cities leave behind remote locations not worth the trek, waiting to be discovered by American tourists via accessible flights, hospitable locals, and visitor-friendly atmosphere from above.
7) Akyaka, Turkiye 🇹🇷
If you’re thinking of the Turkish Riviera and aren’t worried about Antalya’s new fame and rising prices, little-known Akyaka is just the place.
Still clinging to its ‘hidden gem’ status, this polka dot paradise is located on the Aegean coast between popular Bodrum and Marmaris.
Akyaka is known as an excellent windsurfing location with cozy wooden houses to stay in and a relaxed atmosphere, in contrast to the noisy neighbors. It’s the relaxing beach vacation you didn’t know you needed, and it’s just one extra flight to Dalaman from Istanbul.
6) Koyasan, Japan 🇯🇵
It’s easy to understand why so many travelers are magnetized by Tokyo, but the blinding neon lights juxtapose izakayastoried alleyways are just a glimpse of Japan’s fascinating culture.
Hidden high in the misty Kii Mountains, Koyasan is a UNESCO World Heritage refuge and well worth the trek. You will fill your soul with monk-run lodges, amazing temples and unparalleled views of cedar forests and mountain peaks.
Not to mention the dawn prayer rituals and picturesque lantern-lit paths. Koyasan is accessible via the scenic mountain railway from Osaka or an additional stopover from Tokyo to Kansai.
Given the way Japan encourages foreign tourists to venture beyond its bustling metropolises, Koyasan is a natural fit.
5) Mertola, Portugal 🇵🇹
What do you see when you picture Portugal? If it’s terracotta, whitewashed cityscapes with virtually no crowds in sight, then Mertola is exactly what you’re looking for.
Unlike Lisbon, Porto or my excruciating experience in Albufeira, Mertola offers travelers new grounds to explore in one of Europe’s most historic countries.
Anchored by the staggering Moorish hilltop fortress, and anchored by the staggering hilltop fortress, and home to the last surviving medieval mosque in PortugalDon’t worry: Mertola isn’t just an immersive history tour.
You can still enjoy addiction pastel de nata sweets and cheap glasses of local wine for a more authentic Portuguese outing.
Americans can fly non-stop to Faro from Newark (if you dare). Mertola is just a 2-hour drive from there.
4) Asolo, Italy 🇮🇹
Want one of Italy’s famous storybook towns yet to be discovered by the masses?
We introduce you, Asolo.
This ancient city features a cobbled maze of walkways to navigate through the center, but is also known as ‘The City of a Hundred Horizons’ because of its sweeping countryside views.
Cheap and tasty, as you’d expect, Asolo could easily be called ‘Italy’s best-kept secret’, but the UN is encouraging travelers to take note rather than head to Fort Knox.
Located just an hour from Venice, travelers can hop on a train to nearby Castelfranco Veneto and be there in no time.
3) Agaete, Spain 🇪🇸
Travelers may rightly feel one she-loves-me, she-loves-me-not relationship with Spain, given the country’s well-documented anti-tourism stance of late.
However, there is an exception to every rule, right?
In this case it’s Agaete – possibly the Canary Islands’ last true secret as these paradise islands continue on a record-breaking tear.
Either the UN missed the memo that the Canary Islands don’t want more tourists, or they recognize the downside of such protests, which endanger the survival of small, off-the-grid communities like Agaete, who may well need conscious tourism to keep their traditions and small businesses alive.
We’re going for the latter – so if you’re willing to brave the Canarian Karens, then little-known Agaete, perched on a windswept corner of the Atlantic Ocean lined with cliffs, coves and quiet charm, is just the right spot.
2) Valendas, Switzerland 🇨🇭
You may be wondering how Switzerland defeated Spain, and you’re right.
However, Switzerland struggles with overtourism in a variety of popular villages.
We, together with the UN, believe that Valendas is the antidote to these concerns. So much so that some Swiss villages are considered best not to visit right now.
Valendas offers guests fairytale mountain views, centuries-old wooden houses and the kind of silence you can no longer find in Lauterbrunnen. Valendas simply radiates the charm of the Alps.
Unfortunately, there are no gaps in Swiss cheese prices – there is no loophole.
Americans can fly direct to Zurich from many cities and board the train directly from the airport.
1) Bled, Slovenia 🇸🇮
Slovenia has become one of the trendiest countries in Europe and is even one of the last countries to offer a digital nomad visa.
Still considered off-road, this is a good time to visit before Slovenia rises even further. Ironically, what you see above is the most photographed location in the country – many men, including NBA superstar Luka Doncic, have gotten down on one knee here.
But despite its European prominence, Bled has managed to keep a low profile by doing what so many European hotspots cannot: embrace tourism without selling its soul, in a country recognized as the world’s first ‘green destination’.
We believe that Bled is one of the most beautiful destinations in Europe. Considering the smart practices of this lakeside treasure to preserve its reflective waters and heritage, there is no harm and no mistake in visiting such a bucket list destination.
The complete 52 UN destination list
Below are all 52 destinations the UN is urging travelers to visit to increase tourism: (in alphabetical order)
- Agaete, Spain
- Akyaka, Turkiye
- Aldea San Cristóbal El Alto, Guatemala
- Anıtlı, Turkiye
- Antônio Prado, Brazil
- Arquà Petrarca, Italy
- Asolo, Italy
- Asuka, Japan
- Barbaros, Turkey
- Bellano, Italy
- Bled, Slovenia
- Carlos Pellegrini, Argentina
- Chamarel, Mauritius
- Digang, China
- Dongluo, China
- Ezcaray, Spain
- Flößerstadt Schiltach, Germany
- Grand River Southeast, Mauritius
- Hosszúhetény, Hungary
- Huanggang, China
- Jikayi, China
- Kale Üçağız, Turkiye
- Kandelous, Iran
- Kaštelir Labinci, Croatia
- Khinalig, Azerbaijan
- Kolochava, Ukraine
- Koyasan, Japan
- Krupa na Vrbasu, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Loriga, Portugal
- Lô Lô Chải, Vietnam
- Maimará, Argentina
- Marktgemeinde Bad Hindelang, Germany
- Masfout, United Arab Emirates
- Mertola, Portugal
- Morahalom, Hungary
- Muju village, South Korea
- Murillo, Colombia
- Neot Semadar, Israel
- North Azraq, Jordan
- Pacto, Ecuador
- Pemuteran, Indonesia
- Plateliai, Lithuania
- Pont-Croix, France
- Quynh Son, community-oriented tourist village, Vietnam
- Shafiabad, Iran
- Shodoshima, Japan
- Soheili, Iran
- Synevyrska Polyana, Ukraine
- Tonosho, Japan
- Valendas, Switzerland
- Vila Nogueira de Azeitão, Portugal
- Yangsuri, South Korea
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