30 Stunning Places Where You Won't See Tourists (35 photos)

The Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, and the Brandenburg Gate are magnificent cultural and architectural monuments, but you'll agree there's a special charm to traveling to places that aren't overrun by tourists. Especially since such underrated corners exist even in cities and countries that seem well-traveled.

We invite you to take a virtual tour of several such places. There aren't many people there, simply because most travelers don't know about them...





Grotta Palazzese Restaurant, Italy



This restaurant, located in the Polignano Cave on Mare Beach, is one of the most amazing places on the planet to dine.

Chichilhan, Rhône-Alpes, France





The magnificent Mont Aiguille rises 2,000 meters above the French community of Chichilhan. Mont Aiguille is known as the "Inaccessible Mountain" because its slopes are equally steep on all sides. The summit was not conquered until 1492 and was the first mountain that people decided to climb simply out of curiosity. It is believed that its conquest gave birth to mountaineering.

Nauru, Micronesia



Nauru is a tiny island nation with a population of less than 10,000. It is one of the least visited places in the world – simply because so few people know about it. Nauru hides miles of pristine beaches and forests – so if you want to relax on an island paradise, hurry and buy a ticket before the other tourists arrive.

Tiger's Nest Monastery, Paro Valley, Bhutan



This 17th-century temple sits on the edge of a cliff, almost 1,000 meters above the Paro Valley. The sacred site was built to protect the cave in which Guru Padmasambhava, the Buddhist leader, meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days, and three hours.

Albarracín, Aragon, Spain



A beautifully preserved medieval town in northern Spain, Albarracín is famous for its cave paintings (important evidence of Levantine prehistoric art) and its Picaportes—unique door handles. Each door and handle in the town is unique, crafted by local artisans according to ancient customs and techniques.

Hotel Aescher, Switzerland



The hotel is located so high in the Alps that it can only be reached by foot or cable car. Therefore, it is only open during the summer season, from April to October. Accommodations at the Hotel Aescher are spartan. Several rooms are designed for four people. Toilets and bathrooms are shared and located on the same floor; there are no showers. The hotel offers simple but hearty meals in the tradition of the Swiss Alps. Guests come here to hike and walk through the picturesque mountain landscape, visit natural caves, and explore the museum of prehistoric finds.

Haiku Stairs, Hawaii



Known as the "Stairway to Heaven," this hiking trail winds through the highlands of Oahu, Hawaii. 3,992 steps rise 850 meters above sea level and offer magical views of the island.

Lake Thingvallavatn, Iceland



The lake is part of Thingvellir National Park. The islands on the lake are of volcanic origin. Faults around the lake indicate that the European and American tectonic plates are colliding here. Lucky divers can swim between the tectonic plates of the continents, which are moving apart by 2 centimeters every year.

Chefchaouen, Morocco



Chefchaouen is a small town nestled on the slopes of the Rif Mountains in northwestern Morocco. It was founded in 1471, and by 1920, only three foreigners had visited. Today, the town is known primarily for its old town, where almost all the houses are painted various shades of blue. The reason for this choice is religious. In addition to Muslims, Chefchaouen was long home to a fairly large community of Sephardic Jews. They brought with them the belief that blue is the color of the tassels of the prayer shawl, the tallit.



But the city also has a dark side – it's a recognized drug hub in Morocco.

Lord Howe Island, Australia



This island remains virtually untouched by humans: a very small indigenous population and only 400 tourists allowed here annually. This restriction is intended to protect Lord Howe Island's unique landscape, whose crystal-clear lagoon is home to a coral reef.

Bishop's Castle, San Isabel National Forest, Colorado



America is home to one of the world's most insane castles, created single-handedly by builder Jim Bishop. It's worth a visit for inspiration—and you can even get married there.

Huacachina, an oasis in the Sechura Desert, Peru



The village of Huacachina has a permanent population of just over a hundred people. According to local legend, the lake was formed after a beautiful princess was surprised by a young hunter while swimming in a pool. The princess escaped, and the pool turned into a lake. The folds of the fleeing princess's robe became the dunes surrounding Huacachina, and she soon returned to the lake and still lives there as a mermaid.

Bastei Bridge over the Elbe River, Germany



The Bastei Bridge in Saxony is an engineering marvel of the first half of the 19th century. This monumental structure was built of wood in 1824 and replaced with a more durable sandstone structure a quarter of a century later. The architectural monument is 76.5 meters long.

Leptis Magna, Tripoli, Libya



Leptis Magna was once one of the main cities of the Roman Empire, and for its unique layout, it was even nicknamed "Rome in Africa." Now its ruins are an excellent playground for adventurers. So if you want to stroll through the sights of ancient Rome but don't want to compete with the crowds, welcome to Libya.

Alcazar of Segovia, Spain



The Alcazar of Segovia is a palace and fortress of the Spanish kings in the historic part of Segovia. Situated on a cliff at the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores rivers, near the Guadarrama Mountains, its location makes it one of the most beautiful and recognizable palaces in Spain. The Alcazar was originally built as a fortress, but has also served as a royal palace, a state prison, and a royal artillery academy.

Alter do Chão, Brazil



This city, surrounded by Amazon rainforest and boasting a magnificent beach, is known as the Island of Love. Just a few meters from the beach lies the vast Lago Verde lagoon, home to a multitude of animals. It is accessible only by canoe.

Moulin de Roc Hotel, France



Deep in the Dordogne region, you'll find an old mill converted into a charming hotel on the banks of a quiet river. There's nothing around for miles. And the hotel itself is home to one of the world's most famous Michelin-starred restaurants.

Peacock Hall at Sammezzano Castle, Tuscany



The abandoned Sammezzano Castle, which housed a luxury hotel in the last century, is now practically closed to the public. Access is only possible on special occasions. The castle's most beautiful hall, the Peacock Hall, received its name for its unique, vibrant ceilings with Moorish-style carved ornaments.

Melissani Cave, Kefalonia, Greece



In Greek mythology, nymphs inhabited this mysterious cave and lured men with their beauty. Sunlight penetrates through a huge hole in the "ceiling," shining on the surface of the pristine Melissani Lake.

Craco, Matera, Basilicata



Near the Gulf of Taranto in Italy, the ancient city of Craco rises on a high cliff, abandoned by its inhabitants. People lived here for about a thousand years, but then abandoned the place, which is now in ruins. It is said to be haunted.

Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal



Quinta de Regaleira Castle, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of Portugal's most romantic places. Regaleira's main mystery is its well, which descends deep into the earth. The spiral gallery surrounding it has nine levels, each with fifteen steps. These nine levels symbolize the nine circles of hell, nine circles of purgatory, and nine circles of paradise described by Dante.



On the well's wall is a glowing triangle—a symbol of Freemasonry. Many believed that Regaleira Castle served as a Masonic meeting place, but no documentary evidence has ever been found.

Weissgerbergasse Street, Nuremberg, Germany



Weissgerbergasse is a historic street in Nuremberg, famous for its stunning wrought-iron signs.

Procida, Italy



Procida is the smallest island in the Gulf of Naples. It's quite unlike its luxurious neighbors, the islands of Capri and Ischia. Until 1986, the island served as a prison for particularly dangerous criminals, so crowds of holidaymakers passed it by. The residents of Procida still lead a very patriarchal lifestyle: instead of converting their houses into rental apartments, they still prefer to grow lemons in old orchards and fish in rocky bays.

Lofoten Islands, Norway



The Lofoten Islands are located above the Arctic Circle. Here you can see quaint fishing villages, the world's deepest coral reef, and the incredible Northern Lights.

Cocos Island, Costa Rica



Cocos Island is the largest uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean, located 600 kilometers off the west coast of Costa Rica. According to popular legend, it is home to the largest treasure ever discovered. The island is also a diver's paradise thanks to its rich underwater fauna.

Fez, Morocco



You are now looking at the oldest leather workshop in the world. In fact, this sight is not for the faint of heart—there's a distinctive smell of leather and tannins that will long remind tourists of their visit to Morocco.

Blagaj, Bosnia and Herzegovina



The town of Blagaj itself is nothing special, more like a village. But nearby is the source of the Buna River, a very picturesque spot. This beautiful spot was favored by wandering Muslim monks—dervishes. In the 16th century, a "tekia" (from the Turkish "tekke"), a dervish monastery, was built here. It hasn't retained its original appearance, of course, but the current building isn't all that new either—it was built in the mid-19th century.

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland



Getting to Ittoqqortoormiit is as difficult as pronouncing its name: only once a week by plane from Iceland's capital to Greenland, and then by helicopter or boat to the town itself. But it's worth it: this colorful little town is located on the longest ice river system in the world.

Marsaxlokk, Malta



Even in ancient times, this place was used by the Carthaginians, and later by the Romans, as Malta's main harbor. In 1565, when the Ottoman Empire attempted to capture the island, the Turkish fleet was anchored at Marsaxlokk.

Today, the local population earns its living primarily from fishing. One of the town's landmarks is the townspeople's brightly decorated boats (luzzus).

Hallstatt, Austria



Hallstatt is a medieval village with a population of less than 1,000. Its main attraction is its salt mines, the oldest in Europe, which have been mined for three thousand years. Written sources first mention the village in 1311. Due to its remoteness from transportation routes, almost no information remains about Hallstatt's medieval history.

Deception Island, Antarctica



This ring-shaped island, difficult to access for tourists, has become a refuge from storms and icebergs for many creatures, including thousands of penguins. If you need to escape the cold, know that the island is an active volcano and is home to numerous hot springs.