Overrated Getaways: Swapping 'Hot' Destinations for Hidden Gems

You know what I am ready to do? Break free from the hype and explore some underrated gems that offer the same stunning views, vibrant culture, and eternal bragging rights without the chaos & cost of their more famous counterparts. You know the ones...overpriced gelato, endless souvenir shops, menus with pictures on it (seriously, run!), and crowds that feel like a scene from The Walking Dead. Now, just so we're clear, this is just one person's opinion! But if you’re planning your summer excursion in Europe, I think you’ll appreciate these swaps. So, let’s dive in!

1. Swap Monaco → Menton, France

Why it works: Menton has the Riviera glam and yacht-dotted bays without Monaco’s sky-high prices.

What you get instead:

• Belle Époque villas, botanical gardens, and citrus groves

• A walkable old town with real local life

• Michelin-worthy food at half the Monaco markup

• Access to sea & sunshine without the casino tourism

Vibe: Elegant vibes with French-Italian fusion.

2. Swap Positano → Praiano, Italy

Why it works: Praiano sits between Positano and Amalfi, with the same cliffside views but fewer tourists and more locals.

What you get instead:

• Breathtaking sunsets (better orientation than Positano)

• Quiet beaches like Marina di Praia

• Authentic trattorias

• Better availability & lower accommodation prices

Vibe: Romantic Amalfi without the packed crowds

3. Swap Dublin → Kilkenny, Ireland

Why it works: If you are after pubs, history, and Irish charm, Kilkenny delivers them in a compact, medieval, less commercial form than Dublin.

What you get instead:

• A stunning castle right in the city center

• A genuine pub scene with live music that isn’t curated for tourists

• Craft breweries and independent shops

• Walkable riverside townscape that feels truly Irish

Vibe: Medieval charm + proper Irish craic without Temple Bar pricing

4. Swap Venice → Chioggia, Italy

Why it works: Chioggia is often called “Little Venice” and it has the same canals, bridges, and painted facades, but it’s a working fishing town with barely a fraction of Venice’s crowds.

What you get instead:

• Real local culture and a lively fish market

• A compact canal system perfect for wandering

• Easy access to the Venetian lagoon without the congestion

• Amazing seafood at local prices

Vibe: Venetian aesthetic + authentic coastal life

5. Swap Santorini  → Naxos, Greece

Why it works:

Naxos offers everything people fantasize about when they book Santorini...whitewashed villages, turquoise water, and a sunset scene but without the cruise-ship crowds, sky-high prices, or hyper-curated luxury bubble. It feels lived-in, relaxed, and genuinely Greek.

What you get instead:

• Wide, sandy beaches (Agios Prokopios, Plaka) that people aren't on top of each other

• Incredible farm-to-table cuisine and family-run tavernas

• More space, more nature, and more affordability

Vibe: Authentic Cycladic life that is slower, sunnier, friendlier with room to breathe and explore.

So there you have it! Nobody come for me, please! Also, don't get me wrong...I have had some of the best memories in Venice, Dublin, and the others - there are just other hidden gems out there that I've enjoyed even more! So, time to swap the tourist traps for these hidden treasures that won’t have you searching for your life savings (the goal is to keep traveling, right?) or dodging the endless crowds.

That is it from me today! I'll leave you with this meme of how I am picturing some of yall after I came for Positano and Santorini, hehe. TYWIL! xxoo