This Is the Ultimate Tool for Finding Under-the-Radar Destinations
All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by Condé Nast Traveler editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission.
Getty
Off-the-beaten-path travel destinations are set to be a major trend in 2025—and it's no surprise, considering the overtourism of popular destinations in Europe this summer and the record-shattering holiday travel season.
While cities like Paris and Barcelona will always have their draw, "there will be an increased desire for authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences,” says a recent 2025 trend report from Booking.com. Similarly, Expedia’s trend forecasting shows that 63% of consumers are likely to visit a so-called “detour destination”—a low-key locale near a popular tourist area—as more tourists “hunt for the less crowded and less well-known.”
Experts say that this trend of traveling to destinations that are less frequented by international tourists is one that's likely here to stay. “More than a trend, it’s a reality,” says Natalia Bayona, executive director of UN Tourism. “There’s a reality to come back to authenticity, to the local, and to help the community and give back.”
To assist travelers in their quest to find less crowded destinations, UN Tourism has been amassing a database of the best rural “tourism villages” over the past four years. The database is a gold mine for travelers looking to uncover hidden-gem destinations where tourism is wanted—and needed—for economic growth and development.
Each village highlighted by this initiative is an “outstanding example of a rural tourism destination with recognized cultural and natural assets that preserve and promote the rural and community based values, products, and lifestyle," the UN says. Plus, they are each committed to economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
Here’s what to know about the UN Best Tourism Villages initiative and how to use it as a trip-planning tool for your next adventure.
Mother Church of Castelo Rodrigo, in Portugal.
What is the Best Tourism Villages database?
Each year, UN Tourism adds a new crop of dozens of villages from around the world to the database, formally called the Best Tourism Villages.
Every village is evaluated in nine key areas, which include criteria like cultural and natural resources, environmental stability, social stability, tourism development, and health, safety, and security. In order to be added to the list, the village must be working “to advance tourism’s role in rural areas, preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values, and culinary traditions,” according to the UN’s site.
“Today more than ever we need responsible tourism based on towns or rural destinations that are leading by example,” Bayona says. “This is the way to showcase the things that they are doing and what really makes them unique.” Each village has an approach to tourism that considers the local history and prioritizes creating authentic and unique experiences, according to Bayona.
Alquézar at night, Huesca ,Aragón, Spain.
How can you use the UN Tourism database to plan a trip?
Upon opening the database, it shows the entire list of villages in alphabetical order. There are filters to narrow down your search by the year the villages were added to the list, or by the region or country you might be traveling to. There’s also an interactive map feature to visualize each village’s location. Currently, there are 254 villages across 52 countries listed in the database.
In 2024, 55 new villages were added to the list. The new additions include oft-overlooked destinations like San Casciano dei Bagni, Italy, a medieval town of about 1,600 people in the heart of Tuscany known for its thermal hot springs. Vietnam scored a new entrant this year with its Trà Quế Vegetable Village—a verdant rural community founded 500 years ago that is today known for its small household farms producing high-quality vegetables. Many of the destinations have breathtaking natural wonders that they’re endeavoring to protect. For example, Trevelin, a village in Argentina’s Patagonia region, also joined the list in 2024 for its striking mountain scenery, tulip fields, vineyards, and outdoor activities like hiking, snowboarding, and kayaking.
The full list of 2024 destinations spans 27 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America. To get the most from the index of destinations, Bayona recommends starting with a country you might be interested in visiting and seeing if you might be able to string together visits to multiple villages in the area. Then, use local sources to research the best places to stay and things to do in each town. On each village’s individual page in the database, UN Tourism has linked to the local tourism board website, each of which has information on local tour operators, accommodations, and activities.
You can also tailor your search based on your personal hobbies or passions: “It depends on the tourist, but I would like to find, in my case, local fashion or local crafts,” Bayona says. No matter what type of traveler you are, there is a village with a local tradition or activity that will likely match your interests. A travel specialist can also be a valuable resource when it comes to off-the-beaten path destinations, as they usually have word-of-mouth knowledge that might not be published online.
Although it’s a trend that's expected to pick up steam in 2025, visiting sustainable, off-the-beaten-path travel destinations that are preserving their heritage and conserving the environment is crucial to the long-term future of travel. “At the end of the day, tourism is about natural resources," Bayona says. "Without them, it’s impossible to create sustainable tourism.”
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
The Latest Travel News and Advice
Want to be the first to know? Sign up to our newsletters for travel inspiration and tips
These Are the World's Most Powerful Passports in 2024
The Friendliest Cities in the US, According to Our Readers
