Last month we brought you a blog post about less crowded
travel destinations to visit. While that is great for some, others have dreams
of seeing some of the more popular travel destinations such as London, Paris,
Rome, and Hawaii. While you may go there to enjoy some of the more popular
attractions, when you need a break from the crowds there’s plenty of less busy
attractions you can visit and enjoy. This month we’re going to share some of
those places with you, so you can enjoy your vacation without constantly being
surrounded by crowds.
London
London is one of the most visited cities in the world, and
for good reason. With a mix of newer technology like The London Eye and older
history like the Tower of London, there’s something for everyone in this
amazing city. If you want to get off the beaten path, we have some suggestions.
First, walking tours. We cannot
emphasize enough how enjoyable these are. You can do them on your own or take a
tour, which usually only has a couple dozen people at most. These walking tours
can be focused on many different things, from famous filming locations to the
haunts of Jack the Ripper. Looking for royalty? The Kew Palace may be more modest, but it lacks huge crowds and is
still a sight to see. Want a great view? Primrose
Hill is a beautiful park with beautiful views. And if you like cemeteries Highgate Cemetery is rarely crowded and
is beautiful, overgrown, and the guides have many stories to share. And if
nothing else, just walk. Wander. There’s always cabs and tube stations to go to
if you get too lost. There’s tons to see and do in the city.
Hawaii
Our first pieces of advice is to not choose Honolulu as your destination. Oahu is beautiful, but
easily the most crowded of the Hawaiian islands, especially if you stay in
Waikiki. You’ll be surrounded by tourists the entire time. Try the Big Island, or if you want something a bit more commercial,
Maui. If you do choose Oahu, don’t stay
in Waikiki. You don’t fly to Hawaii to be in a city, you fly to Hawaii to
enjoy the natural beauty of the islands. If you do choose a different island,
you are in luck, as the attractions will be much less crowded. And that
includes the beach. Stay away from
beaches in resort areas, though, as they get more crowded.
Amsterdam
This increasingly hip city is also getting increasingly
busy. If you want to take in the charm of the city without the tourists, here’s
our advice. While we’d never tell people to avoid the big museums, Amsterdam has
dozens of small museums on niche
topics to choose from. You should also take
a ferry across the river, which takes you away from the city center where
you can explore less visited neighborhoods. De Pijp is full of hipster cafes, bars, and shopping. It’s a small
city, so one of the best things you can do is rent a bike and just explore. Check out side streets, watch the
canals, and just soak in the atmosphere.
New York City
If you’re here in America, this is the most likely place you
will visit, and also one of the easiest places where you’ll see nothing but
tourist traps and crowds. You cannot avoid the crowds in New York. It is simply
impossible. But you can find things to do that are less crowded. Sure, check
out the MET, but then head to the Cloisters
to see art from medieval Europe. Central park will be packed, but lesser
known parks such as Fort Tryon Park
will not be. And don’t only go to popular museums, check out the many smaller museums. And don’t only
take in Broadway, take in smaller
theaters, comedy shows, poetry readings, and more.
Tokyo
Tokyo in Japan is a huge city and a huge tourist
destination. Japan though is actually known for its quirky side, so finding some
odd attractions is not uncommon. But don’t be fooled because there’s tons of
attractions out there the average tourist doesn’t find. Shimokitazawa is a small neighborhood filled with character and
less tourists than Harajuku, but with a similar feel. Check out some themed restaurants such as the Robot Restaurant
or TheLockUp. For a quieter area, check out Kagurazaka, which started as the geisha district and is now filled
with kimono shops and teahouses. Yanaka
market street is less busy but still filled with authentic clothing, street
food, and crafts.
These are just some starting points, but there’s obviously
tons more to see out there! Maybe we’ll do more of these throughout vacation
season to help you find the culture of these great locations without the crowds.
