As an introvert and authentic travel seeker I am constantly seeking ways to avoid crowds while travelling.
Go the extra mile, it’s less crowded
As cliché as this statement is, it’s also true. I love avoiding crowds while travelling. I love exploring hidden destinations, discovering authentic life in a country and avoiding the tourist hot spots.
But some places are hotspots for a reason; A major landmark, beautiful beaches or predictably perfect weather to name just a few.
I don’t want to miss out on seeing these incredible places, just because there are crowds of tourists there too.
So I have a few tips for how to avoid the crowds while travelling to popular destination. And finding a balance when visiting a typically tourist filled sight.
How To Avoid Crowds While Travelling To Popular Destinations
1. Go Early
For main attractions, arrive prior to opening or very early in the morning. Do some research to find out what ‘early’ is though. Because while 9am in Florence or Paris will avoid the biggest lines, in Vietnam the queue to see Ho Chi Minh’s body will already be wrapped around several blocks.
There are still some places where crowds are inevitable. I visited the Trevi fountain at 8am and 1am and still couldn’t avoid the selfie sticks.
2. Travel Off-Season
Its called off-season for a reason. You may need to trade-in the perfect weather or longer opening hours. But travelling outside of the peak months usually means less people and lower prices.
When staying in hostels in January in Ireland, I ended up with a private room every night for the price of a dorm, because there were so few guests.
I had similar success at Lake Como in March, where I can only imagine the quiet cobbled streets are crammed with people from June to September.
3. Take A Hike
As a general rule, you will find the crowds in the most accessible areas, with car parks, facilities and entrance gates.
If you are fit and able, look for hiking trails or harder to reach spots to find peace in even the busiest destinations.
Southern Portugal in August is packed with holiday makers. However, when I walked the narrow coastal paths connecting the popular beaches I found myself with panoramic views and not another person in sight. (Full guide to Algarve’s best beaches here!)
This also paid off in Iceland. Unlike the main waterfalls, Bruarsfoss can only be accessed on foot and was worth every second of the hike through marshland and hailstorms.
4. Go Left, or Right
Generally, if the ‘sight’ is a landscape, it doesn’t need to be viewed from the official viewpoint.
Head either side of where the coaches of people unload and see similar views in peace.
I found this spot pictured below by climbing away from the port on a day cruise from Athens. Through some narrow streets and up a hill, I got total silence and uninterrupted views.
In Ireland, the Cliffs of Mohr are not just visible from one car park, like the guidebooks would have you believe.
Similarly, instead of heading to the beach advertised in every brochure, research ‘hidden beaches’ or even check maps for coves or sand on either side of the main stretch.
5. Leave The City
If you find yourself in a place where crowds are unavoidable, plan your trip to include a few days outside the city.
Visiting Edinburgh during the festival can be overwhelming. But a short bus ride will take you to the Pentland hills for stunning views and considerably less people. This Edinburgh Staycation is less than an hour away and a total haven.
Similarly in Hanoi, catch a bus to Sa Pa in the North for fresh air and breathtaking hikes.
Or in Rome, there are a number of beach towns less than 2 hours by train that few other than the locals know of.
Heading outside the city not only means avoiding the crowds while travelling to one of Italy’s most popular destinations, but also offers a more authentic experience of the destination.
6. Choose Accommodation Out Of Town
Similar to the point above, avoid crowds by choosing a hostel or Airbnb away from the main hub of hotels.
You may sometimes need to travel further to the main attractions, but you will have a quieter stay and maybe even stumble upon some hidden gems.
I was sceptical of visiting Lanzarote, well known for its hotel resorts. But by staying in the north at a surf hostel I avoided the neon signs and souvenir shops and fell in love with a rustic and largely untouched part of the island.
So next time you’re looking for a peaceful, crowd free trip, don’t rule out the popular spots. Try some of these tips to avoid crowds while travelling and don’t forget to let me know how it goes!
