There is something undeniably exciting about visiting the world’s most famous places. Venice winding through its canals, Barcelona with its shimmering mosaics and lively plazas, Paris with its iconic tower and crowded cafés—these are the images that fill our travel dreams. They became famous for excellent reasons, and no one should pretend otherwise. But there is a growing, uncomfortable truth about this kind of fame. When too many visitors pour into a city, something begins to shift. Rental prices climb, local shops close and are replaced by souvenir kitchens, and residents find it harder to live in the places their families have called home for generations. The very culture that made a destination special starts to fade under the weight of tourism. That is why it is so important to take a step back, to look for places that are still themselves, places with room to breathe and time to welcome visitors as guests rather than crowds. The world, as Time Out reminds us, is a big ol’ place, and there are plenty of lesser-known spots crying out for more visitors. You will also probably have a far better time without constantly battling for space. Time Out, the global go-to magazine for urban culture and travel, seems to understand this perfectly. Its annual ranking of the world’s most underrated travel destinations has become something of a ritual for travellers who want to stay a step ahead of the crowds, and the latest edition is no exception. The 2027 list, updated as always, includes 41 cities and regions spread across every corner of the planet. This year, the number one spot is in Europe—but not in the famous capitals. The crown belongs to Bucovina, a region in Romania that many people have never even considered visiting. That is precisely its magic. In a world where every postcard seems already written, underrated places offer a blank page and the chance to make your own discovery. They also give local communities a way to benefit from tourism without being completely overwhelmed by it. It is a delicate balance, and lists like this one are so valuable because they point us in a more thoughtful direction.
Bucovina, the winner of Time Out’s 2027 ranking, sits in northeastern Romania, a landscape of rolling mountains, forests, and villages that have preserved their traditions for centuries. If you know a little about Romania, you have probably heard of Transylvania, with its Gothic castles, fortified churches, and of course the legend of Dracula. Time Out draws a direct comparison between the two, saying that Bucovina offers “the same wild mountain scenery, age-old traditions and mind-boggling architecture” as its more famous neighbour, but without the crowds. That is a powerful promise in an age of overtourism. For years, Transylvania has been the main stop for travellers venturing to Romania, but Bucovina has quietly become a gateway to something deeper. It is the starting point of the Via Transilvanica, an extraordinary 1,400-kilometre hiking trail that cuts through the country’s best scenery, connecting villages, accommodation, and traditions. Earlier this year, the writer and traveller Rebecca Ann Hughes took on the trail, and her stories helped bring Bucovina into the spotlight. But even with this growing attention, the region remains wonderfully unhurried. You can spend a morning exploring a painted monastery, a UNESCO-listed treasure with frescoes covering its exterior walls, and then drive through empty valleys where horse-drawn carts still appear on the road. You can sit down for a meal of mămăligă, local cheeses, and grilled meats while listening to folk music that has been passed down the generations. There are no queues stretching around the block, no ticket machines, no need to book weeks in advance. There is just the pleasure of being somewhere that still feels authentic, where the pace of life follows the seasons more than the arrival of tour buses. For travellers who remember that tourism used to be about discovery rather than checking boxes, Bucovina offers something increasingly rare: the sense that you have actually found something. It is a place that rewards curiosity, patience, and a willingness to wander off the well-worn path. And according to Time Out, it is the most underrated travel destination in the world right now—not because it has nothing to show, but because it has so much that remains undiscovered.
Back in Western Europe, the next highest-ranked underrated destination is also deeply rooted in local culture. The Asturian cities of northern Spain took third place on the global list, and it is not difficult to see why Time Out chose them. Asturias has always been something of a hidden treasure within Spain. Its coastline, with dramatic cliffs and sandy coves, has become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly with surfers and summer sun-seekers. But the magazine suggests going beyond the beaches and heading into the cities themselves—Oviedo, Gijón, and Avilés. Each has its own character. Oviedo, the elegant capital, is often called one of Spain’s most beautiful cities, with old stone streets, cathedral spires, and the kind of quiet charm that makes you slow down. Gijón, the largest city in the region, is a lively port with a long seafront promenade, a strong sidra culture, and the feeling of a real working city rather than a museum piece. Avilés, smaller and more understated, mixes medieval alleyways with striking modern architecture, including a cultural centre designed by Oscar Niemeyer. For food lovers, Asturias is nothing short of a dream. This is the land of fabada, a hearty bean stew that feels like a warm hug on a cool autumn day; of Cabrales, a blue cheese with a fierce personality; and of cider, which locals pour from a great height into a thin glass, a ritual that is both theatrical and delicious. There are also countless restaurants serving freshly caught seafood, from percebes to octopus to the region’s famous anchovies. What makes Asturias so special, though, is not any single dish or monument. It is the feeling that you have entered a part of Spain where traditions are still alive, where people are proud of their identity, and where tourism has not yet flattened everything into a generic experience. You can walk through a market, share a conversation with a local, and feel like you have actually visited somewhere rather than merely passed through. At a time when many European cities are struggling to balance their heritage with the demands of mass tourism, Asturias offers a gentler model. It reminds us that the same country can contain many different worlds, and that the greatest travel experiences often happen away from the headlines.
If you are looking for a crowd-free beach escape, Time Out points to a small place called Zambujeira do Mar, which ranked sixth on the global list. This is a cliffside town on the southwestern coast of Portugal, in the Alentejo region, and it feels a world away from the busy resorts of the Algarve further south. The town sits above a beautiful stretch of coast, with whitewashed houses clustered around narrow streets and a calm atmosphere that seems to belong to another time. Below the cliffs, there is a Blue Flag-listed beach, which means the water is clean, the sand is cared for, and the environment is protected. It is the kind of place where you can lie on the sand, listen to the waves, and wonder why you did not come sooner. Time Out notes that, with the exception of the weekend when the MEO Sudoeste music festival takes over, you will not find many other tourists here. That is a rare and precious thing in Europe’s crowded coastal destinations. The Alentejo has long been one of Portugal’s best-kept secrets, an agricultural region of vast plains, rolling hills, and a rugged coastline that feels almost wild. Zambujeira do Mar is one of its most charming villages. It offers the perfect combination of natural beauty and simplicity: a beach walk in the morning, a long lunch of grilled fish, an afternoon nap, and an evening stroll to watch the sunset turn the Atlantic gold. There are no high-rise hotels, no crowded boardwalks, no need to reserve a sun lounger before breakfast. Instead, there is a sense of freedom and space. The locals are welcoming, the seafood is fresh, and the pace is slow. It is also affordable, especially compared with more famous Portuguese seaside spots, and that is part of the appeal. For travellers who are tired of competing for paradise, Zambujeira do Mar is a reminder that paradise does not have to be packed. Sometimes the best beaches are the ones you do not have to share with everyone. And because the MEO Sudoeste festival brings a surge of visitors for a few days each summer, the village is not completely unknown to those in the know. But outside of that window, it remains wonderfully calm. It is the kind of place you return to in your memories long after you have left, a gentle secret that feels all the more special for being kept.
France also has a place on the list, and its representative is Carry-le-Rouet, which ranked ninth overall. This seaside resort, located on the Mediterranean coast not far from Marseille, has long been a beloved spot for French families looking for a relaxed summer escape. Time Out compares it to the far more famous St Tropez and Cannes, declaring that it is “just as idyllic with sea-to-cliff landscapes, turquoise waters and fresh seafood” but at a fraction of the cost. That is quite a promise, but Carry-le-Rouet delivers. The town has an old-fashioned, low-key charm that feels increasingly rare along the French Riviera. You can swim in calm coves, hike along the dramatic calanques, and enjoy a plate of seafood in a simple restaurant with sea views, without the glamour, the crowds, or the high prices. It is the kind of place where you can have a proper holiday without trying to impress anyone. Further out in the Atlantic, the Azores took 12th place, and this remote Portuguese archipelago deserves a special mention. In recent years, the Azores have been dubbed the “Hawaii of Europe” as more travellers discover their volcanic landscapes, crater lakes, hot springs, and dramatic coastlines. The nine islands each have their own personality, from the lush green scenery of São Miguel to the dramatic cliffs of Flores and the wild vineyards of Pico. But the Azores are determined not to repeat the mistakes of other beautiful islands that have been overwhelmed by tourism. The archipelago is certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, and there are numerous policies in place to protect its cultural, historical, and natural assets. Visitor numbers are managed carefully, new developments are restricted, and local communities are involved in decisions about how tourism grows. This is exactly the kind of thinking that the world needs more of. It is one thing to discover a beautiful place; it is another to make sure it remains beautiful for the people who live there, and for the generations who will come after. The Azores are proof that underrated destinations do not have to stay unknown forever. They can welcome visitors, carefully and deliberately, while preserving the very things that made them special in the first place. In a time of climate change and overtourism, that is a model worth celebrating.
The full top ten list put together by Time Out is a wonderfully varied collection of places. It includes Bucovina in Romania, South Dakota in the United States, the Asturian cities in Spain, the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, San Martín in Peru, Zambujeira do Mar in Portugal, Bisbee in Arizona, Shenzhen in China, Carry-le-Rouet in France, and Tioga Pass in California. Some of these are vast regions, others are tiny towns, and they range from mountain passes to coastal villages, from ancient cultural landscapes to modern Chinese metropolises. But they all share one thing: they are places that reward the traveller who is willing to stray from the well-trodden path. South Dakota, for example, offers more than Mount Rushmore, with its badlands, wide skies, and Native American heritage. The Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica is a sanctuary of rainforest and wildlife. San Martín in Peru sits in the high jungle, the gateway to incredible biodiversity. Bisbee in Arizona is a quirky former mining town full of art and history. Shenzhen is a dynamic, rapidly evolving city that challenges the usual image of China. Tioga Pass is a high-altitude Sierra Nevada crossing that offers some of California’s most spectacular scenery. The message of this list is simple but profound: you do not have to choose between being crushed by crowds and staying home. There are countless places that still offer the thrill of discovery, places where your visit genuinely matters, where your money stays in local communities, and where tourism does not feel like a machine. Choosing an underrated destination is not only a smart travel decision; it is an ethical one. It helps spread the benefits of travel more evenly, takes pressure off the world’s most fragile cities, and allows you to have a far more meaningful experience. So next time you plan a trip, think about Bucovina instead of the usual European capitals. Consider an evening in Avilés rather than another weekend in Barcelona. Swim in the clear waters of Carry-le-Rouet instead of jostling for space on the Côte d’Azur. The world is full of hidden gems, and the first step to finding them is looking beyond the postcards. After all, the best travel moments are not the ones you have seen a hundred times online. They are the ones you find by yourself, with the wind in your hair, a map in your hand, and a strange and beautiful place unfolding in front of you. Time Out has given us a wonderful starting point. The rest is up to us.
