Where to Find Places to Travel When You Don’t Like “Touristy” Places

Here is how I’ve Been Discovering Offbeat Destinations So Far

There are two kinds of travelers:

those who want to see the famous things, and those who want to feel a place.

I’ve always been the second kind.

Crowds, queues, selfie points, and cafés with menus designed more for Instagram than locals… they drain the magic out of travel for me. So over time, I’ve slowly built my own way of finding places that feel quieter, more local, and more real.

This isn’t a perfect system. It’s just how I’ve been doing it so far.

And if you’re someone who also prefers hidden corners over highlight reels, this might help.

1. Start With a Region, Not a Destination

Instead of searching “best places to visit in ___,” I start broader.

For example:

• a mountain range

• a coastal belt

• a cultural region

• a state or province

Then I look for small towns within that region rather than the main city everyone already knows.

Because here’s the pattern I’ve noticed:

Every famous destination has quieter neighbors.

• Manali has Jibhi.

• Goa has Divar Island.

• Jaipur has Bundi.

The spotlight rarely covers the whole map.

2. Zoom In on Maps and Wander Digitally

This is honestly one of my favorite rituals.

I open Google Maps and just… explore.

Not searching. Not filtering. Just zooming.

I look for:

• tiny villages near natural features

• lakes or forests without many reviews

• places with photos but not many ratings

• homestays in unexpected locations

If a place has beauty but very little digital noise around it, that’s usually a good sign.

It feels a bit like treasure hunting, except the treasure is quiet.

3. I Follow Travelers Who Prefer Slow Travel

Not influencers chasing “top 10” lists.

But travelers who:

• Stay longer in places

• Write detailed captions

• Share logistics and context

• Talk about local life

Often, their posts casually mention places that never make mainstream travel guides.

That’s how I’ve found some of the most peaceful spots, hidden inside someone else’s longer journey.

4. I Look at Homestays Before Attractions

This changed everything for me.

Instead of asking:

• “What is there to see here?

I ask

• “Are people living here in a way I’d like to experience?”

So I search for homestays in a broader region and see where they cluster in small numbers.

If a village has 3–10 homestays, it usually means:

• It’s beautiful

• It’s livable

• But not overrun

That balance is gold.

5. I Read Low-View Blogs and Old Forums

This sounds odd, but it works.

Some of the best offbeat travel information still lives in:

• small personal blogs

• old travel forums

• Reddit threads

• long-form trip reports

They often mention places before they become popular.

And because they’re not optimized for algorithms, they feel more honest.

6. I Notice What Locals Recommend (Not Tourism Boards)

Tourism websites show what a place wants to sell.

Locals show what a place actually is.

So I pay attention to:

• where locals go on weekends

• lesser-known temples or viewpoints

• seasonal fairs or markets

• nearby nature spots

If residents travel somewhere for peace, that’s usually a strong signal.

7. I Accept That “Untouristy” Is Temporary

This is something I’ve learned slowly.

• Places change.

• Roads improve.

• Reels happen.

• Crowds follow.

So the goal isn’t to find places that will stay hidden forever.

It’s to find places that are still themselves right now.

Travel, for me, is less about escaping popularity and more about arriving before a place forgets its own rhythm.

8. My Simple Filter for Choosing

Over time, I realized I choose a place when it feels like:

• Life happens there even without tourists

• silence exists without effort

• people live, not perform

• Nature isn’t curated

• time moves slower

If those are present, I’m interested.

Closing Thought

I don’t avoid famous places because they’re famous.

I just prefer places that haven’t started behaving like destinations yet.

So my way of finding them has become slow, curious, and slightly obsessive: maps, blogs, homestays, local hints, and digital wandering.

And honestly, I think that process has become part of the travel itself.

Because sometimes, discovering the place is the most beautiful part of going there.