Looking for travel inspiration that goes a little further off the beaten track? This hidden gem finder covers over 100 underrated destinations across Europe, Asia and Latin America – from budget Balkan road trips to foodie city breaks in Southeast Asia. Use the filters to narrow it down by trip type, region, budget and season, and we’ll point you somewhere worth going.

What makes a hidden gem?

Not just somewhere you haven’t heard of – plenty of obscure places aren’t worth the effort. A real hidden gem combines genuine quality with low tourist footprint. The kind of place where the food is outstanding but nobody’s queuing for it, the scenery is spectacular but the car park isn’t rammed, or the history is fascinating but the guided tour groups haven’t arrived yet.

Some of the destinations above are well known in certain circles – cyclists will know the Dolomites, foodies know Tbilisi – but they’re still largely off the radar for mainstream travel. Others, like the Ardèche, inland Istria or the Curonian Spit, are genuinely unknown to most travellers.

Destinations marked “guide coming soon” are places we know and rate but haven’t written up in full yet – the cards are there so you can add them to your radar.

We update this finder as we write new guides and discover new places. If you think something’s missing, get in touch.