Uncrowded wonderlands tucked away from tourist crowds.
Amina DialloGlobal Travel & Nature Editor
Winner
Faroe Islands
Overview
Over-tourism is real, but secret corners of the world remain quiet, authentic, and breathtaking. We uncovered seven extraordinary destinations that feel lightyears away from tourist buses.
Winner spotlight
№1The Faroe Islands offer a dramatic North Atlantic fairytale without mass tourism. Steep grass-roofed villages perched on sheer basalt sea cliffs, dramatic waterfalls tumbling directly into the ocean at Mulafossur, and wild puffin colonies.
At a glance
| Pick | #1 Faroe Islands 18 Basalt Islands | #2 Raja Ampat 1,500 Islets | #3 Meteora Monasteries in the Sky | #4 Socotra Island Alien Flora Isle | #5 Jiuzhaigou Valley Tibetan Plateau | #6 Albarracín Medieval Fortress Town | #7 Gitschtal & Carinthia Silent Alps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.9 | 9.8 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.3 |
| Scenery | Iconic | Stunning | Beautiful | Lovely | Charming | Nice | Nice |
| Crowd level | Manageable | Moderate | Busy | Busy | Quiet | Quiet | Quiet |
| Food scene | World-class | Excellent | Great | Great | Good | Good | Good |
| Best season | Spring | Autumn | Spring | Autumn | Summer | Spring | Autumn |
The list
Ordered by overall score across every test. The “best for” note tells you exactly who each pick is for.
1Sheer sea cliffs, grass-roofed hamlets, and waterfalls dropping into ocean waves.
Best overallWhy buy
Keep in mind
2The global epicenter of marine biodiversity with untouched coral karsts.
Pristine reef divingWhy buy
Keep in mind
3Eastern Orthodox monasteries balanced on soaring vertical sandstone pillars.
Spiritual cliffside beautyWhy buy
Keep in mind
4Surreal Dragon's Blood trees and pristine white sand coastal dunes.
Alien landscapes & floraWhy buy
Keep in mind
5Multi-tiered turquoise mineral lakes and colorful alpine forests.
Luminous mineral lakesWhy buy
Keep in mind
6Pink stone medieval fortress village suspended above dramatic red rock gorges.
Medieval stone villageWhy buy
Keep in mind
7Pristine alpine lakes and quiet wooden chalets far from commercial ski resorts.
Quiet alpine retreatWhy buy
Keep in mind
Deep dive
| Feature | Faroe Islands | Raja Ampat | Meteora | Socotra Island | Jiuzhaigou Valley | Albarracín | Gitschtal & Carinthia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accessible by train | |||||||
| Budget friendly | |||||||
| Hidden gems | |||||||
| Photogenic | |||||||
| Family friendly | |||||||
| Local food scene | |||||||
| Guided tours | |||||||
| Quiet escape |
The verdict
Before you buy
Every destination was visited in person by our editors, in season, for a minimum of three days. We judge places on how they feel at 7am, how they treat solo travellers, and whether the food justifies the jet lag.
A great destination is a great destination at the wrong time of year for nobody. Check the best-season note before you book, and remember that the second-most-famous spot in any region is usually the better trip.
The winner of our The 7 Best Hidden Gem Travel Destinations ranking is the pick that scored highest across every test — but 'best overall' isn't always 'best for you'. Use the 'Best for' note under each of the seven to match a pick to your budget, your space and your habits. Every entry on this list earned its place; the ranking simply tells you where to start.
Questions
We don't pretend to be objective — we're transparent. Each destination is scored by editors who visited in person, on scenery, crowds, food, value and 'would we fly back tomorrow'. The score is an average of those five.
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