Overtourism has broken the travel dream. Venice is sinking under the weight of day-trippers. Barcelona residents are spraying tourists with water pistols. Kyoto’s geisha districts have been forced to close to visitors. The places we’ve been told to see are being loved to death.
But here’s the thing: the world is enormous. And while everyone crowds into the same ten cities, entire countries sit quietly on the sidelines, waiting to be discovered. They have the mountains, the beaches, the food, the history, and the culture — but without the queues, the selfie sticks, and the $18 smoothies.
These are the underrated countries. The ones that haven’t been ruined yet. The ones you should visit before everyone else catches on.
Here are nine countries to see now — before the crowds find them.
1. Georgia
Why it’s underrated: Georgia sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, but it might as well be on another planet. It has the Caucasus Mountains, ancient churches, and a wine culture that predates the Romans by thousands of years. Yet it receives a fraction of the tourists that flock to neighbouring Turkey or Russia.
What to do: Hike the Svaneti region, where medieval stone towers stand against snow-capped peaks. Explore the capital, Tbilisi, with its sulphur baths and crumbling art nouveau architecture. Drink wine in Kakheti, the birthplace of viticulture. Eat khachapuri (cheese bread) and khinkali (dumplings) until you can’t move.
Best time to go: May to June, or September to October.
Go now because: Georgia has been discovered by digital nomads, but it’s still affordable, still raw, and still unspoiled. That won’t last forever.
2. Albania
Why it’s underrated: For decades, Albania was isolated from the rest of Europe by a paranoid communist regime. When the walls came down, the country was left with a stunning coastline, untouched mountains, and a hospitality culture that feels genuinely warm. It’s now emerging as the “Maldives of Europe” — but at a fraction of the cost.
What to do: Drive the Albanian Riviera, where turquoise water meets rugged cliffs. Visit Berat and Gjirokastër, two UNESCO-listed Ottoman towns. Hike the Accursed Mountains in the north. Eat fresh seafood in Himarë and swim in hidden coves.
Best time to go: June and September.
Go now because: Albania is already being called “the new Croatia.” Prices are rising. The secret is getting out.
3. North Macedonia
Why it’s underrated: North Macedonia is one of the least-visited countries in Europe — and that’s exactly why you should go. It has Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe, with Byzantine churches and Ottoman bazaars lining its shores. It has mountains, monasteries, and a capital, Skopje, that is delightfully weird.
What to do: Spend a few days in Ohrid, swimming in the lake and wandering the old town. Hike in Mavrovo National Park. Explore Skopje’s bizarre statue-filled centre. Eat tavče gravče (baked beans) and drink Macedonian wine.
Best time to go: May to September.
Go now because: North Macedonia is cheap, safe, and largely undiscovered. It’s the Balkans without the crowds.
4. Romania
Why it’s underrated: Everyone knows Transylvania — but mostly through the lens of Dracula. The real Romania is richer, stranger, and more beautiful than the legends. It has medieval towns, painted monasteries, the Carpathian Mountains, and the Danube Delta, one of Europe’s last great wildernesses.
What to do: Visit Sighișoara, the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. Drive the Transfăgărășan, one of the world’s most spectacular roads. Explore the painted monasteries of Bucovina. See brown bears in the Carpathians. Drink wine in Dealu Mare.
Best time to go: May to June, or September to October.
Go now because: Romania is still affordable, still authentic, and still overlooked. It won’t stay that way.
5. Kyrgyzstan
Why it’s underrated: Kyrgyzstan is a country of mountains. Ninety percent of it is above 1,500 metres. It has alpine lakes, nomad traditions, and a hospitality culture that will restore your faith in humanity. It’s also one of the safest and most accessible countries in Central Asia.
What to do: Hike to Ala-Kul Lake. Stay in a yurt by Lake Issyk-Kul. Ride horses in the Tian Shan mountains. Visit the Burana Tower and the petroglyphs of Cholpon-Ata. Experience eagle hunting in the winter.
Best time to go: June to September.
Go now because: Kyrgyzstan has visa-free access for most Western countries, but it’s still off the radar. The mountains are empty. The trails are yours.
6. Uzbekistan
Why it’s underrated: Uzbekistan is the heart of the Silk Road. It has Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva — three of the most beautiful cities on Earth — with Islamic architecture that rivals anything in Iran or Turkey. Yet it remains one of the least-visited countries in Asia.
What to do: Stand in the Registan in Samarkand. Wander the old city of Bukhara. Explore the walled city of Khiva. Take the high-speed train between cities. Eat plov in a local chaikhana. Buy ceramics and silk.
Best time to go: April to May, or September to October.
Go now because: Uzbekistan has opened up to tourism in recent years, but it’s still quiet. The new high-speed rail makes it easy. The architecture is unforgettable.
7. Laos
Why it’s underrated: Laos is the quiet neighbour of Thailand and Vietnam. It has the Mekong River, Buddhist temples, French colonial architecture, and a pace of life that feels like a gentle exhale. It’s not trying to be anything other than what it is.
What to do: Cruise the Mekong. Explore Luang Prabang’s temples and night market. Visit the Plain of Jars. Tubing in Vang Vieng (if that’s your thing). Drink Beerlao at sunset. Learn to cook Lao food.
Best time to go: November to March.
Go now because: Laos is still cheap, still slow, and still underdeveloped. It’s Southeast Asia without the crowds. That’s increasingly rare.
8. Namibia
Why it’s underrated: Namibia is Africa’s best-kept secret. It has the world’s oldest desert, the highest sand dunes, a coastline littered with shipwrecks, and wildlife that rivals anywhere on the continent. Yet it receives a fraction of the tourists that go to Kenya or South Africa.
What to do: Climb the dunes of Sossusvlei. See the wildlife of Etosha National Park. Drive the Skeleton Coast. Visit the Himba communities. Go stargazing in the NamibRand Nature Reserve. Sandboard in Swakopmund.
Best time to go: May to October.
Go now because: Namibia is safe, well-developed for tourism, and utterly breathtaking. It’s Africa without the crowds.
9. Ecuador
Why it’s underrated: Ecuador is South America in miniature. It has the Andes, the Amazon, the Galápagos, and a Pacific coast — all within a country the size of Colorado. It’s also one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Yet it’s often overshadowed by Peru and Colombia.
What to do: Cruise the Galápagos Islands. Hike the Quilotoa Loop. Ride the Nariz del Diablo train. Explore the Amazon rainforest. Climb Cotopaxi. Wander the colonial streets of Quito. Visit the Otavalo market.
Best time to go: June to September, or December to February.
Go now because: Ecuador is affordable, safe, and packed with variety. The Galápagos will always be popular, but the mainland is wide open.
These nine countries
share a common trait: they haven’t been ruined yet. They’re affordable, they’re safe, and they’re full of the kind of experiences that made you fall in love with travel in the first place.
But they won’t stay that way. Overtourism is spreading. Instagram is shrinking the world. The secret gets out.
So go now. Not because you want to be first. Because you want to see these places as they are — before they become what everywhere else has become.
The world is still big. Go find the parts that are still yours.
