18 Ways to Avoid Crowds While Traveling
Follow our best tips to avoid crowds when traveling and experience some of the world's top attractions without the need to deal with pushy travelers. Here's our travel guide on enjoying the most popular places in the world without crowds.
Traveling the world brings unique experiences every day. But with so much information available online today, it's increasingly getting harder to avoid the crowds while traveling.
Fortunately, there are still ways to find uncrowded places. The secret to escaping the crowds on your vacation is very simple.
You need to make a bit more effort than the rest of the travelers.
Sure, it's less convenient and less comfortable (usually). But if you go the extra mile, it will be less crowded. So stop making excuses that it's hard to see Ring Road or Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park without crowds.
You just need to adjust the way you think about traveling.
There is a reason why some places are overcrowded tourist hotspots. Everyone wants to see the Statue of Liberty or Machu Picchu. But even sites like these can be visited when the crowds are thinner if you follow some of our advice.
So, here are the tips we've been using for years to enjoy some of the best rated places while still feeling comfortable.
PLAN YOUR TRIP AHEAD
One of the best ways to avoid crowds while traveling is to plan your trip ahead. Gathering as much information about your dream destination will allow you to plan your travel itinerary flawlessly.
While we applaud spontaneity, it's not the best approach to avoid crowds. Impulse decisions can deliver some amazing travel memories, but the chances are that you won't escape the crowds.
Planning is everything when it comes to avoiding masses on the same spot at the same time.
Moreover, you will be prepared for everything that might happen, and you will avoid making common travel mistakes.
So we can only encourage you to use all the advice and information you will find in this blog post to make your perfect itinerary.
And once again, if you plan your trip carefully and book accommodation, tours, or flights in advance, you will save some money.
TRAVEL IN THE OFFSEASON
Traveling in the off-season is the number one tip to avoid the crowds on your vacation. In fact, it's one of the best travel tips we can give you after many years of traveling.
It's common knowledge that fewer people travel in the off-season due to many downsides this time of the year presents. But not everything is black and white, and you can still travel even when the days are rainy or short.
Another important thing to consider is that prices are lower, and availability increases, which makes up for the disadvantages.
So basically, traveling in the low season kills two birds with one stone. It saves money, which is awesome, if you are a budget traveler, and helps to avoid crowds.
Moreover, once the peak-season tension and stress are gone, everyone feels more relaxed, and you can feel it in the air.
Where is the catch? The off-season is definitely not for everyone, and some destinations can be out of limits for the majority of travelers. While you can technically hike the Annapurna Circuit year-round, the winters in the Himalayas are incredibly harsh.
Only a handful of people go there this time of the year, so the trek will be very quiet.
The idea is self-explanatory. If your main goal is to avoid the crowds, you need to get out of your comfort zone.
Sometimes, shoulder seasons are even better as the downsides are not that significant, while you can enjoy the upsides. Shoulder season in Costa Rica or Mexico can be a gamble that can hugely pay off.
VISIT PLACES OFF THE BEATEN PATH
The idea of bypassing the crowds while traveling is always tempting. If you are dead-set to visit Barcelona or Paris, then you should follow some other advice we mention in this article.
However, the easiest way to escape the crowd is to take a less traveled path and visit some lesser-known destinations.
When we were backpacking in Colombia, we made several detours from the renowned Gringo Trail.
But Los Estoraques still remains in our hearts as an undefeated champion of the less trodden path.
Many tourists do not visit these unique rock formations, so we could enjoy some Colombian countryside without crowds before rejoining the trail and heading to Santa Marta or San Gil.
Every year some destinations become trendy. And sometimes, it feels like the rest of the countries cease to exist.
Whenever some major news channel announces that everyone should go to Greece or Austria the next year, the chances are that plenty of people will follow this advice.
But both countries were beautiful even before the announcement and will stay the same even the following year (when they come up with a fresh batch of must-visit destinations).
So the next time you see the list of trendy destinations for the next year, you should definitely visit, make a mental note, and keep it for another day.
GO HIKING
One of the reasons why we love hiking so much is the fact that it can allow you to escape the hordes of people buzzing in the cities.
Even top hiking destinations such as Banff National Park, visited by millions of tourists every year, allow you to escape the crowds.
Hiking in the Canadian Rockies is an extraordinary experience, and you won't find a better activity to reconnect with nature and find some peace on the trail.
So the next time you go to Moraine Lake, climb to Sentinel Pass. Or, in Lake Louise, make sure to hike the Plain of Six Glaciers.
While both hikes are super popular and can be heavily trafficked, they are nowhere near crowded as the lake's shores.
By leaving the most accessible areas, you will be rewarded by thinner crowds. And if you are returning visitor or just have more time, then you shouldn't miss Cory Pass or Aylmer Lookout.
Both hikes are quite challenging, and we met only a fraction of people on the trail compared to other park's most popular places.
In New Zealand, we did many hikes, but one of them stood above them all.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing offers one of the most stunning sceneries we've ever seen, but it's fairly crowded as it can be done in a day.
So we opted for the Tongariro Northern Circuit, which includes this part but also allows you to enjoy the rest of the loop without the day-trippers.
There were many hikes where we barely met a soul during the day, but the overnight trips were the most reliable way to escape the crowds.
On top of that, hiking has many health benefits, and if you plan on traveling long term, you will need some extra exercise.
AVOID MAJOR HOLIDAYS
Christmas, New Year's Eve, Easter, Hanukkah, Ramadan, or Diwali are considered some of the busiest and quite often the most expensive periods to travel.
Moreover, every country has its own national holidays. If you want to visit the United States, avoid days such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, or Labor Day (unless you want to mingle with the locals).
Traveling in Vietnam during the New Year or Guatemala during Easter showed us these countries in a different light, but we only enjoyed it because we traveled long term and didn't mind the hassle these times of the year bring.
AVOID WEEKENDS
If you are planning a short vacation or a city break, try to avoid the weekends.
Weekends are the busiest days regardless of the destination, as it's the time of the week when locals, together with international tourists, enjoy their time off work.
Places such as Tayrona National Park or Banff National Park are swarming with tourists on weekends, and you should plan your trip on weekdays if possible.
A chapter on its own is the long weekends, often bringing complete chaos to the destination. Even if we want to travel locally we usually choose different dates.
Long weekends are possibly the worst times to travel, and you should postpone your trip by all means.
STAY LONGER
One of the best ways to beat the crowds in areas heavily visited by day-trippers is to stay longer. Some places are meant to be visited on a day trip as you can see the best attractions they offer in less than 24 hours.
South American towns such as Barichara or Guatape are the real gems of colonial architecture and perfect examples of small enough places where you don't have to stay overnight.
However, once the bus tours and solo day-trippers leave, you will have the place for yourself.
So if you like to take things slowly and explore new places at your own pace, staying overnight can help you to avoid the crowds.
STAY IN A DIFFERENT TOWN
A few years ago, we visited Huaraz, also known as the hiking capital of Peru.
We knew from the start that Huaraz is the best place to base ourselves to explore Huascaran National Park and to acclimate our bodies to the high altitude.
While the majority of travelers visit the most beautiful places in the park, such as Laguna 69 or Laguna Paron from this city, we opted to stay in a smaller town called Caraz.
This town sits lower, so the acclimatization process takes longer, but we didn't mind as we were in no rush. But this decision helped us to avoid the crowds in otherwise touristy region.
Later on, we stayed also a few nights in Huaraz to compare the pros and cons of each town.
And while we could see the advantages of the bigger city, we understood that it's always good to know that there is an alternative.
USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Traveling around foreign countries by public transport is usually experience on its own.
Public transportation plays a huge role in many people's lives, and traveling gives you the best opportunity to observe how it works somewhere else.
Moreover, using public transport instead of tours is an excellent way to avoid crowds of tourists and to travel more sustainably.
If you know that all bus tours leave at 8 AM, then you can take a bus at 11 AM, so you will arrive at the place after most of the tours already left.
Lastly, some destinations are meant to be explored by public transport as you will get closer to the action.
Riding a chicken bus in Nicaragua or Guatemala is something you shouldn't miss and makes the adventure more complete.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WEATHER
Everyone wants to travel on a warm sunny day. But low temperatures, cloudy weather, or rain can discourage many travelers.
We love running, and it's incredible to see the difference between how many other runners we see on the trail on a sunny day or when it's drizzling. It's the same with traveling.
The key to success is to come prepared for all types of weather.
When walking around the city in the rain, the only extra thing you need is a travel umbrella. If you go hiking, you will need proper rain gear such as a waterproof jacket or rain pants.
Plenty of people check weather forecasts to avoid bad weather. But just because a thick layer of clouds covers the sun, it doesn't mean that you can't go out. Or travel.
In Iceland, we hiked in Skaftafell National Park while it rained hard, and we met only a couple of fellow hikers there.
Sure, the views were a bit limited, and walking in a rain poncho was not that comfortable, but the abandoned trail was well worth the extra effort.
However, traveling in bad weather requires experience and common sense.
You need to distinguish between bad and severe weather.
Canoeing during the high water levels can be dangerous, similarly surfing during high waves or hiking in the mountains during the storm.
Use your common sense and stay safe.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
STAY AWAY FROM THE CITY CENTERS
City centers tend to be the most crowded areas of every concrete jungle. And if you don't like crowds, then you should stay away.
Unfortunately, city centers contain the highest occurrence of top attractions. Therefore, it's inevitable to go there, as everyone wants to see Prague Castle or the Empire State Building.
But you can always find a hotel in some quieter neighborhoods to enjoy some peaceful time from the crowds. And while you won't have a view of the Eiffel Tower, you might get a good night's sleep.
Staying further from the city center is often not convenient, but allows you to see the town from a different perspective. And you can find some interesting areas, restaurants, or buildings that are not on every tourist's radar.
Just make sure that if you stay in cities such as Lima or Medellin, the neighborhood you want to reserve your hotel room is considered safe.
BE ACTIVE
When you arrive on a tropical island with some beautiful beaches, the most crowded ones will be the ones that are easily accessible. You can rent a kayak, bike, or even car to visit more remote places.
Sure, places that you can reach by car will probably be crowded as well. But there might be some beaches that can be reached only with four-wheel drive.
While renting an off-road vehicle is more expensive, it gives you more freedom and flexibility to visit the places the majority of people won't have access to.
The next piece of advice is even better. Go kayaking!
Kayaking allows you to explore remote areas of a smaller island that are otherwise inaccessible, and you can sure see more while paddling through the water. Places such as Perhentian Islands or Tioman Island are perfect for this activity.
When we were in Florianopolis, we visited many fantastic beaches. The most famous ones were often crowded. But only the section that was nearest to the parking lot and had some stalls selling pops and snacks.
However, some of the beaches were several kilometers long, and just by walking for ten minutes, you would leave the crowd behind.
One of the most beautiful beaches on the entire island, Lagoinha do Leste, was accessible only through a forest hike.
Unquestionably, you had to travel to the southern part of the island first and then hike there, but the reward was well worth the effort.
AVOID CRUISE SHIPS ARRIVALS
Standing on a pier in Rio de Janeiro while watching 333-meter long MSC Fantasia leaving the port was an incredible sight.
But huge cruise ships that can carry over 4000 passengers cause more harm than good, and some top travel cities are notoriously known for the negative impact they bring on their destinations.
And while some big cities can manage the load of tourists that every day swarms its streets, some smaller ones are not capable of it.
Everyone heard of cruise ships in Venice or Dubrovnik causing many problems to the locals and the environment.
As we’ve already mentioned earlier, planning is the key to success.
There is a chance that the next time you want to visit a port city, a large cruise ship might already be anchoring in the harbor.
So the next time you want to explore the colonial streets of Cartagena de Indias, make sure to check the port's cruise ship schedule to avoid that massive influx of day-trippers.
START EARLY
We feel you. No one wants to start early on their vacation. But if you want to stay ahead of the crowd and have a better vacation, there is no way around it.
You have two options. Start early or stay late.
We believe it's much better to start early, as it's for most people less comfortable than to stay late. Therefore, it's a better strategy to avoid crowds while traveling.
If you are ready to start your day before the sunrise, it can quite often elevate your experience to its full potential. Walking the streets of London or Amsterdam before it wakes up (or while it's waking up) will allow you to visit some of its highlights without the stress.
We arrived at Petra before the opening time, and it was well worth the early wake-up, as the trail we took once we were in the ancient city was almost abandoned.
If you want to visit a museum, landmark, or exhibition during the week, sometimes it is better to get there in the afternoon. Many school groups visit attractions early in the morning, and their presence can be overwhelming.
When we visited El Tazumal, famous Mayan Ruins in El Salvador near Santa Ana, a local school group was so fascinated by the two of us that we spent the entire visit surrounded by them. It's a funny story, but not everyone would enjoy it.
Starting early is also a great strategy to beat the crowds when hiking.
Just make sure to bring a headlamp (each hiker in your group should have their own), and be mindful where you step if it's still dark outside.
BOOK SKIP-THE-LINE TICKETS
While you can't avoid the crowds entirely when using this method, you can skip the waiting time in the line. The tickets might be a bit more expensive, but it's quite often worth the money.
Some places such as Louvre are notorious for long lines to the point when it's getting ridiculous.
So stop wasting your time by lingering in the line. But it's not just the museums or landmarks.
On airports or cruises, you can get priority boarding at an extra cost (or if you join one of their loyalty programs).
So, if you value your vacation time over money, then you should reserve skip-the-line tickets frequently.
RESERVE PRIVATE TOURS
When we were in El Nido, all the regular island hopping tours started at the same time. It was pretty irritating to see dozens of boats setting off simultaneously.
You can avoid this by not purchasing the most common budget tours.
Sure, private tours are more expensive, but sometimes it's worth spending a little bit more money in order to have the place just for yourself.
Another way to beat the crowds is to book early birds tours or after-hours tours that will allow you to see the famous places before they are open to the public (or once they are closed to the public).
When we search for tours online, we use either GetYourGuide or Viator. Both sites are trustworthy and offer good deals on tours all over the world.
Another good alternative is to hire a driver for the day. It's usually quite expensive, but if you are a group of four, you can split the cost of travel.
But most importantly, you can create your own itinerary and visit places at your own pace.
GO AGAINST THE FLOW
Some road trips or hikes are loops. Therefore, you are facing a choice of whether to go clockwise or counterclockwise.
Most of the visitors make their decision after thorough research only to come up with the same conclusion. One of the directions always has more pros than cons.
So what happens if you go the opposite way? Sure, there might be more cons to this variant.
You will be driving against the sun. The best views will be from the opposite lane. The trail will be steeper from this side of the mountain. And yes, you will eventually meet the pack of travelers driving or walking in the other direction.
But you will arrive at the majority of stops at different times, and the chances are that you can have many places just for yourself.
A word of warning, though. Some hikes with narrow trails that are notorious for crowds are not ideal for this approach, so it's better to go with the flow.
STOP FOLLOWING THE CROWD
Walking around a historical part of the city center while holding the latest Lonely Planet guidebook makes your life easier.
You don't need almost any navigational skills, and the outlined itinerary with the 25 best stops does the job for you.
However, you are not the only one who follows the book and visits these places in the same exact order.
The route shown in the guidebook can be most efficient and feature every attraction you are supposed to see. There is nothing wrong with it.
But as everyone else is holding in their hands the identical copy, you will soon enough become part of the crowd.
Venturing a bit off the main trail gives you more freedom, fewer crowds and often delivers very similar results.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
