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Whether you’re a Game of Thrones fan or a culture buff who fantasizes about visiting a faraway land with centuries-old castles, a timeless townscape, and what have you, Dubrovnik is probably on your Europe bucket list.

Croatia’s top tourist destination, and the real-life Kings Landing, for those who are familiar with the HBO hit series, it is truly something straight out of a movie.

Gorgeous as it may be, however, it’s far from being the idyllic fairytale scene you envision, especially during summer, when millions of people flock into its narrow, uphill streets, and a city center hotel can run you up between an already-costly $199-a-night, and a whopping $675.

Not even kidding.

The good thing is, Dubrovnik is not Croatia’s only medieval wonder by the Adriatic Sea, and whether you’re here for the Old World allure, or simply the GoT vibes, there are 3 alternative destinations that tick all of the boxes, and are more offbeat and cheaper to visit.

Ready to beat the crowds?

Ston

We’re sure you’ve heard of the Great Wall of China, the largest defensive system in the world, but did you know Croatia has its own Great Wall, a short one-hour drive north of Dubrovnik?

When exploring the idyllic Dalmatian Coast, it’s easy to bypass Ston altogether: it doesn’t commonly feature on mainstream travel brochures, and on top of that, it’s a tiny village of around 2,500 inhabitants—that being said, its fortified Old Town puts Dubrovnik’s to shame.

Not only is it criss-cobbled with stone-paved streets, and filled with the typical red-roofed stone houses, it is home to a 4.3 mile-long wall, erected in the Middle Ages to protect not only Ston itself, but the entire region, including the city of Dubrovnik.

Like in China, you can walk this wall (not all of it, but at least half of its length). It’s a moderately challenging hike that takes roughly an hour and offers views of historical salt pans, the scenic Mali Ston bay, and vineyards.

Now, if you’re used to Dubrovnik prices, you’re likely to let out a big sigh of relief here:

Local restaurants usually serve main courses ranging from €10 to €15 per person (roughly $11.40—$17) and if staying the night, a double room for 2 adults will cost you $41.50 each.

For moderately-priced seafood, a cozy ambiance, and unmatched bay views, add Bota Sare Restaurant & Oyster Bar to your list.

Korčula Town

Next up, we’re taking a 1h40—2h ferry from Dubrovnik to Korčula Island, which lies just off the Croatian mainland, or more specifically, its small capital Korčula Town.

Often dubbed a ‘Little Dubrovnik‘, it too is guarded by walls, which almost completely encircle the small peninsula it sits on, and it’s primarily renowned for having a preserved 15th-century architecture, and a quieter, more laid-back feel compared to its famous sibling.

You can stroll the picture-perfect cobbled streets, which are lined with centuries-old dwellings and merchant shops, as well as family-owned eateries serving  ćevapi, and other Croatian delicacies for around $10.

If you fancy trying a ćevapi burger, head to Curioso, a well-rated restaurant in the Old Town that’s been amassing rave reviews lately.

As you will notice when exploring, crowding is less intense here, considering Korčula’s geographical location, and the longer ferry journey from Dubrovnik, and most of the tourist attractions can be visited without long lines.

Think St. Mark’s Cathedral, in the heart of the Old Town, and a landmark church bearing Gothic and Renaissance elements, or the Marco Polo House—according to local tradition, the famous Venetian explorer was born here.

Trogir

As you journey onward up the coast, 161 miles north of the Dubrovnik-Neretva tourism hotspot, and past the bustling resort city of Split, you’ll hit the tiny, medieval town of Trogir.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, much like its southern counterpart, Trogir is fortified by medieval walls, and if we’re looking for the easiest way to describe it, picture a cobbled maze flanked by skinny, ocher-colored edifices, whose twists and turns always seem to lead to a central plaza.

This central plaza is bordered by terrace cafes, where Mediterranean food is served at reasonable prices—Franka, in particular, has delicious beetroot and truffle risotto and homegrown wine—and is dominated by a Romanesque cathedral.

The belfry resembles St. Mark’s Campanile in Venice, and that’s not merely incidental: like much of Dalmatia, Trogir was once under the control of the floating city.

As you stroll around town, which can get moderately busy in the summer months, though nowhere as busy as the neighboring Split, much less the infamous ‘King’s Landing’, don’t miss out on Riva, or the ‘Trogir Promenade’:

This loop walk along the ancient walls is lined with palm trees and cafes, and there’s never a dull moment if one of your favorite pastimes is people-watching, especially with the Russian-owned hyper-yachts moored along its extension.

For museums, check out Cipiko Palace, a Gothic-Renaissance gem just facing the cathedral, and on the outer edge of the fortifications, there’s a 15th-century Venetian stronghold, Kamerlengo, that’s open to the public.

Staying overnight in Trogir?

Rates for double rooms (with balcony), outside the citadel, start at an acceptable $91 for 2 adults, and an Old Town guest room, stone-walls, Old World allure and all, is not that much more expensive, costing you $59 each in summer.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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Winding navigable canals, picturesque fondamenti lined with pastel-hue buildings, and impossibly narrow alleys that lead to hidden piazzas with ornate fountains… there’s many a reason why you should visit the floating city of Venice.

At the same time, there are many why you should avoid it altogether:

Think of the jaw-dropping prices, with hotels in the historic center averaging $251 a night, or the overcrowding––and by that, we mean you simply can’t walk around the historic center without brushing shoulders with strangers.

That’s without factoring in the blatant anti-tourism policies, from the restriction of short-term rentals, to the introduction of a new ticketing system for day trippers.

Fortunately for crowd-wary, budget-conscious travelers, there’s a lesser-known Venice dupe all the way out west in Portugal, also traversed by a grand canal and famous for its richly-decorated gondolas:

Did You Know There Even Is A Portuguese Venice?

Aveiro boasts a high concentration of Art Nouveau architecture, skinny edifices draped in colorful tiles, and magnificent Baroque churches, but then again, this could be used to describe any other Portuguese city.

Its distinctive feature is the fact that it’s built on a lagoon, connected to the Atlantic Ocean by means of passing waterways, and it’s essentially born out of seaweed harvesting:

As the settlement grew over the centuries, and Aveiro’s exports grew bigger, a number of water-filled passageways were constructed to provide workers with easier access, from their place of residence to the harvesting hotspots.

These manmade canals are precisely why Aveiro is known as the ‘Portuguese Venice‘.

How Do Aveiro And Venice Compare?

Now, we won’t lie to you and tell you that’s a perfect comparison: there’s truly no other city like Venice in the world, built on a sheltered lagoon over oak-pile reinforced swamp isles and absent of streets and wheeled traffic.

Aveiro has navigable canals, but traffic runs alongside them, and unlike Venice, which has too many of those to count, its Portuguese equivalent has three main waterways.

Though they are not as numerous, but one could argue they’re equally scenic, especially with the colorful barcos moliceiros, the Portuguese gondolas, that travel around them––you can even take a canal tour for as cheap as $15.94.

Shall we remind you again how much those will cost you in the actual Venice?

Additionally, Aveiro rarely ever feels crowded, except for a handful of peak summer days, and even then, most of the visitors hail from other parts of Portugal or just neighboring Spain:

It’s yet to catch the gaze of most prying Instagrammers who are looking for the next European hidden gem or guided tour.

Other than charming canals and a timeless townscape, Aveiro is popular for its landmark cathedral, featuring a whitewashed bell tower, and delicious cuisine:

Great Food At Cheap Prices

It is the birthplace of ovos moles, a well-loved Portuguese sweet treat rivaling the world-renowned pastel de nata, made with pure egg yolks and sugar only––if you’re asking us, the best ones are served at this bakery called M1882, open e very day except Sunday.

Unless you’re vegan, make sure you add Tasquinha do Leitao to your list of restaurants to check out: they have the best roasted suckling pigs in town, presented with orange slices, and prices are more than reasonable.

Expect to pay around $14-16 for a main dish and a glass of local wine.

For sea beam and the signature Portuguese salted codfish bathed in olive oil and accompanied with baby potatoes, Necas’ House is the place to go, and if seafood’s the way to your heart, you can’t leave Aveiro without sampling some of Palhuça’s market-sourced squid and prawns.

Where To Stay In Aveiro This Spring

Looking for somewhere to stay in the heart of the Old Town, within walking distance to both the canal front and the train station?

The aptly named Veneza Hotel has nightly rates starting from an acceptable $72 this April, and in case you don’t mind splurging a little—if $104-a-night can even be considered a splurge at all—the 4-star, canal-lining Hotel Aveiro Palace is centrally located near all the best restaurants and photo spots.

It’s also a 10-minute drive from Barra and Costa Nova, two sandy beaches on the Atlantic that Aveiro locals commonly escape to in the balmy Portuguese spring.

The cheapest listing, however, is a 3-star economy room at Hotel Imperial, that should set you back by an almost-negligible $47 per night––no prepayment needed, free cancellation, and with an option to add breakfast for only $8 more on Booking.com.

Bottomline

On average, a weekend trip to Aveiro will run you up $316 as a solo traveler, as per Budget Your Trip estimates, placing it in the mid-range to cheap bracket.

For comparison, the same website indicates that a three-night stint in Venice is an eye-watering $869, and we’re inclined to believe them, based on hotel rates alone and the price of food, museums, and sightseeing tours.

Naturally, prices can widely vary depending on your profile as a traveler, but there’s no denying Aveiro is a much-better bargain than its famous Italian sister.

The closest airport to Aveiro is Porto International (OPO), some 41 miles north, hosting flights from Newark (EWR) and Boston (BOS).

From Porto, there are multiple train and bus connections to Aveiro daily, for as cheap as $7 one-way.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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We all know Spain for its scenic Mediterranean coast, interspersed with vibrant resort cities and hugged by crystal-clear seas, but if you’ve been to the Iberian country in the past three or four years, you’ve probably noticed how shockingly expensive and busy it’s become.

From an average overnight rate of $201 in Barcelona to unsustainable levels of overtourism in the trendy vacation island of Mallorca, where anti-tourist sentiment has been dangerously brewing, we wouldn’t be the first in line to board that flight.

Luckily, there’s an exciting Spain dupe tucked away in the much more offbeat, lesser-known Southeastern corner of Europe causing quite the commotion lately, and if we must add, it’s way cheaper and less crowded:

Bulgaria Is All The Rage This Year!

When you think of Bulgaria, you probably conjure up images of wintry landscapes, Soviet-style concrete blocks, and Orthodox piousness.

While there is some truth to that, something most people don’t know is that it turns into a summer paradise in the warmer months.

Were you even aware that Bulgaria’s coastline on the Black Sea extends for an uninterrupted 235 miles and is lined with quaint beach towns that just couldn’t be further apart from the stereotypical grayed-out, war-torn version of Eastern Europe?

Or that, for instance, it’s about as warm as the Mediterranean, if not warmer?

We kid you not:

Some cities along the coast have an average daily maximum of 84.2°F and lows of 66.2°F, and if you’re pondering whether to pack an extra jumper or two ‘just in case’ it gets chilly, baby, you better save space in your carry-on for some more swim shorts instead.

Not to brag, but no other travel news website stays on top of travel trends like Travel Off Path, and we reported a couple of years ago on how the Black Sea is a new Mediterranean in the making, and we’re glad to see others are finally catching on:

Why This Lesser-Known Country Is So Trendy Right Now

• It’s cheaper
• It’s beautiful
• It’s not as crowded

This year, The New York Times featured this part of the world in their list of ‘best places to travel’ in 2025, while CEO for Europe-based travel agency TUI was recorded stating Bulgaria ‘could rival holiday hotspots such as Mallory and Menorca’ in summer.

Newcomers are also taking to social media in droves to showcase Bulgaria’s beauty: on TikTok alone, the hashtag #bulgaria alone has racked up over 2.5 million posts.

Users will share their captures of sandy beaches, sleepy coastal villages that seem frozen in time, and stunning nature yet to meet the spoils of mass tourism.

Some of the most popular TikTok’s, however, refer to Bulgaria’s affordability as a beach destination, compared to Spain, Italy or Greece.

This post by TikTok user @heroiisa in particular highlights Varna as an inexpensive summer getaway, where accommodation prices range from only $8 to $30-a-night, meals cost between $5 and $12 in local restaurants, and the beaches look untarnished, with crystal-clear waters:

@heroiisa

BUDGET TRAVEL GUIDE TO VARNA, BULGARIA✈️ Varna is one of the best places to visit when you are young and on a budget!✨ All prices are in USD and based on a realistic budget for BUDGET travelers in Varna, Bulgaria💸 🏨Accommodation: $8 to $30/night per person if you stay in a hostel dorm or share an apartment or a double room in a cheap guesthouse/hotel with someone. This depends on the season, the lower end of the prices is for shoulder season (April-June or September-October) and the higher end for high season (July-August). 🍛Food: there are plenty of options for $5 to $12/meal. If you cook, you can do it even cheaper than this! ☀️Activities: $0-20 depending on what you want to do! I didn’t spend much money on activities in Varna because there are many free things to do but there are also some paid activities you can do depending on your budget. 🚌Getting there: You can get to Varna by bus or train from other popular Bulgarian destinations and cities like Sofia, Burgas, or Plovdiv. Bus and train tickets depend on the route but are usually very affordable ($2-12). ✈️Flights: When it comes to flights, you can fly into Burgas, Sofia, Plovdiv, or Varna from many European cities with Ryanair or Wizz Air and then take public transportation to Varna. It’s also an option to fly somewhere else in the Balkans and take public transportation from there if you have time for a longer trip.

♬ boom clap speed up – 𝟑𝟎𝟑 rostaaa🪐

That’s an account by a single traveler, but Budget Your Trip, our own preferred platform for tracking prices across different countries, corroborates that Bulgaria is indeed on the cheaper end when it comes to summer destinations.

More specifically, tourists will spend an average $27 on meals per day, unless they’re traveling luxuriously (in that case, they should budget $73), and $72 on hotels, for total week-long travel expenses of $1,076 for two people (or the equivalent in Bulgarian lev).

Where To Go In Bulgaria In Summer?

• Sunny Beach
• Nessebar
• Varna
• Burgas
• Sveti Vlas

There are countless world-class destinations to pick from if you’re skipping Spain and heading to Bulgaria this year.

If you seek Old World charm and culture, visit the picture-perfect, cobbled Nessebar. This walled city occupies the end of a narrow peninsula and has a rich history dating back several millennia and comprising periods of Thracian, Greek, and Roman rule.

Its ensemble of Byzantine churches and fortifications are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the hotel-lined South Beach, a short drive from the Old Town, has been awarded Blue Flag status, owing it to its cleanliness.

Looking for a traditional beach getaway instead, Mallorca-style?

Sunny Beach is not an island, though it is, as the name indicates, a sun-drenched resort development unfolding along an azure Black Sea packed with beach bars, where beer costs as cheap as $2, and a waterfront 3-star Hotel Zaara will only set you back by $35-a-night.

Keen on an all-inclusive deal instead?

HI Hotels Imperial Resort has nightly rates from a shockingly affordable $80 this June, all meals included, and access to all resort areas, including the pool and fitness center.

We’re not going to lie to you: Sunny Beach can get a bit crowded in summer, not due to an influx of foreign tourists but due to its popularity with Bulgarians (and the neighboring Romanians) themselves. So, for some peace and quiet and more exclusivity, there’s Sveti Vlas to the northeast.

A laid-back yacht marina boasting a plethora of dining options, and several long miles of untouched fine, golden sands, it has 5-star hotels from $66 per night––check out the Garden of Eden Complex.

For a city break, our top picks are Burgas and Varna, the largest conurbations on the Bulgarian coast, and two bustling Black Sea ports famous for their ancient heritage––even the Starbucks in Varna is built on top of Roman relics!––and thriving nightlife.

They’re also the gateway to the coast, hosting low-cost flights from numerous European destinations in the high season, starting in May.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!

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Love it or hate it, Cancun is the most popular destination for Americans going abroad this winter: for some, it just can’t be beat on the hospitality front, what with the numerous luxury resorts, bustling shopping scene, and of course, beautiful beachfront.

That being said, a growing number of visitors seem to have had enough of Cancun–or, to be more specific, its surging crowds–and are now banking on this paradisiacal island lying just off the Yucatanese coast.

It has unspoiled beaches running along crystal-clear oceans for several long miles, it feels far more peaceful and offbeat, and it offers something Cancun can’t: ancient culture.

Welcome To Cozumel

The largest island off the coast of Mexico, Cozumel is experiencing a well-deserved tourism revival at the minute, as vacationers swap the jam-packed Riviera Maya for less-busy alternatives––and it doesn’t get more laid-back than an island getaway.

According to a new report by Expedia, it is particularly popular among young travelers right now, who do not have children, are flying to Mexico primarily for relaxation and some much-needed quality time in the sun, and no longer feel Cancun’s mega resorts meet their needs.

All you got to do is look at the figures for both: while Cancun is home to a whopping 189 properties, as listed on Booking.com, Cozumel has 45; Cancun is a coastal metropolis over 800,000 people call home, whereas the entire population of Cozumel is 88,626.

Last but not least, Cancun hosts over 10 million international guests yearly, so it never feels exactly idyllic, even when you’re lounging by a private beach––Cozumel, on the other hand, receives an average 2 million visitors per year.

Cozumel Is Perfect For Beating The Riviera Crowds

Expedia’s report is particularly timely, seeing Cancun is gearing up for another record-breaking season, with occupation within the Hotel Zone already 90%, and it’s not even December: great news for the local tourism industry… not-so-great news for crowd-wary vacationers.

Lucky for them, Cozumel offers a plethora of unspoiled playas and tourist attractions that are not as crowded:

Think Playa Palancar, with its vibrant-colored reefs and soft, white sands, the snorkeling hotspot that is Playa Corona, or the well-frequented Paradise Beach, a beach club playing uptempo beats and serving food and drinks all day.

For families, Playa Mia Grand Beach Park is the place to go, offering a wide range of amenities, including oceanfront pools, restaurants and water slides for the kids, and if you’re a nature enthusiast, Chankanaab National Park has verdant areas, jungle trails, and secluded beaches.

Costing $29 to enter, it is one of the largest protected reserves in the Mexican Caribbean, and it’s also a popular port of call for cruise ships, so if you want to experience it in all its glory, without the day-trippers, we suggest going early or later in the day.

Cozumel Has The Culture Cancun Doesn’t

Another advantage Cozumel has over Cancun is it wasn’t built in the 70s to accommodate American tourists:

It’s an island that’s been inhabited for thousands of years, and it has the cultural wealth to back it up, with Mayan ruins scattered around its 184.5 square miles, some as old as 800 AD, like El Cedral, a group of Mayan dwellings lying in ruins near the namesake town.

Cozumel’s most relevant historical site is San Gervasio, an ensemble of monuments and temples attributed to a cult to Mayan jaguar goddess Ixchel––some of the main structures include Las Manitas, where local leader Lord Itzá de Cozumel lived, Casa Alta and the Central Plaza.

Even in Chankanaab there are Mayan landmarks, or should we say, replicas of them: if you’re visiting the park, make sure you stop by its collection of reconstructed Mayan temples, the famous reclining Chacmool statue, and the colossal Olmec heads.

Looking For Unique Experiences?

Expedia has noted there is an increasing preference for more unique experiences among visitors to the Mexican Caribbean.

In other words, lying by the poolside all day sipping mimosas no longer satisfies their wanderlust, and they’re craving more… well, it’s not like Cozumel is lacking in cultural attractions, with its historic sites, authentic villages and thrilling tours:

Tourists can, for instance, opt to visit San Gervasio with a jeep tour, passing by unforgettable landscapes and undeveloped jungle on their way to the abandoned Mayan settlement, for $95.34 per person on GetYourGuide.

Small-group buggy tours starting at $143 are also offered in Punta Sur, where some of the most pristine beaches on the island are found, and if you’re a water baby, you’ll love this guided excursion of Cozumel’s Mayan treasures, topped with free time in the exclusive Playa Uvas.

Cozumel is one of the top trendiest destinations for the upcoming year-–again, according to Expedia––and it’s not hard to see why.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

↓ Elevate Your Travel↓

Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.