10 places you need to visit before they're ruined by overtourism

I watched a woman spray tourists with a water gun in Barcelona last summer.

The video went viral. "Your holidays, my misery" read the protest signs. Locals had reached their breaking point. Rent doubled in five years. Grocery stores became souvenir shops. Neighborhoods turned into open-air Airbnb complexes.

Barcelona isn't unique. Venice limits cruise ships. Bali banned single-use plastics. Mount Fuji now caps daily climbers at 4,000. Machu Picchu requires advance bookings and mandatory guides.

The pattern is clear: discover, Instagram, destroy, regulate, repeat.

But there's a window between discovery and destruction. A brief moment when a place is accessible enough to visit but hasn't yet been consumed by its own popularity. These ten destinations are in that window right now.

1) Albania's coastline

Albania went from 3 million visitors in 2015 to 10 million in 2023.

By 2030, experts predict 30 million people could be traveling there. That's Europe's fastest growth rate for tourism, and the infrastructure isn't ready for it.

Right now, Albania's Ionian and Adriatic coastlines offer pristine beaches without the crowds you'd find in Greece or Croatia. Towns like Ksamil still feel tranquil. You can find family-run guesthouses, local restaurants, beaches that aren't wall-to-wall umbrellas.

But Instagram knows about Albania now. TikTok knows. The secret's out, it just hasn't fully arrived yet.

If you want to see Albania before it becomes the next Croatia, go soon. Book accommodations in rural towns rather than beach resorts. Visit in shoulder season. Support local businesses, not international chains.

The window is closing fast.

2) Tulum, Mexico

Tulum might already be past the point of no return, but there's still time to see what made it special.

Once a tranquil paradise known for pristine beaches and ancient Mayan ruins, Tulum exploded in popularity thanks to Instagram. The surge brought overcrowding, environmental strain, rising costs, and according to The Guardian, poverty nearly doubled between 2015 and 2020.

Local ecosystems, including fragile mangroves and coral reefs, are threatened by unchecked construction. The ruins now have strict rules about food and drink to limit trash.

What's left worth seeing? The cenotes, if you can find the less accessible ones. Some parts of the coast that haven't been completely developed. The ruins at sunrise before the crowds arrive.

But honestly, if you're considering Tulum, you might want to look at alternatives. The Riviera Maya has quieter spots. Bacalar offers similar beauty without the chaos.

3) Sri Lanka's coastlines and hill country

Sri Lanka feels like what Southeast Asia was twenty years ago.

Incredible beaches. Ancient temples. Tea plantations covering mountains. Food that makes you reconsider everything you thought you knew about curry. And crucially, not yet overrun.

But new flight routes are opening up. Tourism infrastructure is improving. The country is becoming more accessible, which means it's becoming more popular.

Places like Ella and Mirissa are already showing signs of overcrowding during peak season. But venture slightly off the main tourist circuit and you'll find Sri Lanka as it was meant to be experienced.

Go before everyone else figures this out. Stay in homestays. Take the train through the hill country. Visit the ancient cities. Eat at local spots, not tourist restaurants.

And whatever you do, don't just hit the Instagram hotspots and leave. That's how places get ruined.

4) Puglia, Italy

While everyone crowds into Rome, Florence, and Venice, Puglia remains relatively undiscovered by international tourists.

The heel of Italy's boot offers whitewashed towns, olive groves, incredible seafood, baroque architecture, and beaches that rival anywhere in the Mediterranean. Alberobello's trulli houses look like something from a fairy tale. Lecce is called the "Florence of the South."

But here's the thing: Italians know about Puglia. It's been a domestic tourist destination for years. What's changing is that international travelers are starting to catch on.

Forbes and Condé Nast have featured it. Direct flights from major cities are increasing. Boutique hotels are opening.

The transformation from hidden gem to tourist hotspot is beginning. Visit now while you can still find authentic masserie to stay in, while restaurants still cater to locals first, while the beaches aren't packed.

In five years, Puglia might be the new Tuscany.

5) Georgia (the country, not the state)

Georgia sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and most people can't even place it on a map.

Which is exactly why you should go.

Tbilisi offers a vibrant arts scene, incredible wine culture, sulfur baths, and architecture that spans centuries. The Caucasus Mountains provide hiking that rivals the Alps without the crowds. Svaneti's medieval towers look like something from Game of Thrones.

Georgian food is criminally underrated. Khachapuri and khinkali should be as famous as pizza and dumplings.

Tourism has been growing steadily, but Georgia is still in that sweet spot where locals are genuinely happy to see travelers, prices haven't skyrocketed, and you can have authentic experiences without manufactured tourist infrastructure.

Direct flights from Europe are increasing. Word is getting out. But you've still got time.

Stay in family-run guesthouses. Learn a few Georgian phrases. Try the wine. Hike the mountains. Go before the tour buses arrive.

6) The Faroe Islands

Eighteen volcanic islands between Iceland and Norway, with dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, and fewer than 55,000 residents.

The Faroe Islands are spectacularly beautiful and spectacularly remote. Which used to be enough to keep mass tourism at bay.

But Instagram changed that. Photos of Múlafossur waterfall went viral. Travel bloggers discovered the islands. New flight routes made them more accessible.

Now the Faroe Islands are implementing measures to manage tourism before it becomes a problem. They close certain tourist sites on weekends to give them a break. They've created volunteer programs where tourists help maintain hiking trails.

This proactive approach might save the islands from the fate of Iceland, which saw tourism explode so fast it couldn't keep up.

Visit the Faroes while they're still managing growth intelligently. Respect the closures. Volunteer if you can. Support local businesses. Don't chase Instagram shots at the expense of fragile landscapes.

7) Uzbekistan

Samarkand's Registan might be the most beautiful square you've never heard of.

Uzbekistan sits on the ancient Silk Road, with architecture and history that rivals anywhere in the world. Blue-tiled mosques. Ornate madrasas. Desert fortresses. Markets that have operated for centuries.

The country only recently opened up to tourism. Visa restrictions were relaxed. Infrastructure improved. And slowly, travelers are discovering what's been hidden for decades.

Right now, you can visit Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva without crowds. You can explore these incredible sites and feel like you've traveled back in time, because there aren't thousands of other tourists shattering the illusion.

But travel blogs are catching on. UNESCO World Heritage sites are attracting attention. The window between discovery and destruction is opening.

Go before Central Asia becomes the next Southeast Asia.

8) Northern Morocco

Everyone goes to Marrakech. Which means Northern Morocco remains relatively undiscovered.

Tangier offers art galleries, fresh seafood, and views across to Spain. Chefchaouen's blue medina is gorgeous without being completely overrun yet. Asilah's seaside calm provides a different pace than the chaos of Marrakech.

The region offers everything that makes Morocco magical, but with fewer crowds and more authentic experiences. You can actually walk through medinas without being hassled every ten seconds. You can find restaurants that serve locals, not just tourists.

But Northern Morocco is being "discovered." Travel articles are featuring it as an alternative to crowded southern cities. Boutique riads are opening. Tour companies are adding it to itineraries.

Visit before the secret spreads too far. Stay in local accommodations. Eat where locals eat. Learn some Arabic or French. Respect the culture.

9) Mozambique's coastline

Some of the most spectacular coastlines in Africa, where the Indian Ocean meets cultural influences from Arabia and Portugal.

Mozambique offers pristine beaches, coral reefs, islands that feel untouched, and diving that rivals anywhere in the world. But poor infrastructure and a complicated history kept tourism limited for years.

That's changing. New resorts are opening. Flight connections are improving. Adventurous travelers are discovering what's been there all along.

Right now, Mozambique still feels remote. You can find beaches where you're the only person for miles. You can dive reefs without crowds. You can experience a coastal Africa that hasn't been packaged for mass consumption.

But that authentic remoteness is exactly what attracts tourists, which inevitably destroys what made the place special in the first place.

Go soon. Choose eco-lodges over mega-resorts. Hire local guides. Spend money in local communities, not just at all-inclusive resorts that wall off the country.

10) Uruguay's coast

Everyone goes to Argentina and Brazil. Almost nobody stops in Uruguay.

Which is a shame, because Uruguay's coast offers charming villages, unspoiled beaches, incredible wine, and a relaxed atmosphere that's hard to find in its more famous neighbors.

Places like Pueblo Garzón showcase culture and handicrafts that haven't been commercialized. The beaches are tranquil. The food scene is surprisingly sophisticated. And crucially, you won't be fighting crowds for space.

But Uruguay is being quietly discovered by travelers looking for South America without the chaos. Wine tourism is growing. Coastal towns are being featured in travel magazines. The secret is getting out.

Visit before everyone else catches on. Stay in small towns. Try the tannat wine. Support local artisans. Experience Uruguay before it becomes the next Tulum.

The bottom line

Here's the uncomfortable truth about this list: by writing it, I'm contributing to the problem I'm describing.

Every travel article about "undiscovered" destinations accelerates their discovery. Every Instagram post tags a new location for millions to see. Every blog that says "go before the crowds" brings more crowds.

It's the paradox of travel writing in the age of social media.

But these places will be discovered with or without this article. Tourism is inevitable. The question is whether we can visit these places responsibly, with awareness of our impact, or whether we'll just consume them like we've consumed every other destination that became too popular.

Some practical guidelines if you visit any of these places:

Travel in shoulder season, not peak times. Stay longer in fewer places rather than rushing through. Use local guides, local transportation, local accommodations. Don't just hit the Instagram spots and leave. Learn basic phrases in the local language. Respect closure days and visitor limits. Leave places better than you found them.

Tourism isn't inherently bad. It brings money to local economies. It creates jobs. It fosters cultural exchange. But unmanaged tourism destroys the very things that made a place worth visiting.

The residents of Barcelona spraying tourists with water guns aren't angry about tourism itself. They're angry about tourism that prioritizes visitor experience over resident quality of life. About tourism that inflates rents until locals can't afford their own neighborhoods. About tourism that treats their home like a theme park.

We can do better.

Visit these places before they're ruined by overtourism, sure. But more importantly, visit them in a way that doesn't contribute to the ruin.

The difference matters more than you think.