Global travel hotspots like Venice, Lake Como, and Saint-Tropez continue to attract millions of visitors, but rising overtourism in these locations has become a significant challenge for travelers who cannot visit during the off-season. To address this, eSIM provider Holafly has released a new ranking identifying the best travel "dupes"—destinations that offer a similar experience while providing better value and fewer crowds.
The team at Holafly evaluated potential alternatives based on visual and cultural similarity, accommodation savings during peak season, visitor pressure, accessibility, and current momentum on social media and search platforms. To ensure the diversity of the suggestions, all listed alternatives are located in different countries than the original hotspots, with a limit of two substitutes per nation.
Ghent in Belgium has been named the top travel dupe for Venice. The city offers historic architecture and medieval canals without the necessity of battling massive crowds for photos at landmarks like the Rialto Bridge. Taking the second spot is Banff in Canada, which serves as an alternative to Aspen in the United States. Both destinations feature the Rocky Mountains and world-class skiing, but Banff offers a reprieve from the high costs associated with Aspen’s popularity among the wealthy.
Jeonju in South Korea ranks third, replacing Kyoto in Japan. As Japan faces significant struggles with overtourism—recently increasing visa fees fivefold to manage the influx—Jeonju provides a compelling alternative. Visitors to Jeonju can explore traditional hanok village architecture, tour the Gyeonggijeon Shrine, and study history at the Jeonju National Museum. Additionally, the city is recognized as the birthplace of the popular dish bibimbap, making it an ideal destination for food enthusiasts.
Over the years, we’ve seen some rather dubious dupes (my favourite has to be the “Maldives of Poland”… aka Park Gródek), but the team at eSIM provider Holafly have done their homework on this new ranking.
