(NewsNation) — “Detour destinations” have become the hot travel trend this year.
Detour destinations are less well-known and less crowded than tourist hot spots, per Expedia.com. These places are said to be worth putting on an itinerary as an additional stop or, even better, a main destination.
Many travelers are looking into detour destinations as alternatives because they seek an authentic connection with local people and culture during their trips. Furthermore, overtourism has resulted in significant crowding, environmental damage and sometimes economic hardship for local communities.
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About 63% of travelers are likely to choose a detour destination on their next trip, according to a recent report.
So, what were some of the top detour destinations in 2025?
Reims, France
Reims, the 12th most popular city in France, has become a detour for many who want to avoid the crowds of Paris.
“Reims is an essential stop on France’s Champagne trail, with big-name bubbly houses headquartered here among wide boulevards and well-preserved medieval churches,” according to TripAdvisor.
The Gothic Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral in Reims, eastern France, on July 4, 2025. (Photo by FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI / GETTY-AFP)
The city’s impressive Gothic cathedral was once the site where French monarchs were crowned, which still inspires many to come and pay homage.
Brescia, Italy
Brescia is situated between Milan and Verona, and is the second-largest city in the country’s Lombardy region. It is known for its breathtaking views of lakes and mountains.
“Brescia is noted for the art treasures housed in its numerous churches.”
Brescia, located in Italy’s Lombardy region. (Photo by: BlueRed/REDA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Especially noteworthy are its picture gallery, the Pinacoteca Tosio-Martinengo, and its medieval museum, with important work by painters of the 15th- and 16th-century Brescia school.
Cozumel, Mexico
Away from the regular hot spots of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, Cozumel has become an alternative for those vacationing in Mexico.
“Boasting white sand beaches, coral reefs, modern amenities, and an enormous swath of wild areas, it is an island paradise in every sense of the term,” a tourism guide said.
An artisanal shopping market in Cozumel, Mexico. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Cozumel offers quietly authentic neighborhoods while also boasting tourist-friendly playgrounds. Those who venture from the tourist areas can find garages with shrines spotlighting the Virgin and spirited Caribbean energy in the air.
Santa Barbara, California
Travelers who don’t want the glitz and glam of Los Angeles have found their way to Santa Barbara.
Visit California describes Santa Barbara as a “charmingly small city, 90 miles north of Los Angeles,” that “hugs both the beaches and Highway 101.”
The Harbor and Santa Barbara Pier looking south from a drone-elevated view of California. (Photo by: Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
“If you’re traveling without a vehicle, though, worry not: the city is proud of its car-free navigability, and also offers easy access by train.”
Santa Barbara is the home of more than three dozen wine tasting rooms along the walkable Urban Wine Trail. Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara is a camper’s dream with tent and RV sites with hookups.
Waikato, New Zealand
Placed in the northern region of the country, Waikato consists of stunning gardens, a variety of shopping, popular nightlife and a robust restaurant scene.
Buddhist Monks walking on the sand of Hot Water Beach. (Photo by: Keith Levit/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Girona, Spain
Away from the burgeoning cities of Barcelona and Madrid, Girona has its own distinct feel.
“A medieval little gem that feels completely distinct from Barcelona, only an hour to its south,” according to travel blog Go Ask a Local. “Whereas Barcelona is cosmopolitan and endlessly bustling, Girona is distinctly Catalan and it has the pleasantly relaxed energy of a big town rather than a city.”
View of Girona’s colorful facades and their reflection in northern Spain on Dec. 27, 2024. (Photo by Jc Milhet / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via GETTY-AFP)
Fukuoka, Japan, and more
One of Japan’s ten most populated cities, Fukuoka is known as the historic gateway to Asia.
“Because of its closeness to the Asian mainland (closer to Seoul than to Tokyo), Fukuoka has been an important harbor city for many centuries and was chosen by the Mongol invasion forces as their landing point in the 13th century,” according to the Japan Guide.
The city of Fukuoka, Japan, on May 28, 2022. Photographer: Shoko Takayasu/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Elsewhere, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates has been deemed a detour from Dubai, while Krabi in Thailand has evolved into another option for those who want something different from Phuket. Canmore in Canada is a substitute for travelers who are looking outside Calgary.
