Reims, Brescia, Girona: Top destinations to beat the crowds

Did you know that 63 per cent of travellers say they are likely to visit a lesser-known, less crowded destination on their next trip?

That’s according to travel company Expedia, who have revealed their 11 top ‘detour destinations’ for 2025.

“Travelling in 2025 is about making our trips work a little harder, by lingering a little longer and adding a smart side-trip within easy reach of our gateway city,” Expedia says, “We’ve all got big-hitter destinations like Cancun, Barcelona or Paris on our wish lists, but a well-chosen detour from your original destination enriches any classic itinerary.”

As well as ticking more places off our travel bucket lists though, ‘detour destinations’ can also mean we’re not contributing to the problem of overtourism which is a problem for locals, with essential services threatened and jammed up roads common.

With that in mind, here’s a rundown of Expedia’s top alternative destinations for next year; hopefully they’ll inspire you to travel a little off the beaten track.

Pay a visit to Reims – France’s unofficial champagne capital

Just 45 minutes from Paris by TGV high-speed train lies Reims, a former capital of France.

Today, it may be less well-known, but one thing it is recognised for is the unofficial champagne capital.

Along with Épernay and Ay, Reims is one of the centres of champagne production,is home to many of the largest champagne-producing houses, including Veuve Clicquot, Lanson and Taittinger.

Below the streets of the city, the carbonated beverage ages in the many caves and tunnels, a quasi-maze of passages. Carved from chalk, some of these date back to Roman times and many offer guided tours.

Above ground, Reims acts as a walkable base for wider vineyard explorations. If champagne isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of other culture to take in.

The gothic, UNESCO-designated Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims is a must visit. Countless French kings were crowned there before the Revolution and, in more recent times, Marc Chagall’s stained-glass windows are a highlight you shouldn’t miss.

Brescia is a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of Milan

Sitting in the Alpine foothills between Lake Garda and Lake Iseo in Lombardy, Brescia is only 40 minutes from Milan by train, but it’s a world away from the busy city.

Brescia is so packed full of culture thatit secured Italian Capital of Culture status in 2023 alongside nearby Bergamo.

Not only does the pretty city boast the most significant Roman ruins in all of northern Italy, it also has a hilltop mediaeval castle and the breathtaking 15th-century Chiesa del Santissimo Corpo di Cristo.

There are also seemingly endless galleries, including the Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo Art Gallery, home to one of the most important art collections in the region.

When you’ve had your cultural fill, head to one of the nearby lakes for hiking, boat trips or sampling wine at the many vineyards.

Make sure not to miss out on eating Brescia’s much-lauded Alpine dishes in one of the beautiful Renaissance-era piazzas. An Aperol Spritz or two won’t go amiss either.

Travel to Girona, Spain’s unsung architectural hero

Barcelona is one of the most popular destinations in Europe, leading to locals protesting about the impact of uncontrolled tourism on their daily lives.

Just 40 minutes away by train, though, is Girona. Relatively underrated, Northern Catalonia’s largest city is an architecture lover’s dream.

A fascinating melting pot of architectural styles, from the walled mediaeval Barri Vell to the Roman Força Vella fortress ruins to spectacular Modernista villas.

Take a stroll along the striking, Gustave Eiffel-designed Pont de les Peixateries Velles bridge for the very best views of the bright, colourful buildings which flank the river Onyar.

Bad weather? Head to the delightfully quirky Museu del Cinema, a physical tribute to the world of cult movies.

When you’ve worked up an appetite, make sure to sample a Xuixo pastry, a viennoiserie filled with sumptuous crema catalana.

Where else made the ‘detour destinations’ list?

Expedia expanded their list further afield than Europe, to destinations in North America, Australasia, the Middle East and Asia.

First up is Cozumel in Mexico, known as the country’s scuba paradise. An alternative to super busy Cancun and Playa del Carmen, Cozumel is a small island in the Caribbean sea and is still fairly undiscovered and undeveloped.

The year-round destination is popular with keen divers and is even home to underwater statues at Chankanaab adventure park.

Everyone knows about Dubai, but Abu Dhabi, just 90 minutes drive from there, is well worth a visit.

Must sees include the impressive Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, nearly the size of four football fields and the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum, known as France’s largest cultural project abroad.

Take in the sights at the Corniche waterfront esplanade and head outside of the city on a desert safari to see the dunes of Rub‘ al Khali, which encompass most of the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula.

Two places in California make the list – Palm Springs and Santa Barbara, both around two hours from the ever-popular Los Angeles.

Palm Springs is perhaps most famous for the Coachella festival, but it’s also known for its hiking in canyons and Mount San Jacinto’s trails, as well as natural mineral pools and Palm Springs Modernism Week in February, which celebrates its legendary mid-century architecture, design and art.

Santa Barbara is framed by the dramatic backdrop of the Santa Ynez Mountains and is a haven for surfers and foodies alike, thanks to its perfect waves, microbreweries and farm-to-table culinary scene.

Still in North America, Canmore is offered up as an alternative to Calgary, and just 75 minutes away.

Smack bang in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, Canmore is less known than picturesque – and hugely popular – Banff, but has plenty to offer.

The under-the-radar mountain town offers outdoorsy visitors a more relaxed base for exploring waterfalls and blue lakes, fishing and boating, excellent hiking, and cross-country skiing and mountain biking.

Asia and Australasia appear on the destinations list too

On the other side of the world, you’ll find Fukuoka, known as Japan’s friendliest city.

A five-hour trip from Tokyo by bullet train, Fukuoka is famed for its iconic spring cherry blossoms, seafood and Hakata ramen, ancient temples, countless cultural festivals, and beautiful beaches and mountains close by.

Perched on the northern shore of Kyushu Island, other highlights include ornamental gardens, traditional tea houses and art museums, like the Fukuoka Art Museum which houses some of the most important works in all of Japan.

Still in Asia, but with a very different vibe, Expedia recommends Krabi as an alternative to Phuket.

Around an hour away by speedboat, adventurous holidaymakers tend to appreciate Krabi’s stunning Andaman coastline, which boasts excellent kayaking and snorkelling opportunities.

There’s also world-class rock climbing at Railay, and Krabi is a great base to start an island hopping adventure to the idyllic Koh Phi-Phi and little-known Koh Lanta.

If you’re heading to New Zealand, you probably already have Auckland on your list. Just over an hour and half away, though, is Waikato, one of the country’s lesser-known areas of natural beauty.

The region is widely varied, with black-sand beaches and world-class surfing as well as river-rafting and unbelievable views.

If you’re extra outdoorsy, head on an underground caving excursion, specifically to the Waitomo Caves, the home of countless glow worms which light up the dark in spectacular style.