Swap 5 Of Europe’s Overcrowded Hotspots For These UK Destination Dupes

26.01.2024 - 16:52 / forbes.com

TikTok may have helped make destinations like Lake Bled in Slovenia and overcrowded nightmare, but the video sharing site has also given us an off-beat alternative: destination dupes. These are places with a similar aesthetic and attractions to the honeypot spot but with fewer crowds.

Experts at accommodation rental site Sally’s Cottages have looked into some of TikTok’s most popular European destinations and found the quieter UK alternatives travelers should head to instead.

With over 3.6 billion views under the TikTok hashtag, Prague attracts a lot of interest on TikTok for good reason. The Czech city has long lured visitors with its mixture of heritage and modernity, thriving creative scene and historic streets to explore.

If you’re looking for a destination in the UK with a similar balance, head to the city of Durham, where you’ll find streets lined with beautiful boutiques and plenty of cosy bars. The city's star attraction is the majestic Durham Castle and Cathedral—a UNESCO World Heritage site—dating from the late 11th and early 12th centuries.

Amsterdam's poetic canals, cycling culture and buzzing nightlife have drawn so many tourists recently that the city has launched campaigns to dissuade the badly behaved from visiting.

Manchester, an overlooked city in the North of England, is an energetic, hip destination to rival Amsterdam, with its own peaceful canal walks weaving through the city. Nightlife lovers can find some of the best afterhours venues in the UK and innovative cocktail bars in the Northern Quarter.

A popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, Reykjavik has earned 29.5 million views on TikTok. The good news is you don’t necessarily have to travel to Iceland for untamed landscapes, endless summer days and a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Try the Isle Of Skye for thundering waterfalls and irresistibly named fairy pools, comparable to those found in the Icelandic capital.

The Scottish island also has the magic of myths and heritage to rival Reykjavik. Make sure to take a walk along the Old Man of Storr, a pinnacle of rock said to have marked the grave of a fallen giant.

The Hungarian capital is a popular destination with wellness-seeking travellers and it has 20.9 million views on TikTok. But the British city of Bath is a valid, lesser-known alternative. The city is built on the UK’s only natural hot spring and is home to a wealth of elegant Georgian architecture. It is also the only place in the UK where the whole city has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Perhaps one of the most famous attributes of Bath is in its name; while Budapest has the Szechenyi, the Thermae Spa is a perfect alternative for those looking for some rest and relaxation during their 2024 break.

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