“How do you find so many cool places when you travel?”

This is the question I seem to get asked the most, and I love answering it, but it’s come to a point where I am getting asked this question on a daily basis and instead of responding to everyone with the same mundane answer, I thought I would answer it in this blog post.

There is a lot that goes into planning a trip, especially since my research is all about finding unique things to do. My research has led me to discovering an Alice in Wonderland Tea Party, a clown themed motel, and a village where they paint flowers on all the houses. I have seen and experienced some pretty incredible things.

In this post, I am going to share with you all the secret (and some not so secret) ways I find hidden gems. I will be sharing everything from the websites I use to some more unconventional ways I find hidden gems. If you know where to look, finding unique things to do isn’t so hard.

Looking for more travel tips? Check out these posts!

How to Plan the Perfect Trip: The Only Travel Planning Guide You’ll Need

A Beginner’s Guide to Staying in a Hostel for the First Time

FAQ’S About Hidden Gems

What is a Hidden Gem Exactly?

I can’t count the amount of times I open TikTok and see a video about “a hidden gem in Paris” and it’s the Eiffel frickin Tower. The Eiffel Tower is cool, but it’s so far from a hidden gem.

More recently I saw one about Seattle, and it was “Chihuly Gardens and Glass” which is located next to the Space Needle and written about in every single guide book.

Not to say, those attractions aren’t worth visiting, but they aren’t hidden gems and shouldn’t be labeled as such.

A hidden gem is a place or experience that not many people know about.

It’s not something that is written about in guidebooks, and not always easy to find information online. It can be a local hang out spot, a weird museum, a uniquely themed hotel, a scenic lookout point or a bakery hidden down a quaint alleyway. The wonderful thing about hidden gems is that there isn’t just one type.

Shouldn’t Hidden Gems be well…hidden?

This is a controversial topic, and the answer to this is yes and no. On one hand, over tourism is a real issue that is ruining local habitats and communities. I mean, take Iceland for instance, Justin Bieber filmed a music video at Fjaðrárgljúfu, a canyon once frequented mostly by locals and very few tourists. Unfortunately, it had to close due to a drastic increase in foot traffic. The vegetation couldn’t handle it.

People wanted to walk in the footsteps of the great Justin Bieber, and it was too much for Fjaðrárgljúfu to handle.

This just goes to show that celebrities and influencers have, well…influence and if not careful it can be damaging to the environment and local communities.

On the other hand, tourism is the reason so many destinations are able to survive. Tourism brings jobs and money to the local economy. We are at a point where access to travel has never been easier.

Our ancestors would be shocked if they knew we could just hop on a plane and be on the other side of the world in 10 hours. 

It feels good to live in the 21st century!

Although hidden gems can be a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture and a chance to explore off the beaten path destinations, it’s important to be mindful and treat these places like your home.

The last thing you want is someone to visit your house and trash it, so don’t do it to someone else’s home. 

How to find Hidden Gems

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Google

You may be thinking, “I already know how to use Google, bro” and honestly I get that. The first place we normally look when planning a trip is google, but it all comes down to what you search.

Sure, you can search things to do in + destination, but what you will get are pages of articles listing the top sites in said destination. You don’t need google to tell you the Eiffel Tower exists in Paris, right?

If you are looking for things to do, try searching,

hidden gems in + destination. This is the search term I always start my research with, and I do get some good gems out of it.

Or search hidden gems near me. Google yields results based on your location, so this can be a great search term to use if you don’t want to venture too far.

I also like to search local spots in + destination or if I want to find food spots I’ll search local food spots in + destination. Typically, what shows up, are blog posts written by locals.

A few other searches you should try are:

unique things to do in + destination

festivals in + destination + during + month you are visiting. This can be a great way to experience the local culture. I searched this when I was in Louisiana and found a gumbo cook off was happening the week I was there. I am pretty sure I was the only out-of-state tourist.

Read Local Blogs

When I am researching a trip, I prefer to do most of my research through local bloggers. Why? Because local bloggers know their city inside and out. They know where the locals eat, the best view points and quirky attractions that you won’t read about in the guide books. For example, I searched Germany local travel blog and this blog was in the results. If I was planning a trip to Germany, I would be way more inclined to read this blog than generic results on trip advisor.

These days, you can find travel blogs for any destination! Whether you want to travel to Pakistan, Colombia, or Poland. The internet is full of local resources to help you plan your next trip and find hidden gems.

…Or get tips from the locals themselves

What if I told you there was a way you could have access to locals on your trip? A private tour just for you. This my friends, is called Show Around, a site that lets you book local guides in any city for super cheap. I have used Show Around in multiple cities and there is nothing like getting a local private tour to show you all the best places.

If you want a local to help you plan your trip, check out Elsewhere, a travel planning tool that connects you with locals who will plan an itinerary for you. Whether you want to get yourself immersed in the culture, find hidden hiking trails or eat where the locals eat, Elsewhere is helpful to get a local’s point of view.  Nanook is another travel planning tool with over 3000 local experts. They will create the perfect travel plan for you.

Scour Atlas Obscura for the weird and wonderful

Atlas Obscura is a wonderful site that lists some of the quirkiest (& weird) attractions around. I have found some pretty incredible places thanks to Atlas Obscura. For instance, I found this village in Poland where they paint flowers on all the houses and spent $200 on a private tour to get there. Most of these attractions definitely don’t cost $200, but you may find somewhere you want to visit on your next trip.

Don’t Brush off that Tourism Website just yet

I know, I know. When you think of tourism sites, “hidden gem” isn’t usually the first thing you think about. It’s a place on the internet where tourists find information for the top things to do in a city. Well, I have news for you! Tourist websites can actually be a fantastic resource. Even if you aren’t looking for anything specific, I have used tourism sites to find cities that are off the beaten track.

When I visited Spain last year, I planned a large portion of my trip on the Spanish tourism website. They allowed me to search by region, and I was able to find some really cool spots that I wouldn’t have known existed otherwise. Then, when I found the city I wanted to visit, I would do further research elsewhere.

Instagram is a great resource…if you know how to use it

Did you know Instagram is one of the best travel planning tools when it comes to finding hidden gems? Here is how I use Instagram to my advantage. I start by finding and following local travel accounts.  As you can see below, all I searched was destination + travel and all these travel accounts showed up.

Another way to search is through hashtags. I find hashtags can very hit or miss. Looking through hashtags can be time-consuming and many times not worth it, but I have had some luck using hashtags.

Pin Pin Pin

Who said Pinterest is dead? Pinning is still a very relevant travel planning tool.  As you can see, I typed Portugal travel and a treasure trove of blog articles popped up. If I was planning a trip to Portugal, I would save every single one. Pretty much every blogger uses Pinterest, so it’s guaranteed you will find articles for the destination you’re traveling to.

I also search for places to eat + destination and hidden gems + destination. Pinterest is a powerful tool and if used right, you can find lots of cool things to do.

Events can be hidden gems too

I love attending local events when I travel. Events can be anything from festivals to concerts, and it’s so easy to search for events online. I attended a music festival in Bulgaria, a gumbo cook off in Louisiana and went to a Halloween burlesque show at a historic mansion.

I start by searching on Google events near me. Once I browse what events are happening during the time I am traveling, I will check ticketmaster and eventbrite and if I find an event I want to attend, I will go ahead and get tickets.

If you aren’t looking to spend too much money, see if you can find local festivals. They are generally free and can be a lot of fun.

Go on a scavenger hunt

I can’t think of a more fun way to find hidden gems than by scavenger hunt. I have done scavenger hunts in multiple cities around the world and needless to say, they make my brain work while taking me to cool & unique spots. Let’s Roam is my favorite scavenger hunt company. They don’t just have plain old scavenger hunts. They have pub scavenger hunts, ghost scavenger hunts, history scavenger hunts and the list goes on and on. There are literally so many to choose from. Whether you are traveling solo or with friends, scavenger hunts can be an excellent way to explore a city’s hidden gems.

I did one in Barcelona, and it was a lot of fun! I had to pay attention to my surroundings way more than I usually do. During the scavenger hunt I had to look for dates on a historically significant building, solve riddles that lead me to a fascinating fountain, and it just made me appreciate the beautiful city even more. I saw landmarks that I would have missed otherwise.

Use Airbnb as a Resource

AirBnB is more than just a rental company. They have an endless selection of unique accommodation choices all over the world, like these castles for instance.

How cool would it be to stay in one of those?! 

Along with unique accommodation, you’ll also have a chance to explore an area of the world you might not have visited otherwise. It’s also worth checking out AirBnB experiences. All experiences are conducted by locals. You can find everything from walking tours to cooking classes, and some more unique classes like Turkish Marbling (whatever that is!)

Buy a book on the destination

When I say buy a book on the destination, I am not talking about Lonely Planet guide books. You will want to go deeper than that. When I am researching for a trip, I start basic by typing in destination + travel. This is a good starting point for my research. Then I will search for specific keywords like, destination + walks. For example, when I was living in London, I bought these books filled with hidden walks and spent months exploring the city with these books. To this day, they are my favorite travel books.

I also search destination + hidden gems or destination + secrets. Destination + food is always a good one, and destination + day trips. If there is a topic you are interested in, search destination + museums, or destination + architecture. For example. When I searched London pubs, multiple books popped up.

It’s all about getting creative with your searches.

Reddit can be a Solid Resource 

I only started using Reddit as a travel planning tool recently when I was planning a trip to Prague, and my gosh was it helpful.  There are Subreddits for literally every destination imaginable and every topic. I didn’t even need to ask a question. I just searched within the Subreddit group for hidden gems and places to eat, and I was bombarded with results from members who have already asked those questions and helpful locals who answered them.

Now, I use Reddit to plan all my trips.  Here is an example of how the search feature works in a Subreddit. Damn, I want to visit Munich now.

Use Google Maps to wander the globe

Sometimes when I plan a trip I will literally just search the destination on Google Maps, zoom in and explore. I will click on restaurants, museums, parks etc. and if the reviews are good, I will save it. My map tends to get very cluttered with everything I save, so I use My Maps, which allows me to categorize everything I save.

Anyway, this can be very time-consuming, but it’s a lot of fun and if you want to get a closer look you can always drop the little man anywhere on the map to get a 360 view.

TikTok isn’t just for dancing videos

You may be reading this and thinking, “oh my god! I have avoided TikTok this long, and now you’re telling me I should download it?” and to answer your question, yes. Yes I am. Tiktok started off as an app for teenagers to make silly videos, but has turned into so much more. It provides education and entertainment, but it’s also addictive and if not careful 9 hours will fly by (definitely not speaking for experience).

The cool thing about TikTok is that it’s keyword based, so when searching for videos in the app, you’ll want to search for exactly what you are looking for. In this case, I searched San Diego travel and the results were just what I was looking for. If you are new to TikTok, I know it can seem daunting at first, but I promise it will be to your advantage.

I have used TikTok to plan local excursions at home and plan trips abroad.

YouTube can be your best friend

I never thought to use YouTube as a travel planning tool until recently. I like YouTube because watching someone experience a destination hits differently than reading an article about it. The only downside is that the videos can sometimes be very long, and it can be difficult to stay focused, especially if the person in the video isn’t keeping my interest.

To search YouTube for relevant travel videos, type in destination + travel and see what shows up. Also, try destination + hidden gem or destination + food. These search terms can be hit or miss for me. If there isn’t a title and thumbnail that grabs my attention, I won’t watch the video.

YouTube doesn’t always work for traveling planning, but it’s worth checking out.

Get on a random train or bus and go go go

Okay, so this is a weird way to find hidden gems, but it works!

You literally just need to show up at the train station in the morning and pick a random place with a cool looking name, and go! This is a great way to see some less touristy bits of a country, and you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to do it. I try to do this whenever I visit a new country, It’s fun, and you never know what treasures and surprises you will find!

Don’t knock it until you try it!

Try Geocaching

If you aren’t familiar with Geo-Caching, I think it’s time that you are! Think of it as a scavenger hunt that can be played all over the world. As long as you have a working GPS and are up for an adventure, you will love Geo-Caching.

How it works: You are given GPS coordinates which will lead you to a hidden container. They can sometimes be tricky to find, but the sense of accomplishment you will feel after will be worth the hunt. There are millions of geocaches all over the world waiting to be found.

Go on a Mystery Picnic

Mystery picnics are a new thing and similar to scavenger hunts, but involve solving clues to find delicious food for your picnic. Count me in! Unfortunately, they don’t have a solo version of this yet.

I’d be the first one in line to try it. 

But if you are with friends, family or a significant other than this is a fun way to explore local food spots while working that brain and having fun along the way. At the moment they only offer picnics in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, but hopefully they will be expanding soon!

Find Hidden Hiking Trails

There is nothing quite like a hike to clear the mind and body. I am not much of a hiker myself, thanks to a degenerative disability that makes me clumsy and causes me to trip and fall down a hill (or off a cliff). I opt to find the easiest hikes possible, preferably flat terrain and no steep edges.

Also, I would like the trail to have a secret waterfall that no one knows about, please!

All Trails is an app that I use to find hiking trails when I travel. They have trails for all levels, and some of them lead to secret waterfalls that not many people know about.

Nature has some of the BEST hidden gems.

Looking for more travel tips? Check out these posts!

How to Plan the Perfect Trip: The Only Travel Planning Guide You’ll Need

A Beginner’s Guide to Staying in a Hostel for the First Time

First off, if you want to browse all my favorite travel resources, check out my Travel Resources page.

Trip Planning: I have put together the ultimate trip planning guide that will walk you through everything you need to know to plan your perfect trip.

Book your Flight: Check out Skyscanner and Momondo! They can have great deals. Airfarewatchdog is also a favorite of mine. I get notified by email every time there is a good deal from my local airport.

Book your Transportation: Wanderu is usually where I check first. They check hundreds of different transportation companies all over the world and find you either the best bus or train deal. Flixbus is one of my favorite cheap options for Europe. The buses generally aren’t too bad, and they go to most countries around Europe. It’s the perfect option for short distances. Train travel is my favorite mode of transportation, and I always use Rail Europe to book my tickets. The Eurail pass makes Europe train travel super affordable.

Book your Accommodation: I created a platform called Just Wndr that allows you to find and book hotels for up to 70% off! All you have to do is sign up with your email, and then you have access to hundreds of hotel deals for a fraction of what you would pay on other booking sites. On a budget and looking for cheap accommodation? Hostelworld is my preferred site to book cheap and reliable hostels. Hotwire has a fun mystery to it. It’s a great site to use for last-minute bookings. They don’t actually tell you the name of the hotel when you are browsing. You will just get the area of the city it’s in, the price, and how many stars it has. I love the surprise aspect of it!

Book your Travel Insurance: Getting travel insurance is such a crucial part of preparing for a trip. You never know what could happen and why take the risk? Before I travel anywhere I always book my insurance through Safety Wing.

Book your Activities: Now, you have planned all the logistics time to think about what you will do once you get to your destination! These are a few of my favorite trip planning sites. I always use Viator when I am looking for tours. I have booked cooking classes, day tours and so much more through them and absolutely love the immense selection they offer in cities all over the world! Pinterest is great to get travel inspiration and plan an upcoming trip or share inspo with friends and family. I use Trip Advisor to plan itineraries for what I want to see & do in each city. I also use them to read reviews on restaurants and hotels too.

Store Your Luggage: Do you have a long layover or a late flight and need to store your luggage? Luggage Hero has got you covered. You can book luggage storage in more than 35 cities worldwide for as little as $1 an hour or $8 for the day.