Hidden gems are those nontouristy spots you can’t easily find when researching for your trip. Most people don’t know these hidden gems or experiences, and that’s why there are so many different types to explore in every country. Unlike the Eiffel Tower in Paris, these spots are local, like a weird museum, a unique hotel, a hidden bakery, or a local restaurant.
But because they are called hidden gems, they have proven to be quite hard to find. So, how can you locate them if you can’t find them in guidebooks, destination blogs, or online? With this guide, you’ll be getting the 12 best tips to find hidden gems no matter where you are.
12 Tips for Finding Hidden Gems On Your Next Trip
1. Read Local blogs And Articles
One of the best ways to find those hidden spots most tourists miss out on is by doing your research. The best way to do this is by reading the local blogs and articles. Why? Because they are mostly written by the locals of the city who know every part of it.
Let’s say you’re looking for hidden gems in Europe or Africa, the local travel blogs will provide even better info than the generic results on popular travel guides. And with this, you can get the best restaurant spots, the best viewpoints, and hidden locations you probably won’t get in a touristy guide.
2. Use Local Guides
Regardless of where you’re travelling to, it’s easy to get online local resources that will help you find the hidden spots, like getting guides from the locals themselves. With these local guides, you can get a private tour just for you, and the best part is that they are affordable.
Several travel planning sites and tools, like Showaround will connect you to the locals in that city who will help you plan an itinerary. With these locals, you’ll be able to learn the culture, explore hidden trails, and even find the best spots to get local meals.
3. Use Social Media
When doing your research on hidden gems in a city, it’s best not to cross off social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest from your list. You can use these platforms to either plan local excursions or travel trips abroad. With them, you’ll be able to find some places and spots that are worth exploring.
And since they’re keyword-based, you just need to search for exactly what you’re looking for, and you’ll see the results. For example, you can search for hidden gems in Europe on Pinterest to find cool places and things to do for fun on your trip.
4. Watch YouTube Vlogs
If you don’t even have any idea of where you want to go, then YouTube will help you make your decision. More than just finding the hidden gems, vlogs are also going to give you the best and fun things to do in your city of choice.
And the way YouTube works is very interesting, cos you’ll also get recommended similar videos which you can add to your research list. It’s a different experience watching a destination than it is reading about it, and so it will be easier for you to make your choice. To do this, you can search for destination + hidden gem to find relevant travel videos that get your attention.
5. Talk To Locals
So, now you’re in the city, but you still want to find out more hidden spots to explore? Well, talk to the locals you meet. Talk to your Uber driver, the waiter at the restaurant, or the person sitting next to you on the train.
Most times, you’ll get a positive response to old and new spots you could check out. You can even talk with your fellow traveller and get ideas on some hidden gems they’ve recently explored. No matter who you talk to, you’re sure to get more off-the-track spots that you can explore.
6. Stay In An Airbnb
Apart from the fact that you get to stay in a unique accommodation, this is also a chance for you to explore several parts of the area. You can even ask your hosts for top suggestions on places to visit during your stay. From them, you’ll be able to get some of their favorite spots which you may not find in these tourist destination guides.
Most Airbnb also have some experiences like walking tours, cooking classes, and some other unique events which are all conducted by locals. As a rule, always choose an accommodation spot in a neat area, has good reviews, and is within walking distance to various spots.
7. Attend Local Events
Most cities have event calendars that you can explore to find any of the local events that you’d like to attend. You can find various festivals, parades, and programs with their date and locations attached to them.
Most of these local events are fun and free, but for those that require tickets, you can pay for the tickets using online sites like Eventbrite. You can also look for places you’d like to visit that relate to what you enjoy, like museums, parks, or concerts. From these spots and events, it’s very possible you’ll get your next hidden location to explore.
8. Be Flexible With Your Plans
This may be a weird way to find hidden gems, but you have to be prepared to explore places until you get lost. Stop your plans and be open-minded. Explore places that interest you. Attend events you find exciting. As much as having an itinerary is good, sometimes you’ll only find those hidden spots when you just go with the flow.
In the morning, you can just get on a train, get down at any spot of your choice that doesn’t look crowded, and start exploring. Just follow your curiosity and wander through streets, markets, and less touristy paths to get to those viewpoints that are well worth it.
9. Don’t Underestimate the Power of Google
It’s not just about searching on Google, cos you’re already doing that. Probably the first thing you did when you started planning your trip was to check on Google, but this won’t help you find the hidden gems. The best way is to use a strategic search term like hidden gems + destination or hidden gems near me.
You can even tailor it based on the events or activities you want, like hidden food spots in Spain, to get local food restaurants. As long as you know what you’re interested in, you just need to be creative with your search to get the proper results.
10. Go On A Scavenger Hunt
What better fun way is there to find hidden gems than through scavenger hunts? These hunts are good ways to tour through the city and explore unique hidden spots, while putting your brain to work. You can use any of the city’s local scavenger hunt sites to get any type of hunt, like pub hunts, ghost hunts, or history hunts.
With these hunts, you’ll better appreciate the beauty of the area, noticing landmarks you would have missed, and learning more about the people. Scavenger hunts are a fun way to explore a new city if you’re traveling in a group or solo.
11. Explore Reddit Forums
If you haven’t started using Reddit as a travel planning tool, then you’re missing out. You can find subreddits for every destination and topic that you can think of. And if you have a question, you’ll be sure to get an answer fast.
But you can also search through the subreddit group for your destination and start checking for hidden gems or places to eat. You’ll find various results from other members who, just like you, had asked and answers from locals, which will help you.
12. Use Google Maps Creatively
This method can be time-consuming, but you can use Google Maps to explore every spot in your destination. Just search for the destination, zoom in, and explore every restaurant, museum, or park.
If the reviews are good, then you can save and star it to explore later. And for places without websites, you can also check their photos and reviews on Google Maps. You just need to zoom in and search for the unfamiliar spots, plan your itinerary with these spots, and explore.
Conclusion
It shouldn’t be a problem if you want to explore popular specific spots like Time Square in New York, as long as you remember that there are other various things to see and do. And although these hidden gems might not be so easy to find, if you know where and how to look, it will be much easier.
With these spots, you can better learn the local culture, language, enjoy their delicacies, explore the less touristy paths, and have a better travelling experience. Just go with the tips listed in this guide, do your research, and remember, safety first. Happy travelling.
