Beat the Crowds: 8 Best Offseason Travel Destinations

Planning ahead for your next holiday? A great time to travel is when everyone else isn't.

Off-season travel means visiting the most popular tourist destinations during the part of the year when they're not as busy. This can mean anything from visiting a resort town in January instead of July, or spending your vacation exploring a city in December rather than August.

By travelling off season, you can expect shorter lines at attractions, lower air fares and accommodation prices, and no strangers photobombing each shot you take.

Here are a few destinations worth travelling to on their low seasons:

🧑🏼‍🤝‍🧑🏽 Tuscany, Italy

Off-season: November-February

One of Italy's most popular tourist destination in the summer months, this beautiful region of Central Italy is less busy during the off-season. The weather is milder without the summer heat and there are fewer tourists around. Excepting beach resorts, there will likely be no seasonal closures, so you have your pick of the attractions and restaurants you want to visit.

With major cities such as Florence still relatively busy, rent a car and head out to the country, where you'll be surrounded by rolling hills and sweeping mountain views. There's something for everyone: relax in thermal springs in Lucca, taste wine in Montalcino's famous wineries and wine bars, or hike across the terrain to pass through century-old towns and forests. In November you can also catch the olive harvest and taste freshly made olive oil.

You'll find that food prices are lower than they are during peak tourism season in July and August—which makes it easy to gorge on as much authentic Italian pasta as you want!

🏜️ Dubai

Off-season: June-August

Off-season Dubai is not the place to go if you're looking for outdoor activities: temperatures in June-August can get up to a scorching 45 degrees! However, hotel rooms will be cheaper, and for those looking to shop, dine, or pamper yourself, this city will be right up your alley.

The food scene here is especially diverse; you’ll find everything from traditional Middle-Eastern cuisine to Japanese sushi bars on offer in Dubai. In the evenings when it's cooler, have dinner on a dhow cruise and have a front row seat to the city's historic architecture. Alternatively, dine or stay at the iconic Burj Al Arab, one of the tallest hotels in the world, offering some of the best views of the Dubai skyline.

⛰️ Bali, Indonesia

Off-season: February-April

If you’ve never been to Bali, you may be surprised to find that it’s not just a beach paradise where people lounge on white sand beaches and enjoy tropical drinks. The island is steeped in Balinese Hindu culture, infusing every aspect of life on the island, from its beautiful temples and ceremonies to its food and architecture.

Starting from February, the rainy season has just passed and the weather is starting to get predictably sunny again. This is a great time of year for exploring the island's attractions without too many other travelers around.

If you do want some company on your trip, head over to Seminyak on the western part of the island—it's still sunny, but it's also more quiet than Kuta or Nusa Dua in the south. You can enjoy all the same activities as any other time of year (like surfing, snorkeling, and hiking), but at a much cheaper price than what you'd pay if you visited during high season.

🌊 Crete, Greece

Off-season: November-April

Crete is a large Greek island in the Mediterranean Sea. It's known for its beaches, ancient ruins, and epic sunsets. Off-season, the weather is milder but still warm enough for swimming in the sea.

There are plenty of things to do on Crete: you can hike through mountain ranges or take a trip down into an active volcano; visit museums and archaeological sites; or enjoy some delicious seafood at one of its many restaurants or tavernas (Greek restaurants).

You can also visit some of the ancient sites on Crete, like Knossos Palace and the Minoan tombs at Gortyna. The island has been inhabited since 10,000 BC, and many remnants of this time remain today.

🏴󠁭󠁡󠀰󠀱󠁿 Tangier, Morocco

Off-season: September-May

There's more to Morocco than Marrakech. Tangier is a great choice for off-season travel: it's beautiful, historic and affordable — and it's not overrun with tourists like its neighbouring cities.

The city is located on the Strait of Gibraltar and has been inhabited for over 6,000 years; it was also one of the most important ports in North Africa during Roman times. It's no wonder that Tangier has been featured as a setting in numerous works of literature (including "The Sheltering Sky" by Paul Bowles) as well as being a regular stop on the hippie trail during the 1960s and 1970s.

Café culture at Tangier is one thing not to miss here: there's nothing like sipping on a hot mint tea while watching the sun set over the Mediterranean.

🍸 Cancun, Mexico

Off-season: August-November, February-May

The city of Cancun is a great place to visit if you enjoy beach life and sunbathing, with miles of white sand beaches on offer. It is also known as a golfer’s paradise, with some of the best courses in Mexico. While September and October are known as its rainy seasons, rain in Cancun typically falls in the late afternoon and clears up within a few hours.

Besides the beach, you may want to visit one of the many museums, like the Museo de la Civilizacion Maya or Museo Nacional de Arte Acuatico y Subacuatico (National Museum of Acuatic and Subaquatic Art). You could also take part in an adventure tour such as snorkelling or swimming with dolphins.

🗼 Paris, France

Off-season: October, November, January, February

Technically, Paris does not have a real off-season as it's bustling with tourists year-round. That said, the months of October-November and January-February are generally quieter due to the colder weather. In addition to saving money on airfare (as well as hotel prices) by traveling during the winter months, you'll get more bang for your buck out of some of Paris' most popular attractions by going during this time of year as well.

Be prepared with waterproof shoes and a raincoat as Paris can get rainy and humid during these months. But it gives you all the more reason to visit their array of museums and art galleries, or bundle up in a cozy café with coffee and pastries.

🌉 San Francisco, CA

Off-season: November-March

You'll have no problem beating the crowds when visiting San Francisco in the winter. The weather is cool and crisp—perfect for strolling through Union Square or along the Embarcadero.

The city's foggy days make it a perfect time to get out and explore, while the sunny days are perfect for people-watching on Fisherman's Wharf or taking a boat ride around Alcatraz Island. Plus, with fewer tourists around, you'll have more opportunities to take photos without getting in anyone's way.

Conclusion

Many people are put off by visiting vacation destinations in their off-season, assuming that they won't be able to explore the same attractions or experience the same-quality food and amenities. This isn't always true—many of the most popular tourist destinations remain fabulous in the off-season.

So if you're looking for an off-season vacation, consider checking out these places to visit during off-peak travel periods. You might just discover your new favourite vacation spot!

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