Spring Cleaning Your Bucket List: 5 Overrated Destinations to Replace in 2025
Let’s be real: some bucket list destinations are overhyped, overcrowded, and overpriced. While they’ve earned their fame, the experience doesn’t always live up to the photos. If you’re tired of standing in line just to say you’ve “been there,” maybe it’s time for a bucket list refresh.
Here are 5 iconic spots we’re gently kicking off the list — and the unique, less-touristy gems we’re swapping in for 2025.
✍️ Ethan · April 3, 2025
❌ 1. Venice, Italy
Overrated for: Massive cruise crowds, sky-high prices, tourist fatigue
✅ Replace with: Bruges, Belgium
Why: All the canals, none of the chaos. Bruges is like a fairy tale version of Venice with cobbled streets, romantic bridges, and rich medieval charm. Plus, Belgian waffles.
❌ 2. Bali, Indonesia
Overrated for: Instagram tourism, crowded beaches, party noise
✅ Replace with: Siargao, Philippines
Why: Palm trees, surf culture, lagoons, and way fewer influencers. Siargao is an island gem with friendly locals and a slower pace — think Bali 20 years ago.
❌ 3. Santorini, Greece
Overrated for: Cruise ship mobs, overpriced hotels, unrealistic sunsets
✅ Replace with: Symi, Greece
Why: A hidden Greek island with neoclassical houses, colorful harbors, and peaceful vibes. You’ll still get the island charm — minus the elbowing for sunset selfies.
❌ 4. Paris, France
Overrated for: Long lines, pickpockets, tourist traps
✅ Replace with: Lyon, France
Why: Lyon serves better food (fight us), is less crowded, and gives you that elegant French city energy — just with more authenticity and less Eiffel Tower drama.
❌ 5. Dubai, UAE
Overrated for: Flashy malls, endless construction, lack of soul
✅ Replace with: Muscat, Oman
Why: Natural beauty, rich culture, and real Middle Eastern charm. Muscat offers beaches, mountains, and souks — without the skyscraper overload.
🧭 Trippl Tip: Make Room for Real Travel
This year, rethink why you travel. Is it for clout — or connection? For photos — or feeling? The world is full of places that aren’t trending yet, but still deliver unforgettable experiences.
📝 Your 2025 Bucket List Challenge:
Pick one overrated destination to skip this year, and swap in a new one that makes you feel curious — not just Insta-ready.
Need help planning your next under-the-radar adventure?
✍️ This blog was written by Ethan.
