In 2024, 55 new villages were added to the list. New additions include often overlooked destinations like San Casciano dei Bagni, Italy, a medieval town of around 1,600 people in the heart of Tuscany known for its thermal springs. Vietnam welcomed a newcomer this year with its vegetable village Trí Quế, a verdant rural community founded 500 years ago and today known for its small family farms producing high-quality vegetables. Many destinations are home to breathtaking natural wonders that they work hard to protect. For example, Trevelin, a village in the Argentinian region Patagonia regionalso joined the list in 2024 for its striking mountain scenery, tulip fields, vineyards and outdoor activities like hiking, snowboarding and kayaking.
The full list of 2024 destinations covers 27 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, AsiaAnd South America. To get the most out of the destination index, Bayona recommends starting with a country that might interest you and seeing if you could string together visits to several villages in the area. Then, use local sources to research the best places to stay and things to do in each city. On each village's individual page in the database, UN Tourism has linked to the local tourism office's website, each of which contains information on local tour operators, accommodation and activities.
You can also tailor your search based on your personal hobbies or passions: “It depends on the tourist, but I would like to find, in my case, local fashion or local crafts,” says Bayona. No matter what type of traveler you are, there is a village with a local tradition or activity that will likely match your interests. A travel specialist can also be a valuable resource when it comes to off-the-beaten-path destinations, as they usually have word-of-mouth knowledge that might not be published online.
Although this is a trend that is expected to increase in 2025, visits sustainableOff-the-beaten-path travel destinations that preserve their heritage and conserve the environment are essential to the long-term future of travel. “Ultimately, tourism is about natural resources,” Bayona says. “Without them, it is impossible to create sustainable tourism.”
