In 2024, 55 new villages were added to the list. The new additions include oft-overlooked destinations like San Casciano dei Bagni, Italy, a medieval town of about 1,600 people in the heart of Tuscany known for its thermal hot springs. Vietnam scored a new entrant this year with its Trà Quế Vegetable Village—a verdant rural community founded 500 years ago that is today known for its small household farms producing high-quality vegetables. Many of the destinations have breathtaking natural wonders that they’re endeavoring to protect. For example, Trevelin, a village in Argentina’s Patagonia region, also 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 spans 27 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America. To get the most from the index of destinations, Bayona recommends starting with a country you might be interested in visiting and seeing if you might be able to string together visits to multiple villages in the area. Then, use local sources to research the best places to stay and things to do in each town. On each village’s individual page in the database, UN Tourism has linked to the local tourism board website, each of which has information on local tour operators, accommodations, 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,” Bayona says. 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resource when it comes to off-the-beaten path destinations, as they usually have word-of-mouth knowledge that might not be published online.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 it’s a trend that’s expected to pick up steam in 2025, visiting sustainable, off-the-beaten-path travel destinations that are preserving their heritage and conserving the environment is crucial to the long-term future of travel. “At the end of the day, tourism is about natural resources,” Bayona says. “Without them, it’s impossible to create sustainable tourism.”
