Photo: Unsplash
Cover Lisbon, Portugal (Photo: Unsplash)

Planning a post-pandemic trip? A recent study by LuxuryHotel.com revealed capital cities with the most hidden gems and under-the-radar attractions to avoid the crowds

What will travelling look like after Covid-19? Once travel restrictions ease and vaccinated globetrotters set out for their long-anticipated vacations, visiting the world's most iconic cities once again may soon become a reality for many of us. But if you balk at the thought of braving the crowds, exploring hidden gems in your favourite destinations could be just as thrilling, if not more.

Travel platform LuxuryHotel's recent study of TripAdvisor ratings revealed the top hidden gems in the world's busiest and most visited capital cities. Unsurprisingly, London tops the list with over 400 hidden gems – read on to find out the top ten cities and their highest rated under-the-radar attractions.

More: Malaysia’s Desaru Coast Named One Of The World’s Greatest Places 2021            

1. London, United Kingdom

Number of hidden gems: 419

Top rated 'hidden gem' attraction: The Bimber Distillery, best for tasting tours of handcrafted single malt whisky

Where to find it: 56 Sunbeam Road, London

More: Koh Li Tim's Favourite London Haunts

2. Manila, The Philippines

Number of hidden gems: 309

Top rated 'hidden gem' attraction: San Agustin Museum, best for artwork, architecture and heritage dating back to the 1570s

Where to find it: General Luna Street, 1002, Intramuros, Manila

3. Rome, Italy

Number of hidden gems: 228

Top rated 'hidden gem' attraction: Basilica Papale San Paolo Fuori le Mura, best for beautifully restored mosaics, marble monuments and a peaceful garden 

Where to find it: 1 Piazzale San Paolo, Rome 

4. Paris, France

Number of hidden gems: 214

Top rated 'hidden gem' attraction: Musée Marmottan Monet, best for a variety of impressionist paintings by Claude Monet   

Where to find it: 2 Rue Louis-Boilly, Paris 

5. Prague, Czech Republic

Number of hidden gems: 147

Top rated 'hidden gem' attraction: National Film Museum, best for a rich history of Czech cinema

Where to find it: Mozarteum, Jungmannova 748/30, Praha 1, City Centre, Prague

6. Amsterdam

Number of hidden gems: 125

Top rated 'hidden gem' attraction: Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer Op Solder, best for heritage architecture from the Dutch Golden Age

Where to find it: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 38, Amsterdam 

7. Lisbon, Portugal

Number of hidden gems: 112

Top rated 'hidden gem' attraction: Medeiros e Almedia Museum, best for fine art, furniture and relics in the former residence of Antonio Medeiros e Almeida

Where to find it: 41 Rua Rosa Araújo, Lisbon

8. Dublin, Ireland

Number of hidden gems: 110

Top rated 'hidden gem' attraction: 14 Henrietta Street, best for social history and stories of the museum's past occupants over 300 years 

Where to find it: 14 Henrietta Street, Dublin

9. Madrid, Spain

Number of hidden gems: 108

Top rated 'hidden gem' attraction: Museo Sorolla, best for an artwork collection by Spanish painter Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida who originally lived in the house museum

Where to find it: 37 Paseo del General Martínez Campos, Madrid

10. Hanoi, Vietnam

Number of hidden gems: 98

Top rated 'hidden gem' attraction: Hanoi Police Museum, best for history of Hanoi's police force over a span of seven decades 

Where to find it: 67 Ly Thuong Kiet, Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

See also: From Vincenzo To Crash Landing On You: 10 Filming Locations For Your Bucket List

Topics