8 Underrated Weekend Destinations
Worth Flying to This Summer

Go Before Everyone Else Does

Everyone knows Barcelona. Everyone knows Bali. And everyone is there right now, queuing at the same viewpoints, paying peak-season prices, sharing the same overloaded beach. There's nothing wrong with the classics — but if you're the kind of traveller who books a weekend flight on a whim, you probably already know them. These are the destinations worth knowing about instead.

Tbilisi might be the best city in the world that most people haven't been to. Ancient churches carved into cliffsides, an old town that looks like it fell through a time portal, wine that's been made the same way for 8,000 years, and food that will ruin all other food for you. Flights from European cities are genuinely affordable, and the city is compact enough that two days gives you a real feel for it.

Best for: Food and wine lovers, history buffs, travellers who like being slightly ahead of the crowd.

Yes, Thailand is popular. But Chiang Mai — in the north — operates at a completely different pace from Bangkok or the southern islands. It's cooler in summer, the temples are stunning and uncrowded, and the food scene is arguably better than anywhere else in the country. From Singapore or anywhere in Southeast Asia, it's a short and often cheap hop.

Best for: Food, culture, slow mornings, anyone who finds Bangkok exhausting.

A UNESCO-listed town on the edge of a glacial lake in the Balkans. Ohrid has Byzantine churches, crystal-clear water, excellent grilled fish, and almost none of the crowds you'd find in Dubrovnik or Santorini. It's connected by flight from several European cities and is firmly in "why haven't I heard of this" territory.

Best for: Budget travellers, history lovers, anyone who wants a beach vibe without the beach prices.

Ten years ago Medellín had a very different reputation. Today it's one of South America's most dynamic cities — great coffee, a thriving arts scene, perfect spring-like weather year-round, and a food culture that's finally getting global attention. It's a long-haul flight from most places, but if you're in Miami, Houston, or Bogotá, it's very doable as a weekend trip.

Best for: Urban explorers, coffee obsessives, anyone wanting to see a city mid-renaissance.

Dubai gets all the attention in the Gulf, but Muscat is its quieter, more authentic neighbour. The old souks, the dramatic coastline, the Hajar Mountains — and almost none of the tourist infrastructure that makes Dubai feel like a theme park. Summer in Muscat is hot, but that's when prices drop and the city is at its most local. Flights from the Indian subcontinent and East Africa are frequent and often cheap.

Best for: Travellers who want the Middle East without the crowds, history, dramatic landscapes.

Porto keeps appearing on "hidden gem" lists, which means it's not entirely hidden anymore — but it still punches well above its weight for a weekend. The wine caves, the azulejo tiles, the river, the food. It's walkable in a way Lisbon isn't, compact enough that two days covers the highlights, and flights from across Europe remain affordable outside of the peak August crush.

Best for: Wine lovers, architecture, first-timers to Portugal who want to start somewhere other than Lisbon.

It's not the obvious Tanzania pick, but Dar es Salaam as a weekend base is seriously underrated. Great seafood, a fascinating mix of Swahili, Arab, Indian, and colonial architecture, and easy connections from Nairobi, Johannesburg, and the Gulf. Use it as a jumping-off point for Zanzibar if you can stretch the trip, or spend the weekend eating your way through the city's street food scene.

Best for: East Africa enthusiasts, travellers based in the region, foodies.

One of the most beautiful medieval cities in Europe, and one of the most overlooked. Riga's old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and outside of August it's navigable without fighting through tour groups. The food scene has improved dramatically in recent years, and it's one of the cheapest weekend breaks in Europe if you're flying from the UK, Germany, or Scandinavia.

Best for: Architecture lovers, budget weekend breaks, travellers who've done the Western European circuit and want something new.