4 Destination Dupes for 2025

Already planning your 2025 travel trips? You’ll quickly realise that the list of amazing places to visit is endless and your travel bucket list will grow and grow. But with the price of travelling, you may not be able to do more than one trip. So, where should you go in 2025?  

We have a concept we’d like to introduce you to, a concept that may allow you to enjoy more than one holiday this year. Allow us to share some of our favourite destination dupes. 

Coming up in this article: 

  • What is a Destination Dupe?  

  • Our Top 4 Destination Dupes for 2025 

What is a Destination Dupe?

It is a less visited and less expensive alternative to a popular tourist destination. For those who don’t like the overwhelming crowds of popular travel destinations, or the cost that is often associated with it, you’ll love a destination dupe. And with it being a top travel trend for next year, you may start to hear the term being used more frequently. 

So, with that in mind, let us run you through four of our favourite destination dupes for 2025. 

Our Top 4 Destination Dupes for 2025

  • Aveiro, Portugal

  • Isle of Arran, Scotland

  • Toulouse, France

  • Sicily, Italy

Aveiro instead of Venice 

For those who have always wanted to visit the haunted floating city of Venice, you might instead consider Aveiro, the “Venice of Portugal”. 

Winding streets lead you to the beautiful canals of this lively and striking coastal town. Colourful Molicerio boats bob gently in the water, calling passengers to experience Aveiro in a most unique way. Sit back and enjoy the architecture of the city, tributed to the flowing lines of the Art Nouveau movement that dominates Aveiro’s art scene, giving the city both a colourful and dreamy appearance. 

And, just like Italy, you’ll find the food in Portugal something to obsess about. Satiate your taste buds with the city’s hearty seafood and finish it off with an ovos moles, a sweet treat with a sugar encrusted coating and creamy egg filling. 

Visit Aveiro on the 3-day Porto, Aveiro & Passionate Portugal tour from Lisbon. 

The Isle of Arran instead of the Isle of Skye 

Scotland is gaining more and more popularity as the years go by, and it’s no wonder with its charming personality and striking landscapes that echo fantasy worlds. 

As with much of the world, many parts of Scotland are becoming increasingly more expensive, including the capital city of Edinburgh. But that’s not to say you can’t travel Scotland on a budget. Choosing the right time of year to travel will make a great difference to your travel expenses, but so will your choice of destination. 

The Isle of Skye is one of Scotland’s most frequented destinations and we don’t blame you for your interest in visiting. But if you want to experience everything that makes Scotland great, you might consider popping over to the Isle of Arran instead. 

Known as ‘Scotland in Miniature’, this wee island just off the east coast has everything you could want in one tiny package. Standing stones? Check. Munros to hike? Check. Cute villages and shops to explore? Check. Wee animals spotting the gorgeous countryside? Check. 

It’s easy to visit in a single day too, making it a great add-on to a bigger adventure. Join us on our 1-day tour to Arran from Glasgow. 

Toulouse instead of Paris 

Paris is vibrant, passionate, exciting – but it is often overcrowded and expensive no matter what time of year you visit. This is why people are turning their attention to small cities like Toulouse in Europe. Often referred to as “Paris in miniature”, this canal-lined, maze of a city is a hub of art galleries, museums and unforgettable food experiences. 

Travel there in the warmer months, and you can’t go past a visit to the Marché Victor Hugo, France’s oldest covered market open since 1896. Food lovers are often drawn to the sumptuous flavours of French cuisine, and nothing beats a picnic canal-side in a quiet city like Toulouse with fresh, local produce from a notable landmark. 

Sicily instead of Italy 

Italy is a must. We admit it. No matter where you go or when, Italy is a marvelous mashup of cuisine, passion, history, culture and landscapes. But following on from this concept of visiting a place ‘in miniature’ - it’s time for you to bypass most of Italy’s ‘shoe’ and head straight for the toe: Sicily. 

At the far south of Italy, you’ll find the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Sicily boasts just as much culture, food, passion and beauty as the rest of the country, but all in one neat little package. 

From UNESCO World Heritage Sites to Europe’s largest active volcano, vibrant street festivals to towering mountain landscapes, Sicily and its ancient port city of Catania are waiting for you.

Embrace 2025 with Rabbie’s 

With the help of our drivers and guides, exploring destination dupes has never been so easy or exciting. Coming onboard with us means you travel with a certified B Corp company, and travelling responsibly is always a reason to celebrate. So, sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest Rabbie’s news, and we can’t wait to have you join us in 2025. 

Destination dupes aren’t the only travel trend you should be aware of for 2025, read more about that here.