A train or car ride along the Côte Bleue, or Blue Coast, west of Marseille, can rival the Côte d'Azur and offer a different pace.gettyThe Côte d’Azur, home to Saint-Tropez, Cannes and some of the most glamorous resorts on the Mediterranean coast, is one of the most chic and exciting parts of France. Florence and Cinque Terre are similarly iconic, drawing visitors with Renaissance art, pastel-colored villages, and sublime coastal views.But their popularity can also be their greatest weakness. Crowded streets, packed trains, high-season prices and queues at the most famous hotspots can make it difficult to experience these destinations at their best.The answer may be to try a destination dupe: a place that offers a similar experience but with fewer crowds and sometimes lower costs. These three European alternatives could provide the atmosphere you are looking for without following exactly the same tourist trail.Destination Dupe For The Côte d’Azur—Try The Côte BleueFor many years, France has been the most visited country in the world, and in the summer it can feel as if everyone is on the Côte d’Azur. For a quieter version of the French Mediterranean, head west from Marseille along the Côte Bleue.The coastline stretches from the western edge of Marseille toward Martigues, taking in small ports, pine-fringed coves, beaches and coastal walking routes. The towns of Carry-le-Rouet, Sausset-les-Pins and Ensuès-la-Redonne are where you’ll be hanging out more with French locals and holidaymakers, while Niolon has a small harbor and a more intimate feel than the glamorous resorts of the Riviera.That’s not to say they won’t feel busy—the parking at one of the most epic beaches near Sausset-les-Pins, Plage Sainte-Croix, requires some patience, but it is worth it, and I have never been let down. Take a sunset picnic when the crowds have departed. The vibe is different along this stretch of the coastline, and the resorts are definitely less crazy in terms of overtourism.The Côte Bleue is also easy to explore without a car and, in some ways, even better thanks to the scenic Côte Bleue railway, which runs between Marseille and Miramas, serving a series of coastal communities along the way. There is no better way to experience French summer than chugging through ancient train tunnels that snake the Mediterranean.If you are looking for glitz and glamour, then you should head to the celebrity appeal of Saint-Tropez or the grand hotels of Cannes. The Côte Bleue, however, offers a more relaxed Mediterranean experience based around swimming, seafood, hiking and small-town life.Destination Dupe For Cinque Terre—Try LevantoWhat's not to love about Cinque Terre? It has the most iconic picture-postcard images of Italy, with five villages featuring some of the most recognizable scenes, with pastel-colored houses perched above the Ligurian Sea.The problem, particularly in summer, is that everyone else knows it too—CNTraveler explains that four million people visit Cinque Terre each year.Enter Levanto. It is a town northwest of Monterosso, one of the five towns that make up Cinque Terre. It has an intercity train connection from Milan to Monterosso, and seasonal ferries also call at the town, making it a practical base for exploring the coast.Levanto offers many of the experiences visitors seek in Cinque Terre: hiking trails, water sports, Italian food and easy access to the sea. But unlike the five famous villages, it has a year-round population and feels more like a working Italian town than an open-air tourist attraction.Travelers can still visit Cinque Terre from Levanto, but they do not have to sleep in the busiest villages or navigate their narrow streets at the most crowded times of day.Levanto is not the only alternative. Lonely Planet also cites Porto Venere, Tellaro, Lerici and Sestri Levante as less crowded alternatives to Cinque Terre.Destination Dupe For Florence—Try MantuaFlorence is one of Europe’s great cultural destinations, but its extraordinary concentration of Renaissance art and architecture has made it one of Italy’s busiest city breaks. If you want to avoid the crowds, Mantua in northern Italy could be a good suggestion.As The Times puts it, it is storyboard Italian—cobbled streets, domes, towers, and grand courtyards.It is a Renaissance city in its own right that also had artistic patrons: the Gonzaga family for over 400 years, bringing in architects and painters to transform the city. Visitors will find cobbled streets, domes, towers, grand courtyards and richly decorated palaces.Mantua also has a different rhythm from Florence because it sits among lakes connected to the River Mincio, giving it a green, spacious setting.Mantua is a 45-minute drive from Verona airport, and, as with many smaller Italian cities, planning matters: some museums and palaces close on Mondays.Destination dupes are not about pretending that one place is identical to another. Florence, Cinque Terre and the Côte d’Azur are unique, and no other destination can replicate them exactly, but they do allow travelers to experience the pleasures of these places in slightly less crowded and different settings.MORE FROM FORBESForbesItaly Strengthens Defenses Against OvertourismBy Alex LedsomForbesHow Useful Is Your Passport In 2026 For The Best Global Mobility?By Alex LedsomForbesWhy Literary Travel Is Surging In 2026By Alex Ledsom