Does the description of the word off-piste make you feel seen? Do you find yourself in destinations long before they do the rounds on Instagram? If you answered yes to both these questions, then you’ve come to the right place. These hipster travel destinations are for travellers that not only shy away from the usual suspects in favour of something that takes them beyond the beaten path — but know that the best kind of adventure is an unexpected one.
- Victoria, Canada
- Naples, Italy
- Nakazakicho, Osaka, Japan
- Cork, Ireland
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Arequipa, Peru
1. Victoria, Canada
In 2018, Victoria was crowned Canada’s most hipster city. Most travellers visiting the Great White North make a beeline for cities like Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto, but a new wave of startups, trendy boutiques, coffee shops and cycle lanes have paved the way for Victoria’s renaissance.
Once upon a time, the allure of old-world British vibes was reason enough to visit British Colombia’s capital. Victoria’s colonial architecture and penchant for afternoon tea, pubs and cricket are still very much part of its charm and essence — but now you’ll find it has all the checkmarks of a hipster haven.
Picture an escape where you can peruse through vinyl in a record shop, sip on craft beer or artisan cocktails, enjoy a traditional plate of fish and chips and fresh ocean air. It’s easy to throw around words like artisan and craft, but against a backdrop of brick warehouses and indie boutiques — Victoria comes through on its promise as a hipster holiday destination off-the-beaten-path. It’s one of those places you need to visit now.
- Best time to visit Victoria: March-May and September-November
- Top reasons to visit: Bars, bakeries and restaurants
2. Naples, Italy
For young writers and artists, this southern city on the Bay of Naples is where they come looking for inspiration or even better a muse. And likewise, for travellers that want a gritty Italian experience, one with feisty nonnas, Vespas weaving in and out of pedestrians, and the kind of clamour that captivates you, Naples is the place to be.
Sometimes the word hipster runs the risk of being used for the sake of it, and more for effect, but that’s not the case in Naples. You won’t find the typical hipster hallmarks, and the city doesn’t try to be cool, it happens quite effortlessly.
Graffiti and street art feels genuine and reflects the socio-political spirit of the locals. Likewise, the bars and cafes are low-key, but what gives them character are the regulars that gather there in search of their usual fix. Tips for where to score the best pizza or spritz in the city can’t be found in the pages of guidebooks and travel magazines, but from locals in the know and taxi drivers.
Of course, Naples wouldn’t Naples without its neighbourhoods. In the Spanish Quarter, the back alleys are the stuff of Italian dreams — residents watching you as they hang out their laundry for the day and narrow streets dotted with mercatos and patisseries. Built during the 16th-century, this district has plenty of old-world charm but what makes it special is the addition of hundreds of murals from local artists.
- Best time to visit Naples: March-May and September-October
- Top reasons to visit: For the bars and art
3. Nakazakicho, Osaka, Japan
Osaka is huge, encompassing 24 wards, each ward with its own microcosms and neighbourhoods. While much of Osaka is undeniably impressive, there are individual districts that stand out more than others. One such example would be Horie, an area that boasts trendy coffee and apparel shops. But the true hipster north of Osaka is Nakazakicho.
Picture bicycles with baskets leaning gracefully against the exterior of cute shuttered stores, colourful rainbow-coloured street art adorning metal-ridged fencing and quirky thrift stores showcasing their goods. The back streets, row houses and tunnels where you can pause for everything from vintage finds to craft beer are so hipster it hurts.
- Best time to visit Nakazakicho, Osaka: All-year-round
- Top reasons to visit: To buy the things you didn’t know you needed and the community cafés
4. Cork, Ireland
In 2015, according to this opinion, it was the hipsters that saved Cork. But, did it even need saving? After all, in 2010, Lonely Planet publicly announced the virtues of this Irish city by naming it one of the planet’s top ten cities long before the hipsters came knocking. Sure there were some years where Cork was simply considered Ireland’s second city, often in the shadow of Dublin, but that was a long time ago.
Cork has the beloved means to lure travellers, a flourishing food and brewery scene and a roster of festivals have certainly added to the city’s appeal. What makes Cork so appealing as a hipster vacation are the neighbourhoods, small pockets of culture, history and Irish traditions that fuse to bring home an authentic and off-beat city adventure.
The best way to experience it all is by walking each neighbourhood on foot dipping in and out Irish pubs for food and drinks as often as you can. For those short on time, the Huguenot Quarter is one of our top picks. You’ll find the Cork Opera House and Crawford Art Gallery on Emmet Place, French Church Street is dotted with coffee shops, and on Saturdays, the Coal Quay Plaza hosts a popular farmers market. Bonus tip: foodies should head for the Grand Parade area as soon as they touch down in Cork.
- Best time to visit Cork: May-August, fall, and Christmas
- Top reasons to visit: To explore trendy neighbourhoods and for the festivals
5. Glasgow, Scotland
Although already considered a cultural hub — Glasgow is home to the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and the National Theatre of Scotland — even here, hipsters have been credited with being the saviours of Scotland’s largest city. In January, a major British newspaper proffered that hipster heaven could be found in Glasgow. The article cited cheaper housing, a thriving cultural scene and bohemian spots like Byers Road — the main artery of the city’s west-end — as reasons for why young working hipsters are flocking to the city.
As with a few other places on this list, neighbourhoods play a significant role in defining a city’s edginess. Glasgow has always had the jump on cool neighbourhoods, a few years ago, Finnieston was considered the hippest place in Britain. Finnieston’s gourmet sandwich shops, coffee bars, trendy restaurants, craft beers and old-school pubs with folksy music secured this. Like any other city, certain areas are hipper than others, and in Glasgow, other neighbourhoods that foodies and art-lovers should check out include the West End and Merchant City.
- Best time to visit Glasgow: March-August
- Top reasons to visit: Neighbourhoods rife with foodie experiences and art
6. Arequipa, Peru
The chances are you haven’t heard of this city, but isn’t that the point? Not only is Arequipa Peru’s most beautiful city, but it’s also the coolest. That may seem like a tall claim when you think of Cusco’s cobblestoned streets and the romantic bohemia of the Barranco district in Lima, except that Arequipa is Peru’s most hipster travel destination.
Nicknamed Ciudad Blanca or “The White City”, the stunning historic centre, dramatic volcano scenery and markets alone make it worth a visit. But beyond that, Arequipa is also on its way to becoming Peru’s foodie capital, and we all know the real way to a hipster’s heart is through their stomach. Add to that a flourishing crafts scene, and you’ve got yourself the Peruvian edition of hipster heaven.
It’s the crafts scene that makes Arequipa so compelling. Last year a fascinating article was published in the Lonely Planet highlighting the city’s extensive craft scene and why it’s the quintessential destination for “modern makers.” As the world’s largest alpaca fibre producer, it won’t come as a surprise that Arequipa has a particular flair for producing knits. It also might interest you to know that the city is a popular pitstop for fashion designer looking to research textiles.
The craft-making is not just limited to knits. Designers, bakers, chefs, and even chocolate makers have cultivated an artisan city that isn’t afraid of experimentation. From craft fairs and restaurants to food markets and patisseries, Arequipa offers travellers bespoke experiences at every turn.
- Best time to visit Arequipa: May-September
- Top reasons to visit: For the food and market experiences
Know of any hipster vacation spots that we should visit? Tell us about your favourite coffee and beard-clad cities in the comments.
