The trouble with the top spots is that they become—especially in high season—a monoculture of tourists. It’s hard to fully appreciate a British pub when surrounded by fellow North American tourists. Worse, hospitality standards can decline in crowded conditions. Still, many Americans continue down the same well-worn paths to the same tourist sites. According to a report by the European Travel Commission and the World Tourism Organization, the greater distance people travel, the more likely they’ll cover only the “must-see” sights at their destination; they’re often unwilling to venture farther afield.

Perennial favorites such as Italy, England, and France are anticipating a flood of American tourists this summer, especially with the U.S. dollar buying more than it did last year.

Our advice: Sidestep the Europe Americans know for the one Europeans know.