What is Townsizing and How Can Your Family Experience It?

If you haven’t heard of townsizing, it’s time for family travelers to take note. And we’re here to help. In short, townsizing is the answer to overtourism, and it isn’t just a great idea for travelers looking to enjoy a vacation in a destination that isn’t overrun and overpriced. It’s also good for destinations — both those needing a chance to recover from the damage of crowds and those that don’t get a lot of tourist love (in other words, tourism dollars).

Tour operators embraced this approach and started offering experiences that let families ditch overplayed travel itineraries and discover hidden gems around the world to get an affordable, authentic experience equally exciting and memorable.

“Townsizing is essentially the modern evolution of the old “off the beaten path” concept,” said Graham Carter, co-founder,  Unforgettable Travel Company, a company that curates everything from honeymoons to family safaris. “It signals a shift toward exploring lesser-known towns that aren’t overrun with tour buses offering travelers a sense of discovery that feels both current and authentic.”

With Unforgettable Travel Company, families can visit Japan and skip over-touristed places like Kyoto in favor of Tsumago, a town that bans cars by day and features restored wooden inns. This experience is part of the Immerse in the Japanese Alps itinerary and gives visitors a glimpse into feudal Japan.

Other townsizing itineraries include destinations across Europe, like Italy and France, as well as places throughout Central Europe, like the Czech Republic and Austria.