Responsible trips operator Intrepid Travel has released a new range of days out in Barcelona, Paris, and Venice, promising to take visitors off the well-trodden paths. Developed by Intrepid’s local teams, the new ‘Uncommon Day Trips’ aim to meet traveller demand for some of the world’s most-visited destinations while following best practices for beating overtourism pressures.
Run in small groups of no more than 12, the new excursions last two to three hours and expand upon Intrepid’s day trips range, taking travellers off the beaten track into neighbourhoods waiting to be discovered, at the same time as boosting the local economy and promoting cultural exchanges. Erica Kritikides, General Manager Experiences at Intrepid Travel, commented: “These new day trips are designed to promote responsible travel in cities grappling with overtourism, responding to the high demand with a meaningful alternative.”
Spain is perhaps ground zero for overtourism protests in Europe, and Barcelona, heavily promoted since around the time of the 1992 Olympics, could be where today’s version of the problem could be said to have started. There, authorities were ahead of other ports in capping cruise ship arrivals to avoid the feeling of “collapse” that descends on the city when large numbers of cruise passengers all disembark at once. Housing is a political hot potato in the Catalan capital, as it is more widely in Spain, and the issue is often blamed on the country’s proliferation of short-term holiday rental properties. Municipal councils and national politicians have both grappled with the big rental platforms over regulating the sector. Barcelona was one of the first cities to say it would outlaw firms such as Airbnb, which are being phased out by 2028.
But, on Intrepid’s Uncommon Barcelona trip, travellers can avoid local ire and visit a community garden in El Born, described by Intrepid as “a protected green space that nurtures local life amid the pressures of gentrification in the Old Town.” The excursion ventures into the lesser-known El Clot too, to explore its authentic market and rambla.
@intrepid_travel “Venice is a unique and fragile city, and the challenge is finding a balance between welcoming visitors and preserving everyday life for its residents.” For Venice local Camilla, that starts with slowing down and looking beyond San Marco Square. Like Pescheria di Rialto, a historic market where Venetians have sourced local produce for generations. Or a women-owned artisan chocolate workshop, uncovering Venice’s long history as one of Europe’s earliest gateways for cacao. 🍫 And a quiet waterfront promenade that will give you sweeping views across the Venetian lagoon. Our new Uncommon Day Trip in Venice is all about showing travellers a more responsible way to experience the city, one that supports local communities and reveals a different side of Venice. 🔍 Uncommon Venice #travel #grouptravel #Venice #Italy #overtourism ♬ original sound – Intrepid Travel
And over to the Uncommon Venice trip. Venice has been battling day-tripper numbers over recent years with a visitor tax targeting non-overnight stays. The fiscal deterrent came after UNESCO World Heritage experts warned that the lagoon city’s popularity was putting its treasures at risk. Here, travellers with Intrepid are invited to look beyond the city’s famous canals to discover the Pescheria di Rialto fish stalls, which date back to the Middle Ages. The visit also includes a chocolate tasting at a women-owned artisanal shop, where Venice’s evolution as one of Europe’s earliest gateways for cacao is shared.
And on the Uncommon Paris trip, the day starts with fresh pastries at a neighbourhood market and the chance to be a flaneur in the city’s tranquil parks. The Eiffel Tower seen from unique vantage points will reveal “a side of the city defined by everyday life, rather than crowds,” Intrepid says.
@intrepid_travel “Paris locals feel like our neighbourhoods are being taken over and don’t feel our own. But Paris didn’t lose its magic at all.” For Paris local Cecilia, the real city lives beyond the crowds in the neighbourhood markets and tranquil parks that most visitors never see. Our new Uncommon Day Trip in Paris takes travellers beyond the tourist hotspots to a different side of the city, where your visit can have a deeper impact. That means a local market loved by Parisians to try a fresh brioche croissant, and the chance to see the Eiffel Tower from a totally new perspective. Small groups. Local leaders. Experiences designed to support the communities that shape Paris’ everyday life. 💛 🔍 Uncommon Paris #travel #grouptravel #Paris #France #DayTrip ♬ original sound – Intrepid Travel
With the new trip departures set to commence from June 2026, Kritikides describes the itineraries as “proof that you can still have incredible local experiences in some of the world’s most popular destinations, going beyond the hotspots to explore a genuinely local side of the city.” The new offer reflects “Intrepid’s overarching experience design philosophy,” she explains, which is to provide “immersive, locally-led experiences that encourage cultural exchange, a deeper connection to the destination and respect for the daily lives of the communities we encounter.”
Some might argue that residents and workers in these lesser-known corners of cities do not want visitor footfall to spread into their neighbourhoods. Intrepid Operations Manager Juan Sanchez lives in Barcelona and found that “the vendors in the market were surprised that we wanted to bring visitors there, but also open to seeing how it goes.” Highlighting the economic benefits the visitors could bring, Sanchez describes the Intrepid project as “a learning process for both sides, and I believe the best thing we can do is start taking small but meaningful actions as a responsible company, helping to redistribute tourism dollars to local areas, supporting residents and showing travellers that there are other ways to explore.”
Including these three new trips, Intrepid now runs 25-day trips in Europe, across 11 cities. It offers 236 multi-day trips in the region, spanning 42 different countries. Intrepid acquired French adventure travel company Altai Group in April 2026 and Dutch tour operator Sawadee in February 2025, strengthening its regional operations and positioning it to take the lead on culturally immersive, responsible travel in Europe.
