The three least visited cities in the world: one was a Spanish city until 1968

Some countries, like Spain, France, Italy, and the United States, receive millions of visitors each year, and cities like Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Paris, Rome, and New York are constantly teeming with tourists who crowd the main attractions of these metropolises. On the other hand, there are cities where overcrowding seems like something from another planet, as only a handful of adventurous souls dare to visit them.

Euromonitor International has conducted a study of both the most visited cities in the world and those that receive the fewest tourists annually, and the top three include places that are relatively unknown to most. Two of them are located on the other side of the globe, thousands of kilometers away, although one may be quite familiar to Spanish travelers: it belonged to Spain until just 57 years ago.

Funafuti (Tuvalu)

Tuvalu is the least visited country in the world, so it's perfectly logical that its capital, Funafuti, receives the fewest visitors on the planet, with just over 3,000. This city barely exceeds 6,100 inhabitants and is smaller than many Spanish towns, although it is certainly one of the most paradisiacal places on the planet, as it is nestled in an idyllic atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

To reach it, you must first go through Fiji, the only place from which you can catch a flight to this true paradise of pristine white-sand beaches lapped by crystal-clear waters. Getting there is quite an odyssey, so it's no wonder that only a few decide to travel there, but it's definitely worth it.

Tarawa (Kiribati)

A short distance from Tuvalu lies another of the great "forgotten" paradise destinations: Kiribati. A mere 5,660 tourists visited this archipelago, comprised mostly of atolls, in 2024. It is also the only archipelago located in both hemispheres. Its capital city, Tarawa, is not geared towards tourism, but it is nonetheless a hidden gem that should not be missed, as it holds incredible secrets that many would never expect to discover.

In this small island country, you can find vestiges of World War II, since during the conflict it was the scene of many battles in the context of the Pacific War, which added to its exciting local culture, notable especially in Tarawa, makes the city an amazing place that few have the opportunity to explore.

Malabo (Equatorial Guinea)

The third least visited city in the world is one that belonged to Spain until almost six decades ago: Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea. It has a population of nearly 300,000 and is the nation's main population center, yet very few people have decided to visit it due to the limited tourist offerings in the country.

This city is located on the island of Bioko, and having been under Spanish sovereignty for many years, it features some colonial buildings on the shores of the Atlantic, while its surroundings are surrounded by enormous jungles that accentuate the exotic feeling one has when walking through its streets.