off the beaten path

Meaning

Located in a place that is not frequently visited by tourists; remote, secluded, or unconventional. It is used to describe travel destinations that offer a more authentic, quiet experience away from crowds.

Examples

• We love finding small, family-run restaurants that are off the beaten path.

  We love finding small, family-run restaurants that are off the beaten path.

• This quiet little beach is completely off the beaten path, so there are no crowds.

  This quiet little beach is completely off the beaten path, so there are no crowds.

• To experience the real culture of the country, you need to go off the beaten path.

  To experience the real culture of the country, you need to go off the beaten path.

• The guidebook recommended a few spots that are slightly off the beaten path.

  The guidebook recommended a few spots that are slightly off the beaten path.

• He prefers traveling off the beaten path rather than visiting tourist hotspots.

  He prefers traveling off the beaten path rather than visiting tourist hotspots.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We stayed in a hotel off the beaten road.

  ✓ We stayed in a hotel off the beaten path.

  The idiom is fixed with 'path' or sometimes 'track' (chiefly British), but never 'road'.

• ✗ I want to go to an off-beaten path place.

  ✓ I want to go off the beaten path.

  It is usually used as a prepositional phrase ('off the beaten path') rather than an adjective directly preceding a noun.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you want to avoid tourists, try exploring areas that are ___.

  💡 Not popular or crowded.

  Show answer

  off the beaten path

• The cabin we rented was way ___ in the mountains.

  💡 Secluded and remote.

  Show answer

  off the beaten path