The 33 most underrated travel destinations in the world

Many have undertaken Costa Rica’s classic backpacking trail, which loops from San Jose to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, west to surf town Tamarindo and south to Manuel Antonio National Park. But those who choose to take the difficult journey to the Osa Peninsula – usually via a combination of a tiny local plane, a sturdy 4x4 and a boatride through jungle wetlands – will be rewarded with one of the world’s greatest eco-adventures. Over two percent of the planet’s biodiversity is packed into this wild, remote corner of the country. I spotted humpback whales leaping from Golfo Dulce, sloths clinging to the trees in Corcovado National Park, crocodiles lurking in mangrove mud beds, bands of coatis crossing the road, scarlet macaws and yellow-throated toucans soaring overhead – and so, so much more. For wildlife, or just totally untouched tropical beaches, this place is more than worth the journey. 

Time Out tip: You’ll need to pre-arrange your visit to Corcovado National Park, which comprises a huge chunk of the peninsula. You can do so by booking a tour with a licensed guide via your accommodation. I stayed in a jungle bungalow at the insanely beautiful Corcovado Wilderness Lodge, where our brilliant, eagle-eyed guide walked us through the park’s inland and coastal trails, spotting tapirs, birds and an elusive sloth.

While France’s Côte d'Azur houses luxurious coastal cities like Cannes and St. Tropez, its quieter western sister La Côte Bleu is just as idyllic with sea-to-cliff landscapes, turquoise waters and fresh seafood at a fraction of the cost. Take Carry-le-Rouet, a small fishing town about an hour west of Marseille. Sandwiched between two major cities, Carry is mostly residential, but don’t let that stop you from exploring its hidden calanques and untamed beaches like Plage Fernandel, named after the post-war comedic actor who called Carry home. Make your way to le Sentier du Lézard or the ‘Lizard Trail’, an easy 4km hiking trail west of Carry’s harbour, and you’ll spot his home, l’oustaou de la mar (house of the sea), alongside vibrant, overgrown flora, rocky shores and views of the sea in all shades of blue stretching out into infinity. 

Time Out tip: Stay at Hotel Bleu – a chic, ocean-themed hotel on Carry-le-Rouet’s lively harbour. There are views to Marseille, a spa and hammam and top-notch eats at hotel restaurant L’Oursin, ran by native chef, Ilane Tinchant. 

Most travellers explore Yosemite National Park from the western entrances, but head out east and you’ll discover its best-kept secret. The Tioga Pass is a winding road in the Sierra Nevada mountains that traverses some of Yosemite’s most spectacular lookouts and lesser-visited spots – think Half Dome views from Olmsted Point, mirror-like reflections on Tenaya Lake and sunsets over the magical Tuolumne Meadows. Hiking takes visitors to even more scenic spots, such as Clouds Rest, Soda Springs and even a portion of the epic Pacific Crest Trail. Camping spots offer the chance to wake up to alpine views, or you can continue the drive to the otherworldly landscapes of Mono Lake and beyond. 

Time Out tip: The Tioga Pass is closed during winter, normally between early November and May, so you’ll need to stick to the summer months, when it’s at its prettiest, for exploring. Opening dates are published on the National Park Service website to help keep visitors up to date.

Why do travellers overlook this charming small town with multicoloured balconies and rolling green hills? Because they’ve long been told to visit nearby Salento instead, due its proximity to Cocora Valley, home of the world’s tallest palm trees. Most are unaware that the less touristy Filandia offers the same colourful architecture, better countryside views (a visit to the 27-metre Colina Iluminada lookout is a must), and one of the region’s more innovative restaurants in Helena Adentro. There’s a reason Filandia was recently named one of the world’s Best Tourism Villages by the UN’s World Tourism Organization.

Time Out tip: Make sure to book ahead at Helena Adentro to avoid disappointment – and don’t leave without trying their yucca and cheese croquettes.

More than 20 percent of Mahé, the Seychelles’ largest island, is covered by Morne Seychelles National Park, which is made up of misty cloud forests, remote beaches and dramatic peaks. Its tropical jungle hides native wildlife and fauna, like the miniscule Gardiner's frog and the rare scops owl, which you can spot from the hiking trails that snake across the park. The crown jewel is the trek up to Morne Seychellois, which sits at 3,000ft and offers panoramic views, but you can also discover palm-fringed beaches on the Anse Major Trail and the cool cascades of Sauzier Waterfall near Port Glaud. 

Time Out tip: Many of the park’s trails are achievable but tackle steep terrain; make sure to wear sturdy shoes and watch your footing – the climate in the park is wet and humid, and paths can get even more slippery if it’s been raining.

Georgia is having a moment right now. From the grungy charm of Tbilisi to Tuscany dupe Kakheti, the country is finally becoming a bucketlist destination. But many travellers are making a glaring omission in their itineraries: the Georgian Military Highway. A 210km road that links Georgia to Russia, the best section from Tbilisi to Kazbegi features breathtaking views of the Caucaus Mountains. Along the way, there are plenty of quirky stops including the Pasanauri Car Graveyard, home to abandoned Soviet-era automobiles, and open-air sculpture gallery the Stone Heads of Sno.

Time Out tip: To get the most out of the Georgian Military Highway, hire a private driver as they’ll stop at the various attractions. You can get public transport (a marshrutka van) but it will go direct from A to B.

To anyone who tells me they want to visit Japan, I will always encourage them to venture beyond the obvious – and by far the place I recommend most is Ishikawa prefecture. Ishikawa has loads to offer: the perfectly zen Kenroku-en garden; Kanazawa Castle, once home to feudal lords; and teahouses from the Edo period where you can partake in a matcha ceremony. Up in the Noto Peninsula you’ll see one of my favourite sights, the Shiroyone Senmaida Rice Terrace, which lights up in vibrant colours at night, soundtracked by the gentle swishing of the Sea of Japan. Some of the more upmarket hotels and traditional ryokans offer private onsens (Noto-no Sho and Hitotsu Notojima).

Time Out tip: Book a sushi-making class at In Kanazawa House, where you’lll be taught not only how to make different types of sushi but also how to present them on locally produced lacquerware dishes – and, of course, you get to eat them all up at the end.

It’s not without reason that Skopje is dubbed ‘The Las Vegas of the Balkans’, The North Macedonian capital is a wonderland of kitschy statues, including an homage to Paris’ Arc de Triomphe and the 22 metre high ‘Warrior on a Horse’ complete with fountain. If feeling like you’re visiting an adult theme park isn’t enough, there’s also the historic marketplace, the Old Bazaar, perfect for an afternoon spent meandering.

Time Out tip: The UK isn’t the only country obsessed with baked beans; North Macedonia is too. Be sure to order their take on the ultimate comfort food, Tavče gravče. It won't be hard to find in Skopje.

Known for its traditional gers (yurts), friendly nomadic people, and herds of wild horses stomping across untouched steppes, Mongolia has to be experienced to be believed. With a new international airport and affordable local-led tours, this seemingly far-flung country is more accessible than you’d expect. For a perfect introduction to the country, spend a couple of days in the capital, Ulaanbaatar – it’s surprisingly clustered and easy to explore – then take in the picture-perfect ranges and fresh mountain air of Gorkhi Terelj National Park.

Time Out tip: Stay the night under the stars in your own ger (you can book one online here) and don’t be surprised if nomadic herders stop by to welcome you.

Along with neighbouring island Madeira, The Azores are often dubbed the ‘Hawaii of Europe’. The label tracks: you have awe-striking waterfalls, green foliage, lakes, rich marine life and geothermal hot springs. Sitting pretty in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, the Azores is a remote Portuguese archipelago featuring nine islands in total, with Sao Miguel being the largest. I travelled around a few of the islands but Sao Miguel was my favourite; famous for whale-watching and friendly dolphins who will swim up to your boat to say hello.

Time Out Tip: If you book a boat tour, sit at the back if you tend to get a bit seasick and ask for a raincoat as it will be a wet ride. In fact, the Azores sees ‘four seasons in a day’ so pack accordingly.

It’s not often you’re faced with a landscape so incomprehensibly beautiful that you question whether you’re actually just looking at a screen, but that’s exactly how I felt when trundling into the tiny Norwegian town of Flåm. It’s tucked away in the depths of the country’s remarkable fjord landscape, frequented by cruise ships, but overshadowed by busier spots like Stavanger and Olden. Aqua-coloured waters lap gently against the harbour, where you’ll find two flating saunas and a town full of small, wood-panelled buildings and picnic benches. The scenic Flåm Railway departs from the town station towards the glittering Flåmselvi River. No matter how you choose to explore — via hike, train, or zipline (the longest in Scandinavia is hidden up in the valley) — make sure you leave aside some time to sit and simply marvel. 

Time Out tip: Don’t leave without booking a visit to Flåm’s floating sauna, where you can take a cold plunge straight from the steam into the fjord. 

Vietnam has a well-trodden tourist route, but just 45 minutes by plane from Ho Chi Minh City is an archipelago that feels comparatively untouched. Côn Đảo is one large national park, which means there’s pristine nature wherever you look. Those who love sand and sea can snorkel over vibrant reefs or explore its many beaches – my favourite are the deserted sandy stretches on Hon Bay Canh islet, a sanctuary for nesting turtles and their newborn babies. Jungle-clad mountains offer lushly forested trails: walk under ancient trees in Ong Dung Primeval Forest or take a picturesque hike to the peak of Mount Thanh Gia. And for a dash of history, follow in the footsteps of Vietnamese pilgrims to Côn Đảo Museum and old prison sites, which give a glimpse into the island’s sobering history as a former penal colony.

Malmö is one of Europe’s most underrated cities – a compact, cycle-friendly hub where Scandi cool meets vibrant, multicultural energy. Feast on everything from Michelin-starred Nordic tasting menus to the city’s famous falafel, linger over world-class coffee and fika, browse cute, independent boutiques, then sweat it all out in a waterfront sauna – all without the tourist crush of Copenhagen (although the Danish capital is just 30 minutes away, across ‘The Bridge’). When you need a change of pace, southern Sweden’s wild beauty is right on Malmö’s doorstep. From sandy beaches and bird-filled wetlands to serene countryside villages, the Skåne region offers a slower, soulful kind of escape – and it’s all within an hour of the city.

Time Out tip: Rent a bike and explore the cafés, bars and bistros of Västra Hamnen at sunset, then wind down with a sauna-and-sea-dip session at Ribersborgs Kallbadhus – a true local ritual. Or hop on a local train to Falsterbo or Skanör for a quiet beach day or a ramble through nature (the Måkläppen nature reserve is particularly beautiful).

Morocco is usually the first place that springs to mind for a North African holiday, but I strongly urge you to consider Tunisia. And I’m not talking about the sunbed-laden Mediterranean coast in the north, but the surreal desert realm of the south. The town of Douz is known locally as the ‘gateway to the Sahara’, and from here there are dunes, and only dunes, for as far as the eye can see. Explore them via camel or quad bike with the help of a local guide (who seem to know the continuously identical landscape like it’s full of really obvious landmarks) and it will feel like you’re on another planet. Ksar Ghilane, a tranquil settlement built around a crystal-clear oasis, is well worth the bumpy ride through the sand.

I found Bwlch Mountain entirely by accident after thinking I had booked a hotel near Cardiff, but ended up an hour away at the Cardiff Arms Bistro & Hotel in the Rhondda Valley mountain town of Treorchy (a lesson to always research). There's not a lot going on in the little Welsh town aside from small cafes, lively pubs during football and ridiculously charming locals, but Treorchy is a fantastic place to rest for exploring Wales’s lush, windswept landscapes. A 1.5-hour hike (or 10-minute drive) from town will take you up through Bwlch Mountain, where isolated benches are placed for wanderers to rest and take in stunning Welsh scenery. It’s quiet and cathartic, aside from the wind whistling through valleys below, and if you take a night drive, the sky sparkles with stars (Bwlch Mountain is a Dark Sky Discovery Site) just as wonderfully as the town glimmers with its street lighting below. 

Time Out tip: The Cardiff Arms Hotel is, in fact, a lovely stay, with warm staff and one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever had the luxury to lay my head on. The bistro is only open for lunch or dinner, but guests are gifted with Greggs vouchers for a cheeky morning pastry. So grab a sausage roll and drive back up to one of Bwlch’s benches for breakfast with a view.

A three-hour drive from hectic São Paulo, this tranquil corner of southeast Brazil is an ideal escape for beach lovers, kite surfers and scuba divers. It’s home to a string of ridiculously perfect sandy beaches stretching along 62 miles of warm Atlantic waters – but despite its charming coastline, the region rarely appears on lists of Brazil’s best beaches. All the better for getting some real peace. Hop between the beaches of Maresias, Juquehy, Barra Do Sahy and Boicucanga; wander São Sebastião’s colonial old town; and catch the ferry to Ilhabela to explore some of the island’s 400 waterfalls. Hungry? Try sustainably caught seafood at Taioba, sip on craft gin at Single Fin distillery, and dine surrounded by nature at Manacá. After being severely impacted by the 2023 Brazil landslides, São Sebastião needs support from tourism more than ever.

Sure, Canada has huge lakes and lofty mountains, but Prince Edward Island is proof that good things come in small packages – and Canada’s smallest province packs in a lot. Parabolic dunes and endless sandy shorelines. An island-wide walking trail that takes you through lush wetlands, idyllic farmland and along red sandstone cliffs. Fresh lobster, clams, mussels and oysters for days (don't leave without trying the chowder poutine from the Blue Mussel Café). And the accommodation options are just as varied – spend the night under the stars inside a geodesic dome or in a steeply gabled summer home built in 1895.

A former Saxon stronghold anchoring the southern fringes of Transylvania, the Romanian town of Sibiu ignores tired Dracula clichés. Instead, it stages impressive cultural festivals like ARTmania and international theatre festival Sibfest, and hosts a gallery of Grand Masters at the Brukenthal. Sibiu pours money into culture and cherishes its heritage of medieval façades and grand cobblestoned squares. Exploring its cat-blessed passageways is half the fun, particularly when the Christmas market is in full swing. And while the town is on the small side, it has room for tourists and locals to mingle in comfort. Fantastic restaurants, including gastro-brewery Kombinat, await with few queues.

Australia’s smallest state has it all. One of the world’s only carbon-negative places, much of the island is protected under the Tasmania Wilderness World Heritage Area, home to over 800 hiking trails. And despite Tassie’s white sand beaches, it’s not just a summer destination – the off-season brings cold-water swimming, the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) and winter festivals like Dark Mofo. In fact, there’s no shortage of culture: check out the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart or explore the UNESCO-listed village of Port Arthur. Farm-to-table restaurants Stillwater and Havilah, both in Launceston, are well worth booking, and you can easily spend an afternoon on the island’s cider, wine and whisky trails around Devonport, Hobart and the Huon Valley. Make sure you stop by Bruny Island to say hi to the local penguins.

There’s a number of reasons Chile’s Cochamó Valley gets compared to Yosemite. Granite mountains with snowy caps feed a wealth of waterfalls, numerous hikes and climbs keep even the most adventurous happy, and pristine forests throng with fascinating fauna. But, unlike Yosemite, visitor numbers are capped at just 90 people per day. Walk the same trails as those that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid once drove cattle along from nearby Argentina. Stay in Refugio Cochamó, the basic but cosy lodging at the valley’s core, a day’s hike from the nearest road.

There aren't many places in Australia where a city sits right on the shore of a beautiful surf beach, but Newcastle isn’t ordinary. This low-rise New South Wales city is a two-hour drive (or 2.5-hour train trip) north of Sydney. It started out as a coal-mining and port town, and then became a surfers’ haven, but it’s evolved into so much more – it’s now packed with hip cafés, world-class restaurants, live music venues and glorious coastal walks. Spend summer days at Nobbys Beach or swimming in the open-air Merewether Ocean Baths. Take a walk up to Nobbys Lighthouse, and then around to harbour precinct Honeysuckle. At sunset, we’d recommend having a cocktail up at the QT Hotel’s rooftop bar, before heading to one of the area’s best restaurants, Flotilla, which heroes beautiful local produce and wine. In Newcastle you get the best of a relaxed beach escape and buzzing city break in one.

Many Antarctic cruises visit historic Port Lockroy. You’ll want to ensure, however, your itinerary includes Argentina’s Brown Station. Unlike Port Lockroy, Brown is located on the actual Antarctic continent. When stepping ashore you’ll be sharing 5.5 million square miles of land with just a few thousand other humans, plus millions of penguins (many of which will be there to meet you). From the station you may spot seals or orca, and you’ll definitely get frosty views of aptly named Paradise Bay, one of the White Continent’s most stupendous scenes.

For a relatively small city (although Ecuador’s third largest), Cuenca packs a mighty punch when it comes to culture. It’s an architectural beauty whose historic centre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. It’s home to many artisans and artists, who showcase their work at the city’s annual arts festival, the Bienal de Cuenca. It’s a hub of traditional crafts – it’s here that the renowned Panama hat (actually called a Montecristi) is made, and travellers can visit workshops to see the intricate hat-making process in full swing. Often overlooked in favour of Ecuador’s more accessible cities like Quito or the bucket list-tickable Galápagos, Cuenca is a picturesque showstopper worth travelling up the Andes mountains for.

While tourists flock to watch the sunset in overcrowded Santorini or bronze back-to-back on Mykonos’s packed beaches, Greeks in the know take the four-hour ferry ride from Rhodes to the tiny Dodecanese island of Karpathos. Do the same and you’ll find yourself chilling on a string of near-deserted beaches lapped by pristine waters and frequented by Mediterranean monk seals. Lap up local food in the tavernas of Olympos, a mountain village that feels frozen in time, where women still wear colourful traditional outfits and donkeys are the only traffic.

The tourist towns of Tulum and Cancún tend to dominate dialogue about Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, while Lake Bacalar – also known as the Lagoon of Seven Colours thanks to its forget-me-not, peacock and cyan waters – is often overlooked. It makes for a welcome change of pace, where you can take in all the beauty this corner of Mexico has to offer away from the influencers and spring breakers. Kayak to white-sand beaches, relax on the docks while spotting migratory birds, swim in cenotes and bed down in a spate of new eco-hotels, including dreamy Boca de Agua, located in its own nature reserve.

Arguably Europe’s most underrated destination, Bosnia and Herzegovina is packed with charming towns, and Srebrenik (87 miles north of Sarajevo) is as charming as it gets. The ‘King’s Town’ is home to Bosnia’s best-preserved medieval fortress, a fascinating twelfth-century structure overlooking the valley, packed with myths and legends. The peak of Majevica offers incredible views, while the relatively-recently-discovered Lake Ingram oozes romance. Add delicious food, vibrant cafés and graceful mosques, and you’ve got a darling waiting to be discovered.

Cast adrift in the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa, the volcanic islands of São Tomé and Príncipe together make up the second-smallest country in Africa, and remain one of the unsung beauties of African travel. A declared UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, here lush rainforests tumble into clear tropical waters, offering a wealth of nature-based adventures. There’s a rich cultural landscape to discover too, from the island’s history as the world’s largest cacao producer to charming overnight stays in traditional plantation rocas. In 2024, look out for the long-awaited reopening of Bom Bom Resort on the northern tip of Príncipe, a tropical haven that straddles forest and coast.

A colourful beach town on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico, Cabo Rojo is home to all the white sands and turquoise seas you expect from a Caribbean getaway. It’s three hours by car from San Juan with a laidback vibe that feels light years away from the hustle and bustle of the capital. There are plenty of beaches to choose from, like Combate Beach, with a natural reserve separating the beach from the town, Buyé, an off-the-beaten-path beach you may share with local horses, and Boquerón, a lively beach village with restaurants and bars. Void of big resorts, you can find small family-owned inns and vacation rentals such as the family-friendly Combate Beach Resort or the luxury Cuatro Casitas. End your day sipping a passion fruit mojito with a view of the sunset the west coast of Puerto Rico is known for.

While most travellers to Zimbabwe will make a beeline for the majestic Victoria Falls or the renowned Hwange National Park, the country’s eastern border is home to a place of equally astonishing beauty that has remained relatively unknown. Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands comprise the three hilly ranges of Bvumba, Nyanga, and Chimanimani. It’s home to Mutarazi Falls, Zimbabwe’s highest waterfall, where you can zipline and attempt the dizzying skywalk; Mount Nyangani, the region’s highest peak and holy grail for hikers; and further to the south, the quiet, mist-laden Bvumba Mountains. With its steep hills, cool winds and scenic drives, this is Zimbabwe’s answer to the moors of Scotland.

Located in Victoria’s eastern corner (around a 4.5-hour drive from Melbourne), Gippsland is a bountiful wonderland encompassing alpine roads, snaking waterways, fertile farmland and deserted stretches of white-sand beaches. Devastated by the bushfires of summer 2019-20 (which saw towns isolated for weeks, the local wildlife population decimated and more than 400,000 hectares of land burned) and then further impacted by the global pandemic, Gippsland’s recovery has been slow and steady. But with natural attractions aplenty, one-of-a-kind villages and a fast-growing food and drink scene that’s all about championing local produce (think seafood, cheeses, free-range meats, cool-climate wines and organic fruit), there’s truly never been a better time to visit this Victorian gem.

There’s a longstanding rivalry between the Finnish cities of Turku and Helsinki – and rightly so. Turku, the country’s second city and historic capital (a title it gave up in 1812) is every bit as spectacular as Helsinki. Nicknamed the ‘Paris of Finland’ thanks to its waterside charms on the Aura River and thriving café and canteen culture, Turku is also Finland’s oldest city (teeming with medieval attractions like its castle and cathedral) and a hub for green innovation. Our tip: go on a local produce-tasting tour on an electric boat and soar down the Aura in style.

Of all of the -villes I’ve visited (and there are many), Bentonville is by far my favourite. It’s surprising how much this charming little Arkansas city packs in. There are numerous biking, walking and hiking trails, including some that feed into Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. This designated mountain biking area features areas for shredding and relaxing – don’t miss Airship Coffee, a truly unique open-air café in the woods. But it’s the culture that drew me to Bentonville, specifically the awe-inspiring Crystal Bridges Museum of Art. The mostly free institution (there’s a fee for temporary exhibitions) houses an extensive collection of modern art, including works by Yayoi Kusama, James Turrell and, currently, singer-writer Jewel, whose immersive art experience ‘The Portal’ is a must-see.

Considering how crowded the beaches can get in neighbouring Bali, it’s astonishing that more people don’t make the short trip over to the island of Lombok. The south’s white-sand beaches see more slow-moving buffalo than traffic, while Instagrammers are a rare breed in the east’s terraced rice fields. Up north, the majestic Mount Rinjani (Indonesia’s second tallest active volcano) offers tough climbs and epic views. For the non-hikers, lush rainforests and thundering waterfalls beckon. And with the island recovering from the double blow of a large earthquake and the pandemic, there’s never been a time when your visit will be more appreciated.