The 24 most underrated travel destinations in the world

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. Stay the night under the stars in your own ger and don’t be surprised if nomadic herders stop by to welcome you.

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.

If the Devon city of Plymouth were any smaller, it’d be considered a jewel of a day-trip destination. If it were any bigger, it simply couldn’t be overlooked. Perhaps because of its middling size, it’s slipped under the radar, and that’s pretty unfair, if you ask us. Like art? The Box is a brilliant, recently opened gallery that celebrates local artists. Like architecture? You’ll be dazzled by the newly done-up Market Hall, which also has its own ‘immersive art dome’. Like swimming? Few pools are more spectacular than the Tinside Lido. Like gin? England’s oldest distillery is smack bang in the historic city centre. Book a room at the Bistrot Pierre B&B, in the revamped Royal William Yard, and you’ve lined up pretty much the perfect weekend away.

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.

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.

It was the arrival of the railway in 1854 that made Bray, just twelve miles south of Dublin, so popular it became known as the Brighton of Ireland. After years of decline, its mile-long Victorian seafront now buzzes with cafés and restaurants. Stroll from the harbour along the esplanade to the 800-foot high Bray Head, worth the hour’s climb for panoramic views from its rocky summit. Refuel at Butler & Ba​​rry on the beach, before a Guinness at ace local institution the Harbour Bar.