When it comes to travel bucket lists, big cities like Paris or London are definitely at the top. And it’s no wonder why – these interesting places are rich with culture and energy, and they don’t leave any reason for you to get bored there. But what if you were able to explore more areas where radar is not used? What if you went to an unspoiled wonder of the world that only the lucky ones get to experience?
If these questions have been running through your mind lately, you’ve come to the right place. Many Reddit users decided to discover some of the most underrated, undiscovered, and mysterious places that people don’t often talk about. And travel enthusiasts immediately took the opportunity to share their insider knowledge. Unexpectedly, they have transformed these online threads into a fascinating treasure trove for globetrotters trying to experience something different.
Below, we at Bored Panda have collected some of the best responses in one brilliant collection for you to enjoy. So take your notes and get ready to plan your next adventure! Share your favorite travel spots, and tell us all about the hidden gems you know in the comments below!
Psst! More unexplored places can be found by experienced travelers in our first program here.
Poland after Krakow. It wasn’t on my radar before I moved to Germany and started going there everyday since it’s close to home, but WOW. Poland has everything. Cool towns, good food, beautiful castles and countryside, interesting history. It doesn’t really get the tourist it deserves, although I like that the main sights aren’t overrun with other tourists.
gypsyblue , Report by Tim Adams
Tasmania When people travel to Australia they think of beaches and rivers. It has HUGE rainforests, beautiful islands, and one of the largest Antarctic ports in the world, Hobart.
It’s not surprising that it’s a little more popular with Europeans, but Malta is almost unheard of among Americans and is an interesting place to visit. Cheap, attractive, beautiful weather all year round. I was there last month and there are a number of tourists around the main sites in Valetta, but in reality there is almost no one once you go even a little off the beaten path.
Northern Spain. Amazing beauty at a fraction of the cost of similar places in Europe. You can spend two months exploring the Basque Country, Asturias, Cantabria, and Galicia alone. Driving around the Picos de Europa is a great experience, and you can drive between rural mountain towns to coastal towns in less than an hour. Great public transport to rural areas in the Basque Country as well.
digitall565, Radu Micu Report
Bhutan is innocent. The government has a good system where you travel in the country you need to pay the daily fee. It is easy to solve the tourism problem that plagues countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The cost means Bhutan is not cheap for backpackers and your average teenager. The country is beautiful, the scenery is magical, and the people are beautiful. I traveled for 12 nights and had a guide the whole time, which allowed me to forget about gear and spend my time in fear. Tigers Nest (probably the most famous tourist spot in Bhutan) was amazing. The whole trip is good for disconnecting, too.
Thrill_Monster, Report by Bernard Gagnon
** POLAND *** My boyfriend and I visited Poland over Christmas and had a great time. We will definitely come back. – Cracow is beautiful. It has all the amenities of a modern city, but beautiful old buildings, horse-drawn carriages, walking streets.- The Christmas market in Cracow was amazing. Food is good. The little tchtches were great. It makes us feel Super Christmasy.- Loads to do. Cultural activities, museums, fun bars, amazing shopping. In Zakopane there are fun trips, playground for adults, seasonal hot springs, skiing. Everything! – Food is killing. Pierogies are life. Mushroom soup is a food group. – amazing vodka. – The mountains in southern Poland (around Zakopane) are beautiful. Lots of awesome streams, waterfalls, amazing views of the valley. – Really inexpensive. Maybe $60 for a fine dining experience with several courses and wine. $4 for a 3 hour bus ride. – Super nice (and friendly) people. Everyone was so kind and helpful. It is a big difference from brusk Western Europe. – Not super touristy. We rarely see many other tourists. Even though many things were translated into English, we never felt like a part of the guest experience.
My boyfriend and I visited Poland over Christmas and had a great time. We will definitely come back.
– Cracow is beautiful. It has all the amenities of a modern city, but beautiful old buildings, horse-drawn carriages, walking streets.- The Christmas market in Cracow was amazing. Food is good. The little tchtches were great. It makes us feel Super Christmasy.- Loads to do. Cultural activities, museums, fun bars, amazing shopping. In Zakopane there are fun trips, playground for adults, seasonal hot springs, skiing. Everything! – Food is killing. Pierogies are life. Mushroom soup is a food group. – amazing vodka. – The mountains in southern Poland (around Zakopane) are beautiful. Lots of awesome streams, waterfalls, amazing views of the valley. – Really inexpensive. Maybe $60 for a fine dining experience with several courses and wine. $4 for a 3 hour bus ride. – Super nice (and friendly) people. Everyone was so kind and helpful. It is a big difference from brusk Western Europe. – Not super touristy. We rarely see many other tourists. Even though many things were translated into English, we never felt like a part of the guest experience.
Bologna, Italy. Definitely the city’s best food in arguably the country’s best food. I will never forget the tortellini al brodo, tagliatelle al ragù, and pannacotta I made there. I also like to walk up to Madonna di San Luca and see the amazing view
Belize.Besides Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker is not a big tourist. There is everything from the second largest barrier in the world to dense forests. It’s cheap, the people are very friendly, and it’s safe. I lived in Belize for a while and loved it.
After Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker it is not a big tourist attraction. There is everything from the second largest barrier in the world to dense forests. It’s cheap, the people are very friendly, and it’s safe. I lived in Belize for a while and loved it.
salty_shark , Report by Seann McAuliffe
Sri Lanka! The pearl of the Indian Ocean with its natural beauty and history. Partners with delicious foods and spices. Sandy beach with coconut palm trees. Wild life with elephants.
chantruad , rawpixel report
My wife and I went to Puerto Rico last year for our wedding. It’s easy to get there – it feels like cheating. Old San Juan is beautiful and we also spent time on the islands to the east, Culebra and Vieques. I want to go back and spend more time on Culebra. It was very laid back and there was a lot of suspense on the beach.
Borneo (esp. Kalimantan). Most people visit Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, most of Java, and Bali. Not as many people go to Borneo, and of those who visit Borneo, most stay in Malaysia and only a few enter Kalimantan (the Indonesian part of Borneo). Rainforest, orangutans, tigers, and beaches, and it’s less crowded than Bali!
Thrill_Monster, Cloudtail Report
Ljubljana, Slovenia. It’s beautiful and full of friendship. The first night I went to dinner with two people I met at our hostel and the owner of the restaurant served us traditional Slovenian beer. It was like a really strong cherry brandy just so strong that we struggled to get it down. After he finished, he would come smiling and refill it. This happened all night long and after we finished eating we had to leave money on the table and run before he gave us more drinks. In hindsight it sounds a bit rude on our part but I think he was laughing at us and it was all in good fun. I found Ljubljana very interesting – imagine Paris if Paris was still a small city of 300,000 people so no one was trying to do it. a trophy for you as a tourist. There is also a large building overlooking the city. It’s good.
The first night I went to dinner with two people I met at our hostel and the owner of the restaurant served us traditional Slovenian beer. It was like a really strong cherry brandy just so strong that we struggled to get it down. After he finished, he would come smiling and refill it. This happened all night long and after we finished eating we had to leave money on the table and run before he gave us more drinks. In retrospect it sounds a bit rude on our part but I think he was laughing at us and it was all in good fun.
I found Ljubljana very interesting – think of Paris if Paris was still a small city of 300,000 people so no one was trying to catch you as a tourist. There is also a large building overlooking the city. It’s good.
Riga, Latvia. Great people and culture, beautiful streets and buildings to explore. You can rent a car and go out to the bobsleigh track or get the train to the beach. If you are in Europe you can find a cheap Ryanair flight there. I recommend going during the Baltic beer festival.
ooSuitsyousir , Report by Diego Delso
I would say Alaska, but not by boat. I lived in a small town 3 hours from Anchorage and had the time of my life. An untouched forest. Mind blown. Moses walked along the riverbank while we fished and orcas swam close to our boat when we went to the Kenai Fjords.
Crobs02, Steve Lyon reports
Albania! Greece’s less famous neighbor. Beautiful beaches, delicious and cheap food, tons of gems to discover. Bottom line: speaking English is not their thing, so maybe brush up on some Italian or here are some useful words I’ve learned 🙂
looneylionness, Report by Steve Kellett
Western Sichuan, China. People flock to Tibet every year, shelling out money for special Tibetan visas and needing to travel there in tour groups. Worse, all this money goes to support the government or the tourism industry that supports it. Sichuan province borders Tibet, and its western regions have thousands of years of history. It has a Tibetan tradition, and in the Himalayan mountains. Best of all: no permits, freedom to roam, and your money goes to supporting local people.
Sichuan province borders Tibet, and its western regions have thousands of years of history. It has a Tibetan tradition, and in the Himalayan mountains. Best of all: no permits, freedom to roam, and your money goes to supporting local people.
catstevenseagal , CEphoto, Report by Uwe Aranas
I haven’t traveled far, but one of my most amazing experiences in recent years has been the Istria region in northern Croatia. The Germans knew all about it, but other than that I didn’t notice many other non-Crotians. the interior is full of countryside, with interesting hill towns, such as [Motovun](http://en.istria-guide.hr/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Motovun_General_view_01.jpg).Good place for Foodies and History Nerds, and the weather is great too.
[Rovinj](http://www.rovinj-cocaletto.com/img/rovinj.jpg) is like a fairy tale, and its interior is lush, with charming hill towns, like [Motovun]( http:/ /en.istria-guide.hr/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Motovun_General_view_01.jpg).
A good place for Food and History Seekers, and the weather is good too.
I was amazed by Busan and South Korea in general. A bold juxtaposition of old/super modern and chaotic/modern. I’m not sure how it works but it works and it’s better than other big cities. The weather, food, and people are great.
FallofftheMap, Report by Ken Eckert
As I have said many times on reddit.Oman is not a party place but if you want the outdoors it has it. Walk? Check out Camping? Check out Dune bashing? See miles and miles of untouched beach? CheckHidden Oasis’? See Hell, they even have rainforests. The people are among the nicest in the world and the food is great. He is still under the radar and people are afraid to come because he is in the middle east but he is safe. Omanis don’t buy into this stereotype so it doesn’t spread there. What a f****n place it is.
It’s not a party place but if you want outside it has it.
Miles and miles of untouched beaches? Look
Hell, they even have rainforests.
The people are among the nicest in the world and the food is great. He is still under the radar and people are afraid to come because he is in the middle east but he is safe. Omanis don’t buy into this stereotype so it doesn’t spread there.
Kolipe, mariusz kluzniak Report
If you’re an outdoorsy person, you’ll find heaven in Baños, Ecuador. There is easy access to biking, white water rafting, bridge jumping, canyoning, zip lines, amazing water, and views. And there is also a good night life. I would also recommend Mindo, which is in the cloud forest of Ecuador. Ecuador is on the US dollar and everything is very cheap.
thatdirtywater, Kelly Report
Vilnius, Lithuania – My husband was amazed at how beautiful, cool, and well-dressed the people of Vilnius were. The city is very beautiful – it is very clean and has beautiful baroque architecture.
Nepal, it’s amazing. It’s like taking a vacation 700 years ago. The people were very friendly. The food is delicious. I stayed in Vajra. Which is west of Kathmandu. It’s at the same latitude as Atlanta, so in the winter it’s in the seventies there. The main event was a trip, I flew to Lukla (the most dangerous airport in the world). The last day of my Northern jaunt was to Tengboche Monasary. It is in the Kumbu Valley. Looking over the valley is Ama Dablum to the right. Lhotse and Nupste are in front and the peak of Everest is visible behind the Lhotse hill. F**k, I’ve seen the top of the world. I’ll be back in a heartbeat. I didn’t mention the rhododendrons. I was on the second floor at Vajra. There was a Rhodi who passed us to the third floor. It was much hotter than I expected.
Go to Lebanon for amazing food, beautiful people, nightlife, and beautiful places in the country. The food too! I went to Israel, which is surprising in itself, but I enjoyed Lebanon more.
Bordeaux is so amazing. The food, atmosphere and wine are amazing and it’s cheaper and friendlier than Paris. In fact, all the “second cities” of France really surprised me. And I love Paris.
Istria, a Croatian island on the border with Italy. The northern Adriatic generally doesn’t seem to get as much love as the south.
I would definitely recommend Giethoorn, Netherlands. It is basically a small village where you can go with a silent boat through the canals and just enjoy the view. In summer it is crowded but I like it and there are restaurants on the side where you can have something to drink. You definitely have to go if you are in the Netherlands where most tourists don’t know. [Image](http://www.paintballgiethoorn.nl/attachments/Image/m1ezs6qaemw6_2.jpg?template=generic) Edit: it’s also cheap, €15 for an hour.
Edit: It’s also very cheap, €15 for an hour.
Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina. I had never heard anything about it until I planned my trip, but it was probably the best place I ended up going to last summer. it’s in a beautiful area full of interesting wartime and pre-war history, and the hostels I stayed in offered amazing tours of the city and its surroundings.
I had never heard of it until I planned my trip, but it was definitely the best place I ended up going to last summer. it’s in a beautiful area full of interesting wartime and pre-war history, and the hostels I stayed in offered amazing tours of the city and its surroundings.
I don’t know how under the radar it is, but Budapest is a beautiful and affordable city.
Vienna — I didn’t have high expectations but the city is beautiful. Better than Paris IMHO. Carpets, museums, buildings, even the subway is probably the cleanest I’ve seen in Europe. In addition, during the summer, they host a free art festival where they broadcast some opera on a big screen with street food and beer.
Note: This post originally had 74 photos. It was narrowed down to the top 30 photos based on user votes.
