12 Underrated Destinations You Must Have On Your Travel List

With tourism ever-growing, you might think the world would run out of undervisited places. Instead, what I find is that the masses mostly just continue to pile into the already-top-destinations while giving little consideration to any of the alternatives.

Well, that’s great news if you’re looking for somewhere a bit more original to go to. There are still plenty of travel destinations where you can escape the crowds, and I’ll be sharing a few of my favorites here.

Mind you, this isn’t a list trying to compete for the most obscure and unforgiving places on Earth. I have no doubt that war-torn Sudan is super authentic or that the flowers are lovely in springtime in Afghanistan. However, here I’ll highlight places that:

• Are really fun, interesting and can surprise you in all the best ways
• Have good safety and good tourism infrastructure in place

Something I’ve learned is that finding underrated gems isn’t always about the country you choose but the region within it. Staggeringly underexplored areas are often found right beside some of the most overtouristed ones. You can benefit from the inexpensive flights and easy visas to tourism hotspots, then forge a different path all of your own.

Alright, here are a few ideas…

Mexico (yep, really!)

I was once asked at a travel meetup about the most off-the-beaten-path trip I’d been on recently. Just to see their reaction I said “Mexico”… and it was clear everyone thought I was clueless.

Well, hear me out.

For sure, Cabo, Oaxaca, Puerto Vallarta, the Yucatan, CDMX — these are all major tourism hubs. They’re wonderful, but they’re definitely ‘rated’.

However, Mexico has so many other regions to explore that are not in the typical Top 10 while being reassuringly charming and authentic.

If you’re a travel freak wanting to see a different side of Mexico, I recommend hitting up Veracruz state. It’s as safe as the popular areas, but due to the Gulf of Mexico (yes, Mexico) being less appealing than the Carribean Coast, resort tourism never really took off here. This kept the region delightfully low-key and perfect for a more culture-focused trip.

My personal highlight was El Tajin, the ruins of a Precolumbian city easily as impressive as Chichen Itza but with zero crowds whatsoever. Other highlights include the friendly city of Xalapa and Catemaco Lake.

Check my vlog to see if you might like this destination:

I should say that very few foreign tourists go to Veracruz, so you mostly have to figure things out on your own. Some Spanish knowledge will be very useful.

Chiapas State is another fascinating and somewhat underrated area, especially the towns of San Cristobal de Las Casas and Palenque, which I wrote some in-depth guides to. Chiapas does see a steady stream of travellers and San Cristobal is a minor expat/nomad hub, but the level of authenticity is miles beyond what you can expect in Cancun or similar. I think it’s a great choice for an easy-to-travel-but-underrated region. (Just avoid the border areas near Guatemala, which aren’t very safe right now.)

Cape Verde

Alright, now let me mention a country that as a whole can be considered a hidden gem.

Unknown to many, Cape Verde is a wonderland of hiking trails (especially the island of Santo Antao), volcanic landscapes, reefs teeming with life, cities with music-filled streets, and positive vibes. I loved my time here and would go back in a heartbeat.

It’s an incredible island-hopping destination during winter, with sun and balmy temperatures when the northern parts of the globe are grey. Culturally, you’ll find an interesting mix of African and European influences, thanks to Cape Verde’s diaspora in the US, Portugal, Netherlands, and elsewhere. (This also makes it somewhat of a multi-lingual place. When picking up a local hitchhiker, I didn’t expect to have a conversation in my native Dutch!)

While it’s off the west coast of Africa, Cape Verde is very safe, highly welcoming, and has the highest democracy index on the continent.

Don’t miss my 7 reasons why Cape Verde should be your next travel obsession!

Bulgaria

This Balkan country doesn’t seem to catch the international spotlight very much, except for some quiet buzz among digital nomads for being an affordable place to live.

I went on a two-week train journey through Bulgaria in 2024 and found it delightfully charming and underexplored. Despite visiting in the July summer high season, there was little evidence of this outside of the Black Sea coast at all, often having epic sights almost all to myself.

At the crossroads of history, Bulgaria has numerous fascinating remnants of the Roman, Ottoman, and Bulgarian empires to see, including some of the most impressive ancient forts I’ve seen in Eastern Europe. There’s also plenty of gorgeous nature to enjoy, with some fantastic mountain hiking trails and mindblowing caves to explore.

Bulgaria felt to me like a diamond-in-the-rough that’s sure to reward the curious traveller. The best way to get a sense of what to expect is to check my vlog below.

Indonesia

I’ve seen a statistic that over 60% of international visitors to Indonesia go to just one place: the resort island of Bali. Considering that Bali represents only 0.03% of its surface area but commands nearly all of the attention, we can conclude that pretty much all of non-Bali Indonesia is insanely overlooked.

I’ve now made three big backpacking trips in Indonesia, and by far, my favourite areas have been the ones outside of the overcommercialized and overhyped Bali.

Don’t get me wrong: Bali can be pretty fun if you want to party, or if you’re a digital nomad wanting to have an easy life. But it’s definitely overcrowded, overdeveloped, and utterly Westernized. (There are hidden gems even in Bali, but you have to really zig where others zag.)

For an easy alternative, consider the neighboring islands of Lombok or Java. If you really want the feeling of being on your own adventure, hit up the islands of Flores or Sulawesi. You’ll find unspoiled nature, dreamy beaches, small authentic towns, and many friendly cities where the star attraction is probably you. (Never have I had as many pictures taken with me by locals as in Indonesia!)

I’ve been publishing a video series from Sulawesi on YouTube that will give you a clear idea of what to expect. It’s a very large island and the travel logistics can be quite a bit more involved, but there are so many amazing jewels to be unearthed.

Georgia & Armenia

It may be going through a tumultuous time right now as it tries to decide whether to be Western or Russia-aligned, but this doesn’t take anything away from Georgia (the country) being a wonderful travel destination.

It defied what I’d expected from a post-Soviet state, with its capital Tbilisi being wonderfully charming and filled with life. Meanwhile, the Caucasus mountain range is home to some spectacular hikes and traditional Georgian villages with ancient defence towers.

Neighbouring Armenia is poorer and lacks as developed tourist infrastructure, though it’s perfectly paired with Georgia in a single itinerary. I loved the cafe culture of Yerevan and Armenia’s numerous monasteries, some of which were built inside caves. I also happened to visit Armenia during Vardavar, a water festival during which seemingly the entire populace battles it out with hoses and buckets in the streets (including, to my amazement, the police and fire department!).

Don’t miss my reasons why I loved traveling in Armenia.

Albania

Albania was the world’s fastest-growing tourism destination between 2019 and 2024, with visitor numbers rising by over 100%. However, this is from a small base and seems to be focused on the coastline, which gained some (rather overoptimistic) hype on social media as being the ‘Maldives of Europe’. (Ummm… not really.)

While a trending destination, I still consider Albania mostly overlooked, especially when considering the interior away from the beaches.

One of the fascinating aspects of Albania is its history. For a long time, it was known as the ‘North Korea of Europe’, as it was completely isolated from the world during its decades under dictatorship. It led to Albania developing on a different track to neighboring countries like Greece or Italy, while already having a totally distinct culture with a unique language. (Today, Albania is a democracy and emerging economy.)

I especially loved hiking through Albania’s Alps and exploring old towns from the Ottoman Era. And despite being almost completely modern, the capital Tirana has a whirling creative energy that took me totally by surprise.

I went in 2021 and am planning a return visit to check out the Vjosa Wild River National Park, a new protected area around one of Europe’s last truly wild rivers, which is an emerging ecotourism destination backed by Patagonia and other organizations.

All that said, Albania is much less developed than the rest of Europe, which can shock some visitors not used to this. Check my pros and cons of Albania for some perspectives.

Colombia

Colombia has become a much-loved backpacker destination, casting off outdated perceptions and becoming far more known for its colorful culture than the Pablo Escobar bogeyman (just so we’re clear, Colombia today is nothing like what it was in the 1990s). However, I’ve noticed that 90% of the itineraries are focused only on Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena, and Salento — and while they’re great, there is so much more to experience!

Two areas in particular I love to highlight for having solid safety levels while also having so much to discover.

One is the Zona Cafetera, the coffee-growing region at the heart of Colombia, where you can hop between towns where ranchers and coffee growers go about their daily business. Instead of only visiting Salento, a town known for its impressive palm tree landscapes, you can cast a much wider net and spend several days to a week exploring charming colonial towns, staying in traditional coffee haciendas, and doing adventure activities like zip-lining, rafting, and paragliding.

Another great place to go is the Pacific Coast. The bad news is that it rains there basically all the time. It’s literally one of the wettest places on Earth. The upside? It’s filled with raw and unspoiled nature, from huge pods of Humpback whales to nesting sea turtles. The Afro-Colombian culture is also very different from other areas of the country.

If you’re less into remote adventures, an easy area for a family- or backpacker holiday is the north around Santa Marta, especially the mountain town of Minca and the beach towns east of Tayrona National Park.

Areas with a high tourist factor include the old town of Cartagena and the hip district of Poblado in Medellin, but as a whole Colombia remains a highly underrated destination.

I’ve written a ton about Colombia based on 3 months combined of travelling there, so if you’re thinking of a trip there, be sure to dive into my travel guides.

Laos

The landlocked Asian country of Laos is often overlooked in favor of tropical beach destinations like Thailand or Malaysia. But it’s easily one of my favorite countries in the region — home to great cuisine, unspoiled rainforests, ancient temples, and many sleepy rural villages. 

Older backpackers have told me that Laos today is much like what Thailand was 20 or 30 years ago and it certainly feels like it. Laos may lack the buzzing metropolises of Thailand or Vietnam and it may not be as developed as its neighbors, but that is exactly its charm.

Don’t miss the Gibbon Experience, an ecotourism project home to dizzyingly tall tree huts in the middle of jungles of Nam Kan National Park. You can not only stay the night in the treehuts, but also zip around between tree huts using a combined 15 kilometers (9 miles) of zip lines. 

Transylvania

If you ask me, Transylvania is one of the most beautiful and interesting regions in Europe. (Yes, it’s the setting of the Dracula novel! But it’s also a real place.)

From the delightful historical cities of Brașov and Sighisoara, to its wild nature still home to bears and wolves, it’s a raw little slice of Europe. 

It is in fact a region of Romania, though I noticed some people still have preconceptions about this country (especially in the UK where I used to live). For the record, Romania has nothing to do with crime or ‘gypsies’ (those are Roma people, not Romanians!). It’s a growing European economy that has done a great deal to make itself welcoming to tourists. Just travel in Romania and you’ll see for yourself what a friendly and gorgeous country it is. And if you’re looking for Medieval charm, simply start in Transylvania.

For some inspiration, check out my 5 reasons why I loved traveling Romania, or my tips for planning a road trip through Transylvania.

Bolivia

Bolivia, I suppose, is not for everyone. This landlocked country at the heart of South America is one of its poorest and hands down has some of its worst infrastructure. If you’re expecting a nice holiday in Bolivia with every possible convenience, you might not like it. (Some people I went on a tour with in the remote Atacama desert complained there was no wine or WiFi… and they hated their trip!)

But if you’re up for an adventure, I’m telling you Bolivia is 100% where you need to go.

It’s where I did some of the most epic things in South America, from exploring the salt flats of Uyuni in a jeep for several days, to mountainbiking down the infamous ‘Death Road’, or simply hiking through the Andes away from the crowds typically found in Peru. I even loved Bolivia so much that I stayed in Sucre for a month to learn Spanish.

Bolivia works really well as an add-on to Peru. You can spend a week in Cusco and Machu Picchu, which may be crowded but often considered obligatory, then go to Bolivia for a more raw experience away from mass tourism.

I put together a guide to backpacking in Bolivia, which will tell you all the key things you need to know.

The Philippines

Looking for perfect tropical beaches, amazing snorkelling, and world-class surf spots? Then the Philippines is simply the place to go.

The island of Palawan has become more well-known in recent years, and the surfer island of Siargao is on the rise as well. But with over 7,000 islands in the Philippines, there is always some new corner to discover. I think the islands of Cebu, Bohol, Luzon are highly underrated travel destinations, among countless others.

What probably stops the Philippines from being much more popular with (Western) travelers is that it doesn’t quite conform to the stereotypical image of Asia — there are no Buddhist temples or spicy stir-frys here.

However, the country has such a fascinating mix of cultural influences, having been once colonized by both Spain and the USA. And since so many Filipinos speak English, you can have a lot more contact with the locals. This has easily led to some of my most memorable local and cultural experiences in Asia.

For some tips on where to go, check out my backpacker’s guide to the Philippines.

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So there you have it, just a few of my personal favorite destinations. And remember that finding hidden gems is not just about the country, but your chosen destinations within it! I hope this post has given you some new threads to pull on for researching your next trip.

Have some underrated destinations of your own to recommend? I always love to hear suggestions in the comments. Or been to some of my suggestions and disagree? I’d like to hear from you too!