Map of Unusual Holiday Dstinations 2020
Map of unusual holiday destinations
I marked down all the undiscovered destinations and hidden gems in Europe and across the globe on the map below to make it extra easy for you to travel off the beaten path in 2020!
Hidden Gems in Europe
I already showed you some really cool places to visit in Europe last year – and here are some more hidden gems in Europe! It’s actually pretty easy to travel off the beaten path in Europe thanks to the Schengen Area allowing you to travel to multiple unusual holiday destinations without having to apply for multiple visa!
Saareemaa Island (Estonia)
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Saareemaa Island is one of the hidden gems in Europe
What makes this place a hidden gem in Europe?
What Finisterre is to Spain is what Saaremaa is to Estonia, or at least it feels like it to get there….and it has the high cliffs, remote lighthouses and its own meteor crater to boot.
The major refurbished castle (within walking distance of the only town) on the island is more than 600+ years old. It hosts an eclectic array of permanent exhibitions ranging from local village costumes, badges and medals to the 20th-century war-time artefacts that have shaped the recent generations into hardened, proud people wanting to preserve their culture and local language.
And if you visit during the winter months and there are great reasons to, you can observe the Steller´s Eider – the most endangered sea duck in Europe – as well as Long-tailed Ducks, Goldeneyes, Goosanders and often White-tailed Eagles nearby. And then during other seasons, you’ll see deer, moose, bears and wolves – hopefully all from a safe distance.
Kuressaare, the largest town on the island with a population of only 14,000 hosts is also renown as a spa resort destination – in fact, more spas than anywhere else in Estonia. You can stay at the hotels associated with the spa facilities or drop in for a day visit.
For a more active holiday, the island boasts a variety of adrenaline-based activities and some more gentle hikes and bike trails to suit all ages and fitness levels. Fancy trying your hand at mastering the unofficial national Estonian sport of kiiking?
With the energy all burnt up, you can always retreat to several great local restaurants for the culinary experiences. Retro in the heart of Kuressaare served delicious fresh food with pride and passion.
With so much on offer, it’s little wonder that this unspoilt gem of an island is starting to become THE secret holiday destination to travel off the beaten path for so many Eastern Europeans!
Kuressaare, the largest town on the island with a population of only 14,000 hosts is also renown as a spa resort destination – in fact, more spas than anywhere else in Estonia. You can stay at the hotels associated with the spa facilities or drop in for a day visit.
For a more active holiday, the island boasts a variety of adrenaline-based activities and some more gentle hikes and bike trails to suit all ages and fitness levels. Fancy trying your hand at mastering the unofficial national Estonian sport of kiiking?
With the energy all burnt up, you can always retreat to several great local restaurants for the culinary experiences. Retro in the heart of Kuressaare served delicious fresh food with pride and passion.
With so much on offer, it’s little wonder that this unspoilt gem of an island is starting to become THE secret holiday destination to travel off the beaten path for so many Eastern Europeans!
Top five things to do in Saaremaa Island
- Visit Saaremaa Museum (part of Kuressaare Castle)
- Walk around and into the Kaali Meteor
- Crater Hike to the Panga Cliffs
- Climb into a 100 year old windmill and see how they work
- Pamper yourself with a spa treatment in Kuressaare
Click to find out more about this unusual holiday destination
Zermatt (Switzerland)
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What makes this place a hidden gem in Europe?
No matter what time of year you choose to come, Zermatt is one of the most stunning mountain towns in the alps.
It is situated at the end of a picturesque valley in the south of Switzerland, below some of the highest peaks. One of the most famous, is the Matterhorn, which you will have seen all over the world, including on Toblerone chocolate.
But Zermatt is not just about the views, even though they are hard to beat, it is also a place that has a huge range of unforgettable activities. From hikes in the surrounding mountains, including over the longest suspension bridge in the world, to jaw-dropping helicopter rides over them, the outdoors is something most people come here for.
In winter, it is also one of the premier ski resorts in Switzerland with terrain that spans the border into Italy as well. For the more leisure traveler, you can also shop the main street here for anything from high fashion to Swiss watches. And then go for a wellness day in the local spas when you are done.
And to top it all off, you can have a cocktail with a view, or a five star meal at some of the best hotels in the country, including one of my favorites, the Cervo Mountain Resort!
No matter why you come here, it is one of the most stunning and memorable places in the Alps. So, what are you waiting for?
Top five things to do in Zermatt
- Train ride to the Gornergrat
- Five Lakes hike
- Helicopter ride with Air Zermatt
- Cheese Fondue with a view
- Spa & Wellness day out
Where to stay at Zermatt
Cervo Mountain Boutique Resort
Click to find out more about this unusual holiday destination
Peloponnese Peninsula (Greece)
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What makes this place a hidden gem in Europe?
A true champion among the many undiscovered destinations to travel off the beaten path in Greece is the Peloponnese Peninsula.
This mountainous region surrounded by sea has a surface of almost 22,000 square meter and is the most southern region of mainland Greece. The Peloponnese has the highest concentration of archaeological sites in Greece. Mycenae, Olympia, and Epidaurus are the most famous of them.
Mycenae was the most important city of the ancient Greek Mycenaean civilization. This is the place where Agamemnon and his brother Menelaus, king of Sparta, walked around. Olympia is famous because this is where the Olympic Games were born in ancient Greece. Still, the Olympic Flame departs from here before the beginning of the Games.
Epidaurus was the most important healing center in classical Greece with an enormous theater to amuse the visitors, which is still in an excellent condition. In general, the peninsula is scattered with temples, ancient theaters, remains of palaces, city walls, and bathhouses.
Don’t expect to find all of them in good condition though. Greece has so many monuments that it’s just too expensive to fix them all. Besides ancient remains, you can visit an unbelievable amount of monuments built during the Frankish, Venetian, Byzantine and Turkish period. These castles, fortresses, churches, and monasteries are of exceptional beauty and at locations with magnificent views.
In the area called the Mani, located at the second of the three legs in the south of the Peloponnese, you can admire the high tower houses. For centuries the Mani was the most mysterious area of Greece and only accessible by boat. It was notorious for its pirates and rivaling families living in tower houses surrounded by high bare rocks.
When you are finally tired of strolling around historic sites you can head to one of the pristine beaches to take a plunge into the crystal blue waters surrounding the peninsula.
It will take a lifetime to explore the Peloponnese, but you will definitely live a myth!
Top five places to visit on the Peleponnese Peninsula
- Mycenae
- Olympia
- Epidaurus
- The Mani
- Lousios Gorge
Sighisoara (Romania)
The citadel of Sighisoara is a UNESCO World Heritage site - but still a truly unusual holiday destination
What makes this place a hidden gem in Europe?
People often only think of Dracula when someone mentions Romania, or more specifically, Transylvania. And thus, they are missing on one of the hidden gems in Europe!
Sighisoara is right in the heart of Translyvania and has one of the oldest inhabited citadels in all of Europe! Many people even say it’s the prettiest one in the world – making it my top tip for an unusual holiday destination to travel off the beaten path in Europe! The walled city is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historic importance – and one that’s 100% worth seeing.
Take your time to meander along the tiny cobbled streets, most of them leading up to an old church. There’s also a tiny graveyard that definitely reminds you of Dracula for sure. And in fact, Vlad Dracul (the historic person behind Dracula) was born in Sighisoara! You can even see his birth house down in the city near the river.
Aside from the citadel, Sighisoara also has a nice clock tower and beautiful historic houses, especially around the central city square. And once you had enough of medieval views, hit the road and drive towards Oradea or Corvin Castle – there’s plenty of stunning places in Romania!
Romania is truly an undiscovered destination – and it’s one of the best places to travel off the beaten path in Europe!
Top five things to do in Sighisoara
- Meander around the old walled city
- Walk up the highest point in the citadel
- See the Sighisoara clock tower
- Visit Vlad Draculs birth house
- Do a trip to neighboring cities/attractions like Corvin Castle or Oradea and discover the hidden gems in Europe!
Where to stay at Sighisoara
Casa Georgius Krauss Sighisoara
Click to find out more about this unusual holiday destination
Den Haag (Netherlands)
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What makes this place a hidden gem in Europe?
The Hague is one of the most underrated cities in the Netherlands. Although Amsterdam may be the capital of the Netherlands, the Hague is where it all happens from the Dutch Parliament to trials of the International Criminal Court.
Within the Hague, you can view the palaces of the Dutch royal family (from a distance). Although many think of the Hague as all business, the Hague offers much for the culture lover seeking a bit of quiet. In particular, the Hague has many beautiful parks, so much so that it’s the greenest city in the Netherlands.
It’s always lovely enjoy the well-covered markets and festivals along Lange Voorhout, one of the Hague’s most charming streets. Closeby, you’ll find the M.C. Escher museum and the Mauritshuis, which is where you can see the Girl with the Pearl Earring painting in person.
This lovely city by the sea holds many surprises from its many beaches with charming little fishing villages next to the sea to its beautiful historic city center, which has many independent boutiques and restaurants from all around the world!
No matter where you are from, you’ll feel at home in the Hague to its large international population. You might even like it more than Amsterdam!
Top five things to do in Den Haag
- Discover the historic Binnenhof (Dutch Parliament)
- Witness a trial at the ICC (International Criminal Court)
- Explore the beautiful Noordeinde Palace and the surrounding shopping district
- See the Girl with the Pearl Earring at the Mauritshuis
- Enjoy a day at Scheveningen beach
Where to stay at Den Haag
La Paulowna Boutique Hotel
Click to find out more about this hidden gem in Europe
Travel off the beaten path in North America
North America definitely has to offer some unusual holiday destinations that invite you to travel off the beaten path in the US or Canada! Yes, we know there’s Banff and there’s Antelope Canyon – but there are also undiscovered destinations that are equally worth visiting!
Denali National Park (USA, Alaska)
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Why should you travel to this unusual holiday destination?
There are not many more beautiful places in the world than Alaska! Especially if you are an outdoor person with an adventurous soul!
I guarantee, that you will immediately fell in love with Alaskan virgin nature – nature untouched by man. Breathtaking sceneries of glaciers and beautiful mountains – actually there are so many peaks that most of them weren’t even named yet. It’s one of the last places in the world, where even the most touristic places aren’t crowded at all.
People are only visitors to this natural kingdom. You can meet wildlife roaming everywhere. Therefore don’t be surprised if a moose blocks the doorway or grizzly bear crosses the highway – it’s their habitat.
Denali National Park is a crown jewel of Alaska. Nature there is totally unreal, completely different from anywhere else. You would also hardly find more monumental mountain than Denali – the highest peak in North America.
Make sure to do overnight camping inside the National Park. We camped there for two nights and didn’t meet any people at all during these three days. Just a handful of elks and other wildlife. You will also have a great chance to see bears from the bus – we saw 6 different bears during a one-day bus trip.
Moreover, Alaska is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights. This spectacular show starts to show up in the middle of August and you could see it almost every other night from early September. And honestly, we think that Northern Lights is the single most beautiful natural event on the planet Earth. You will not believe till you see it.
Top five things to do in Denali National Park
- Overnight camping inside the park wilderness
- 12 h bus tour to the end of the Denali Park Road
- Sunrise view of Mount Denali from Stony Dome
- Seeing the spectacular Northern Lights
- Husky Dog Sleigh Demonstration
Click to find out more about this unusual holiday destination
Amador Country California
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Why should you travel to this unusual holiday destination?
Amador County in the Sierra Foothills of northern California is such an overlooked and undiscovered destination. People visit San Francisco to the west and maybe even Sacramento just 50 miles away. They pass through it on their way to Lake Tahoe. Seldom is it a destination or even a stopover on the way to another location.
The good thing about that is that there are no crowds in Amador County and you can truly travel off the beaten path. After living there for four years, I can tell you it is definitely worth considering on a trip to California.
A stop in just about any town in Amador County will instantly transport you back to the Old West of the 1800s. A walking tour through one of these gold mining towns will prove to be the most fun history lesson you’ve ever had. To get an even deeper look into Old West life, attend a cowboy campfire where you’ll see how they cooked over open fires and you can even learn to pan for gold.
In April, you can join in my favorite special event. For five days, the Kit Carson Mountain Men bring their Days of 49 Wagon Train reenactment to Amador County. There are some truly unique attractions here, like riding an old railroad line in a motorcar or visiting Preston Castle in Ione, which they say is haunted.
If you go to Amador County for no other reason, go for the wine. Wine tasting here is laid back, educational, fun and much less expensive than in other California wine regions. Amador County is known for award-winning Old Vine Zinfandel, Barbera, Sangiovese, Syrah and Viognier but you’ll find an amazing variety, maybe even some things you’ve never heard of before.
Amador County has so much more than this to offer and it will welcome you with true western hospitality.
Top five things to do in Amador Country
- Wine tasting
- Tour a cavern
- Pan for gold
- Walk the streets of historic old towns
- Explore a haunted castle
Click to find out more about this unusual holiday destination
Unusual Holiday Destinations in South America
South America is full of amazing and unusual travel destinations! Some places might be difficult to visit due to political unrest – but don’t worry, there are enough hidden gems to safely discover in South America! And especially countries like Colombia and Ecuador are not yet overrun by tourists – they are perfect to travel off the beaten path! And Bolivia will probably stay an unusual holiday destination for a little while as well!
Galerazamba (Colombia)
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Why should you travel to this unusual holiday destination?
Ready to visit a magical place in Colombia, that only exists two months out of the year? On your next visit to Cartagena, I recommend that you escape the city for a day and head an hour northeast along the coast to a little pueblo called Galerazamba, which is where you can find Colombia’s Pink Sea.
The sea is actually a salt mine and the bright pink hue is caused by colorful salt-loving microbes which create pigmented protein to absorb the sun’s energy.
What makes this place extra special is that the pink color is only visible for two months out of the year in February and March, so it’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss. The water is harmless and you are welcome to enter, but be careful because the salt crystals are sharp! You’ll probably want to wear sandals.
The town of Galerazamba is accessible from Cartagena via multiple buslines. If possible, try to hop on a smaller 15 passenger that’ll take you direct most of the way. Otherwise, plenty of local buses go back and forth between towns, but they take a little longer with plenty of stops along the way.
Other than the Pink Sea, the main attractions in this little town is surfing. We only saw two hostels and a handful of small restaurants, so you may just want to make it a day trip, but it’s one that’s well worth it in my opinion!
Top things to do in Galerazamba
- The Pink Sea
- Surfing
Click to find out more about this unusual holiday destination
Cafayate (Argentina)
Why should you travel to this unusual holiday destination?
When someone says “wine” and “Argentina” everyone thinks of Mendoza. But actually, there’s a second world-class wine region in Argentina – and this one is completely underrated for international visitors: Cafayate!
Cafayate lies in the northern part of Argentina, closer to Bolivia and is famous for the high altitude wines produced there. The taste of high altitude wines is so different – even when they use the same grapes as in Mendoza!
And while the wineries in Mendoza are pretty far from each other – they are within walking distance in the cute little town of Cafayate! There are in fact three wineries WITHIN the village! No wonder this place made it on our world travelers bucket list too!
The best way to explore the wineries is by hiking – although we seemed to be the only people doing this. In our opinion, the wineries north of Cafayate are better than the options in the south. But if you have the time, do both directions! Just make sure not to miss Piatelli Vineyards (American run, best service)
To be honest, there’s little more than drinking wine in Cafayate – except for the fabulous organic food served at Bodega Nanni (along with their organic wines of course…!)
Top five things to do in Cafayate
- Drink Wine
- Drink Wine
- Drink Wine
- Eat delicious organic food at Bodega Nanni
- Stroll around the tiny city center
Where to stay at Cafayate
Villa Vicuña Wine & Boutique Hotel
Travel off the beaten path in Asia
We have always loved off the beaten path travel in Asia – whether it was in Thailand, the Philippines, Japan or China. And thanks to these amazing bloggers we can show you even more unusual holiday destinations to travel off the beaten track in Asia!
Dalat (Vietnam)
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Why should you travel to this unusual holiday destination?
Dalat, located in the south of Vietnam, is becoming an attractive destination for a lot of international visitors to travel off the beaten path.
With the naturally cold weather of a highland, Dalat has a very comfortable atmosphere to anyone. It’s also further becoming the best condition for flowers to grow, making the place more and more beautiful.
Moreover, when travelers come to Dalat, they can spend time experiencing and exploring many nice trekking routes, waterfalls, or discovering cultures of ethnic minorities living in the area. In additional, photography lovers can enjoy taking pictures at a lot of “hot spots” with nice landscapes.
Not only well-known as ‘The dreamland’, ‘The miniature of Paris’, or ‘The city of flowers’, Dalat is also famous for its food. People visiting Dalat always spend times enjoying local cuisine. Visitors usually have a long list of foods to enjoy for the whole day – like Bánh Căn, Bánh Ướt Lòng Gà, Bún Bò Huế, Nem Nướng, Curry Chaaa, and many styles of BBQ with pork, beef, rabbit, deer, alligator, or horse meat!
Furthermore, nightlife at Dalat is vibrant, especially around night market and Xuan Huong lake. There’s a lot of street food, e.g. outstanding soy milk, green bean milk, and peanut milk!
Additionally, don’t forget to visit the coffee shops, many of them have really good coffee – and they are as romantic as the city!
Top five things to do in Dalat
- Taking photos around the city
- Enjoy coffee at romantic coffee shops
- Visit gardens of fruits, vegetables,…
- Try the local foods
- Riding motorbike around the hills to enjoy the atmosphere
Click to find out more about this unusual holiday destination
Kathmandu (Nepal)
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Why should you travel to this unusual holiday destination?
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal and the gateway to your trekking adventure in the Himalayas. It has an intoxicating blend of ancient culture and mountaineering history.
Nepal – ‘the rooftop of the world’ aims to attract 2 million visitors in it’s “Visit Nepal 2020” campaign. So why not make it your year to visit? You’ll be helping Nepal to rebuild it’s tourism following the 2015 earthquake. Nepal offers something for everyone – from trekking and mountaineering to UNESCO world heritage sites to yoga retreats or wildlife experiences in Chitwan National Park.
Be ready for a culture shock! When we arrived here on our first visit our senses were immediately knocked out with the noisy dusty frantic busyness of a city in a developing country. But we soon settled in and came to appreciate the fascinating mix of cultures, history and lifestyles.
Kathmandu and the Himalayas will touch your heart in more ways than you could imagine. Nowhere else in the world have we experienced such a spell-binding mix of majestic scenery, cultures and friendly people. We have since been back another 6 times and have plans for more. Everyone we’ve met who has visited Kathmandu and Nepal has had a similar experience and returned again.
Go to Kathmandu and experience Nepal for what it has to offer – it will be a life changing experience you will never forget!
Top five things to do in Kathmandu
- Go trekking!
- Explore the tourist mecca of Thamel
- Visit Boudhanath, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world
- Explore the ancient Durbar Square and maybe spot the living goddess
- Visit Pashupatinath – the famous sacred Hindu temple complex
Where to stay at Kathmandu
- Kathmandu Guest House (in Thamel)
- Hotel Tibet (in Lazimpat)
Click to find out more about this unusual holiday destination
Bagan (Myanmar)
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Why should you travel to this unusual holiday destination?
It’s a little off the beaten path travel but Bagan Myanmar is fast becoming the new Siem Reap of the world.
If you’re not familiar with it, Bagan is a small town in Burma (now called Myanmar), which used to be home to over 10, 000 temples. Over the years many were destroyed but more than 2, 000 still stand today, dotted across the sandy hills of this fascinating town. You used to be able to climb the temples but recent government regulations put a stop to this practice.
What makes Bagan so particularly special is the chance to hop on your electric moped and scoot around the back lanes of the town before the sun rises each morning, in search of the perfect temple to watch it go up in the sky. You repeat this exercise every night, as you meander along looking for a great viewpoint and just pulling to the side of a dusty road in pursuit of one of the best experiences in Asia.
More than this, hot air balloon season sees Bagan become the Cappadocia of South East Asia as hundreds of hot air balloons punctuate the pink and purple skies.
There isn’t much else to do in Bagan except temple hop and eat delicious vegetarian fare but you don’t need any more than that – we spent 5 whole days there and wish we had extended our stay further.
Top five things to do in Bagan
- Dhammayan Gyi Temple
- Shwesandaw Pagoda
- Ananda Temple
- Sulamani Temple
- Eat at The Moon, the best vegetarian restaurant in SE Asia
Where to stay at Bagan
Villa Bagan
Click to find out more about this unusual holiday destination
Taipei (Taiwan)
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Why should you travel to this unusual holiday destination?
There are many awesome and unique things to do in Taiwan. This island country might be small in size, but definitely enormous when it comes to remarkable places, exciting food scene, natural attractions, rich culture, and of course, super efficient transportation system!
Things like having a bird’s eye view of the city from a building that once held the World’s Tallest Building Title; food-crawling in a place that many people confirm to be a street-food paradise; and boarding a glass-bottomed cable car that pass through cities, surrounding nature, and tea plantations should already cause a huge spark of interest and excitement!
As one of the Asian countries having the most efficient transportation system, boarding the THSR or Taiwan High Speed Rail is certainly an unmissable experience when visiting Taiwan. You can expect a fast and comfortable train ride with airplane-like facilities. THSR moves up to 250 kph; fast enough to take you to Kaoshiung, which is the country’s southernmost municipality, within just 90 minutes from Taipei City!
If those things still don’t excite you enough, maybe witnessing oddly-shaped rock formations in a coastal area could somehow give you a buzz. Moreover, an old railroad under a lantern-filled sky certainly looks dreamy and authentic, and just a 5-min drive from there is a huge curtain-type waterfall that never fails to amaze visitors. Part of the list is a charming old street filled with delectable street food and generous people.
Have I mentioned that you can visit all those four within just a day? Taiwan surely has so much more to offer, but these sites and activities should make every Taiwan experience truly memorable!
Top five things to do in Taipei
- Have a street-food adventure at Taipei’s numerous night markets
- Get a killer view of Taipei City from Taipei 101 Observatory
- Experience Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Train
- Board a glass-bottomed cable car via Maokong Gondola
- Experience Northeast Coast Tour to Yehliu, Shifen, and Jiufen Old Street
Where to stay at Taipei
- King Plaza Hotel (Budget-conscious, good location and comfort)
- Fernwehsarah Luxury Tip: Miramar Garden Hotel Taipei
Click to find out more about this unusual holiday destination
Suzhou (China)
Why should you travel to this unusual holiday destination?
Suzhou was one of the biggest surprises for me this year – it’s truly an undiscovered destination! Even though Suzhou is a Chinese city of over 5 million inhabitants, it is hardly ever known in the West!
But it’s less than 30 minutes by high speed train from Shanghai, making off the beaten path travel here pretty easy! And there’s a good reason why this unusual holiday destination should be on top of your list of places to visit in China:
Think of Shanghai and then replace the skyscrapers and the hazy air with ancient Chinese garden, lots of little canals and blue skies. It’s really the “green heart of China” – and plenty of it’s beautiful gardens are UNESCO World Heritage sites!
And the most fascinating thing to me was how authentic Suzhou was. It is a huge tourist magnet – but only for Chinese visitors! For Westerners it’s definitely travel off the beaten path – we were often the only Westerners around! And thus, we could really get a feeling for what China is in reality – and it was beautiful!
Especially the old pedestrian streets are so gorgeous that it’s hard to decide where to snap these Instagram shots in Suzhou! There are two streets that are particularly pretty: Pinjiang Street and Shan Tan Street – they both have an eclectic mix of traditional shops and modern restaurants.
But Suzhou does not only have an old city – it also has a modern part with all the shopping centers and world class hotels that you would expect in such a metropolis.
Don’ miss out visiting Suzhou when you fly to China – you will be amazed how this is still off the radar in Western countries! Go there as long as it still is an unusual holiday destination!
Top five things to do in Suzhou
- Walk along Pinjiang Street and Shan Tan Street and snap some Instagram shots
- Visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden
- See a play at night at Master of Nets Garden
- Eat Suzhou style noodle soup
- Do a day trip to “the Venice of the East” (Zhouzhuang)
Where to stay at Suzhou
Suzhou Garden Hotel
Click to find out more about this unusual holiday destination
Unusual holiday destinations across the globe
Of course there are more unusual holiday destinations across the world – you can find undiscovered destinations in Oceania, Africa, Middle East and other parts of the world as well! This is only a small selection of places that will invite you to travel off the beaten path:
Tel Aviv (Israel)
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Why should you travel to this unusual holiday destination?
I love when places catch you by surprise, and Tel Aviv definitely was one of those undiscovered destinations.
When I visited Israel, I planned to base myself in Tel Aviv for a couple nights to see the surrounding area, but not really spend time there. And I ended up really regretting how little time I had to explore this vibrant and complex place.
Tel Aviv is a fascinating juxtaposition of modern and ancient, side by side. And I mean that in the most literal sense, because you have modern Tel Aviv (founded in the early 1900s) that has somewhat subsumed the ancient port of Jaffa (circa 1500s BCE). The two sit together and provide tons of things to do and a really cool combined vibe—reverence for history while pushing toward the future.
I’d argue that Tel Aviv has one of the best natural city beaches in the world, and you have to spend some serious time here. The long, curving swath of sand is 14 kilometers long, with the warm turquoise waters of the Mediterranean spread before you. The city definitely has a beach culture, and there’s no better place to walk, run, bike, grab a snack, or watch an epic sunset.
Beyond that, there’s a thriving street art culture, great food, vibrant nightlife, and much more. Tel Aviv just feels ALIVE when you’re there. The city is also a perfect central base for travel all over Israel, from the Sea of Galilee area to northern Akko, and down to Jerusalem, hiking the fortress of Masada, exploring many incredible historical sites (like Beersheva), and the bleak but beautiful Dead Sea and Negev Desert.
Top five things to do in Tel Aviv
- Enjoy Tel Aviv’s amazing beach! During the day but especially at sunset.
- Explore Old Jaffa…visit the clock tower, the port, and the main square
- Enjoy the street art and vibe of Neve Tzedek neighborhood (you can even take a street art tour)
- Sample the nightlife in streets like Shenkin, Allenby, and Bograshov Streets
- Get out of the city and take advantage of day trips like the Sea of Galilee area, Jerusalem, Masada, Haifa, and the Negev Desert
Where to stay at Tel Aviv
Abraham Hostel
Click to find out more about this unusual holiday destination
Santo Antao (Cap Verde)
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Why should you travel to this unusual holiday destination?
I recently had the opportunity to finally go to Cape Verde, a very renown travel destination. I knew that most of the tourist stay in the main islands of Praia and Sal, which are famous for their beaches, resorts, and activities like kite-surfing.
I decided to travel off the beaten path and chose the most western island of the archipelago, Santo Antao. The fact that you can only get there by boat from neighboring Sao Vicente was already a proof that I could find what I was looking for: a place far away from the usual tourist routes, an undiscovered destination.
And I do not understand why! It is probably one of the most scenic islands of Cape Verde, due to its mountainous land and its very lush valleys in the north west.
Santo Antao is a hidden paradise for hikers. There are many hiking trails, mainly in the Paul Valley, but also on the north coast and in western part of the island. Difficulty vary, so that it is a good trekking destination for everyone. You can climb up a steep valley to arrive on a crater, you can descend a mountain with a view on Ribeira Grande and the sea, or just walk on the beautiful coast from Ponta do Sol to Cha de Igreja.
If you like hiking and have never done it while having wonderful views of the sea and the other islands, I highly recommend you to visit Santo Antao.
Top five things to do in Santo Antao
- Hike to the Cova crater
- See Ribeira de Torre and Xoxo from Agua das Caldeiras
- See Fontainhas
- Drink grogue and punch
- Watch the sunset at Ponta do Sol.
Where to stay at Santo Antao
Chez Sandro
Click to find out more about this unusual holiday destination
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