Are you tired of hearing about mainstream touristy places like Paris, New York or Tokyo as your next holiday destination?
Do you want a break from the crowds these popular places attract? Are you looking for a destination that is a little unconventional?
If the answer to any of my above question is yes, this blog is your godsend! Because while these trendy travel spots certainly have their charm, nothing beats the ecstasy of a real off-the-beaten-track adventure. Following is the list of most underrated countries recommended by HolidayMe (EN|AR) including some incredible videos (one of them might not be incredible but it is mine) 🙂
Spoiler alert: I DIND’T visit all these countries, only a few of them, but I thought it would have been nice to put together a list of places that are not super popular amongst the tourists, but most importantly, places that (if I haven’t visited them yet) are on my bucket list!
ENJOY AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE TO ADD TO THE LIST!
1 | BOLIVIA
Bolivia may not have Sardinia’s impressive beaches or Peru’s Machu Picchu, but it does have fiery blood-red lakes, sinister volcanoes, world’s largest salt flats, and one of the most picturesque capitals you’ll ever come across– Sucre.
This landlocked country has so many breath-taking landscapes, and most of them are still unexplored. For the courageous souls, ‘world’s most dangerous road’, a 40-mile long pathway named Yungas Road that leads from La Paz city to Coroico town, is also located in Bolivia.
2 | BHUTAN
Known as one of world’s happiest countries, the small, mountainous country of Bhutan is nestled between much larger and better known Asian powerhouses like China and India.
Bhutan is untouched of the modern day indulgence and it makes every effort to keep it that way. While most countries measure output in terms of GDP (Gross Domestic Product), Bhutan measures its development through GNH (Gross National Happiness) that is based on sustainable development, environmental protection, cultural preservation and good governance. Fascinating, huh?
3 | MOZAMBIQUE
While thousands of tourists’ flock to the neighbouring South Africa, only a handful of the adventurous ones go to Mozambique, a small country located on the south-eastern coast of Africa.
Mozambique’s over 1500-mile long coastline is dotted with exquisite beaches that are just about perfect for swimming, scuba diving, and snorkeling.
The country is also home to a very large variety of wildlife, a wide number of game reserves, and a growing figure of luxurious yet affordable resorts.
What’s more, Mozambique has seafood to die for and the kind of history you’ll never get tired of exploring!
4 | POLAND
From vibrant culture and a rich tradition to innumerable options such as sightseeing, shopping, and architectural exploration – Are you looking for a place that has it all?
Then Poland is the answer you’ve been looking for!
This European country is often overlooked as a travel destination and I wonder why. Not only is it cheaper than most of its European counterparts, it has so many places suitable for all kinds of holidays that you’ll surely be falling short of time on your Poland holiday.
Here is my tale of a fabulous stay in Warsaw and a touching piece from my Auschwitz concentration camps experience.
5 | ALBANIA
Having recovered from a turbulent past, Albania is slowly emerging as a fashionable tourist destination in Eastern Europe.
Delicious food, snow-capped peaks, remains of a forgotten Roman Empire, and abundant natural beauty adds more substance to our inclusion of this Balkan country as an underrated destination. You can read more about this amazing country in this article.
Did I also mention that Albania has almost 300 miles of unspoilt Mediterranean coastline?
6 | MARSHALL ISLAND
Despite its endless numbers of brochure-ready beaches and crystal clear waters, Marshall Islands is one of the top five least visited countries in terms of tourism (according to this BBC travel article).
Located in Oceania, between Hawaii and the Philippines, Marshall Islands is not your every-day island resort, but is perfect as for an off-the-beaten-path destination especially if you’re looking for some quiet time amidst nature.
7 | SLOVENIA
One of Europe’s most lesser-known countries, Slovenia has landscapes that’ll make you believe in fairy tales.
Sparklingly clear rivers, enchanting castles on hilltops, enigmatic little towns – you’ll find all this and more here. Ljubljana, the vibrant capital of Slovenia, is a must-visit stop on your off-beat destination bucket list.
Some of Ljubljana’s prominent landmarks are the historically significant Triple Bridge which also offers a dazzling across-the-border view of the entire city, Zmajski Most or Dragon Bridge, and the delightful village-like city of Krakovo.
Tivoli Park, the largest park in Ljubljana, has beautiful scenery of its surroundings with lush trees that flank the long and lonely walkways.
8 | HUNGARY
Home to awe-inspiring architecture, mesmerizing landscapes, and a vibrant lifestyle oozing with tradition and culture, Hungary is a small landlocked country nestled in the heart of Europe.
CHECK OUT THIS FANTASTIC VIDEO WITH THE BEST LANDSCAPES IN HUNGARY!
Simply….Fabulous!
Europe’s largest synagogue, Dohany Street Synagogue, is one such example of architectural marvels and is located in Hungary’s beautiful capital city – Budapest.
The historical Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, Danube river, Szechenyi thermal bath, and Tihany are some of Hungary’s must-visit attractions.
9 | THE PHILIPPINES
Many tourists flock to nearby mainstream countries of Indonesia or Thailand for an ideal beach holiday and overlook the beautiful archipelago of The Philippines, also located in South-east Asia.
Made up of more than 7000 islands that offer stunning views of the blue Pacific waters and white, sandy beaches, the Philippines are a diverse country that can not only help you indulge in top-notch water sports, but also give you culturally rich experiences that’ll last with you for a lifetime!
THIS IS MY VIDEO OF THE TIME I SPENT IN EL NIDO – PALAWAN!
I miss the Philippines So Much!
It’s not a secret that I have a visceral love for the Philippines! I’ve been there for 4 months and visited some of the most incredible places on earth.
It has to be said that now the Philippines are rising in popularity, also because of the many articles and dreamy pictures shared by some of the top travel bloggers who decided to visit this Paradise!
10 | NICARAGUA
Located in Central America, the country of Nicaragua is delightfully undiscovered. While most people assume that this tropical country is still recovering from its terrible civil war that took place in the 1980s, the reality is far more pretty.
With a natural beauty that largely still remains unexplored, Nicaragua is nirvana for anyone who loves wildlife, nature and adventure.
Besides visiting Granada, the oldest city in Central America, tourists can also indulge in hiking, surfing, biking, swimming, and kayaking across the numerous rainforests, jungle rivers and crater lakes lining this diverse country.
11 | SLOVAKIA
Europe’s most castellated country, Slovakia is fast establishing itself as an exceptional holiday destination post the break-up of Czechoslovakia in 1993.
THE BEAUTY OF SLOVAKIA – VIDEO
I’m telling you, this video is breathtaking!!
Uncharted, pristine, and speckled with magic-like castles all over, this land-locked country is the keeper of rugged wilderness and some of the densest forests on the planet that give a fine foundation for excellent hiking opportunities.
And while Slovakia’s capital city Bratislava may not level with other Eastern European cities like Prague, Vienna or Budapest, when it comes to tourism, it is quickly becoming a heaven for budget travellers, thanks to its multiple options in restaurants, hotels and nightlife.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COUNTRY TO ADD TO THIS LIST? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENT SECTION!
Comments
Sorry for coming late for the party – since you recommended Albania, you can also add neighbors – Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia as well.
Thanks for this interesting post, this so many amazing places to discover around the world, thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you Bey!
Great list, despite impressive expansion of wolrdwide tourism there are still so many undiscovered gems of travel experiences out there, and luckily so! =)
Philippine :*
i love manila. so beautiful and the peoples are so good. i also visited georgia. it is not in the list. 🙂
Thanks for adding Georgia Saaleh, I will check it out! What are the most significant things to see and do in there?
Also, the Philippines are SO MUCH MORE than just Manila, I hope you had the opportunity to visit a bit more of the islands as they are true gems!
Cheers
Clelia
Hi Clelia,
i went to Gudauri, Kakheti, Narikala Fortress, The Bridge of peace.
yes i went to allot of places in philippine but i like manila most.
Slovakia love this country
Never been! But since my family is European… It’s on my list for when I come back to visit them!
You can also add Sri Lanka in your list. Its absolutely stunning place to visit and not too expensive. It has everything which a traveler want Beaches, sightseeing, landscapes, wildlife, people, culture, food and lots more.
I visited Sri Lanka and loved it, it should definitely be on the list, I agree!
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Hi Clelia, nice post! I’m from Sucre, the “the most picturesque capitals you’ll ever come across” 🙂 I hope you come to Bolivia and enjoy our hospitality. Bolivian people have a warm and kind hearth for visitors. BTW, you missed to mention some great places, like our beautiful Amazon rainforest, where the Madidi National Park is located (FB: @IdentidadMadidi).
I love your site, cheers!
Oh the Amazon!! I want to go there one day, must be out of this world 🙂
You don’t have Sudan on your list!! Ok I know it’s not top of most people’s must visit locations, but it has fantastic diving (Red Sea) and beautiful pyramids (I can send pictures if convincing is needed). And the people are warm and friendly. There is also an Italian tourist company.
Hey Philippa, thanks for adding your tips about Sudan, you describe it as a truly wonderful place! PS, I removed the link as I don’t allow links to companies on my comments. Sorry about that!
I recomend Iceland- Reykiavik is amazing
I really want to visit Iceland too! Thanks for your suggestion Anna!
These locations look amazing and would really love to visit them!
I’m missing some of them too.. one at a time! 🙂
The Bulgarian Danube, especially Tutrakan!
Never been, It must be a lovely place!
I completely agree that Albania is underrated! Albania is absolutely beautiful and I recommend to everyone that they should go and visit. It’s not too expensive and certain parts aren’t that crowded as opposed to countries that are similar. Great article!
Absolutely! I just published an article about it in here and oh my… the beaches are awesome and also the people! I’ve received lovely emails from them after publishing it thanking me for spreading the voice! Very very underrated indeed!
Which place I’m going through? Thank you for giving me an idea.
Decisions, decisions 🙂
Completely agree with Slovenia and Hungary. Went to both and absolutely loved it. We opted for Nicaragua when Costa Rica seemed overpriced and touristy. And Blovia was on our way from Argentina to Peru – an equally amazing country to visit. I would add Riga Latvia. It was a delight to visit and relatively untouched by the masses. Great list overall. Hope to make it to Poland and Slovakia while still living in Europe.
Thanks for your insights Lillian! You ticked a lot of underrated destinations 😉 I’ve been to Poland as you can see and loved it, but after I found the video of Slovakia…well, can’t really wait to visit!!
Interesting list, thanks!
I visited Cambodia and it’s so beautiful…should be on the list 🙂
I also visited Cambodia a while ago, and I think that compared to these countries (except for the Philippines now perhaps) is touristy already. Maybe Myanmar could have been on the list but now that they opened the doors to the “public” it’s getting a lot more of attention, especially in the past few years. When I went there in 2013 it was still relatively new and even in the capital people would look at me in a weird way.
I’ve been to Krakow and Bolivia (but I didn’t take any super cool picture at the salt flats, too bad!). Bhutan seems very nice too. Great list!!
Uhhhh Nicole…. I am planning on a post with the best / funniest shots taken in there.. too bad you can’t send me yours!! 🙂
Yes, Philippines are definitely cool at the moment, but all the other places are super interesting. The video of Slovakia is incredible, so many beautiful landscapes. I’ll definitely add it to my bucket list! Thanks for the tips!
I think Slovakia so far is winning hands down, but i get the point. After seeing the video I was mesmerized by the country! So beautiful <3
It seems like Slovakia shoudl be my no. 1 for my castle project then 🙂
Do you have a “Castel Project” princess?! 😉
Reading your list I was surprised to see Slovakia as the most castellated country in Europe. I was certain that Poland has the highest number of castles in Europe. I think I should read a bit more about Slovakia and maybe visit it sometimes soon!
Hey Anna, this list is quite interesting as I also didn’t visit all the countries stated in here and it’s such a pity, really. Slovakia is definitely high on my list too!