Choose A Destination From These 15 Undiscovered Places For Experiences Of A Lifetime

From a storybook town in the US or a deep dive into the Māori culture of New Zealand, these 15 destinations offer amazing experiences.

By Rashima Nagpal Published on Oct 16, 2021, 09:00 AM

Choose A Destination From These 15 Undiscovered Places For Experiences Of A Lifetime — Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock

Dive deep into Māori culture in New Zealand, wander into a storybook town in the US, or have a wild time in one of the new party capitals of Europe—discover 15 undiscovered destinations that offer epic experiences. By Rashima Nagpal

Kaliningrad, Russia

destination — Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock

Bordering Lithuania, Poland, and the Baltic Sea, the Kaliningrad province is spread over 15,000 square kilometres and shares no borders with mainland Russia. Kaliningrad’s capital of the same name was founded in the 13th century and was called Königsberg until it became a part of the Soviet Union after WWII. In the interim, Königsberg also served as the capital of East Prussia, which explains its present German influence. In the capital, Königsberg Cathedral offers daily organ concerts and is home to Immanuel Kant’s tomb; Museum of the World Ocean gives you a tour of the region’s maritime history; Amber Museum is a one-mineral treasury with two sections—science, and history and culture—dedicated to amber. visit-kaliningrad.ru

Arouca, Portugal

Portugal’s Arouca was recently featured on TIME’s World’s Greatest Places 2021. Its claim to fame is the 516 Arouca Bridge—the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge. Not for the faint-hearted, the bridge is 516 metres long and suspended at a height of 175 metres above River Rivo Paiva in Arouca’s UNESCO-recognised Global Geopark, an hour outside of the city of Porto. It connects the escarpment of the Aguieiras Waterfall and the area of the Paiva Gorge, two of the 41 geosites at the geopark. While the geopark has always been a hotspot for adventure, the town of Arouca with its white churches, tiled town square, and thriving food scene is an idyllic destination worth exploring. visitportugal.com

Chiang Mai, Thailand

The former seat of the Lanna kingdom, Chiang Mai defies all the stereotypes about Thailand as a party destination. It’s a blissful place perfect for slow travel. Located on the banks of Ping River, 700 kilometres north of Bangkok, it is surrounded by mountains. At its heart lies the Old City, dotted with several Buddhist temples including the 14th-century Wat Phra Singh and the 15th-century Wat Chedi Luang. As the sun sets, it comes alive with traditional eateries, flea markets, and street performers. On Nimmanhaemin Road, boutiques, galleries, and coffee shops reveal Chiang Mai’s modern side. And a short bike ride takes you to misty rainforests, just outside of town. tourismthailand.org

Belgrade, Serbia

Known as the ‘White City’, Belgrade has emerged as one of Europe’s most happening party capitals with a thriving nightlife, thanks to a slew of pubs, restaurants, and ‘floating clubs’. Its bohemian street Skadarlija is where music and singing go on till the wee hours. Located at the confluence of rivers Danube and Sava, Belgrade is a city of historical importance too and holds evidence of Stone-Age settlements. Some of the must-visit sites are the mighty Belgrade Fortress, destroyed and rebuilt over 16 centuries; the towering Church of Saint Sava; the Nikola Tesla Museum, which dates back to 1955; and the protected shopping street of Knez Mihailova. serbia.travel

Galway, Ireland

Compared to the big Irish cities like Dublin, which has a population of over five lakh, and Cork, home to over two lakh people, Galway on the west coast has a head count of about 80,000. Along with Rijeka in Croatia, Galway was declared the European Capital of Culture in 2020. To understand why, visit the Galway City Museum on the banks of River Corrib to see its repository of cultural memorabilia. Then there’s Eyre Square, the city’s main plaza, which is almost always abuzz with festivals. Take a stroll on the Salmon Weir Bridge to get to Galway Cathedral across the river. The Saturday Galway Market is the best place to get your hands on local produce and handicrafts. tourismireland.com

Darmstadt, Germany

Darmstadt is known as the city of poets, thinkers, and space explorers. A tour of its universities and museums is a great way to explore its heritage and culture. On the latest UNESCO World Heritage List is the Darmstadt Artists’ Colony on Mathildenhöhe, the highest elevation above the city. It first rose in 1897 as a hub for emerging reform movements in architecture, arts, and crafts. Science enthusiasts must check out the European Space Operations Centre and creative minds should not miss The Hessian State Museum, the Kunsthalle art museum, and the State Theatre. germany.travel

Saint-Gilles, Réunion Island

Réunion Island is a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean blessed with a volcanic interior, rainforests, and coral reefs. While the island as a whole is a lesser-explored gem, Saint-Gilles, a resort town on the west coast, is particularly enticing. The golden beach Roches Noires is perfect for long strolls, while Plage des Brisants is a hotspot for surfers. Saint-Gilles is also home to the Réunion Aquarium, popular for its coral habitats of moray eels, sharks, and seahorses. To the south of the town, English-style Jardin d’Eden houses around 700 tropical plant species. reunion.fr

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Previously called the Ivory Coast, Côte d’Ivoire is a French-speaking tropical country in West Africa. It is home to vast beaches, verdant hills, and pristine rainforests, as well as emerging metropolises. The port city of Abidjan is the country’s unofficial capital. Located on the southern Atlantic coast, it is peppered with skyscrapers and upscale beach resorts. At the heart of the city is Le Plateau, the business district; Cocody is known for its mansions; CAVA, the city’s artisanal village, showcases local craftsmanship; and the avant-garde St Paul’s Cathedral offers commanding views of the city. discover-ivorycoast.com

Mendoza, Argentina

Part of the Andes Mountain range, Mendoza is Argentina’s primary wine-producing region, with more than 1,50,000 hectares of vineyards. Along with Bordeaux in France and Adelaide in Australia, Mendoza is a part of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network (greatwinecapitals.com). In fact, some of the best Malbec wines come from Mendoza’s high-altitude regions of Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valley. The city offers some of the best wine tourism experiences on the 2,000-kilometre-long Argentina Wine Route. Besides grapes, the region gives you the choice of climbing Mount Aconcagua (the highest peak in South America); rafting on River Mendoza; horse riding in the Andes; and hot-air balloon rides. mendoza.travel

Northland, New Zealand

They say Northland is where New Zealand began, when the Māori first arrived here from Polynesia in the 14th century. Though it is home to lush subtropical rainforests, contrasting coastlines, marine reserves, and colliding oceans, it is the heritage of the Māori that makes Northland truly special. From ancient kauri forests on the west coast to the mountains of Whangarei to Cape Reinga, which is the northernmost tip of the nation, you find a Māori connection everywhere you go. The Twin Coast Discovery Highway, an 800-kilometre circuit of Northland, makes for the road trip of a lifetime. The island also offers activities such as kayaking, mountain biking, skydiving, zip lining, hiking, and scuba diving. northlandnz.com

Bodrum, Turkey

Sitting on the west coast of Turkey, 700 kilometres from Istanbul, Bodrum has been making a lot of buzz lately. Distinct from its Turkish counterparts, the seaside getaway offers a mix of cultural landmarks, spa resorts, beaches, and nightlife. Last year, with the reopening of the 600-year-old Bodrum Castle that was closed for restoration since 2017, the city is quickly climbing bucket lists. Other iconic landmarks in and around the city include St Peter’s Castle; Yalıkavak Marina; the sandy cove of Bardakci; and the fourth-century Bodrum Amphitheatre. Bodrum was once home to the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus built in 350 BC; its remnants can still be found at the Bodrum Castle. goturkiye.com

Okinawa, Japan

The last prefecture to be added to Japan, Okinawa is a group of over 150 islands in the East China Sea. On one hand, you have island resorts with access to dive sites, and on the other, there are far-flung isles with mangrove swamps, rivers, and waterfalls. The archipelago is distinct from mainland Japan in more ways than one. For starters, the islands are home to the indigenous Ryukyuan people, who have their own language and traditions. When it comes to food, you find wheat-based soba noodles (famous around the world as Okinawa soba) more than sushi. The local alcoholic drink is not sake but awamori (also rice-based, but distilled). And the best part—the temperature in Okinawa rarely drops below 15° Celsius during winter. visitokinawa

Pafos, Cyprus

The mythical birthplace of Aphrodite—the ancient Greek goddess of love and sexuality—the port town of Pafos on the island of Cyprus is steeped in tradition. During the Hellenistic period, Pafos was Cyprus’s capital, renowned for its temples and olive groves. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site serves as an entry point to the island’s most exclusive resorts—and to tiny towns such as Omodos and Lefkara. The city’s visual appeal lies in its medieval baths, underground cemeteries, and the Pafos Archaeological Site, famous for its collection of colourful mosaics based on ancient Greek myths. visitpafos.org.cy

Matera, Italy

The cave city of Italy, Matera, is located in the southern region of Basilicata. The rocky outcrop of Sassi di Matera comprises troglodyte houses, churches, monasteries, and hermitages spread over 1,016 hectares. It dates back to the Paleolithic period and has been continuously inhabited for 8,000 years—except for a period between 1950s and 1980s, when the region was hit by poverty and disease and the entire population was relocated by the government. By 1990, locals began returning and restoring the old caves. In 1993, Matera was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it now houses a charming mix of restaurants, cafes, shops, and hotels. italia.it

Fayetteville, US

The announcement of America’s newest national park—New River Gorge National Park And Preserve—has generated interest in Fayetteville, a scenic town on the edge of the park. Popular as one of ‘the coolest small towns of America’, Fayetteville in West Virginia looks right out of a storybook. Think a river town with cosy bed-and-breakfasts, rustic cabins, a vibrant shopping district, and a range of restaurants. Nearby, the New River Gorge Bridge—which used to be the longest steel arch bridge in the world until 2003—adds drama to the town’s verdant landscape. Be it a picnic in the woods, a play at the Fayette Theatre, or a trail through the national park, experiences in and around Fayetteville tend to be simple but profound. visitfayettevillewv.com