This Is the Most Underrated Destination in the World, According to Travelers

There are nearly 200 countries in the world, yet only a select few dominate the average traveler’s itinerary—with Spain, France, and the United States consistently topping the list of the most-visited destinations, according to the U.N. Tourism Data Dashboard. In a world where travelers are craving more unique experiences, these lesser-visited countries hold a lot of potential. It’s why one Reddit user posted in the r/travel subreddit asking for recommendations on “countries that deserve way more recognition as travel destinations.”

The post generated hundreds of posts and recommendations, and thanks to upvoting, one country rose to the top: Taiwan. 

As a person with the username u/CallerNumber4 shared, “Taiwan has all of the ‘good chaos’ of Vietnam or Thailand with delicious street vendors and buzzy motorbikes in the downtown, but all of the ‘good order’ of Japan or South Korea in terms of public transit or cleanliness. It’s not sterile, but it’s not rigid. All with a climate like Hawaii.” 

Another user, u/alexsteb, shared that while it may be tempting to only stay in Taipei (which is known for its stellar street food and night markets), other cities in Taiwan are worth the trip, including Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Chiayi. They also recommended a visit to Kenting National Park, which is located on the southern tip of Taiwan and is known for its white-sand beaches and caves.

The city of Mostar and its old bridge Stari Most in Bosnia.

Antonio Hugo Photo/Getty Images

Another popular recommendation was Bosnia and Herzegovina, specifically the Bosnia region, which occupies the northern and central parts of the country. Redditors highlighted the region’s history, good, affordable food, and kind people. “I was recently in Bosnia—a side quest from Croatia—and found it severely underrated,” a poster with the username u/hesback_inpogform said. “The landscapes were awesome, there is so much history, and the people were the nicest I’ve experienced in the Balkans. In fact, I experienced the best customer service I’ve ever had out of any country.”

Other popular picks were Laos, the Transylvania region of Romania, the Balkans in general, and Uzbekistan.

In addition to calling out several underrated countries worthy of a visit, one Redditor, u/harmala, shared a general travel tip that ended up being the top comment of the whole thread. “There are also a lot of fantastic places in popular countries beyond the few major cities everyone visits,” they wrote. “Spain has dozens of cities that no one ever mentions here that are well worth the time.”

So, if you want to go to Spain, go to Spain, but instead of visiting cities that are on everyone’s radar, you may want to check out one of the Reddit-vetted suggestions, specifically. Some destinations that were mentioned include the Aragon region, Benidorm, Valencia, and the Extremadura region, which is home to the cities of Mérida and Cáceres.

No matter where your travels take you, try venturing off the beaten path—you may just find a hidden gem.