10 of the world’s unsung places

May 14, 2012 11:30:31 AM

Abigail Blasi
Lonely Planet Author

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Piazza dell'Unita d'Italia Square, Trieste

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Some places stay persistently off the beaten track, despite their many charms. Here’s a sampling of places overlooked because of geography, chance and the presence of more glamorous neighbours.

1. Trieste, Italy

Image by ho visto nina volare

Why isn’t this anomalous Italian city top of a must-visit list? It’s a cultural melting pot, on a sea-thrusting prong of land, almost in Slovenia. It was the key port of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and retains an enticing, elegiac sense of the past. Former resident James Joyce began writing Ulysses not in Dublin, but here. It’s full of Hapsburg splendour, from its Viennese cafes and central European cuisine to its sweeping neo-classical waterfront.

2. Arras, France

With its two Flemish-Spanish squares, lined by 155 gingerbread-like houses, Arras is an astonishing surprise in an oft-forgotten corner of northern France. It’s worth planning to spend the day here, so you can admire the 17th and 18th architectural confectionery, climb the elegant bell tower for big views, and wander through the town’s remarkable 22km-long underground tunnels, which were used by soldiers during WWI.

3. Gujarat, India

India’s northwestern state of Gujarat is not on most travellers’ itineraries, but if you have time it rewards exploration. Besides a friendly welcome, you’ll experience an off-beat allure: the laid-back ex-Portuguese island of Diu; the city of Bhuj, with an evocative dilapidated palace and surrounding craft-rich villages; and the otherworldly salt plains of the Little Rann of Kutch, populated by flamingos and the Indian wild ass.

4. Chóngqìng, China

Often bypassed in favour of neighbouring Sìchuān, Chóngqìng is worthy of more attention, with its imposing location overlooking the Yangzi River and conversation-stalling spicy food. Modern China’s futuristic cityscape contrasts with the clutter of old steel boats at the docks and the city’s ‘bangbang’ army of porters who suspend goods on stout bamboo poles, transporting anything and everything over its steep hills.

5. Aberdeen, Scotland

The granite town of Aberdeen is home to a stately university centred on the 15th-century King’s Chapel, is fronted by a long sandy beach, and contains the time-capsule, Hobbit-quaint fishing village of Footdee. And beyond the stern, glittering city, you can take a dreamy coastal train trip to see Castle Dunottar, the awe-inspiring cliff-edge ruin where Franco Zefferelli filmed Hamlet.

6. Utrecht, The Netherlands

Perhaps it’s the lure of Amsterdam that leads people to forget Utrecht. Whatever the reason, this graceful city is bizarrely under-visited. Its old town is encircled by a medieval canal, and you can hop on a boat tour to visit the city’s bustling, vibrant wharves. Built to connect the canalside with Utrecht’s impressive townhouses, today these unique spaces are filled with bohemian cafes, shops, restaurants and bars.

7. Meknès, Morocco

Image by isawnyu

Everyone knows Marrakesh and Fès, but who takes the time to stop off in lesser-known Meknès? On a smaller scale than its more famous siblings, this ancient imperial city has a low key, laid-back feel, yet an architectural and cultural bounty of 45km of walls, nearly 50 palaces, and nearby, the plateau-top Roman ruins of Volubilis.

8. Helsinki, Finland

The small Finnish capital, continental Europe’s northernmost city, looks out into the shimmering Baltic, and several of its major sights sit on islands, such as the 18th-century fortress of Suomenlinna. This unassuming yet charismatic capital retains glorious art nouveau buildings and 1930s restaurants, and is notably clean, tidy and well behaved. It also comes alive when the sun shines – almost all night from June to August.

9. Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

It’s rarely chilly, usually either balmy or baking, in this lovely, off-the-track Andalucian town, which is famous for its sherry production. There are many ornate churches, an imposing citadel, plus multiple bodegas where you can taste Jerez’s most famous export. This is also the flamenco heartland, and it’s one of the best places in Spain to experience authentic performances of this most passionate art.

10. Takayama, Japan

Locals recommend that you take a trip to the less-travelled ‘other’ side of the main Honshu island to gain a sense of old Japan. Those who make it out here will discover Takayama, a small city dotted by morning markets, sake breweries, and hillside shrines, and nearby Shirakawa-go, famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri – farmhouses-on-stilts – and countryside that looks like a Nihonga (traditional Japanese) painting.

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Comments

29 February 2012 12:01AM thewindtoucher Report this comment
Yesss, couldn't agree more with Gujarat! Uttar Pradesh out of Agra and Varanasi could've been shortlisted as well as West Bengal and East Bengal (Entire Bangladesh!).
There are much, much more near-shortlisted IMO including, - Mekong River Valley East and South of Nong Khai, Thailand. Most people just zip all the way to Vientaine and VV. - Chumphon, Thailand. This gateway to Koh Tao port has even better snorkeling (but not scuba diving), but the real deal is deserted beach at Pha Daeng Beach. - Hua Phan, Laos. A good stop on Vientaine - Hanoi o/l route. - Maluku (The Moluccas), Indonesia. LP's Mark Elliott said that they are the candy jars up on the tall, tall shelf for child cum traveler to reach, but ain't that sweet, sweet! - Kaiping, Foshan and Chaozhou, China (Close to Hong Kong) - Shikoku, Japan
29 February 2012 12:33AM finn_nl Report this comment
Totally agree with Utrecht! Amsterdam is a fine place, but also severely overrun with (frequently loutish) tourists to the point where it's rare to hear any Dutch spoken at all in the Centrum, and it's just... too big for me I guess. Utrecht is a breath of fresh air, beautiful, hugely studenty, leafy and just all-round nice. It always seems to me Amsterdam is in a sort of parallel part-Dutch universe - Utrecht is 100% Dutch from the moment you step off the train. And the fact I was born 15 km away from there obviously has nothing whatsoever to do with my bias, hehe ;)
29 February 2012 12:56AM utrechtlocal Report this comment
As a local from Utrecht, i couldn't agree more with Utrecht. Its perfect for a quiet day off, after busy Amsterdam, and is just as nice. Come on a thursday and enjoy the student nightlife! Also agree with Helsinki, especially the Suomenlinna Archipelago is very beautiful.Especially the smaller islands. And while you're there..take a short ferry ride to the Estonian capital Tallinn. Also really worth it!. And Jerez de la Frontera is also really beautiful, but not as nice as nearby Cadiz though....
29 February 2012 2:00AM wanderingnorth Report this comment
I agree with Luxembourg City. It is delightful and when i was there i saw some of the best modern art i had seen in some time (in Europe or the US). Bicycles, art, architecture, numerous wonderful day trips, and liberal smoking laws - i could move there.
2 March 2012 7:15PM abhi13 Report this comment
I agree with you that these are some of the most beautiful places which often go unnoticed by travelers. Aberdeen is the flower city of Scotland and if you missed it you have missed one of the best parts of Scotland.
5 March 2012 1:54AM tatzkees Report this comment
You can cebu's lechon in Puerto Pricesa Palawan at Rizal ave. there is a yellow cart ,they sell very delicious cebu' lechon.
7 March 2012 5:23AM yorickm Report this comment
Loved Takayama. It was nice to stroll through the residential neighbourhoods, the quiet temples (no tourists), the open air museum and we had the best (and best value for money) Ryokan there.
7 March 2012 3:06PM dengleis Report this comment
Yes,Chongqing,Chongqing!!!!Really a very hot and sexy place...modern city,delicious food,beautiful scene,amazing night view,special culture...I bet everyone can find what he/she likes.Enjoy the time in Chongqing...
12 March 2012 3:33AM martykuty Report this comment
I have experience with Arras and it is beautiful place for trip.
I stayed in Balladins Confort Hotel Arras for week and I have nice memories from there. (Here is some info about hotel: http://bit.ly/zF7s81 (original link is very long))
13 March 2012 11:46AM hakanolov Report this comment
Excellent choice of places. The list could of course go on and on. Not agreeing that Helsinki qualifies as the northernmost city. In my book, a city has a cathedral, of which there are several north of Helsinki.
13 March 2012 11:47AM claretash Report this comment
Takayama is brilliant - but you do need to get away from the railway station to see that. :) The people are beautiful, the preserved traditional architecture evocative, and and there are some less 'beaten track' towns in the general area.
Just one thing about one of the other listed places: Chongqing (a city) is IN Sichuan (a province). Did you mean Chengdu??
13 March 2012 11:57AM mardeni Report this comment
One of the most enjoyable days in Morocco was visiting Meknes, Moulay Idriss and the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Only an hour or so from Fes makes a great day trip - easier to get around with private car and and a friendly and knowledgeable guide.
13 March 2012 7:14PM eswappy Report this comment
For me it's Putrajaya in Malaysia. It's where the government buildings are and it has a stunning mosque (in pink). Very pleasant to walk through to the city too
13 March 2012 10:34PM derrick229 Report this comment
Best thing to come out of Scotland (Aberdeen) is the train to anywhere
Have to agree with Utrecht, a nice place just to wander around, friendly people there
13 March 2012 11:01PM djosev Report this comment
I agree with Utrecht, but within an hour radius (100km; train) there are lot's of smaller Amsterdam ' look-alikes' as Utrecht. Alkmaar in the north. Haarlem, Den Haag, Leiden, Delft in the west. Amersfoort, Nijmegen in the east and 's-Hertogenbosch ( a forgotten pearl!) in the south. In between there are also a lot of smaller sized interesting end historic places (10k-50k inhabitants)
14 March 2012 3:27AM globespots Report this comment
For 'cool' travel pictures of Helsinki and Suomenlinna have a look here:
http://www.globespots.com/photogallery.php?photogallery=helsinki
http://www.globespots.com/photogallery.php?photogallery=suomenlinna
14 March 2012 3:27AM globespots Report this comment
For 'cool' travel pictures of Helsinki and Suomenlinna have a look here:
http://www.globespots.com/photogallery.php?photogallery=helsinki
http://www.globespots.com/photogallery.php?photogallery=suomenlinna
14 March 2012 3:34AM kkzd05 Report this comment
Trieste? LOL. No words. One of the worst cities in Italy as a tourist. Helsinki? Arras? Haven't seen the others, but these 3 are enough to discredit this list.
14 March 2012 4:40AM billmorris Report this comment
Thank you for including Trieste. It is one of my favorite cities, but when I talk about it people seem to have never heard of it.
14 March 2012 8:52AM westriver Report this comment
I was a bit surprised to see Arras as #2 on the list because I happened to be there in 2010. I didn't think it was a must place to go, but the town has, unbeknown to many people, two UNESCO world heritage sites: one is the bell tower and the other is the fortification by Vauban.
14 March 2012 9:55PM gabstar Report this comment
I definitely agree with Takayama, great place to get away for a few days from the hustle and bustle of the large Japanese cities. Gorgeous traditional wooden architecture, early morning markets (where I kept returning to a stand selling a marshmallow-like honey-egg sweet!)and cosy, hidden away eating establishments. A short 15min train trip north is another town worth visiting-Furukawa. It is smaller but it also has plenty of well-preserved wooden architecture and little canals meandering through.
15 March 2012 3:11AM fyrkit10 Report this comment
As a U.S. citizen planning on 'snow-birding' in Trieste when we retire, I was thrilled to read affirmation of our favorite unsung place! But let's keep it amongst ourselves... 'kay? ;-)
15 March 2012 7:26PM callard Report this comment
The secret is out regarding Takayama! We stayed for four days and loved it. Picture perfect, charming, quiet, lots to see and do, good food....a good change of pace from the craziness of Tokyo. What's not to love???
17 March 2012 4:52PM mrcamel Report this comment
I spent nearly in a month in Gujarat in January on a photography trip. This article is quite right: not many tourists go there. I was there on a photography trip, so it was great; the locals see few tourists, so shooting is easy (though you get A LOT of attention). But I wouuldn't recommend it for general tourism, unless you're really into history and architecture (there's some crazy crumbling British ere buildings there). However, the Gujarati thali is second to none!
You can see some photos from Gujarat on my blog: http://davidlevantis.com/category/travel/india/gujarat/
23 March 2012 2:44PM nl_engineer Report this comment
Utrecht is one of my favorite city's, it is small, friendly, great arcatecture and was the only city liberated, by the Canadian Forces in WWII, without firing a shot. The city is a great mix of new and old, it is also has a large university (many business cater to that hint to any student travelers).
11 April 2012 1:00AM jolien91 Report this comment
Finally some credits for Utrecht! It's bothers me sometimes that the Netherlands are almost only known by international tourist by a few cities in the west of the Netherlands. Other cities, like the eastern and northern 'Hanze'-cities are not less beautiful as cities like Haarlem or Delft. I really recommend the city Deventer and Groningen. My tip is to look further than the coast of the Netherlands!
4 May 2012 7:09PM rafadirkibum Report this comment
Totally agree with Chongqing, it is absolutely a must-be place with the unique hilly landscape and exotic cuisine. Most importantly, you can always start an exploration to Three Gorges from there, totally love it.