Unique travel destinations, that you’ve probably never heard of

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Does it ever feel like you are seeing the same few destinations pop up on your social media feeds over and over again? I don’t know about you, but I can’t open up Instagram without seeing a picture of the blue and white rooftops of Santorini or the streets of Paris. And whilst these places are stunning and well worth a visit, It would be nice to see some more unique travel destinations getting some love too. 

So, If you are looking for an underrated vacation spot or some quirky places to visit, you are in the right place!

In today’s post, I’ll be giving you some wanderlust inspiration in the form of 10 lesser-known regions that you may have never considered before 

Let’s get into it… 

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Unique travel destinations #1: San Marino 

Tiny San Marino is one of the world’s smallest countries. The Micro-state is situated in a mountainous region high above Northern Italy and has a population of just 33K. Many people have never heard of San Marino, which is a crying shame as it is one of the most stunning countries in Europe. 

Why you should visit

The main reason you should visit San Marino? Because you will literally feel like you have just walked into a real-life fairytale! 

Spend a day exploring the 3 towers perched up above the old walled city and take in some of the most spectacular views you will ever see, all whilst feeling like an actual Disney princess. 

You can easily visit San Marino as a day trip from many popular Italian destinations such as the resort town of Rimini, or Bologna which is only a 1.5hr drive away. 

What to do in San Marino 

Explore the three castle-like towers

San Marino’s towers have been designated a UNESCO world heritage site and take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. You can buy a combined ticket for the towers and public palace at the tower’s ticket office for €10.50. 

Have fun at the quirky museums.

San Marino has a ton of small but quirky museums. I visited the torture museum and found it really interesting, I also spotted a werewolf museum, a vampire museum and a museum of curiosities. Yes, these attractions are as kitsch as they sound! but they are definitely a fun way to spend an hour or so during your visit to San Marino. 

Go get your passport stamped at the town hall.

For €5 you can get a souvenir passport stamp to commemorate your time in the tiny country.

Tours in San Marino

Unique travel destinations #2: Palestine/West Bank 

“Why do you want to visit a war zone?!” was the incredulous response that I received when I told my friends and family that I was planning a trip to the West Bank. Plenty of people tried to talk me out of it, but luckily my stubborn ass didn’t listen to them and I ended up having an incredible time in the Palestinian territories and now I sing its praises to anyone who will listen. 

Why you should visit

Ok so first things first… despite what the media has told you, no the West Bank is NOT a war zone and you are very unlikely to get caught up in any trouble, I visited as a solo female and never felt unsafe.

Come with an open mind and you will be pleasantly surprised at how friendly and welcoming everyone is.

That being said, I don’t wish to downplay the horrific human rights violations that are being inflicted upon the Palestinian people every day. Please practice responsible tourism and support local people and causes as much as possible during your trip. 

Palestine is a thought-provoking destination that will challenge your perceptions. But it is also home to some world-class historic sights, amazing food, boutique wineries, and inspiring artwork. Best of all, there are hardly any tourists here so you will have all this to yourself! 

What to do in the west bank 

See Yassar Arafat’s tomb and museum in Ramallah. 

Before I visited the West Bank I had only ever heard of Yassar Arafat being spoken of as a terrorist so it was incredibly eye-opening to see how the Palestinians view him as a hero. It made me realise just how biased our media is.

The museum is fascinating and does an incredible job of explaining the complex history of the conflict in the Middle East. I came away with a much deeper understanding of the situation and I can honestly say this is one of the best museums I have ever visited. 

Visit Taybeh winery 

I didn’t expect to find a boutique winery in Palestine but that’s exactly what Taybeh winery is.

I just rocked up unannounced and was lucky enough to be given a private tour of the winery by the owner’s wife (who is an absolute sweetheart by the way) and then I was given 3 glasses of wine for a tasting.

My favourite was the 2016 Bitouni, which is a local endemic grape. Even as an avid wine drinker I had never had the chance to try this variety before and I have never been able to find it outside of Palestine since, so this was a really special experience. 

Visit Banksy’s Walled Off Hotel

Even if you don’t plan to stay at the Walled Off Hotel (but I absolutely recommend that you do!) visiting the hotel, owned and designed by the infamous street artist Banksy, is a must-do! There are so many quirky details that have gone into making this place special.

The hotel includes an art gallery featuring work by local artists and an interactive museum. The staff can also organise tours of the separation wall, which are incredibly insightful.

Although the hotel is super fun it also does a great job of raising awareness of the human rights violations that are happening right on its doorstep. To find out more, read my blog post all about my experience staying at the Banksy hotel.

Where to stay

I recommend staying at the Walled Off Hotel as it is an incredible experience in itself.

However, if that’s a little outside of your budget then there are plenty of other options within Bethlehem.

Unique travel destinations #3: Albania

Albania is such a hidden gem! It has everything: incredible hiking opportunities, A fantastic coastline, amazing value for money and some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. I have it on good authority that Albania won’t stay off the radar for too much longer so visit now before the tourism industry booms! 

Why you should visit

There are loads of good reasons to visit Albania (I even wrote an A-Z list of them!) but in my opinion, the top reason you should visit Albania is to get to know the friendly locals.

Albanians are nothing like the people-trafficking gangsters that Liam Neeson and the Taken franchise would have you believe, in fact, they are some of the most incredibly friendly people I have ever met!

Everywhere I went people wanted to stop and chat, to offer me help or directions (even if I didn’t need them lol) and in many places refused to let me pay for anything. I even ended up being invited to a wedding by a guy I met in a sandwich shop! 

Up until the ‘90s Albania was under a communist regime, run by a dictator. The Albanian people were essentially cut off from the rest of the world, so tourism is still a relatively new concept to them; which means they are genuinely delighted to have you visit their country!

What to do in Albania 

Enjoy the colourful capital. 

After the fall of the communist regime, the new Albanian prime minister (a former artist) decided to brighten up all the grim looking brutalist architecture by covering the whole city of Tirana in art! Almost every building is painted a fun bright colour, there are street art murals and quirky touches all over the city. I particularly loved the bollards painted to look like Mario style mushrooms! I suggest you spend some time admiring the art whilst taking on a walking tour of the top sites of the city.

Things to do in Tirana:

Grab a sunset cocktail at the sky bar panoramic rooftop bar.

Get some fun Instagram shots at The Cloud 

Explore Bunkart, for a fun and interactive look at Albania’s recent history

Climb the pyramid! Only for the most fearless!

Hike Theth to Valbona

Hiking Theth to Valbona was one of the highlights of my time in Albania! The 17km trail is located in ‘The Accursed Mountains’ in the North of the country.

The best way to get there is to take a bus from Shkoder (approx 3 hrs) and then ask locals in Theth to point you in the direction of the trailhead. You’ll need to stay the night in Valbona at the end of the hike so be sure to plan ahead.

No words can describe the beauty of the mountains. The trails were reasonably well maintained and not in the least bit crowded. It took us around 7hrs to complete the trail and this included plenty of time to stop to take pictures and enjoy a spot of lunch at a particularly scenic viewpoint.

Be sure to catch the ferry across the beautiful Komani lake on your way back down south. 

Try hitchhiking 

If you have never hitchhiked before then Albania is a great place to start. I spent a month in Albania and only used public transport once or twice. The rest of the time I hitchhiked around the country and had a blast!

I hitchhiked with a friend and most of the time we rode with couples or families and always felt safe. We also met some amazing people who often insisted on taking us to scenic viewpoints or stopping for snacks and coffee or showing us around old castles that we would have never heard about if it wasn’t for these friendly strangers. One couple even took us out to dinner and then clubbing at an exclusive beach club.

I’m still in contact with many of the Albanians who gave us a ride and I have incredible memories that I never would have gotten to experience if it weren’t for hitchhiking.

I wouldn’t normally recommend hitchhiking in many countries but in Albania, it is very much a part of the culture and just comes naturally to a lot of people so just do as the locals do and give it a try. 

Relax on the beaches of the riviera 

Spending a day (or several) on the beaches of the Albanian Riviera feels like you’ve been let in on a huge secret. You have a gorgeous paradise all to yourself! In some places you can see the Greek islands in the distance, you are sharing the same ocean and same climate but for a tiny fraction of the price! 

My favourite beach in Albania is Borsh. It has a super relaxed vibe and is big enough that you will have a large section of the beach all to yourself if you want. We wild camped under the stars on Borsh beach and woke up to the sound of dolphins splashing about in the sea right in front of us. It was absolute bliss! 

Psst.  If I’ve won you over and convinced you to plan a trip to Albania then be sure to grab a copy of my Albanian riviera itinerary which is packed full of info and tips. 

Tours in Albania

Unique travel destinations #4: Procida, Italy

Procida (pronounced pro-cheee-dah) is the smallest inhabited island in the bay of Naples. It is often overshadowed by its famous neighbour Capri, which is good for you because whilst people are being overcharged in busy Capri you will have laid-back Procida all to yourself. 

Why you should visit

Simply, it’s gorgeous. Like straight-up stunning. And like I said, Procida is far less crowded than its more popular neighbours. I visited on a Sunday and the place was virtually empty. In fact, I think we may have been the only tourists on the island, at least that’s what it felt like! 

What to do in Procida 

Climb up to the viewpoint

Yes, it will be very hot and sweaty but I promise the view is absolutely worth the effort. The viewpoint is located on the opposite side of the island to where the ferry drops you off but there are plenty of signs pointing the way. You can also type ‘Panorama Elsa Morante sulla Corricella e Terra Murata’ into google maps or maps.me to find your way there.

Eat all the good food

You’re in Italy, you can’t come here and not try some of the delicious local cuisines, right?! There are loads of cute little family-run restaurants right along the front of the harbour. Sit outside and soak up the ocean views.

Swim at the beach or harbour

It gets super hot here so you absolutely should go for a dip to cool off, especially after you hiked up to that viewpoint!

In my opinion, the public beach isn’t anything special but the water is refreshing. I also swam off the harbour on the opposite side of the island which was nice and peaceful.

Just be careful to watch out for jellyfish, I managed to get stung just as I was climbing out of the water! I’ve never been stung whilst swimming anywhere else in the bay of Naples so I may have just been unlucky this time. Still, it’s worth keeping an eye out for them. 

Where to stay

I stayed in Naples and took a day trip to Procida via the public ferry. If staying in Naples it’s best to stay close to the port/old city and avoid the area closest to the train station. 

Unique travel destinations #5: Ulcinj, Montenegro

Ulcinj is a fun little seaside town on the coast of Montenegro. It’s very popular with tourists from neighbouring Albania and Serbia but is fairly unknown to tourists outside of Eastern Europe. 

Why you should visit

There are so many reasons why Ulcinj should be on your bucket list! The quaint old town provides some fantastic views across the Adriatic as well as some much-needed shade from the sun. But don’t worry there are also plenty of fully serviced beach clubs or tiny secluded coves to take your pick fromIf you want to work on your tan.

Oh, and the nightlife is absolutely popping! 

What to do in Ulcinj

Explore the old town.

The old town has been designated a Unesco world heritage site due to the architecture being created throughout several different time periods, dating all the way back to the 5th century BC. 

There are several cute restaurants and bars tucked away in the cobbled alleyways, which make for a wonderful spot to enjoy a glass of wine with some fantastic views. Perched on a hill above the main town, the old town offers panoramic views of the beaches, town and harbour and out across the ocean. 

Visit a nude beach.

There are several nude beaches in Ulcinj to choose from. My favourite is Ladies beach which is a chilled and secluded spot for women only, you can rent a sun lounger for the day for just a couple of euros. There’s also a nice restaurant with a roof terrace on site. Don’t forget to treat yourself to a natural mud treatment whilst you are there. 

If nude beaches aren’t your thing there are plenty of other beaches to choose from. Ulcinj has a huge variety of fun beach clubs that range from a party atmosphere to a more relaxing vibe so you can find the one that suits you. However, I would recommend that you avoid ‘small beach’, the main free public beach, as it gets incredibly crowded and honestly just isn’t that great. There are much nicer beaches that are more worthy of your time. 

People watch at the strip.

During my time in Ulcinj, my favourite way to spend an evening was to grab a seat on the upper terrace of one of the many restaurants that line the main strip and watch the bustling street below me. Everyone comes out on an evening and walks along the strip. There are bars, street performers, ice cream, souvenirs and an electric atmosphere. Once you have had your fill of people watching, head to one of the clubs towards the harbour to experience some crazy Eastern European nightlife!

Where to stay

Click on the map below to find hotels in Ulcinj…

Unique travel destinations #6: Northern Cyprus 

You have probably heard of or maybe even visited Cyprus. However, Northern Cyprus is very different to the south side of the island.

Northern Cyprus has a complicated and troubled recent history, as it is technically illegally occupied land, with only Turkey recognising it as an independent country. But don’t let that put you off from visiting, as it is a truly wonderful place.

Every year millions of tourists flock to the resort towns of Cyprus but less than 10% of them venture north of the UN “buffer zone”. I really believe that Northern Cyprus deserves a lot more love from travellers. 

Why you should visit

Rugged coastlines with some of the bluest waters I have ever seen, vast wetlands with incredible opportunities for wildlife watching, mountains perfect for hiking and gorgeous historic old towns, you can find them all in North Cyprus.

The North is a lot less developed than the popular tourist resorts to the South. There are a lot more natural and unspoiled landscapes to explore. Hardly any tourists actually come here which is why I consider it to be one of the more unique travel destinations.

This makes Northern Cyprus a haven for wildlife lovers. During my time there I saw everything from wild flamingos, snakes, chameleons, sea turtles and even the rare Bonelli’s eagle!

Unfortunately, due to the complex political situation, there is a lot of red tape in place that stops conservation projects and charities in Northern Cyprus from receiving international funding for wildlife conservation.

This is a tragedy as there are many different diverse and fragile ecosystems there that need protection. One way that this can be improved is through increasing sustainable ecotourism in the area as this can provide a much needed economic boost to the local wildlife conservation projects. 

Despite what some people may try to tell you, Northern Cyprus is perfectly safe to visit. Yes, the political situation is tense but it is not actively violent or unsafe in any way.

The heavy military presence at the buffer zone can look a little intimidating but crossing the border into Northern Cyprus is actually pretty straightforward and you won’t have any trouble. 

What to do in Northern Cyprus 

Volunteer at a turtle project.

SPOT is an amazing organisation that I have had the privilege of working with (If you didn’t know my day job is in wildlife conservation) and I can’t recommend their volunteer program enough!

They have projects which aim to protect turtle nesting sites, work with local fisheries to reduce bycatch and illegal fishing practices, monitor monk seal populations and I believe they are even starting to work on protecting sharks and rays too. 

The old walled city of Famagusta 

Walking around the city of Famagusta is like walking around a huge outdoor museum. There is history everywhere! An incredibly well-preserved fortress wall dating back to the 1300s surrounds the old town. Nearby you will find the beautiful Othello castle. The castle is named after Shakespeare’s play, which is believed to be set in Famagusta.

The castle is well worth a visit and has some fantastic views. I also recommend visiting the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque, the sea gate and the Armenian church for a nice mix of architectural styles and historic time periods. 

Where to stay

Click on the map below to find hotels in North Cyprus…

Unique travel destinations #7: Pisa, Italy

Ok, I know what you are thinking:

“what are you talking about JJ? The leaning tower of Pisa is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, what’s it doing on a list of unique travel destinations?!”

And whilst you are absolutely right, the truth is that the vast majority of tourists only make a quick stop in Pisa to visit the tower and then continue on their way to other destinations around Italy. Very few tourists seem to stay for longer than a day in the city itself.

I’ve even seen travel blogs recommending NOT to stay in Pisa at all! This is crazy to me as I spent 4 days in Pisa and loved it, in fact, I was so busy enjoying all that the city had to offer that I didn’t get around to seeing the tower until 1am the morning I was due to leave! Oops! 🤦‍♀️

Why you should visit

Pisa is a charming city with a lot to offer. After the tour busses leave it’s actually fairly tourist-free. So you will have a much more leisurely time to stroll the streets than you would in other Italian cities, such as Florence, which are always super busy. 

Pisa is a very walkable city with nice restaurants, shops and some quirky street art to spot. It also makes for a good base for exploring the beautiful Tuscan countryside. 

What to do in Pisa 

The leaning tower of Pisa

Obviously, you should visit the leaning tower, after all, it is one of the most famous landmarks in the world, but I would suggest leaving it until late afternoon when most of the day-trippers have disappeared. But maybe don’t leave it as late as I did! 

Marina di Pisa

Take a short bus ride from the city centre out to Pisa’s beach resort. A swim in the sea of Marina di Pisa makes for a nice escape from the heat of the city and is a very pleasant way to spend the day. The beach is free but there are chairs and umbrellas available to rent 7 days a week. There are also plenty of beach bars, restaurants and gelato stores around the area, once you’ve had enough beach time. 

Eat delicious (and cheap) food with the locals

There are many pretty piazzas in Pisa full of authentic local cuisine. Take an evening walk along the river and simply follow your nose and you’re sure to stumble upon a piazza full of locals enjoying their dinner from one of the many cute outdoor restaurants. 

Explore Tuscany

Pisa is the perfect base for a Tuscan adventure. Just hop on a train or bus and you can visit many stunning nearby Tuscan towns and villages. Rent a bike and cycle the old city walls of Lucca, Climb the towers of San Gimignano or explore the historical streets of Siena. You can visit all three easily on a day trip from Pisa.

Tours in Pisa

Unique travel destinations #8: Eilat, Israel

Eilat is Israel’s most southern city and sits on the edge of the red sea between the borders of Jordan and Egypt.

When I first visited Eilat I was just passing through on my way to Jordan and didn’t think much of it, it seemed like a tacky resort town that wasn’t worth much time to me.

However, on my way back from Jordan I ended up spending several days in Eilat and its charm really grew on me. I ended up becoming very fond of this beachy city!

Why you should visit

If you want to experience the red sea at a fraction of the cost of the busy megaresorts in nearby Egypt, then Eilat is a really good option. The weather is fantastic, there are some great opportunities for snorkelling on the coral reef and the main promenade is really fun, especially on an evening.

What to do in Eilat

Enjoy a beach day.

With 10km of shoreline, there are plenty of beaches to choose from, some are quieter than others. I really enjoyed Umm Rashrash beach and Maman beach, where I had the whole beach to myself all day.

There are plenty of activities to keep you busy such as volleyball, snorkelling and browsing the many swanky shops along the promenade.

Be sure to catch the sunset from the beach too, it’s magical. Oh and here’s a fun fact… From the beach in Eilat, you can see 4 different countries: Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia! 

Take a day trip to nearby Petra

Petra is one of the seven wonders of the world and is definitely worth a visit whilst you are so close by! A day trip to Petra from Eilat is totally doable as it is only a 2hr drive away. However, you may want to consider spending at least 1 night in Petra to get the most out of your visit.

But if you are strapped for time then there are many tour companies offering day trips to Petra from Eilat, although some are better than others so do be sure to shop around. 

Explore stunning Timna national park 

Timna Park is located 25 km north of Eilat and covers around 15,000 acres of the Negev Desert.

The park has an amazing history. For example, it was used as the world’s first-ever copper mine in ancient times! The geological features of the park are absolutely stunning.

I’m sure if it was located in a more visited area of the world then it would be crawling with tourists, but as it is, exploring Timna park feels like you have discovered a secret all for yourself.

I took a tour with Abraham tours and as I was the only person who turned up it ended up being a private tour. I also didn’t see any other tour group the entire time we were there. So It felt like the huge rock formations were my own personal playground! Check out their available tours from Eilat below.

Where to stay

Click on the map below to find hotels in Eilat…

Unique travel destinations #9: Skopje, North Macedonia 

Bizarre, unnecessary, weird… These are all words that you could use to describe the capital of North Macedonia, and yet it is so easy to fall head over heels in love with this quirky Eastern European gem of a city. 

Love it or loathe it, one thing is for sure, it is definitely one of the most unique travel destinations in Europe.

Why you should visit

In 2014 the North Macedonian government inexplicably decided to spend an estimated €500 million on installing hundreds of statues, buying fake London buses from China, plonking a massive pirate ship in the river and covering many buildings in fake romanesque facades.

The citizens of Skopje were (rightly) pissed, as they felt that since North Macedonia is a relatively poor country, that amount of money should have been spent on better things. Ya know… like healthcare, education and alleviating poverty! The citizens protested by throwing paint over many of the statues and facades. 

What all of this has left is a capital city full of pure weirdness that feels something like Disneyland and something like a dystopian fantasy, but nevertheless somehow manages to retain an endearing charm. 

What to do in Skopje

Go statue hunting.

You literally can’t walk more than a few feet through the city centre without bumping into a statue. Some of the statues are nice, I guess, but mostly they are just super kitschy at best and downright gaudy at worst!

But still, going on a statue hunt and trying to find as many of these odd statues as you can is a really fun way to spend an afternoon in the city.

Be sure to check out the HUGE central statue of Alexander the great which lights up and shoots water. It is literally one of the tackiest things you will ever see. 

Take a free walking tour.

Skopje is a really fascinating city with a varied and colourful history. The best way to learn about all this is through a walking tour. I took this free tour and thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Kayak through Matka canyon.

Matka canyon is a short taxi ride out of the city (or catch the number 60 bus) and is well worth a visit. You can rent kayaks for around €3 per person. For a real adventure paddle to the Vrelo cave, which is only accessible by water, where you can explore the unique cave system filled with bats! 

Tours in Macedonia

Unique travel destinations #10: Semuc Champey, Guatemala

Semuc Champey is a gorgeous natural paradise hidden away in the jungles of Guatemala. It is a long way from anything and not exactly easy to access, making it one of the world’s most beautiful hidden gems. 

Why you should visit

Limestone pools, a gorgeous turquoise river, dense jungle and an extensive cave system complete with underground waterfalls make up this unique natural site. No words or pictures could ever do justice to the pure beauty of Semuc Champey so it is best to  simply experience it for yourself

What to do in Semuc Champey 

Hike up to the el mirador viewpoint.

Despite the intense humidity of the jungle, the short hike up to the viewing point will be a really enjoyable experience. Keep your eyes out for the absolutely huge butterflies and adorable monkeys up above you. Once you reach the viewing platform you will be rewarded with an incredible view of the limestone pools below. It’s hard to believe that what you are seeing is actually real as it is so intensely beautiful. 

Jump off of an underground waterfall.

The safest way to get the most out of your visit to Semuc Champey is to join a full-day tour with an expert guide. The tour I went on was one of the best days of my life!

We started with an adrenaline-pumping jump from a 7m (23ft) high bridge, then spent the next few hours climbing over the limestone rocks, jumping off the small waterfalls and swimming in the turquoise pools before we headed into Kanba cave. The guide gave us candles to hold above our heads as we swam through the pitch-black cave. We explored around 1000m into the cave system before the absolute highlight of the day, jumping from a 10m (~30ft) tall underground waterfall! This was such a unique experience and something I will never forget.

The tour finished with us all enjoying a beer as we floated down the river in rubber tubes. 

Fall asleep whilst listening to the sounds of the jungle.

You will surely be exhausted after such an adventure fuelled day. So get to bed early but be sure to listen to the magical sounds of the jungle as you fall asleep. Drifting off whilst listening to the animals around me was so special, I just wish someone had warned me about how loud the frogs are, as it came as quite a shock!

Tours to Semuc Champey

Where to stay

Lanquin is the nearest town to Semuc Champey at around 11km away, although don’t expect to find much there in the way of amenities and comforts. There is one small hostel located just outside the entrance to Semuc, if you plan to stay here be sure to book in advance.

Your most convenient option is to base yourself in Antigua where you will find plenty of options for 2-3 day trips to Semuc Champey, which will include transport and accommodation.

What are your favourite unique travel destinations? Comment below!

Happy travels!

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