Surprising Places You Love

Copenhagen, Denmark and also have to agree with Tirana, Albania. Would love to see more of Albania and would go back to Copenhagen in a heartbeat!

I like this question!

For Europe, I would say (North) Macedonia- we went with no major expectations and found the scenery really beautiful and the culture very interesting. Lake Ohrid is probably once of the nicest places I've been in Europe.

Outside Europe, I have to say Nepal- I had a work trip a few years ago around Baglung district (which gets very few tourists) and was floored by the scenery- there's nowhere else like the Himalayas.

I expected to like Hong Kong but never expected how much. I have traveled there three times now and can’t wait to return.
Also Oslo,Norway which I didn’t anticipate liking so much. I will include stop overs there whenever I can.

Vaison-la-Romaine, France and Exmoor, England.

Ghent, Belgium.
Such a chill place with great food and beer, and not over-run like Bruges.

Oaxaca, Mexico.
"Love" isn't strong enough. I can't think of a place that's touched my soul more than Oaxaca.

Kelowna, Canada.
The whole valley is like being able to drive to Europe. It's a wine region that's not full of itself.

Paris, France.
Of course, of course.

-- Mike Beebe

Ireland. I first visited in 1993 and immediately fell in love with the Emerald Isle. The culture -- writing, music, dancing -- is vibrant. The people are genuinely friendly. And the countryside is beautiful. I returned to Ireland four more times. I inquired of my local Irish consulate about emigrating there, but it's virtually impossible for those who don't have documented proof of one grandparent from Ireland.

Others: Turkey in general, especially the city of Antalya; Bamberg, Germany; Pecs, Hungary; Tokyo, Japan.

All of Ireland with a shout out to the magical Gap of Dunloe
London, UK
Havana, Cuba
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Berkeley, California
Bay wood/Los Osos, California
Felton, California
Dingle, Ireland

I travel off season have been lucky not to face hordes of tourists. Over the decades was the only person in the room besides the guard to view Da Vinci’s Last Supper, same with seeing Rembrandt’s the Night Watch. Also saw the statue of David with less than 15 people and attended evensong in Westminster Abbey with only 10 people. Readily admit these travels took place before RS and his videos and books became immensely popular.

Orkney and Shetland! I went to Orkney in 2023 because my favorite tour guide, Mark Seymour, told me I'd love it because of the neolithic sites. I had no expectation (barely did any research) and was completely wowed! Not just because of the Neolithic sites but everything - cliffs, birds, the sea, people, green pincushion tidal islands, new geographic features - was amazing. I never thought I'd love a landscape with no trees!

And Paris....can't believe how a non-city gal like me can just be totally in thrall to a sophisticated world capital. I did not enjoy it in 1973 or 1975 or 1976. I made myself do the RS Best of Paris tour following a 21 Day Best of Europe tour in 2014 because I wanted to see why everyone loved it but me. I found out!

And thanks Cala for the fun thread!

Gothenburg, Kalmar, and Uppsala in Sweden all surpassed my expectations. Bristol, England surprised me by how much I liked it.
Vienna, Austria and Krakow, Poland - I fell in love with both of them.

But I have to say the one that I first fell in love with was Zermatt, Switzerland. Was there on a tour in 1997 (when it was small and not overrun with tourists in the non-ski season) and didn't want to leave. Even asked the proprietor of the place we stayed if she needed any help, told her I'd be a maid or work in the kitchen so I could just stay. Just one of those fleeting pipe dreams but I'll never forget it. Don't want to go back now as I've heard how much it's changed and not for the better.

Veliko Tarnavo, Bulgaria, and also the Valley of The Roses on the other side of the pass. Bulgaria has THE BEST salads - shopska salata - but as with any foods, it’s all about the ingredients. Bulgaria has the worst roads, however, right after the terrible roads here in Colorado.

Paris, France....obviously, Lüneburg, Germany, Fontainebleau, France,

Berlin, Ger., Vienna, Austria,

London, England, Potsdam, Germany,

Quebec City, Canada.

The Dordogne region in France. I'd never heard of it until we went there for a couple of days on an RS tour in 2019. Loved it so much that we knew we'd have to go back. During the planning for the return trip I was nervous that I'd built it up so much in my mind that it couldn't possibly be as good as I remembered. It wasn't as good...it was better.

The entire Mediterranean was my first surprise though. I didn't even know wanted to go until my wife told me I did. That first trip was a cruise from Rome and back in 2014 and we've been hooked on Europe ever since.

Sonongo (Switzerland) and the surrounding area of the Valle Verzasca. I had found it years back in a Swiss hiking book so decided to visit during a 2014 trip. Booked one night. On the bus trip in my wife and I looked at each other and grinned, we knew we had found an area we would love. Ended up staying 4 nights.
Carcassonne France. Obviously the Cite' was not a surprise but I had read Cameron Hewitt's appalling write up and was worried that it would be a disappointment. Nah, loved the Cite' visiting it at 3 different times of the day. Yep it gets packed during office hours but at 5 am it is hauntingly surreal. The big surprise though was what a lovely town Carcassonne itself is. Cameron was too busy hating the Cite' to bother with Carcassonne apparently.
South Stack Wales. We explored here at either end of travelling to Ireland from Holyhead. I had no idea that the area was so stunning and interesting.
Kathmandu Nepal. The extraordinary beauty of the Himalaya was no surprise but I typically dislike crowded polluted cities. Kathmandu is extremely crowded, traffic is mad, polluted as it comes. Something about it still managed to win my heart, mostly the people and the culture but I think also it was just so ridiculously crazy.

“Loved it” is a bit too strong, but I liked Johannesburg, South Africa despite its reputation as a hellhole. You do need to stay in the right area (such as Sandton) and a good guide helps. In the United States a city that doesn’t get a lot of tourist love but is a great place to visit with some wonderful attractions, is Kansas City.

The Carinthia western Styria region. I knew it was somewhat mountainous, but was surprised by how much. The direct train ride from Salzburg to Portschach is a beautiful stretch that gets no love from the travel community.

Paris, more than I expected
Richmond on the Thames, London
Turin, Italy
Naples, Italy
Stockholm

Stockholm, Sweden during KulturFest - normally I don't love crowds, but I was surprised how much I enjoyed the city during this event.

Seville, Spain because it swirls a combination of food, architecture and culture that are favorites from other cities.

I'm looking forward to being in Tirana, Albania in a few weeks to discover its attractions!

I had no idea I'd like Poland so much. Krakow and Gdansk, especially. I also enjoyed my month in Spain much more than I expected to, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of it this summer.

While I liked all the hill villages on the Village Italy tour last year, I fell in love with Volterra. No particular reason, but it called to me, especially Palazzo Viti.

No surprise but I love Venice. Three visits so far and I can’t wait to go back. So unique and the locals are nice and friendly.

I’m headed back to Ireland after 33 years. I loved it then, the fuchsia hedges, unexpected historical sight down country roads and the people. I hope the love affair continues (but no car this time).

There’s so many places that I love in Europe but thinking of true surprises from the bunch…

I just booked a place today to sleep in a trullo in Alberobello during my upcoming trip to southern Italy. Yes, that city of trulli where some in the forum say to skip it all together or others say to stay less than an hour. Surprise, I loved it! I stayed overnight there last May and found it very charming in the late afternoon/evening and morning. My upcoming itinerary seemed liked there was something missing until I added a night in Alberobello to it.

Menton, France was a sweet surprise, too. And little Frigiliana, Spain. And Angers, France. And St. Wolfgang, Austria.

Disneyland Paris.
Las Vegas
Missouri
Statue of Liberty
Oklahoma City
Cancun
Wyoming

Isle of Raasay Scotland.
We visited after a chat with a local up near the Old Man of Storr. My wife both rated it our favourite spot in Scotland.

Barr France.
We were heading to the Alsace by train, my 2d time to the region. We were going to reach Strasbourg about 4pm but wanted to stay somewhere smaller and cheaper. Found very affordable lodgings in Barr half an hour away by train. We booked the one night with the plan of moving on the next day. Nah, no moving on. Barr was just too good a location, no crowds, great architecture, great forests and castle ruins, great scenery, great accommodation. We spent 4 nights there.

Fremantle Australia.
As I said earlier not a big city fan but I loved Freo.
We stayed at Coogee Beach in our campervan at either end of our 3 week roadie. Great beach, it was winter so no crowds. The Shipwreck Museum I reckon is the best small museum in Oz. The Maritime Museum was great, the historic prison also great and of course Rottnest Island and the Quokkas.

Mt Gambier Australia.
My parents had visited a few times and loved it but I hadn't rated it as a priority destination. I should have, it is beautiful and fascinating. I'll be back!

West Coast South Island New Zealand.
I rated it as a priority but wasn't sure what to expect. For me it was paradise. Small towns, high mountains, lakes, threaded rivers, wild seas, exotic birdlife, extraordinary forests and fauna. I expected all of that but didn't expect it to be as good as it was.

Mt CookAoraki and Lake Pukaki. New Zealand.
As above. I had fairly high expectations but they were exceeded. I thought those photos of the mountain backdrop behind the impossibly blue lake were filtered. There not!

Milford Sound New Zealand.
The previous day we had coached and cruised the bigger, more remote Doubtful Sound. It was a near perfect experience. My thought was the hyper popular heavily touristed Milford Sound would disappoint. Nope, it was in its own way just as great an experience.

Surprising …

Coromandel Peninsula and Waiheke Island on (near) New Zealand’s North Island.

Roanoke, Virginia. And, less surprising, Charlottesville, VA and Asheville, NC.

Iceland. Our first trip there was for a short 3 night stopover back in 2015 and we pretty much knew nothing about the country. It was just a stop to get over jet lag before continuing on to Denmark. We fell in love with it and knew we would be back. We tried in 2020, but we all know how that turned out. In 2021 though we went back and have been returning a couple times each year. Even with doing the ring road, the Westfjords etc there is still so much more to explore. So far we have 61 nights there, and will be back again in August.

Fred, I also loved Waiheke Island near Auckland NZ. We went there on a tour and had the most wonderful lunch at one of the wineries.

The Province of Soria.

It checks a lot of boxes, from dinosaurs to Celtiberica to Roman history, Moorish history, El Cid, castles, natural reserves, lavender fields, and much more (like torreznos and black truffles for example).

And, for me, something I appreciate more and more, is that there is no one there. Very few people live there, just 97,000 people in the whole province, and very few tourist.

This is hard because I enjoy so many places.

First and foremost, Paris! I can’t stay away and am very excited to spend a month there this fall. It will be the lengthiest trip so far and I’ve been there 8 times. I have actually enjoyed every place I’ve been to in France and I’ve been in most parts of the country.

Dingle, Ireland. It just calls to me. My many times great grandfather immigrated from there to Colonial Virginia in 1650 and in 2022 I was fortunate to meet a historian who wrote a book about a member of the family. Apparently they were very prominent and in the wine business. He showed me the extensive family tree he had put together. I like the rest of Ireland too.

The California redwoods. I always find it so peaceful to be walking through the forests and only hearing the sounds of nature.

Poland, I was pleasantly surprised when we went there last October and very much want to return to Krakow and Gdańsk.

London never disappoints. We will be there later this year for the 4th time.

I’m in Australia right now. It’s early in my 4 week trip and won’t be surprised if I have wow moments here.

Later this year we will finally (fingers crossed) get to Switzerland. Our 2020 trip was cancelled and last year I had to cancel Switzerland and more of our trip due to a family situation. Hopefully the 3rd time’s the charm. I expect to be wowed by it as well.

Villefranche sur Mer, France - We love the charming waterfront area and views from the pebble beach as well as easy access to the French Riviera coastal towns.

Sorrento, Italy - We love the sunsets and views over the bay of Naples from the cliffside, the Centro Storico area, and easy access to Capri and Pompeii

London, UK - always ready to return

Paris, France - an exciting special place for us

Strasbourg and Colmar, France

Monterosso al Mare, Italy

Venice, Italy

Oia, Santorini - We loved the caldera view and early morning walks on the promenade and seeing the windmills, blue domed churches and castle ruins as well as the gorgeous sunsets and relaxing in the plunge pool at our hotel.

Salzburg, Austria

Copenhagen, Denmark

Venice, Italy

In Europe, Norway and it's fjords were special.

Cuzco and Machu Picchu in Peru was amazing.

Of course, for history it is hard to beat Egypt.

Two places come to mind when I think about where I was surprised by how much I liked them:

1) Sougia, Crete in Greece. It is on Southwest coast of the island. A small beach town with a pebble beach and unremarkable architecture it captured our hearts. It is hard to explain why. My son and his girl friend went a few weeks later the same year and had the same reaction. It is unpretentious, friendly, and has fabulous restaurants.
2) Palermo, Sicily in Italy. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I had read some negative things but we loved it. It was a little rough around the edges but we really enjoyed visiting a city that wasn’t disneyfied yet. The people were very genuine, the architecture was varied, and the food was great. I remember going in the tourist office to get information on a bus and remarking about all the people visiting (it was 2022) and the woman giving the biggest smoke as she said “yes, isn’t it great!”

Scotland. We went there because my mother-in-law mentioned that she would like to go there. Her mother was born in Dundee. We included a week in Scotland with her and our then teen daughters as part of a three week trip that also included England. It was low on my own travel list, but when we got there it just felt wonderful.

I’d love to return.

I'm not sure that folks are really answering the question that was asked. I mean, OK, maybe you were not really expecting to be completely blown away by Paris or Venice or Florence, and you were...but should that really have been a surprise? These are awfully famous places and their appeal is pretty well known.

I'll offer a few places that actually, you know, surprised me at how awesome they were...and that could not have been easily predicted by most others.

Latvia. Yeah, Latvia. Riga especially, but honestly, pretty much all the places we went in Latvia far, far exceeded my expectations. I went in not knowing much about the place, and it charmed the heck out of me at every turn. I told people I was going to Latvia, most asked "um, where?", some laughed and said "come on, you're kidding". So I had some doubts myself.

Sardinia. One of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Cagliari especially, but pretty much every day and every place we poked around left me gobsmacked. It just looked good on the map. It's Italy, it's an island surrounded by the sea, it's where Russian oligarchs and corrupt politicians love to hang out. It's Italy. It's named after a fish, I figured at worst there would be decent food. It turned out to be "pinch-me-this-can't-be-real" good.

Hokkaido. Japan's large northern island. We kind of threw a dart, shrugged, and said "sure, why not?" We kept just stumbling into one stunning thing/experience at every turn. We had similar experiences in Kyushu (Japan's large southern island). Given how much we had loved Hokkaido and our previous trips to Japan (and how much my wife kept telling me how cool Kyushu would be), I went in to the Kyushu trip with high expectations - and was still blown away.

[Deleted.] Sorry, locals made me promise not to tell people about [deleted]. I've tried to honor their request. My wife had never heard of [deleted], couldn't find it on a map and went there entirely on her blind faith in my choices, and my telling her I really thought it might be cool and we should take a chance on this place. She now constantly talks about that as our best trip ever and compares every other trip to it. I'm forever looking to replicate that discovery.

The lessons I've learned: Even though I'm a cynic, famous places like Venice, Amalfi, Edinburgh, and Strasbourg quickly won my heart, and I probably should have seen that coming even as I rolled my eyes at what others had told me about their experiences there. But places like Bonifacio, Saaremaa, Koh Lipe, Ait Benhaddou, Rebun, Xwejni Bay, Mykines, Misool, and Mandalay...those places far, far exceeded my expectations, worked their magic and completely blew me away.

Seeking out places that I had never heard of, and never expected would appeal to me, was the big lightbulb-over-my-head take-away. Of course, there's no place like Rome. But there are a thousand other awesome and lovable places waiting to be discovered (and still remarkably crowd-free) that any of us can find and experience, if you are willing to do a little digging and take a few chances. And THAT was the best and most surprising and most delightful thing I've found.

YMMV. And there's nothing wrong with loving London or Paris, too.

The first place I should have named was Gimmelwald way back in 85. It sounded like my sort of place but I didn't anticipate the impact it had on me. I returned in 1988 and again in 2014. Leaving in 2014 was quite emotional as I doubted I would ever get back there again.

Some places that just didn't really do it for me.
London.
Venice.
Amsterdam.
Hamburg.
Hannover.
Brussels.
Singapore.
Sydney.
Adelaide.
Bath.
Amboise.
Edinburgh.

To clarify I am glad I visited them and enjoyed the experience but despite their popularity I just didn't love them.