The Greek island of Karpathos offers all the temptations of its sister islands -- clear blue seas, ocean breezes and stunning villages -- without the crowds. (Getty Images)
Hawaii is wonderful, and London is fab, but it’s always fun to ponder lesser-known destinations, especially when that list includes spots we rarely, if ever hear about. Turns out TimeOut.com‘s editors are happy to oblige with a list of 14 gorgeous, underrated destinations, including Turku, Lake Bacalar and Srebrenik.
Never heard of them? Turku was built in the 13th century, and the “Paris of Finland” was that country’s capital until 1812. Today, you can visit the city’s medieval fortress, traipse the cobblestone streets and riverside byways, and enjoy fika — a coffee and cake break we really need to adopt over here — at one of its many cafes.
You’ll find Lake Bacalar’s clear blue waters on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, and Srebrenik is a dramatic, medieval town in Bosnia and Herzegovina that looks straight out “Game of Thrones.” The full list of underrated destinations — and more travel tips — can be found at www.timeout.com/travel/. Meanwhile, here’s a peek at the top 10.
1. Mongolia
2. Lake Bacalar, Mexico
3. Cuenca, Ecuador
4. Srebrenik, Bosnia and Herzegovina
5. Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
6. Gippsland, Australia
7. Plymouth, England
8. Burlington, Vermont
9. Turku Finland
10. Karpathos, Greece
Originally published at Jackie Burrell