These days, cheap air travel has made visiting new and exciting places easier than ever. But we tend to always visit the same places; Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, America… the list goes on. Most unusual holiday destinations involve sitting around a pool in a complex with a load of sunburnt Brits. Even Mexico is guilty of this! Mexico! Why go all the way to the home of the Aztecs to sit by a pool drinking imported wine and eating chips? We need to find destinations to visit before they get famous. You should also consider some unusual places to stay in when you get there.
But this is easier said than done. When it comes to exotic locations, Thailand’s been done to death, it looks like Vietnam and Cambodia are going to follow the same path, and Cuba is gearing up to exploit its new opportunities. With regards to Oceania, you could try the Solomon Islands but they’re pretty tricky to get to. So let’s look at more down to earth destinations.
Tromsø, Norway
OK, the chances are you’ve heard of Tromsø but I bet you’ve never been there. For the ultimate trip, fly to Bergen, hire a car, and drive up to Tromsø through the fjords. Not only will you be driving through some of the most beautiful wilderness in Europe, you also get to drive on the stunning Atlantic Ocean Road.
Photo by: Dziurek/Fotolia
Located deep within the Arctic Circle at the foot of the Lyngen Alps, Tromsø gets cold but it boasts a wonderful atmosphere. This is partly thanks to it having more pubs per capita than any other town in Norway! It’s also home to the Mack Brewery. Established in 1877, it brews 18 varieties of beer and runs an extremely popular tour.
Be sure to pay a visit to the Tromsø War Museum to learn more about the battleship Tirpitz (sister ship to the Bismarck) which was sunk nearby in 1944. Make sure you leave time to see Tromsø’s most famous landmark, the ultra-modern Arctic Cathedral built in 1965.
The main reason for visiting however is to see the Aurora Borealis. Thanks to Tromsø’s location in the Arctic, it’s one of the best places on earth to see the Northern lights. There are a number of tour companies that offer the best chance to see the lights but if you want to go it alone, find somewhere dark and bear in mind the most likely time to see them is between 8pm and 2am.
Zadar, Croatia
Croatia is certainly becoming more popular, but the city of Zadar remains relatively unknown to outsiders. Located on the Adriatic coast midway between Split and Pula, Zadar is a fascinating place to visit.
Photo by: Dario Bajurin/Fotolia
With its Roman Ruins and excellent museums, you’d be forgiven for thinking Zadar is simply a historical city living in the past but there is so much more to it. Head down to the water to hear the Sea Organ, a network of pipes and whistles are laid into the steps which, when the seawater rushes through, emits whistles and sighs that reflect the sound of the ocean. Make sure you catch at least one sunset and sunrise from the top of the steps.
When it comes to churches, Zadar is home to the unusual Church of St. Donatus, a tall, round Byzantine building with a rustic basilica. Next up is the imposing Cathedral of St. Anastasia, a gorgeous Romanesque structure dating from 12th century.
If you find the few tourists here are cramping your style, escape to the Kornati Islands opposite the city. Popular with locals, they are yet to be discovered by foreigners and offer a delightful change of scenery.
Azores, Portugal
Located in the middle of the Atlantic, the Azores aren’t the first islands to spring to mind when you hear the words “natural paradise”. But that’s what they are. Recognised by UNESCO, the Azores are a gorgeous chain of volcanic islands dotted with turquoise lagoons, lush forests, and plenty of wildlife.
Photo by: peresanz/Fotolia
Not surprisingly for a group of islands, the most popular activities involve the ocean. Take a whale watching tour to see sperm, pilot, beaked, false killer whales, minke, blue, fin, sei, and humpback whales. If that’s not enough for you, you can catch a sight of Risso’s, bottlenose, common, spotted, and striped dolphins!
If you’d rather jump in the water, the Azores offer crystal clear water perfect for fish such as devil rays, yellowmouth barracuda, loggerhead turtles, damsel fish, moray eels, marlin, tuna, and sharks. We could go on but you get the message, the Azores are amazing!
For the hikers among you, make the journey to the top of Mt Pico, at 7,713ft it offers fabulous views and perfect sunsets and sunrises. Perhaps the most spectacular area though is the island of Flores to the far west of the archipelago. Think Jurassic Park and you’ll have an idea of what to expect (minus big bitey things of course).
Riga, Latvia
Lying across the Baltic from Stockholm, Latvia’s capital Riga is a vibrant and bustling city filled with cafés, bars, restaurants, and a UNESCO World Heritage listed city centre. With only 640,000 inhabitants, its small size has helped it fly under the radar when it comes to tourism but it has much to offer.
Photo by: anjun/Fotolia
The charmingly named House of the Blackheads is actually an attractive red brick building whose origins date from 1344. Damaged by the Germans in 1941, it was knocked down by the Soviets in 1948 before being completely rebuilt between 1995 and 1999 using the original blueprints.
As with most Eastern European nations, there is an Occupation Museum which is excellent. Covering the occupation by both the Nazis and the Soviets, it lays bare the numerous atrocities committed against the Latvians by both nations. After visiting, make your way to the Freedom Monument. Built to honour the soldiers killed in the 1918-1929 War of Independence, it survived both occupations and is now permanently guarded by 2 soldiers, symbolically protecting Latvia’s independence.
What do you say?
Have these locations inspired you? Or have you already visited them? Let us know below. If you can recommend any other destinations to visit before they get famous we want to hear about them.
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