What are the best places you’ve been to that are actually worth exploring?

Not looking for the obvious tourist checklist, more curious about places that surprised you, felt different from what you expected, or just stuck with you long after the trip ended.

Could be a country, a random small town nobody talks about, a trek, a street you wandered into by accident, anything.

A few things I’d love to know if you’re up for sharing:

Where was it, and what made it stand out for you?

Was it planned, or did you just stumble into it?

Would you actually go back, or was it a one-time kind of place?

Roughly how much did it end up costing you, and did it feel worth that amount looking back?

I’m building a list for future trips, and honestly the best recommendations I’ve gotten have always come from real people’s experiences rather than “top 10 places to visit” articles that all say the same five cities.

Drop your favorite spot, I’m genuinely taking notes.

  • Dr. Moose@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    12 hours ago

    Rail vacations are amazing for exploring. Here are my favorites:

    • Kyushu region in Japan is incredible on rail. In particular the Aso volcano area and anything south-east of it. Almost no one is there - you can get the front car and see in front of the train almost every trip. Incredible, super cheap, super underrated.
    • Taiwan has entire rail looping around it that you can do scenic 3 day journey and it’s incredible especially during autumn or spring.
    • China has amazing routes but rail experience is pretty bad if you aren’t alone with noise canceling headphones (people are really loud on Chinese trains). Chengdu to Kunming is my favorite route
    • Switzerland rail is still incredible despite being a bit packed and expensive but if you can afford it and find good timing it’s incredible though Swiss towns are kinda boring once wow factor wears of - once you’ve seen one you’ve seen all.

    In general rail tourism is incredible. Really cheap and accessible these days!