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Fancy a memorable city break but don’t fancy being put off by having to navigate your way through masses of tourists once you get there?
Scroll down to discover eight offbeat, uncrowded cities that are likely to win your heart.
They were named and described by tourists in a Reddit discussion that was started by ube ‘seventy-eight’ with the question: ‘What’s the best unconventional city you’ve visited?’
Suggestions came in droves and quickly, from a from a “beautiful” Italian city “that has no crowds” all year round to the “Switzerland of America” and a “super underrated” Australian gem.
Scroll down to spark your wanderlust.
Turin/Torino – Italy
There are many cities that remain relatively undiscovered and tourists have taken to Reddit to identify them. One user described Turin (above) in Italy as “one of the best cities in the country.”
Venice and Florence get most of the attention for city breaks in Italy, but Redditors pointed out that one of the “best cities in the country” is “overlooked by most tourists.”
The city in question is Turin, the capital of the Piedmont region in northern Italy (also known as ‘Torino’).
User ‘Joe-misidd’ wrote: ‘Torino, Italy is one of the best cities in the country and most tourists ignore it.
‘Great architecture, very walkable, fantastic museums, delicious regional dishes and stunning alpine scenery.’
Poster artist JohnAtticus agrees: “Torino is really cool. It’s unlike any other Italian city. Plus, there are no crowds even in peak season.”
‘Sleuthinginslippers’ added: ‘I was recently in Turin for a few days and I can see myself living there without any problems.’ To which user ‘Curry_pan’ replied: ‘Me too! It’s a very beautiful and very liveable city.’
Oulu – Finland
One Reddit user described Oulu (above), in northern Finland, as an “ideal city to live in.”
Oulu is located on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia in northern Finland, 200 kilometres (124 mi) south of Rovaniemi and the Arctic Circle.
It’s known for its annual Air Guitar Championships, but Reddit users highlighted other positives, including a beach.
‘Dimitriettr’ commented: ‘I really enjoyed Oulu in Finland. There is a lot of space between buildings, green trees everywhere, a nice beach to relax and watch the sunset and beautiful parks.
“I thought it was the ideal city to live in. I was there in July. I think the winters can be harsh.”
In response, user ‘throwRA_oldbathwater’ said: ‘Oulu is definitely a place on my bucket list. I’m glad to hear so much positivity about it.’
Ouray – Colorado, United States
Pictured above is Ouray, a picturesque mountain town often referred to as the “Switzerland of America.”
Nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado, Ouray is often referred to as the “Switzerland of America,” and Reddit users agree that it’s a beautiful place.
User ‘MoodOk9968’ said: ‘Ouray is incredibly beautiful!’ while ‘Revolutionary_Big701’ said: ‘I love Ouray!’
Meanwhile, WasteofTime51 recalled day trips they took from Ouray, which included Mesa Verde, a national park and UNESCO World Heritage site two hours’ drive from the city, and Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, a vast landscape featuring the tallest dunes in North America.
User ‘JazTaz04’ concluded: ‘Hooray for Ouray!’
Nuremberg, Germany
Nuremberg (above) was described as “beautiful, magical and fun”
The big names in Germany for a city break are Berlin and Munich.
But contributors to the Reddit discussion pointed out that Nuremberg was a worthwhile alternative.
One Reddit user described the city as “amazing,” while another said they “loved the place.” User “_MJ_1986” claimed Nuremberg was “so beautiful, magical, and fun” during winter that it “ruined Christmas for the rest of my life.”
User ‘CptPaprikasPancreas’ added: ‘I love Nuremberg too! Exploring the Imperial Castle was really cool.’
Townsville, Australia
Townsville, North East Queensland: “a super underrated place”
Townsville is 20 minutes from Magnetic Island (above), where one tourist said he “saw nine koalas during a 12km (7.3 mile) walk.”
When you think of coastal holiday destinations in Queensland, places like Cairns, Gold Coast or Noosa may be the first to come to mind.
What are Reddit users saying?
Instead, head to Townsville, a “super underrated” city in northeast Queensland.
Reddit user ‘_MJ_1986’ commented that it has “fantastic bars and restaurants” and added: “It was a good base to tour around. I found the locals friendly and it wasn’t overrun with tourists like Cairns. My wife and I thought it was a super underrated place and will be back.”
User ‘Imapassenger1’ replied: ‘I’m from Sydney and I go to Townsville quite often for work. I still enjoy it. There’s a lot of truth to what you say, plus there are more hidden gems out there. Plus there’s Magnetic Island only 20 minutes away.’
To which ‘_MJ_1986’ replied: ‘Maggy Island was so much fun! I saw nine koalas during a 12km (7.3 mile) walk. I enjoyed every minute of it.’
Khiva – Uzbekistan
One user described the ancient city of Khiva as “an absolute gem.” Pictured is the Itchan Kala heritage site, a walled inner city full of ancient monuments within the Uzbek city.
“It’s like stepping into another era,” said one tourist from Khiva, seen here during the day, when the markets are open.
The city of Khiva (pronounced locally as “Heevah”) is over 2,500 years old. Located in the Kohram region of Uzbekistan, it is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Itchan Kala, a walled inner city filled with ancient monuments.
User ‘Dangerous_Fingers7757’ described the city as ‘an absolute gem’ and said it ‘felt like a dream’, while ‘Itsclearlynotme’ said it felt ‘like walking onto a movie set’.
The user added: ‘The ancient city inside the walls is so well preserved that it’s like stepping into another era. Early in the morning and after it gets dark, when the tourist market has closed and the buses have left, it’s a magical experience. I’ve been to many places in the world, but I’ll never forget the magic of that place.’
Salta – Argentina
According to one Reddit user, Salta (above) is “definitely not off the beaten path,” but it is safe and offers delicious food.
Salta is located an hour and a half north of Quebrada de las Conchas, an otherworldly natural rock formation (above)
Salta, a city in the Andean northwest of Argentina, is located an hour and a half north of Quebrada de las Conchas, an otherworldly natural rock formation in the Calchaquí Valley.
“It’s definitely not in the mainstream path,” he said.According to user ‘Rundle9731’, but it’s worth the trip.
They added: ‘The city itself isn’t the most exciting, but it’s safe, the food is amazing and it’s the gateway to some of the most beautiful natural areas I’ve ever seen.’
User ‘digandrun’ added: ‘Salta is great. Amazing empanadas, great nature, cool city.’
Kastoria – Greece
Kastoria, in northern Greece, is the “definition of a hidden gem”
Kastoria, a city in northern Greece in the region of Western Macedonia, lies on the shores of Lake Orestiada and is surrounded by limestone mountains.
It’s up to user ‘Occupykony2’ to explain why this should be on your bucket list in Greece.
They said: “This is the definition of a hidden gem. It’s deep in the north of Greece and on a peninsula jutting out into the middle of a lake, so it’s an incredibly serene and picturesque setting. There’s history around every corner, too.”
