The World's Most Underrated Cities: 12 Worth the Detour
Underrated is an overused word in travel. Most lists use it to mean unfamiliar, which is not the same thing. A genuinely underrated city has three qualities: it is very good, it is visited far less than it deserves, and there is usually a specific reason for that neglect. Almost always the reason is proximity. It sits an hour from somewhere more famous, and the coach tours drive past. The twelve cities here each have a bigger neighbour absorbing the attention, and each is worth a trip in its own right. For every one, you will find what it is overshadowed by, what is actually there, when to go, and the practical detail that matters.
The twelve, and who is standing in front of them
| City | Country | Overshadowed by | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Town | Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur and Singapore | Street food and heritage streets |
| Tbilisi | Georgia | Istanbul | Wine, sulphur baths, architecture |
| Kanazawa | Japan | Kyoto | Gardens, gold leaf, samurai quarters |
| Gaziantep | Turkey | Istanbul and Cappadocia | Arguably Turkey's best food |
| Naples | Italy | Rome and Florence | Pizza, Pompeii, and no pretence |
| Almaty | Kazakhstan | Nowhere, which is the problem | Mountains an hour from a city centre |
| Busan | South Korea | Seoul | Beaches, seafood, hillside villages |
| Muscat | Oman | Dubai and Abu Dhabi | The Gulf before the towers |
| Ljubljana | Slovenia | Vienna and Venice | A capital you can walk across |
| Hue | Vietnam | Hanoi and Hoi An | Imperial history and imperial food |
| Porto | Portugal | Lisbon | River, tiles and port cellars |
| Alexandria | Egypt | Cairo and Luxor | Mediterranean Egypt, faded and grand |
Asia
1. George Town, Penang, Malaysia
The core of George Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, and it is one of the best-preserved colonial-era townscapes in Southeast Asia: Chinese clan houses, shophouses, mosques and temples within a few streets of each other.
What actually brings people back is the food. Penang's hawker culture is widely argued to be the finest in the region, and the argument is not settled in Singapore's favour. Assam laksa, char kway teow and Hokkien mee here have a reputation across Asia.
Why it is overlooked: most Malaysia itineraries stop at Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi. When to go: December to March. Getting connected: the Matrix Malaysia eSIM from ₹599.
2. Kanazawa, Japan
Kanazawa escaped bombing in the Second World War, which means its Edo-era districts survived intact. Kenrokuen is counted among the three great gardens of Japan. The Nagamachi samurai quarter and the Higashi Chaya teahouse district are genuinely preserved rather than reconstructed.
The city also produces almost all of Japan's gold leaf, which turns up on everything including ice cream, and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the country's best.
Why it is overlooked: the Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka route is so well worn that everything off it disappears. When to go: spring or autumn, though winter snow on Kenrokuen is the classic image. Getting connected: see the Japan eSIM guide.
3. Busan, South Korea
Korea's second city sits on the coast with beaches, mountains and a fish market in the middle of it all. Gamcheon Culture Village, a hillside of painted houses, was a refugee settlement rebuilt as an arts district. Jagalchi is Korea's largest seafood market. Haeundae fills with Koreans on holiday every summer.
It is also two and a half hours from Seoul by KTX, which makes it an easy addition rather than a separate trip.
Why it is overlooked: Seoul absorbs almost every first-time Korea itinerary. When to go: April to June, or September to November.
4. Hue, Vietnam
Vietnam's imperial capital until 1945, with a walled citadel, royal tombs along the Perfume River, and a cuisine developed to feed emperors that remains distinct from anything in Hanoi or Saigon. The Complex of Hue Monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hue food is worth the trip on its own: bun bo Hue, banh khoai, and an elaborate court cuisine served in small portions.
Why it is overlooked: travellers stop at Hoi An, ninety minutes south, and skip it. When to go: February to April. Getting connected: the Matrix Vietnam eSIM.
The Middle East and Caucasus
5. Tbilisi, Georgia
Tbilisi is what happens when Persian, Russian, Ottoman and Soviet influences land on the same hillside over fifteen centuries. The old town has wooden balconies leaning over narrow streets, sulphur bathhouses under brick domes, and a Soviet-modernist skyline above it.
Georgia also claims the oldest winemaking tradition on earth, going back roughly 8,000 years, and the qvevri method of fermenting in buried clay vessels is still in use. Georgian food, particularly khinkali and khachapuri, is among the most distinctive in the region.
Why it is overlooked: most travellers do not think of the Caucasus at all. When to go: May to June, or September to October. Practical note: among the best value destinations anywhere for Indian travellers, and entry requirements are straightforward.
6. Muscat, Oman
Muscat is what the Gulf looked like before the towers. Building height is restricted, so the city runs low and white along the coast between mountains and sea. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque holds one of the world's largest hand-woven carpets. Mutrah Souq is a working market rather than a themed one.
Within two hours you can reach wadis, forts, desert and a coastline where turtles nest.
Why it is overlooked: Dubai is a two-hour flight away and takes all the traffic. When to go: October to April.
7. Gaziantep, Turkey
Gaziantep has been a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2015, and Turks routinely name it the best place to eat in the country. It is the home of pistachio baklava, and the difference between baklava here and baklava anywhere else is not subtle.
The Zeugma Mosaic Museum holds one of the largest collections of Roman mosaics in the world, recovered before a dam flooded the site. The copper bazaar still works as a bazaar.
Why it is overlooked: it sits in the southeast, far from the Istanbul and Cappadocia circuit. When to go: April to June, or September to November.
8. Almaty, Kazakhstan
Almaty sits against the Tian Shan mountains, and you can be on a chairlift above the city within forty minutes of leaving a café. Shymbulak ski resort and the Medeu skating rink are both effectively in town. The Green Bazaar is one of Central Asia's great markets.
Kazakhstan introduced visa-free entry for Indian passport holders, which makes this one of the easiest genuinely unfamiliar destinations to reach.
Why it is overlooked: almost nobody thinks of Central Asia when planning a holiday. When to go: May to June and September for hiking, December to February for snow.
Europe
9. Naples, Italy
Naples has a reputation problem that is decades out of date. What is actually there: the birthplace of pizza, a historic centre that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the National Archaeological Museum holding the finest objects recovered from Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Both sites are a short train ride away, as are Capri, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. Naples is the base for all of it, and it is considerably cheaper than Rome or Florence.
Why it is overlooked: the reputation, and the fact that Rome and Florence come first on every Italy itinerary. When to go: April to June, or September to October.
10. Porto, Portugal
Porto is becoming better known, but still receives a fraction of Lisbon's visitors. The Ribeira riverfront is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the azulejo tiles at São Bento station are worth a detour by themselves, and the port cellars across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia offer tastings for very little.
It is also compact enough to walk, which Lisbon's hills make harder.
Why it is overlooked: Lisbon is the default. When to go: May to June, or September.
11. Ljubljana, Slovenia
Slovenia's capital is small enough to cross on foot in twenty minutes, has a car-free centre, a castle on a hill above it, and a river running through with cafés along both banks. It was named European Green Capital in 2016 and the pedestrianisation has held.
Lake Bled is forty minutes away, the Adriatic coast is ninety, and the Julian Alps are within reach for a day.
Why it is overlooked: it sits between Vienna and Venice, and people fly over it. When to go: May to September.
Africa
12. Alexandria, Egypt
Founded by Alexander the Great, once home to the ancient world's greatest library and one of its seven wonders, Alexandria today is a Mediterranean city of faded corniche buildings, Greek cafés and catacombs beneath the streets.
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, opened in 2002, is a deliberate modern answer to the lost original. The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa mix Egyptian, Greek and Roman funerary styles in one place, which happens nowhere else.
Why it is overlooked: Egypt itineraries run Cairo to Luxor to Aswan and stop. When to go: October to April. Getting connected: the Matrix Egypt eSIM.
How to travel to places nobody writes about
Underrated cities reward a slightly different approach from the ones with a well-worn tourist path.
| What changes | What to do about it |
|---|---|
| Less English | Translation apps earn their place. Camera mode handles menus and signage. |
| Fewer English-language listings | Local apps and maps carry information that international sites do not. Data matters more here. |
| Cash goes further, and is needed more often | Smaller places take cards less consistently. Carry more small notes. |
| Transport is less obvious | Ride apps often work, but check which one is local before you land. |
| Accommodation books out faster | Fewer hotels means the good ones fill early, even in low season. |
| The upside | Lower prices, no queues, and locals who are pleased you came. |
The one thing worth arranging in advance
Connectivity matters more in an unfamiliar city than a famous one. In Rome you can find your way by following crowds and signs in English. In Gaziantep or Almaty you are relying on maps, translation and a ride app, all of which need data from the moment you land.
Several of these countries also require identity registration before a local SIM will activate, which is a genuine errand in a city where the counter staff may not share a language with you.
Pair them with the famous city
The easiest way to visit an underrated city is not to make it the whole trip. Each of these sits close to somewhere you were probably going anyway.
| Already going to | Add | How far |
|---|---|---|
| Kuala Lumpur | George Town | 1 hour by air, 4 by road |
| Seoul | Busan | 2.5 hours by KTX |
| Tokyo or Kyoto | Kanazawa | 2.5 to 3 hours by Shinkansen |
| Rome | Naples | Just over 1 hour by fast train |
| Lisbon | Porto | 3 hours by train |
| Dubai | Muscat | 2 hours by air |
| Hoi An or Da Nang | Hue | 2 hours by road over a mountain pass |
| Venice | Ljubljana | 3.5 hours by road |
| Cairo | Alexandria | 2.5 hours by train |
Sort connectivity before you go somewhere unfamiliar
It is the difference between exploring a city and being lost in one. Ten minutes at home, and you land with maps, translation and a ride app already working.
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Frequently asked questions
What makes a city underrated rather than just unknown?
Three things together: the city is genuinely good, it receives far fewer visitors than that quality warrants, and there is a specific reason for the neglect. Usually the reason is a more famous city nearby absorbing the attention.
Which is the most underrated city in Asia?
George Town in Penang has a strong claim. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with arguably the best street food in Southeast Asia, and most Malaysia itineraries skip it for Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi.
Is Naples safe to visit?
Naples has a reputation that is decades out of date. Ordinary precautions apply as in any large city, and the historic centre is a UNESCO site with the finest Pompeii collection anywhere. It is also considerably cheaper than Rome or Florence.
Which underrated city is easiest for Indians to visit?
Almaty, since Kazakhstan introduced visa-free entry for Indian passport holders. George Town is also straightforward, as Malaysia is currently visa-free for 30 days.
Where is the best food among these cities?
Gaziantep and George Town are the two strongest claims. Gaziantep has been a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2015 and is where pistachio baklava comes from. Penang's hawker culture is regarded across Asia as the finest of its kind.
Can I add an underrated city to a normal itinerary?
Usually yes, and it is the easiest way to visit one. Naples is just over an hour from Rome by train, Busan is two and a half hours from Seoul, and Alexandria is two and a half hours from Cairo.
Do I need a different approach for less touristed cities?
Slightly. Expect less English, fewer international listings, and more reliance on cash and local apps. All of that makes a working data connection more useful than it is in a city where you can navigate by following the crowds.
Which of these cities is best value?
Tbilisi and Almaty are exceptional value, and Gaziantep and Hue are both inexpensive. Naples is cheaper than Rome, and Porto is cheaper than Lisbon.
When is the best time to visit these cities?
Most sit in the shoulder seasons: April to June, or September to November. Muscat, Alexandria and Egypt more broadly are winter destinations, from October to April. Almaty works in both summer and deep winter.
Will my eSIM work in smaller cities?
Yes. All twelve are substantial cities with good network coverage, and Matrix plans cover every country on this list. Coverage thins in the mountains and countryside around them rather than in the cities themselves.
