If you’ve been to any of these 10 cities, you’re more well-traveled than 95% of people

Last year, I was at a dinner party in Austin when someone asked me about my favorite travel destination. Before I could answer, another guest jumped in: "Oh, I'm such a world traveler. I've been to Paris, London, AND Barcelona!"

The table went quiet. Not because we were impressed, but because half the people there had been to those exact same cities. And that's when it hit me - most people's travel maps look remarkably similar. We're all hitting the same Instagram-famous spots, following the same guidebooks, eating at the same "must-visit" restaurants.

But real travel? The kind that actually changes you and gives you stories nobody else has? That happens when you venture beyond the tourist trail.

After living in Bangkok for three years and spending countless hours exploring places that don't make it into most travel blogs, I've realized something: being well-traveled isn't about checking off the most popular destinations. It's about experiencing the world in ways that challenge your perspective.

So here's my take on 10 cities that, if you've visited them, put you in a different league of traveler. These aren't necessarily the hardest places to reach or the most exotic. But they're the ones that separate tourists from true explorers.

1. Luang Prabang, Laos

While everyone's fighting crowds at Angkor Wat, Luang Prabang sits quietly along the Mekong River, offering something increasingly rare: authenticity without the tourist circus.

I stumbled into this UNESCO World Heritage city during my Southeast Asia years, expecting just another temple town. What I found was a place where monks still collect alms at dawn, where French colonial architecture hasn't been turned into Starbucks, and where the night market actually sells things locals use.

The food scene alone makes this worth the journey. Ever tried Laotian river weed chips? Or buffalo skin salad? These aren't dishes created for adventurous tourists. This is what people actually eat here, and it's incredible.

Most travelers skip Laos entirely, which is exactly why going there matters. It shows you're willing to add an extra flight, deal with less infrastructure, and explore a country that doesn't have its own section in most guidebooks.

2. Medellín, Colombia

Mention Medellín to most people and they'll reference Netflix shows or outdated fears. But those who've actually been there? We know it's one of the most innovative cities in Latin America.

The transformation story here is real. This city went from being practically unvisitable to winning awards for urban development. The cable cars that now transport residents up the mountainside? They're not tourist attractions. They're public transit that happens to offer incredible views.

What strikes me most about Medellín is how it refuses to hide its past while building its future. You can visit Comuna 13, once the most dangerous neighborhood in the city, now covered in street art and full of hip-hop dancers. It's complicated, it's real, and it's nothing like what you'll find in Cancún.

3. Isfahan, Iran

Here's a test: mention you've been to Iran and watch people's reactions. The surprise on their faces tells you everything about how few Western travelers make it here.

Isfahan breaks every stereotype you might have about Iran. The architecture rivals anything in Europe, the hospitality surpasses even the friendliest countries I've visited, and the food scene? Let's just say Persian cuisine deserves way more global recognition than it gets.

Walking through Naqsh-e Jahan Square at sunset, surrounded by mosques that make the Taj Mahal look understated, you realize how much of the world's beauty we miss because of politics and preconceptions.

4. Tbilisi, Georgia

Not the state. The country. And if you had to clarify that in your head, you're proving my point.

Tbilisi is what Prague was 30 years ago, before the bachelor parties and tour groups took over. It's got the cobblestone streets, the quirky wine bars, the mix of architectural styles that shouldn't work together but somehow do.

But what sets it apart is the food and wine culture that predates France's by several thousand years. They're still making wine in clay vessels buried underground, the same way they did 8,000 years ago. And the khachapuri? It makes pizza look like amateur hour.

Georgia sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and Tbilisi feels like it. It's neither fully Eastern nor Western, which makes it more interesting than places that fit neatly into either category.

5. Kigali, Rwanda

Africa remains the most underrepresented continent on most travel itineraries, and Kigali shows exactly what people are missing.

This might be the cleanest city I've ever visited. Plastic bags are banned, there's a national cleaning day every month, and the organization level rivals Singapore. But it's not sterile. The hills (they don't call it the "Land of a Thousand Hills" for nothing) create neighborhoods with distinct personalities, and the coffee culture here puts Seattle to shame.

The genocide memorial is heavy, necessary visiting. But the city's story since then? It's one of the most inspiring urban narratives on the planet. Tech startups, women in parliament, a buzzing creative scene. This isn't the Africa you see in charity commercials.

6. Osaka, Japan

Tokyo gets all the attention, but Osaka is where Japan lets its hair down.

This is the city that gave the world conveyor belt sushi, instant ramen, and the concept of kuidaore (eating yourself into bankruptcy). The food culture here isn't about Michelin stars. It's about takoyaki stands run by the same family for three generations and kushikatsu joints where the only rule is "no double dipping."

What I love about Osaka is that it shows you a different Japan. People actually talk to strangers here. The comedy culture is huge. It's grittier, funnier, and more approachable than its famous siblings.

7. Lviv, Ukraine

Writing this now feels heavy, but Lviv deserves recognition for what it's been and what it hopefully will be again.

This city is what happens when Polish, Austrian, Ukrainian, and Jewish cultures spend centuries creating something together. The coffee house culture rivals Vienna's, the architecture spans every European style you can name, and the creativity here puts most capitals to shame.

Lviv shows you Europe without the EU gloss. It's romantic without being precious, historic without being a museum. And the fact that it's not on most Western European itineraries? That's precisely what makes visiting it so rewarding.

8. Valparaíso, Chile

Street art usually gets relegated to specific neighborhoods in most cities. In Valparaíso, the entire city is the canvas.

Built into impossible hills overlooking the Pacific, this place makes San Francisco look flat. The funiculars aren't tourist attractions; they're how people actually get home. Every staircase is painted, every wall tells a story, and every view makes you reconsider what a city can be.

The poet Pablo Neruda loved it here, and you can see why. It's chaotic but beautiful, crumbling but vibrant. Most Chile trips stop at Santiago and wine country. Making it to Valparaíso shows you're interested in more than checking boxes.

9. Yangon, Myanmar

Myanmar's political situation is complicated, and that's exactly why thoughtful travel here matters.

Yangon feels like a time capsule in some ways, with its colonial architecture and street food culture that hasn't been sanitized for tourists. The Shwedagon Pagoda at sunset is one of those rare sites that actually exceeds the hype.

But it's the people who make this place special. After decades of isolation, there's a genuine curiosity about the outside world. Conversations here go deeper than typical traveler small talk. You're not just another tourist; you're a window to places they're curious about.

10. Salvador, Brazil

Finally, while everyone heads to Rio, Salvador offers something more complex and arguably more Brazilian.

This is where African and Portuguese cultures created something entirely new. The percussion you hear on the streets isn't performance; it's practice for Carnaval groups that represent neighborhoods and tell stories. The capoeira here is real, not a tourist show. The acarajé sold by women in white traditional dress isn't Instagram bait; it's a religious offering turned street food.

Salvador makes you work a bit harder. The city's layout is confusing, the history is complicated, and you can't just hit the beach and call it a day. But that's exactly why it matters.

Final thoughts

Look, I'm not saying these cities are better than Paris or Tokyo or New York. Those places are popular for good reasons, and I love them too.

But if you've made it to any of these ten cities, you've shown something different. You've proven you're willing to go beyond the easy choices, to deal with less convenient flights, to explain to friends and family why you're going "there" instead of somewhere more familiar.

Real travel isn't about counting countries or collecting passport stamps. It's about seeking out stories that haven't been told a million times, finding beauty in places that don't top the "must-visit" lists, and coming home with perspectives that actually shift how you see the world.

That's what separates well-traveled people from those who simply travel well.