10 under-the-radar cities experienced travelers don’t want you to know about

There’s a certain sparkle that shows up when a traveler talks about a town they loved, yet they hesitate to name it. I get it. Some places feel too special to toss into the algorithm. They’re the spots where your morning coffee comes with a genuine “How’d you sleep?” and the evening air smells like bread, sea salt, or wood smoke. They’re not secrets in the strict sense. They simply remain quiet enough that you can hear yourself think.

I travel a bit like an analyst, since I spent years working with numbers. I look for patterns, probabilities, and payoffs. The trend is clear: if you skip the “must-sees,” you often get more of what you came for, things like connection, texture, and time.

As writer Pico Iyer puts it, “Travel is not really about leaving our homes, but leaving our habits.” That line sums up why these cities shine. They help you step out of routine.

Let’s get specific. Below are ten places frequent flyers quietly love, along with why they’re worth your curiosity.

1. Matera, Italy

I still remember slipping into a sun-warmed doorway in Matera while a summer cloudburst rattled the tiles above. The Sassi cave dwellings glow like honey at dusk. Wandering them feels like a walking meditation. It is not Rome and it is not Florence. That difference is the point.

Why it’s under the radar: many travelers assume “small” equals “skip.” Meanwhile, the city keeps its rhythm. Linen dries on lines, nonnas inspect tomatoes, and bells mark the day.

VegOut tip: for plant-forward plates, look for orecchiette with cime di rapa, chickpea stews, and breads baked in wood ovens. You get simple, hearty, naturally veg-friendly food.

Practical nudge: spend one night in a cave hotel, then switch to a modern B&B for the next night. Your body will thank you.

2. Ghent, Belgium

Everybody knows Brussels and Bruges, while experienced travelers whisper “Ghent.” Picture canals without the crush, luminous street art, and cyclists gliding past Gothic spires. The city is culture-rich without the museum fatigue.

Why it’s under the radar: it sits in the middle, both literally and figuratively, so it gets overshadowed by louder neighbors.

VegOut tip: Ghent pioneered “Veggie Thursdays.” You will find creative plant-based menus across town. Think reimagined stoemp and soups so good they might make a poet weep.

Practical nudge: grab a city card and roam by tram and on foot. Distances are shorter than they look on the map.

3. Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi carries the charm of a capital and the soul of a neighborhood. You get crumbling Art Nouveau balconies, sulfur baths, courtyard wines, and conversations that start with “You must try…” Hospitality here acts like a verb.

Why it’s under the radar: some travelers still think of Georgia as distant or complicated. On the ground it feels warm, accessible, and affordable.

VegOut tip: order lobio, the bean stew served in a clay pot. Add churchkhela for the road and badrijani nigvzit, eggplant with walnut. You will be full and glowing.

Practical nudge: spend a slow morning in the Abanotubani baths. Walk the old town before lunch when the light is kindest.

4. Puebla, Mexico

Two hours from Mexico City, Puebla teaches a master class in tiles, spices, and calm. A single street can hold Baroque churches, modern galleries, and vendors pressing paper-thin tortillas that flutter like flags.

Why it’s under the radar: Mexico City takes the spotlight while Puebla keeps the craft.

VegOut tip: ask for vegan takes on mole poblano and pipián. Many kitchens are happy to adapt. Produce markets form a full color wheel, so go hungry and curious.

Practical nudge: book a ceramics workshop in the Talavera style. Making something of your own anchors the memory.

5. Puerto Varas, Chile

Volcanoes frame a glacial lake, German-influenced wooden houses line the streets, and the sky changes its mind five times a day. Puerto Varas is where I go to breathe deeper. If you enjoy trail running or long, contemplative walks, your feet will fall in love.

Why it’s under the radar: Patagonia’s marquee trails pull crowds further south. The Lake District hums at a gentler frequency.

VegOut tip: cozy cafés serve hearty bread, berry jams, and veggie cazuela, a brothy stew that warms you up. Seek out small huertos on the edges of town for seasonal produce.

Practical nudge: pack a windproof layer even in summer. The weather writes its own poetry here.

6. Plovdiv, Bulgaria

One of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, Plovdiv balances a Roman amphitheater with hip studios and wine bars. The Kapana district began as a tangle of craftsmen and now hosts mural walks and indie design shops.

Why it’s under the radar: many travelers default to Sofia or the Black Sea. Plovdiv makes a perfect middle chapter.

VegOut tip: Bulgarian cuisine leans veggie if you know what to request. Try shopska salad, bean soups, and banitsa from bakeries that will happily make a dairy-free version on request.

Practical nudge: watch sunrise from Nebet Tepe. The 360-degree view delivers a reminder that patience and age are good partners.

7. Kaohsiung, Taiwan

If Taipei is the headline, Kaohsiung is the feature story. Expect waterfront art, lotus ponds, and night markets full of a thousand tiny conversations. The city is clean and friendly and much easier to navigate than you might expect.

Why it’s under the radar: an older reputation for heavy industry still lingers. The current reality offers green spaces and cultural sparkle.

VegOut tip: Taiwan is a delight for plant-based travelers. Look for Buddhist vegetarian buffets where you pay by weight, along with sesame noodles and stinky tofu if you dare. Labels are clear and vendors are kind.

Practical nudge: hop on the light rail and spend late afternoon at Pier-2 Art Center. Go at golden hour to see the murals at their best.

8. Braga, Portugal

Porto’s lesser-known cousin, Braga blends Roman roots with student energy. Bells ring. Cafés spill onto squares. The pace says, “One more espresso, then we’ll decide.”

Why it’s under the radar: Lisbon and the Douro Valley absorb most itineraries. Braga rewards people who linger.

VegOut tip: look for caldo verde, grilled vegetables with olive oil that tastes like sunshine, and pastelarias now offering almond-orange cakes without dairy.

Practical nudge: climb the Bom Jesus do Monte stairway early in the day. Your legs get a pilgrimage and your mind does too.

9. Halifax, Canada

Halifax is maritime to its core. Think wooden wharves, sea-salty hair, and a music scene built for serendipity. Conversations start easily, often with a weather joke, and end with an invitation.

Why it’s under the radar: many visitors beeline to Cape Breton or Prince Edward Island. Halifax serves as the cozy living room before the road trip.

VegOut tip: farmers’ markets brim with wild blueberries, mushrooms, and artisan bread. Seafood takes center stage for many diners, yet vegetarians will find inventive pub plates and excellent Ethiopian spots.

Practical nudge: set aside a foggy day for the Immigration Museum. Leaving with empathy counts as a form of travel too.

10. Quy Nhon, Vietnam

Between the better-known hubs of Nha Trang and Hoi An, Quy Nhon feels beach-calm and hammock-gentle. Fishermen mend nets at sunrise. By afternoon the sea turns glassy and the pho shops hum.

Why it’s under the radar: the city does not market itself loudly. That restraint works in your favor.

VegOut tip: ask for chay, the vegetarian versions of classics. You will find tofu and herb heaven, green papaya salads, and rice plates piled high with morning glory greens.

Practical nudge: rent a scooter only if you already feel confident on two wheels. Otherwise hire a local driver and enjoy the views without the white knuckles.

Here is the bigger lesson I have learned from these places. When we stop chasing “the best” and instead follow our own curiosity, we travel better. We wind up chatting with bakers at dawn, rearranging plans because a stranger said “You must see our sunset,” and lingering in a city square long enough to learn the rhythm of the bells.

Anthony Bourdain once said, “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. But that’s okay. The journey changes you.” I take that sentiment seriously.

If you want a practical filter, try this one: rather than asking “What’s famous here?” ask “What do locals do on a Wednesday night?” That single question led me to folk concerts in Ghent, starlit hot springs in Tbilisi, and a late-night bread lesson in Matera from a baker who laughed at my clumsy technique and still sent me home with a warm loaf.

A quick note on expectations. Going off-beat does not guarantee perfection. Buses run late. Menus do not always translate cleanly. Weather can be moody. Those quirks belong to the charm.

Paul Theroux once remarked, “Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.” I read that as permission to leave some space in the itinerary for happy accidents.

From my analyst days I still love a good framework. Here is one for discovering your own under-the-radar gems:

• Follow the second-best review. Pick the café with passionate four-star write-ups from locals rather than the breathless five-star tourist magnet.
• Find the weekly ritual. A Thursday market, a Sunday run club, or a Tuesday film night will bring repeat joy.
• Ask one real question. Try this: “What’s something you’re proud of in this city?” Then listen.

And since this is VegOutMag, let’s end with a plant-curious game. Pick a local vegetable you have never cooked with and build a meal around it. Maybe kohlrabi in Ghent, lupini beans in Braga, nalysnyky-style pancakes in Plovdiv that you can easily make vegan, or the sweetest blueberries in Halifax.

Cooking even once while traveling turns a city into a kitchen you will remember.

If you try one of these cities, do not just “do” it. Walk it. Taste it. Let it rearrange your inner furniture a little. And if you fall in love, it is perfectly fine to keep that feeling to yourself for a while.

The best places do not mind being discovered slowly.