Tourists have revealed the surprising hidden gem destinations that unexpectedly blew them away – and one lesser-known European country has emerged as a standout favourite.
A Reddit user recently prompted a discussion in the popular subreddit r/travel, which saw globetrotters share the unlikely countries that have become the highlight of their travels.
They asked: ‘Has anyone else stumbled into a destination by accident or as a Plan B, and it ended up being the highlight of your travels? I’m convinced these unplanned discoveries are what make travelling so special.’
The post racking up over 400 responses from seasoned explorers and spontaneous adventurers alike.
While replies came in from all corners of the globe, a clear trend emerged, with Central and Eastern Europe revealed to be home to some of the world’s most underrated treasures.
Leading the bunch was Slovenia, a picturesque Central European nation many described as a ‘fairytale come to life.’
One Redditor wrote: ‘I just got back from a trip to Slovenia, which honestly wasn’t even on my radar until a friend suggested it last minute.
‘I expected a kind of generic European vibe, but I ended up absolutely loving it. Lake Bled looked like something out of a fairytale, and the people were so welcoming that it almost felt suspicious (in the best way).’
One lesser-known European country has emerged as a standout favourite: Slovenia (Pictured: Lake Bled)
One person wrote: ‘I expected a kind of generic European vibe, but I ended up absolutely loving it. Lake Bled looked like something out of a fairytale, and the people were so welcoming that it almost felt suspicious (in the best way).’
A third wrote: ‘My answer was Slovenia too. It’s been more than two weeks since we are back. Cant get those green pasture scenery out of my mind – we were in Kranjska Gora.’ (Pictured: Kozjak Waterfall, Slovenia)
Another chimed: ‘Lake Bled is one of the more stunning places we’ve been in awhile, everyone in Slovenia was incredibly nice, and would highly recommend.’
A third wrote: ‘My answer was Slovenia too. It’s been more than two weeks since we are back. Cant get those green pasture scenery out of my mind – we were in Kranjska Gora.’
But they warned: ‘And against the popular opinion, somehow Lake bled did not feel that heavenly as it looked on social media! I agree it definitely looked good from a higher pov, we hiked a small bit near the castle.’
Poland came in as a close second, with Redditors gushing over its rich history, food and architecture.
One traveller, who ended up in Krakow on a detour before visiting Auschwitz, found themselves swept away by Old Town’s charm, describing the area as ‘gorgeous.’
Another added: ‘All the reasons you go to Europe in one country with an amazing and tragic history. Castles, mountains, great food, history, beaches, not to mention fantastic transport, etc…
‘But Poland gets overlooked in favor of Czechia and other blue chip western Europe destinations. I’ve been three times now and I would live there.’
Romania also drew praise from several Redditors, particularly for destinations located far from the capital.
Poland came in as a close second, with Redditors gushing over its rich history, food and architecture (Pictured: Old Town of Krakow)
One traveller, who ended up in Krakow on a detour before visiting Auschwitz, found themselves swept away by Old Town’s charm, describing the area as ‘gorgeous’
Romania also drew praise from several Redditors, particularly for destinations located far from the capital (Pictured: Brasov, Transylvania. Romania)
Pictured: Sighisoara old town, Transylvania, Romania
One person said: ‘Bucharest wasn’t bad – but compared to Brasov, Sibiu, Cluj, and Sighisoara… meh.’
Georgia, situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, captivated adventurers with ‘the most mystical, fairy book mountains they’ve ever seen.’
Bosnia and Herzegovina, often overshadowed by its popular neighbour Croatia, also left a lasting impression.
One traveller shared, ‘The mountains of Bosnia stole my heart, as did the eclectic mess of Sarajevo,’ while another said, ‘Spent a week there and it’s easily in my top 3 countries now. More people should visit.’
Georgia, situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, captivated adventurers with ‘the most mystical, fairy book mountains they’ve ever seen’ (Pictured: Historical streets of Tbilisi)
Pictured: Gergeti Trinity Church Or Tsminda Sameba – Holy Trinity Church Near Village Of Gergeti In Georgia
While Europe dominated the conversation, some travellers looked farther afield for their unexpected gems.
Guatemala, The Azores, and Lebanon received shout-outs for their rich culture, landscapes, and warmth.
One humbled commenter wrote: ‘For too long, I ignored Guatemala. Wrote it off for no reason other than I love Mexico so much and viewed Guatemala as “Diet Mexico.”
‘Feel free to shame me. But then I got a cheap flight on a whim. Being able to see living breathing Mayan cultures is amazing. And the volcanoes… Whew lad.’
