Where in the world have you been that was very different to what you’d expected?

[Davespecifico]

For me it was a journey through Montenegro to Kotor. I couldn’t believe the fjords, steep cliffs and cruise ships.

I lived in Norwich for 5 years, and I loved it.

Oh and my most disliked - Fuerteventura. It was like the surface of the moon.

I like other-worldly, volcanic landscapes, so this appeals to me. I also loved Iceland.

This is a great thread for lockdown. I no longer feel sad that I can’t go off to, say, Pisa, Sydney, Niagara Falls or the Pyramids at Giza. I have learned of some new places to dream about, though.

People who didn't like Venice because it smelled and was too crowded - you went at the wrong time! Tje algae smell in August, and it's way too hot!
But go in October or the spring - it's really magical. The food is less expensive if you go out of the very centre, best read Tripadvisor and locals' advice for that.

I used to love Paris about 15yrs ago. Someone mentioned Ile de la Cite being fthe most romantic place ever - for me it's the next door Ile St.Louis, so, so charning with old buildings that aer well-kept and elengant and has that mystery and charm that's hard to explain. Narrow streets, and so one.
But Paris centre has gone to the dogs quite a bit in the last decade! Horrible metro - crowded and people are nothing like as well-mannered as in London (mostly), lots of passengers with bad personal hygiene frankly, may or may not be visotors, hard to tell. Dirty streets which wasn't the case before really. But if yo uknow where to look just out of centre, it is still nice.

Nice and surrounds are still great. Hilltop villages - just stunning, the view down to the sea!

Monte Carlo - dissapointing, a concrete jungle even though tiny.

Ljubliana in Slovenia, as someone mentioned - didn't expect it to be so sweet and friendly. I was only there for a day, but I've also eard that the countryside is stunning - bordering with Austria (hills and lakes).

Ile St Louis is a small city island next to Notre-Dame's island, in case anyone isn't familiar with Paris.

CAn anyoe recommend places they liked in Germany? It's a bit of a gap for me in Europe, I've been 'through' some places but nowhere special. Has to be easy to travel to (cities/towns with airport).

Oh and I agree that Brussels is the worst capital city in Europe - grey, dull, just depressing, and we had stuff stolen in the hotel (though theft in Paris is rife too).

CatandHisKit it depends what kind of environment you like when recommending Germany. We lived in a small picturesque and historic wine village that is one of the nine villages that surround Neustadt an Der Weinstrasse (New Town on the Wine Route), which is in the Palatinate, where the cultures of the North and South meet. There are a few wine regions in Germany and Neustadt a.d. W. is right by the Pfalz forest and is surrounded by vineyards, yet only 30 minutes from Mannheim to the North and 30 minutes West and you are in France. The Wine Route is a winding pretty road (running north-south that you can follow through the whole region).

If you like wine it's a must and a fantastic region to explore by car or bike just puttering around visiting wineguts (wineries) in gorgeous historic villages, many of which have been in families for generations You can try the wine while sitting in the bright sun, it's a micro climate which is very warm, sunny and comfortable in Spring, Summer and Early Autumn. There is also lots of do with kids as EuropaPark, (1 hr from Neustadt) HolidayPark and Kurpfalz Park (15 minutes) are all family spots that are easily within reach.There are lots of public spas and outdoor swimbads (very high quality public pools) too.
Otherwise Bavaria is gorgeous and the Bodensee/Lake Constance is on the way from Neiustadt to Munich. You can (or could!) get cheap flights from Stanstead to Baden-Baden. At BB its such a small intimate airport you can cycle up and leave your bike and be on a plane in 30 minutes.

Driving from Bavaria through Switzerland and into Northern Italy is another beautiful route, with a lot to do and see,

China. Much better than I expected.

Loved Crete especially Elafonissi- the journey there on the bus was hair-raising but it was the most beautiful place.

With New York and Paris I don’t think you can really enjoy them if you only have a few nights stay there. You need time to wander away from the tourist areas into some of the more charming streets (and do research before you go so that you don’t wander into the less charming areas)

I live in Cyprus and away from the tourist resorts it is stunning. Beautiful traditional mountain villages, fabulous scenery, great for walks or cycling.
There are some lovely off the beaten track beaches, UNESCO sites and many, many places of historical interest.
I think some folks don't bother to look outside of their resort.

Istanbul surprised me. I would go again in a heartbeat.

Also loved Prague and Rome.

Bucharest was cheap but awful, beggars everywhere.

Another vote for Liverpool long overdue a return visit.
Dublin was an anti climax, didn’t feel like a capital city and ridiculously expensive.
Going to give Belfast a go after reading on here.

Niagara Falls used to be a popular honeymoon destination, Oscar Wilde
said ‘ it was the brides second biggest disappointment’

@wirytail I love Cyprus too, have friends there and managed to find so many lovely places thanks to their knowledge. So easy to drive around too, nothing on the roads

Tourist Cyprus and 'real' Cyprus were so different. I loved my two years there. Lovely food, lovely people, fantastic scenery. And the local festivals were interesting.

Glad to see Crete being favoured highly - we went for 2 weeks a couple of year ago, it’s so beautiful. We hired a car and drove to Chania which is stunning, The west side of Crete has some exceptional beaches, Balos beach in particular.
It’s amazing if you into hiking/walking too.
Food excellent, the sea lovely and warm...
want to go back, maybe next year!

@SneakersandSocks We can only hope!

Amsterdam is far classier than I imagined. The people are so refined. I loved the lifestyle there. Lovely shops, cafes & parks. I could see myself living there, in another life...

People who didn't like Venice because it smelled and was too crowded - you went at the wrong time! Tje algae smell in August, and it's way too hot!

I went in August and I still loved it! I think Venice is somewhere you either love or hate, there's no in between!

Barefoot yes I didn't meet no one could love it in August, but posters who were saying that the smell was too strong, may haev changed their mind as some people arevery smell-sensitive. I personally don't tend to enjoy any place that's too hot/too crowded to properly wander around - so again I'm just giving Venice a chance here for those who are averse to physical discomforts.

agree regarding Cyprus!
Paphos is very 'fish and chips' and tacky but go further along to the West (like the wild Akamus penninsula) and it's magical. Or even just out of Paphos along a nice beach. I haven't even lived there like some posters who praise it, just a tourist but in the Western bit beyound P.

I will always remember the fragrant bright-coloured bourgenvillia that's plentiful there - the bees buzzing, beautiful deep-blue sea.

The Hintertux Glacier in Austria. It is very high, the air is fairly thin at 11,500 ft. I went up whilst skiing on New Years Day and it was quite busy on that day. When you go to altitude on a cloudless day, the sky usually becomes very dark blue but this time it looked unreal like a film set. The background to 'Ice Station Zebra' came to mind; the atmosphere was pink and purple and greenish pale blue. It was very bleak and windy with little snow/ice whirlwinds and extremely cold, -30C or less I suppose. I gazed in amazement at the beautiful extrordinaryness of the scene but could not stay too long due to the icy conditions. So unexpected, so worthwhile.

We stayed at the Coral Beach Hotel in Payia, Cuprus and then went to a friends house inland. Both had a nice view but I cant say I was that struck. We didnt see anything particularly interesting or beautiful either while driving around. Give me Italy any day.

Spain - generally so under-rated.

I lived there for a couple of years (including six months at a beach resort - Javea) about 15 years ago and it was glorious. We also lived in the mountains near Granada for a few months, near Nerja for a couple of months and Tarifa. There are SO many unspoilt bits still.

@Zaphodsotherheadni lived in Wroclaw - lovely isn’t it. Many parts of Poland are similarly charming.

On the other side of the scale, Koh Samui in Thailand. I thought it was supposed to be beautiful, the beaches were gritty and it was full of obnoxious Russian tourists (not saying all Russians are obnoxious but this lot were!)

Paris. So dissapointed. Dirty grotty overcrowded and very rude locals. I remember gettingbone and feeling like I almost wanted to cry, it was such a disappointment.

South Wales- we moved here at 3 weeks notice with the military. I remember dreading it as my only previous visit had been a November wet school trip years ago.
I love it it's surpassed all my expectations. The people, beaches, hills mountains, small towns, Cardiff, castles. We've moved away with work but always request to come back. We've chosen to settle here over everywhere else we've lived and we've been moving every 2 or 3 years for 31 years.

Womanlyviles thank you for your many recommendations, I'm sure useful for wine lovers but I'm not a drinker really. As I mentioned I wouldnt be driving and looking for a city/town with an airport! I'm more after nice old architecture and culture, with green spaces in/around that town.