Most UNDERRATED destination you've visited

[YankeeDad]

I thought it would be just as interesting to hear about places visited where you had very low expectations, and were pleasantly surprised by how much these were exceeded.

I will start with three:
Turin, Italy
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Portsmouth, England

I second Tenby

But not Portsmouth!

Tenerife. Was not expecting much but so surprised by how much we ended up loving it

Venice - thought it would be a stinky tourist hellhole but it was like something out of a fairytale…

People rave about New Zealand, I much preferred Australia. In Australia, people love Sydney, I loved Melbourne.

Now over rated has to be Eden project. Once it was cutting edge and fabulous planting. We went in 2013, they hadn’t even looked after the plants 🙄

I agree. I bet many places in Germany are underrated.

Another one for Carlisle.

Also Malaga.

Germany is beautiful but never seen as a holiday destination.
agree re Milwaukee but we have family there. Further up Wisconsin there’s loads of stunning lake houses too which is a place Americans holiday but never targeted at Brits. They have hotels in the Wisconsin dells with theme park rides inside (obviously snowy in the winter) plus amazing indoor pools. Amazing holiday but we only went due to family living there.

Legoland 😂

Genuinely intrigued as to what you liked about Leicester?!

This was a few years back, but:

New Walk and the museum there - not at all what I was expecting.
The market
Several really good curry restaurants

Avebury. Perhaps not a surprise but I enjoy it far more than Stonehenge.

Gateshead.

Skenfrith. Small village near Monmouth that has a large and free entry castle, stream, rope swing, church to explore and a community cafe.

Dusseldorf

I second Tenby

But Tenby isn't underrated. It's famous for being a really lovely place.

I’d say Middlesborough is an even bigger surprise! 😲😀

Belgium. We stayed at Ypres in December and it was lovely. We visited war graves and saw the ceremony at the Menin Gate. I was very moved, especially for someone not really interested in wars or history. We also went to Bruges, which is a really attractive town. Who knew?

We also went to Bruges, which is a really attractive town. Who knew?

Umm...everyone?

Swindon has the "magic roundabout" - it really is worth a visit, you'd be surprised. It allows you to navigate a busy section of road with multiple options to avoid traffic.

@PermanentTemporary on my list too

Germany in general

Malaga

Cardiff

If you're in Middlesbrough make sure to see the famous statue of Henry Bolckow - really beautiful and quite life-like.

It does smell of drains though… really. I love it, but it smells.

Naples always gets a bad press but we really loved it and definitely want to go back and see more of it.

Liverpool was a nice surprise too, lovely huge waterfront. And Leeds is excellent for shopping and trendy bars/restaurants with amazing countryside on its doorstep.

Agree with Malaga and Toulouse.
Also adding Eyam in the Peaks

Ooh tell me the good things about Carlisle and Middlesbrough - have heard they are not great but I haven’t been (yet)!

I remember getting off the train at Portsmouth Harbour Station and saw HMS Warrior just moored there, this stunningly beautiful ship, and that was nearly my 'screaming at the sistine chapel' moment.

We hadn't even got into the historic dockyard or seen the Tudor fortifications at this point.

So yeah, I agree about that one, especially if there's an event going on.