Destinations that turned out to be surprisingly good

[Pluvia]

Salamanca. On a trip through Spain we randomly stopped there for a night at Salamanca and loved it. Inexpensive bars and restaurants, lots of locals, no tourist hotspots — so much so that we spent the day looking round and stayed a second night.

Cardiff. A lovely, bustling, buzzy city with a beautiful river, park, castle, shopping, cafes and a harbour and history. I'd gone for the weekend to visit an old friend, ended up moving there.

Lucca. So beautiful and lots to do and see.

@MrsAvocet @DoTheMerengue

Another Milan lover here! We were really happy exploring using the tram/Metro, mooching around the back streets and sampling treats in all the little cafes. Found a lovely, reasonably priced boutique hotel in one of the quieter suburbs and just caught the Metro into the centre. I wrote on the other ‘Disappointing Places’ thread that as a rule I prefer places that are slightly workaday, chaotic and lived in to the sanitised tourist traps - loved Genoa for the same reason, and Lecce in Puglia, which was totally chaotic and half falling down but I still loved it.

Anglesey. I was so surprised. It's a real old fashioned seaside holiday kind of place. Loved it.

Always heartwarming to see Belfast on the list. I moved "over the water" some time ago and when I go back for visits my perspective has changed. It's actually quite an arty, cultural city (and I don't mean orange v green ) with some amazing galleries and museums. I didn't appreciate it enough when growing up there.

YY to the Netherlands. Away from the tourist traps of Amsterdam Utrecht is really lovely. Beautiful buildings, a lovely relaxed vibe and of course the Nijntje (Miffy) Museum

Malta appears to be a Marmite destination for people in that they either love or hate it. I love it. I've gone various times on my own and felt totally safe, usually Sliema/Valletta. Not great for sandy beaches but I'm happy walking around Spinola Bay and interacting with the cats! I also love the "ghost signs" in Valletta and that it's a mixture of old UK and old Italy in many ways.

I loved Sweden too, I've visited Stockholm a few times and loved Gamla Stan and Södermalm. People were friendly towards me but not in your face or false which suits me as I'm quite introverted and neurodiverse. And I also appreciate the importance of fika

Montenegro and Slovenia are on my must see list

Yes I love Anglesey. Beaumaris especially.

I do like Anglesey.
I also loved the Orkneys though not the sea crossing to get there and it was in fine weather!
Cycling and drinking whisky on Isla (not at the same time) was a laid back, pleasant holiday too.

Gdansk

Agree with the lesser known Spanish cities. See also Zaragoza and Jerez.

I second Salt Lake City and Boston. Our family was treated very well in both cities especially our SN son in his wheelchair.

Nice to see Galway listed on here, my newly adopted city! (Well, I live rurally but it is my nearest town). I bought a derelict house here, sight unseen, two years ago, pretty much randomly, and without ever even having been to Ireland in my life (am a Londoner). I expected it to be nice, but both the town and the county (Connemara, Wild Atlantic Way etc) have far surpassed my expectations!

[quote tpmumtobe]@Pluvia I saw a copy of the Mappa Mundi in Dover Castle earlier this month and it was mind blowing! I'd never heard of it before and I'm desperate to go see the original in Hereford now. I totally get what you mean, it has really stuck with me, such an awe inspiring thing![/quote]
We're going to have to form the Mumsnet Mappa Mundi Appreciation Society, the three of us.

Just looking quickly at the Mappa Mundi website I linked to has given me withdrawal symptoms. How did monks in Hereford in 1300 come up with that? You just know what fun they had doing it, breaking out from the usual copying into something creative. What in insight into the medieval mind and life (I could go on and on and on but I won't)

Fabulous thread. I’m booking Salamanca.

Because not yet mentioned, Turin which has heaps to do has a beautiful old town and is pretty cheap. Strasbourg which we stayed in overnight by accident and was absolutely beautiful.

On my list is Tallinn which I’ve heard is wonderful.

@EKGEMS

I second Salt Lake City and Boston. Our family was treated very well in both cities especially our SN son in his wheelchair.

I liked Boston, too

Agree with Valencia - we took the kids for a city break when they were about 5 and we had a fab weekend. Not somewhere I would have thought to go if it wasn't for cheap flights.

I was also pleasantly surprised by Munich. I am not a big beer drinker and wouldn't have planned do go but DH had to go for work so he stayed an extra couple of days after his business trip and I flew out to meet him and we had a fab time. Sitting with a beer, watching the world go by. Very relaxed and beautiful in the sunshine, lovely food, friendly and clean.

Marseille

Seville, beautiful, good size

Stockholm, even lovelier than I expected

Helsinki

Luxembourg city

And agree with Turin.

Tenerife. Wasn't expecting it to be so nice!

Seefeld in the winter.
Absolutely magical.

Bangkok. We were only supposed to spend a day there before flying to one of the islands but we surprisingly loved it so much we extended the stay by another couple days and went back a second time for a week.

The coast of Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa - Margate, Ballito, St Lucia etc. Just beautiful & lush. The food and people are amazing!

Yes yes to Turin - forgot about that one!

Loads of Spain and its islands: Cordoba, Granada, Soller Town, Palma, northern Tenerife. All more beautiful, better food and less touristy than I anticipated.

Washington DC, especially Georgetown and the long walk from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol. Blew me away and I thought it would be quite dull.

Krakow is just lovely and the Salt Mine is much more interesting than I was expecting!

Went to Slovenia years ago. Really beautiful, particularly the Soca valley- absolutely stunning. Ljubljana the capital is small but pretty.

Benidorm, sunny, gorgeous beaches, fantastic friendly people, fabulous clean modern hotels, all types of food available and very reasonable prices. Love the Old Town with its Tapas Alley and Spanish wine bars.

I agree with you about Skegness @Ohpulltheotherone. I went there on a lovely hot day in May several years ago when all the children were in school. The beach was spotlessly clean, and although there was the usual tackiness I thought it was much nicer than Blackpool (of which I am not a fan).

@Duchess379

Cuba. Absolutey beautiful country. Beaches are awesome. Locals are friendly. Loved it.

I did too. It was not quite what I expected but was really great.

Loved Egypt and was blown away by the Pyramids, Luxor, Aswan, and all of it.

Love the monuments of old Delhi-Humayun;s tomb, the Qutb Minar- far better than the Taj.

Love the energy and bustle of Hong Kong and the junk trips to outer islands.

Loved the Angkor Wat in Cambodia- the temples, the food, the markets. Also adore most of Thailand though some places can be seedy. The food is the best in the world.

Love NYC- the Met, the Guggenheim, Central Park, all of it..

I like busy bustling cities and have no problem with developing countries otherwise I would not go.