Beyond the Familiar: Five Places Worth Travelling For

There is a tendency when planning a holiday to return to the familiar. Certain destinations have become fixtures of the travel calendar, their restaurants, beaches and hotels documented in considerable detail. There is comfort in knowing what to expect, although it can leave some equally compelling places overlooked.

Finding somewhere different does not necessarily mean travelling further, spending more or venturing into particularly remote territory.

Sometimes it is simply a question of looking beyond a country's best-known cities and resorts, towards places with their own architectural character, culinary traditions and relationship with the surrounding landscape.

Across Europe, that might mean exchanging Croatia's Adriatic coastline for its former capital, or exploring the Provençal countryside rather than the French Riviera. Further afield, Mexico's freshwater lagoons offer an altogether different experience from the beach resorts of the Yucatán Peninsula.

These five unique travel destinations are not undiscovered, nor should they be. Each has an established identity and plenty to offer visitors. What makes them interesting is the opportunity to experience a different side of somewhere we might think we already know.

Transylvania, Romania: Beyond the Dracula Myth

For many, Transylvania remains inseparable from the story of Count Dracula. Bran Castle, the medieval fortress associated with Bram Stoker's fictional vampire, has become the region's most recognisable attraction. Yet the reality of this part of central Romania is considerably more interesting than its Gothic reputation suggests.

The landscape is defined by the Carpathian Mountains, forested hillsides, agricultural valleys and historic settlements that reflect centuries of Romanian, Hungarian and Saxon influence. Fortified churches, medieval towns and traditional villages sit alongside a growing contemporary food and cultural scene.

Brașov makes an excellent starting point. Its historic centre, organised around Piața Sfatului, is characterised by colourful merchant houses and the imposing Gothic Black Church. Beyond the city, the surrounding mountains offer walking routes and a different perspective on the region's geography.

"Sibiu, with its distinctive rooflines and historic squares, is another worthwhile stop, while the Apuseni Mountains offer opportunities for hiking and exploring limestone landscapes..."

There is a similar appeal to many of Europe's most intriguing architectural towns, where centuries of cultural exchange remain visible in the streets, public squares and buildings that define them.

Bran Castle remains worth visiting, although it is best understood as a historic fortress rather than the literal home of Dracula. Its position above the surrounding countryside is impressive in its own right.

For those willing to venture further, Transylvania's appeal lies in the smaller towns and rural landscapes between its better-known attractions. Sibiu, with its distinctive rooflines and historic squares, is another worthwhile stop, while the Apuseni Mountains offer opportunities for hiking and exploring limestone landscapes.

When to visit: May to September is well suited to exploring the towns and countryside, while autumn brings changing colours to the forests. Winter offers a different experience, although mountain conditions can be challenging.

Bacalar, Mexico: Life Beside the Lagoon

Mexico's Caribbean coastline has undergone considerable development over the past two decades. Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum have become established destinations, with an increasingly extensive selection of hotels, restaurants and beach clubs.

Bacalar, further south in Quintana Roo, offers something rather different.

Its principal attraction is the Laguna de Bacalar, a long freshwater lagoon whose remarkable variations in colour have earned it the name Lagoon of Seven Colours. Depending on the depth, light and conditions, the water shifts between pale turquoise, green and deep blue.

The distinction is important: Bacalar is not a coastal resort. Its appeal is centred on the lagoon, the town that sits beside it and the surrounding natural environment. The attraction is not entirely unlike that of the Caribbean islands beyond the established tourist circuit, where the landscape and local communities often offer a more compelling reason to visit than the conventional resort experience.

"The town itself offers a modest collection of restaurants and cafés, while the nearby archaeological site of Kohunlich provides an opportunity to explore the region's Maya history..."

Days here lend themselves to kayaking, swimming in designated areas and exploring the lagoon by boat. A quieter way to experience the water is to set out early, before the busiest excursions begin, when the surface can be almost completely still.

South of the town, Los Rápidos is a narrow natural channel where a gentle current carries water through a landscape of mangroves and striking mineral formations. The area is also home to stromatolites, delicate living structures formed by microbial communities. These are an important part of the lagoon's ecosystem and should never be touched, walked on or disturbed.

The town itself offers a modest collection of restaurants and cafés, while the nearby archaeological site of Kohunlich provides an opportunity to explore the region's Maya history.

Bacalar's growing popularity makes responsible tourism particularly important. Visitors should follow local guidance on water access, avoid damaging the lagoon's fragile habitats and choose operators who demonstrate care for the environment.

It is a destination best approached without an excessively full itinerary. Two or three nights allow time to explore the lagoon and surrounding area, although a longer stay would hardly be wasted.

When to visit: The generally drier months from November to April are a popular choice, although tropical weather remains variable. Check seasonal rainfall and storm forecasts when planning.

Varaždin, Croatia: The Country's Baroque Capital

Croatia's reputation as a holiday destination is largely built around the Adriatic. Dubrovnik, Split and the Dalmatian islands dominate itineraries, with good reason. Yet travelling inland reveals a rather different side of the country.

Varaždin, in northern Croatia near the Slovenian and Hungarian borders, is a compact city whose historic centre offers an unusually concentrated collection of Baroque and Rococo architecture.

Its grand buildings are a reminder of a period when Varaždin occupied a prominent position in Croatian political life. In 1767, Empress Maria Theresa established the Croatian Royal Council in the city, making it the kingdom's administrative capital. That status was short-lived: a devastating fire in 1776 led to the relocation of the administration to Zagreb.

"Varaždin is also a practical addition to a wider journey through northern Croatia, particularly for travellers interested in architecture, regional food and smaller historic cities..."

The Old Town fortress provides a useful starting point, while the surrounding historic centre is best explored on foot. Drašković Palace and the other noble residences offer a glimpse into the city's former importance, and the cafés around the central squares make it an appealing place to spend an afternoon.

As with Budapest's architectural and cultural heritage, Varaždin's buildings tell a story of the political and artistic influences that shaped Central Europe. Here, however, that history unfolds on a considerably smaller scale.

Food provides another reason to visit. Bedem, overlooking the castle and its park, draws on local ingredients and traditional recipes, interpreting them through contemporary cooking. Regional produce such as pumpkin seed oil, freshwater fish and Zagorje turkey gives the cuisine a character distinct from Croatia's coastal dishes.

Varaždin is also a practical addition to a wider journey through northern Croatia, particularly for travellers interested in architecture, regional food and smaller historic cities.

When to visit: Late spring to early autumn is particularly pleasant for walking around the city and exploring the surrounding region.

Nafplio, Greece: A Different Side of the Peloponnese

The Greek islands understandably receive much of the attention when summer approaches. Yet mainland Greece offers an equally compelling mixture of history, coastline and local culture, often within easy reach of Athens.

Nafplio, on the eastern side of the Peloponnese, is among its most attractive historic towns.

Situated on the Argolic Gulf, it has a distinctive architectural identity shaped by successive periods of Venetian and Ottoman rule, as well as its later importance in the formation of the modern Greek state. Nafplio served as the country's first capital following independence.

The old town is a network of narrow streets, neoclassical buildings and open squares, with cafés and restaurants occupying many of the ground floors. Syntagma Square forms its centre, while the waterfront promenade provides views across the harbour towards the small island fortress of Bourtzi.

"Back in Nafplio, local tavernas offer grilled fish, seasonal vegetables and familiar Greek dishes prepared with the produce of the Peloponnese..."

Above the town stands Palamidi, an imposing Venetian fortress built in the early eighteenth century. Reached by road or a lengthy climb, its bastions offer expansive views over Nafplio and the surrounding coastline.

There is plenty to occupy a few days without leaving town, although Nafplio also makes an excellent base for exploring the wider Argolis region. The archaeological sites of Mycenae and Epidaurus are within reach, providing an opportunity to encounter some of Greece's most significant ancient remains.

The region's food and wine deserve equal attention. The nearby Nemea wine region is particularly associated with Agiorgitiko, a red grape capable of producing everything from approachable young wines to more structured, age-worthy examples. Back in Nafplio, local tavernas offer grilled fish, seasonal vegetables and familiar Greek dishes prepared with the produce of the Peloponnese.

What makes Nafplio appealing is the combination of a working town, substantial historical interest and easy access to the sea. It offers much of what travellers seek from a Greek holiday, without requiring an island crossing.

When to visit: April to June and September to October are particularly appealing for sightseeing, with generally more comfortable temperatures than the height of summer.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France: Art, Architecture and the Alpilles

The south of France is frequently associated with the Côte d'Azur, its grand hotels and well-established coastal destinations. Inland, however, Provence offers a different landscape and a different pace.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence lies at the foot of the Alpilles, a small limestone mountain range characterised by olive groves, vineyards, rocky hills and traditional Provençal villages.

The town is not particularly obscure, nor is it untouched by tourism. Its appeal lies instead in the quality of its historic centre, the surrounding countryside and the ease with which visitors can move between local markets, galleries, restaurants and significant cultural sites.

The streets are lined with stone buildings, shaded squares and independent shops. On Wednesday mornings, the weekly market brings producers and traders into the historic centre, offering everything from seasonal fruit and vegetables to cheeses, olives and regional specialities.

"Les Baux-de-Provence, with its hilltop setting and historic stone buildings, makes a worthwhile excursion, while the surrounding villages offer opportunities to explore the region's agricultural traditions and local cooking..."

For those interested in art, Saint-Rémy has a particularly important connection to Vincent van Gogh. The artist spent a year at Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, the former monastery and psychiatric institution on the outskirts of town, where he produced some of his best-known paintings, including The Starry Night and Irises.

Nearby, the archaeological remains of Glanum reveal another chapter of the area's history. The ancient settlement, which developed under Greek and later Roman influence, includes the remains of streets, public buildings and monuments set against the limestone hills.

Beyond the town, the Alpilles reward exploration by car, bicycle or on foot. Les Baux-de-Provence, with its hilltop setting and historic stone buildings, makes a worthwhile excursion, while the surrounding villages offer opportunities to explore the region's agricultural traditions and local cooking.

Like the volcanic landscapes and distinctive food culture of the Azores, Saint-Rémy demonstrates how much of a destination's character comes from the relationship between its geography and the communities that inhabit it.

When to visit: Spring and early autumn offer a good balance of comfortable temperatures, local activity and opportunities to explore the countryside. Summer can be very hot, particularly for walking.