Beyond cliches: 15 unexpected highlights in popular destinations

Tourism offices, tour companies, and guidebook writers might all be to blame for the way we perceive the travel world. It’s easy to market the obvious, and hype the stereotypes that will never challenge our assumptions.

It’s all too easy to be a complacent consumer too, unwilling to abandon preconceived ideas.

The result? We associate Switzerland with mountains, Florida with theme parks, Hong Kong with urban buzz and great food. Not wrong, but hardly insightful either. Similarly, we’d probably never think of visiting China to hike, or Germany for its contemporary cuisine. And why take children to Las Vegas?

Yet these cliches and misconceptions hold us back from enjoying a more nuanced and varied holiday, and lead us to assume that because we’ve ticked off the iconic, we have no need to make another visit.

Yet most destinations offer far more than meets the obvious eye. Finding out what that is, will enrich your experience, provide new and unexpectedly enjoyable activities, and often get you beyond the most crowded tourist hotspots.

We aren’t talking gimmicks, either. Sure, you can ski in Dubai and visit fake Swiss villages in China, but that doesn’t reveal much about the place you’re visiting. We’re talking about genuine activities and sights that will add layers to an appreciation and understanding of your destination.

Don’t make assumptions. Don’t imagine you’ve been there, done that. The art of disassociation will reward you, and you’ll find great entertainment in seemingly surprising places.

Greek ruins in Sicily

The expected Its Mafia reputation and depiction in Hollywood movies have clouded the fact that Sicily has a long, rich history influenced by several successive and flamboyant cultures. The Italian island is otherwise associated with volcanoes (Mount Etna, Stromboli) and food such as arancini, cannoli, cassata and granita.

The unexpected Ancient Greek colonies in Sicily became rich and powerful and have left behind ruins and temples that match any you’ll see in Greece, and with far fewer visitors. Valley of the Temples outside Agrigento is the highlight, featuring six wonderful temple ruins, the most intact of which is the superb Temple of Concordia.

Taormina has an almost intact, hillside amphitheatre with views of Mount Etna, and Syracuse another, still used for performances. Meanwhile, Segesta in the north-west has an amphitheatre and glorious temple in a remote and scenic setting.

Don’t miss Selinunte in the south-west, destroyed by a Carthaginian invasion about 250 BC. The jumble of ruins in Europe’s largest archaeological park is overlooked, but its coastal location is superb, making for lovely rambles through the only ancient Greek city with a wholly preserved layout. See visitsicily.info

Michelin-star dining in Germany

The expected Germany gets no credit for sophisticated cuisine or top chefs. Its best-known bites tend to be beer-hall staples such as schnitzel, sausages with sauerkraut, pretzels and hearty servings of pork. Sweet treats end with Black Forest cake and heavy strudels.

The unexpected New German cooking, which has often followed Nordic cuisine inspirations, is complex, inventive, light and beautifully plated. If you want to know where to start, Germany has 10 restaurants with three Michelin stars, and all are in different destinations, showing that fine dining isn’t confined to posh cities.

Germany has a further 47 two-star and 272 one-star Michelin-rated restaurants. And yes, German chefs can do the classical French (Restaurant Bareiss in Baiersbronn) and Japanese-influenced (Ikigai at Schloss Elmau in Bavaria) but most present modern German cuisine.

Don’t miss Jan in Munich, which opened in 2022 and has already acquired three Michelin stars for chef Jan Hartwig’s light, elegant and flavoursome dishes designed for contemporary times. The upscale but relaxed restaurant, flooded with light and open to the kitchen, is worlds away from beer-hall dining.

See germany.travel, guide.michelin.com

Hiking in China

The expected We have a mostly urban view of China as a destination of mega-cities in which skyscrapers mushroom and crowds surge. Beyond that, its most famous attractions such as the Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors are firmly related to history and culture.

The unexpected Swathes of China are sparsely populated and much of it is rugged, making for great hiking amid superb landscapes straight from a scroll painting. You can explore high mountains in Tibet, steppes in Inner Mongolia, and the famous humped landscapes and rivers around sub-tropical Guilin. Huangguoshu features Asia’s largest waterfalls, Tiger-Leaping Gorge on the Upper Yangtze offers wild adventure, and Zhangjiajie, one of many national parks, is spectacular for its pine-clad outcrops. Yunnan and Sichuan in the south-west are perhaps the best provinces for scenery and hiking trails; Yunnan has hiking-friendly weather.

Don’t miss Any of several sacred mountains dotted across China for hearty walks supplemented by cable-cars. They combine magnificent scenery with historic temples and pavilions. Among the most beautiful are Huangshan and Lushan in eastern China and Mount Emei in the west. See cnto.org.au

Cellar doors in Thailand

The expected If we associate any alcohol with Thailand, it’s Singha and Chang beer, although Mekhong – a distilled rice and sugar spirit – is considered the national drink. You’re more likely to see pineapple, mango and dragon-fruit plantations than vineyards.

The unexpected Thailand has four wine regions, the most popular around Khao Yai 140 kilometres north-east of Bangkok, usually visited for its national park. You can visit the cellar door and stay at GranMonte, where Nikki Lohitnavy is Thailand’s only female winemaker, and a University of Adelaide graduate.

PB Valley, Chateau de Loei and Chateau des Brumes also have attractive wineries. Shiraz, tempranillo and cabernet sauvignon are the grapes to try. You’ll find other wine regions near Pattaya and in northern Thailand near the Laotian border.

Don’t miss Hua Hin Hills, a cellar door inland from Thailand’s fourth wine region near Hua Hin, 200 kilometres south of Bangkok. You can do a wine tasting at its good onsite restaurant and finally discover that chenin blanc is best for matching curries. The views are gorgeous, and the estate’s elephant an arresting sight amid the vines. See amazingthailand.com.au

High culture in Orlando

The expected Orlando is best known for Walt Disney World and other theme parks such as Seaworld Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort. Visitors can also enjoy such dubious entertainments as glow-in-the-dark mini golf and zip-lining over alligator-filled ponds.

The unexpected The arts scene thrives. Orlando Ballet and Opera Orlando offer an eclectic range of performances both classic and contemporary, and Orlando Philharmonic presents music many notches up from “It’s a Small World After All” as you ride around in a teacup. Orlando Shakespeare Theatre offers a rotating mix of plays. Major festivals include April’s Florida Film Festival and February’s Bach Festival.

The city also has dozens of good museums covering the arts, science and the Titanic. The bright yellow house and statue-studded gardens of 19th-century Czech-American sculptor Albin Polasek are wonderful, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Don’t miss If classical music isn’t your thing, then the Timucua Arts Foundation hosts internationally prominent folk, indigenous, jazz and contemporary music performers, while the Dr Phillips Centre for the Performing Arts strays into pop, Broadway, dance, comedy and other performing arts. See visitorlando.com

Birdwatching in Hong Kong

The expected One of the most densely populated places on the planet is surely all about the urban jungle: skyscrapers, neon lights, bars and noodle stalls, fine dining and street markets. Few visitors venture beyond Hong Kong’s concrete core.

The unexpected Hong Kong is encased in densely forested hills and marshland that attracts migrating bird species from as far as Australia and Siberia. More than 570 bird species have been spotted in the tiny territory, including 35 endangered species such as the spoon-billed sandpiper and black-faced spoonbill.

The mudflats and wetlands of Mai Po Nature Reserve near the mainland Chinese border is of international importance for the 90,000 waterbirds that spend the winter and spring there, while Tai Po Kau Forest Reserve shelters woodland birds. Po Toi Island and Long Valley are other significant twitcher spots.

Don’t miss Edward Youde Aviary in Hong Kong Park. For those without the time to venture any further than Central, the elevated boardwalks through natural-looking rainforest inside one of the world’s largest walk-through aviaries features 60 often flamboyant species of tropical birds from across South-East Asia.

See discoverhongkong.com, wwf.org.hk

Beaches in Paris

The expected More museums than you could see in a year. The Eiffel Tower and big monuments. In short, art and culture of the serious kind, leavened by the city’s reputation for romance.

The unexpected Australians wouldn’t go to Europe just for beaches, but when museums get too much, why not an afternoon’s R&R? Pop-up Paris Plage (or Paris Beach) was introduced in 2002, proved instantly popular, and is now an annual event. Several kilometres of sand, lawns, wooden terraces, potted palms, parasols and deckchairs are unrolled along the Seine River in downtown Paris from July to mid-September.

Take a break from sightseeing and fusty museums and enjoy petanque, table football, an outdoor cinema, dance and yoga classes. Choose the right spot and you’ll have splendid views of the Louvre or Notre-Dame Cathedral. Other European cities with pop-up beaches include Berlin, Brussels, Budapest and Prague.

Don’t miss Go beyond the Seine River and you’ll find other beaches along the little-recognised canals of Paris at Bassin de la Villette and (newly established in 2024) Canal Saint-Martin, a trendy up-and-coming neighbourhood that still has a local atmosphere. See parisjetaime.com

Kidding around in Las Vegas

The expected Movies from Leaving Las Vegas to The Hangover give the impression that the Nevadan city is an adults-only zone of gambling, drugs, hookers, ill-considered shotgun weddings and alcohol-fuelled partying.

The unexpected The city is surprisingly child-oriented. From circuses to waxworks museums and walking The Strip to see dancing fountains, pirate shows and the Museum of Illusions, Las Vegas can be a great experience for the whole family.

You’ll find plenty of family dining, big shows and other entertainment, from magic and circus acts to dance performances. Even the big, eye-popping themed hotel-casinos have abundant child-friendly attractions such as Fun Dungeon (at Excalibur), Reef Shark Aquarium (Mandalay Bay), Splash Zone and amusement-park rides (Circus Circus), and thrill rides (The Strat).

Don’t miss Las Vegas has the same regular attractions as any city, such as a Natural History Museum complete with dinosaur skeletons and live sharks, Wet n’ Wild amusement park, and the highly interactive Discovery Children’s Museum. Fremont Street Experience is a computerised sound-and-light show with 12 million LED lights, live concerts and zip line. See visitlasvegas.com

Japanese food in Peru

The expected Traditional Peruvian dishes, which include lomo saltado (stir-fried beef), rice with duck, potatoes in cheese sauce, and creamy shredded chicken with walnuts. Guinea pig is a local favourite in the Andes.

The unexpected Japanese-influenced Peruvian food known as Nikkei has been trending since chef Nobu Matsuhisa became famous in the 1980s, and is having another chic resurgence thanks to the current fad for ceviche, but Nikkei has its roots in significant Japanese immigration to Peru in the 19th century.

Expect dishes such as empanadas stuffed with Japanese-style curry, tempura-style seafood, and maki rolls with citrusy acevichado sauce. Top restaurants in Lima for Nikkei cuisine include Maido – considered one of South America’s best restaurants – and Mesa 18. Others are Toshi, Matsuei and Gaijin Cocina Nikkei.

Don’t miss Osaka Cocina Nikkei which, if you don’t make it to Peru, has outlets in Buenos Aires, Bogota, Punta del Este, Quito, Santiago and Sao Paulo. The restaurant is stylish but casual, and the dishes pretty. All hail the tuna tataki with chimichurri and the Inca gyoza, which are stuffed with duck, shiitake and caramelised onion.

See peru.travel

National parks in Italy

The expected While most of us could list dozens of Italian towns, we’d struggle to name a single national park in this destination firmly associated with grand cities, old towns, museums and all things history, culture and cuisine.

The unexpected Italy has 25 national parks evenly spread across the nation, though none in mainland Sicily. Most are well-organised with signed trails and hikers’ huts. They range from the gorgeous La Maddalena islands off Sardinia to the canyons and forests of Pollino and the coastal wonders of Gargano in Pulia.

In central Italy, Monte Sibillini explodes with wildflowers in springtime, and d’Abruzzo shelters rare wolves and bears. Many national parks – such as Aspromonte and Cilento – have dramatic mountain scenery, culminating at Gran Paradiso under the shadow of Mont Blanc.

Don’t miss Stelvio National Park in Italy’s far north encompasses something else infrequently associated with Italy except by skiers: high Alps. Expect stunning lakes, glaciers, snow peaks, woodland and splendid pastureland dotted with venerable villages. Deer, chamois, ibex, marmots and golden eagles are among the wildlife. See italia.it

Five more unpredictable places

Surfing in Morocco
Dependable Atlantic waves and long golden beaches make Morocco a magnet for African and European surfers, especially in winter. Taghazout, Tamraght, Agadir and Essaouira are well-established surf towns, but the adventurous will find plenty more under-the-radar spots such as old Spanish port Sidi Ifni and quiet Berber fishing village Mirleft. Numerous surf camps provide accommodation, equipment rental and lessons at all levels. See visitmorocco.com

Live music in Austin
The US has several of the world’s top-10 cities for live music, but you mightn’t have predicted that one of the best is in Texas, a state more often associated with cowboys and conservatism. Live music is everywhere here, with some 250 music venues and dance halls, and you’ll probably even come across live music at the airport and some supermarkets too. Big music festivals are a regular occurrence. See austintexas.org

Skiing in Spain

There are 33 ski resorts in Spain, with the Pyrenees home to some of the best, such as Aramon Formigal-Panticosa and Baqueira Beret. But Spain’s highest mountains are in the Sierra Nevada range, where you’ll find 118 ski runs in a resort also confusingly called Sierra Nevada. It’s only 40 kilometres from Granada, allowing you to combine your skiing with culture and sightseeing. See spain.info, sierranevada.es

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Jazz in Tokyo
Paris, Copenhagen and Cape Town are among unexpectedly good cities for jazz but, outside the US, you can’t beat Tokyo. Among clubs famous – at least to jazz aficionados – are Cotton Club and Blue Note, both of which attract big international names, and Pit Inn, which presents the best local acts in an old-style basement club. Tiny, appealing jazz joints and cafes can however be found everywhere. See gotokyo.org, tokyojazzsite.com

Christmas markets in Switzerland
Christmas markets are most often associated with Germany and central European nations such as the Czech Republic, which leaves Switzerland’s markets rather overlooked internationally, and happily retaining their local ambience. You’ll find big markets in Zurich, Basel and Montreux, and small pretty ones in destinations such as Bern, St Gallen, Einsiedeln, Stein-am-Rhein and Lucerne. Tuck into fondue, raclette, gingerbread and marzipan, and enjoy the festive, light-twinkled atmosphere. See myswitzerland.com