From the ‘Switzerland of America’ to an ‘uncrowded’ Italian beauty and a Greek ‘hidden gem’: tourists reveal the world’s best ‘non-mainstream’ cities

Fancy an unforgettable city trip, but don’t feel like breaking your spirit because of the hordes of tourists you have to brave on site?

Then scroll down to discover eight cities that aren’t part of the mainstream but are likely to win your heart.

They were named and described by tourists in a Reddit discussion started by youser ‘seventyeightt’ with the question: “What’s the best non-mainstream city you’ve ever visited?”

The suggestions came quickly and frequently, from a from a ‘beautiful’ Italian city that’s ‘not too busy’ all year round to the ‘Switzerland of America’ and a ‘super-underrated’ Australian gem.

Scroll down for a wanderlust feeling.

Turin/Torino – Italy

There are plenty of cities that remain relatively undiscovered, and tourists have taken to Reddit to identify them. One user described Turin (above) in Italy as “one of the best cities in the country”

Venice and Florence are the most popular destinations for Italian city breaks, but Redditors say one of the country’s “best cities” is being “ignored” by most tourists.

The city in question is Turin, the capital of the Piedmont region in northern Italy (also called ‘Torino’).

User ‘Joe-misidd’ wrote: ‘Turin, Italy, is one of the best cities in the country, but most tourists skip this city.

‘Beautiful architecture, excellent walking area, fantastic museums, delicious regional dishes and a magnificent Alpine backdrop.’

Poster ‘JohnAtticus’ agreed: ‘Torino is really great. [It] feels different from any other Italian city. [It’s] not busy at all, even during high season.’

‘Sleuthinginslippers’ added: ‘I was in Turin for a few days recently and I could totally see myself living there.’ To which user ‘Curry_pan’ replied: ‘Me too! Such a beautiful city and very liveable.’

Oulu – Finland

A Reddit user described Oulu (above), in Northern Finland, as an “ideal city to live in”

Oulu is located on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia in northern Finland, 200 km south of Rovaniemi and the Arctic Circle.

It’s known for its annual Air Guitar Championship, but Redditors pointed out other perks, including a beach.

‘Dimitriettr’ commented: ‘I really enjoyed Oulu in Finland. So much space between the buildings, green trees everywhere, a nice beach to relax and watch the sunset, [and] beautiful parks.

‘It seemed like the perfect city to live in. I was there in July. I think the winters can be harsh.’

In response, user ‘throwRA_oldbathwater’ said: ‘Oulu is definitely a place on my bucket list. I’m glad to hear so much positivity about it.’

Ouray – Colorado, USA

The image above shows Ouray, a picturesque mountain town often referred to as the “Switzerland of America.”

Nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado, Ouray is often referred to as the “Switzerland of America.” Reddit users agree that it’s a picture.

User ‘MoodOk9968’ said: ‘Ouray is breathtakingly beautiful!’, while ‘Revolutionary_Big701’ said: ‘I love Ouray!’

Meanwhile, ‘WasteofTime51’ recounted the day trips they took from Ouray, including Mesa Verde, a national park and UNESCO World Heritage site a two-hour drive from the city, and the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, a sprawling landscape home to the tallest dunes in North America.

User ‘JazTaz04’ concluded: ‘Hooray for Ouray.’

Nuremberg – Germany

Nuremberg (above) was described as ‘beautiful, magical and fun’

The most popular city trip destinations in Germany are Berlin and Munich.

However, participants in the Reddit discussion mentioned Nuremberg as a good alternative.

One Reddit user described the city as “amazing,” while another said they “absolutely loved the place.” User “_MJ_1986” claimed Nuremberg was “so beautiful, magical, and fun” in the winter that it “ruined Christmas for the rest of my life.”

User ‘CptPaprikasPancreas’ added: ‘I love Nuremberg too! Exploring the Imperial Castle was really great.’

Townsville – Australia

Townsville in north-east Queensland – ‘a super underrated place’

Townsville is 20 minutes from Magnetic Island (above), where one tourist said he saw ‘nine koalas in a 12km walk’ [7.3 mile] walking

When you think of Queensland coastal holiday destinations, places like Cairns, the Gold Coast or Noosa are probably the first that come to mind.

What are Reddit users saying?

Instead, head to the ‘very underrated’ Townsville in north-east Queensland.

Reddit user ‘_MJ_1986’ noted that it has ‘great bars and restaurants’, adding: ‘It was a good base to explore the area. I found the locals friendly, [it] wasn’t overrun by tourists like Cairns. My wife and I both thought it was a super underrated place and we’ll be back.’

User ‘Imapassenger1’ replied: ‘I’m from Sydney and go to Townsville quite often for work. I still like it. There’s a lot to what you say, and there are even more hidden gems nearby. And Magnetic Island is only 20 minutes away.’

To which ‘_MJ_1986’ replied: ‘Maggy Island was so much fun! I saw nine koalas on a 12km hike [7.3 mile] walk. I enjoyed every minute of it.’

Khiva – Uzbekistan

One user described the ancient city of Khiva as ‘an absolute gem’. Pictured here is the heritage site of Itchan Kala – a walled city packed with ancient monuments in the Uzbek city

“It’s like stepping into another time,” said a tourist from Khiva, seen here during the day when the markets are open

The city of Khiva – locally pronounced ‘Heevah’ – is over 2,500 years old. Located in the Kohram region of Uzbekistan, it boasts the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Itchan Kala – a walled city packed with ancient monuments.

User ‘Dangerous_Fingers7757’ described the city as ‘an absolute gem’ and said ‘it felt like dreaming’, while ‘Itsclearlynotme’ said it felt ‘like stepping onto a film set’.

The user added: ‘The old city within the walls is so well preserved that it feels like stepping into another time. Early morning and after sunset, when the tourist market is closed and the buses have left, makes for a magical experience. I have been to many places around the world, but I will never forget the magic of that place.’

Salta – Argentina

According to one Reddit user, Salta (above) is “definitely not mainstream,” but it is safe and has great food

Salta is located an hour and a half north of the Quebrada de las Conchas, an otherworldly natural rock formation (above)

Salta, a city in the Andean northwest of Argentina, is located an hour and a half north of the Quebrada de las Conchas (Shell Canyon), an otherworldly natural rock formation in the Calchaqui Valley.

It’s ‘certainly not on the mainstream path’, aaccording to user ‘Rundle9731’ – but worth the trip.

They added: ‘The town itself isn’t the most exciting, but it’s safe, the food is great and it’s the gateway to some of the most beautiful natural areas I’ve ever seen.’

User ‘digandrun’ added: ‘Salta is amazing. Amazing empanadas, great nature, cool city.’

Kastoria – Greece

Kastoria, in Northern Greece, is the ‘definition of a hidden gem’

Kastoria, a city in northern Greece in the region of Western Macedonia, is located on the shore of Lake Orestiada and is surrounded by limestone mountains.

User ‘Occupykony2’ explains why this should be on your Greek bucket list.

They said, ‘This is the definition of a hidden gem. It’s deep in Northern Greece and on a peninsula that juts out into the middle of a lake, so it’s just an incredibly serene and picturesque setting. There’s also history on every street corner.’