While New York City, Cancún, and Bangkok may hog all the limelight, Chicago, Mérida, and Chiang Mai offer fresh perspectives and room to breathe. Our Travel team rounds up the world’s most exciting alternative cities, where the food hits just as hard, the streets tell deeper stories, and your trip feels truly your own. Ready to globetrot beyond a well-traveled city? We’ll show you where.
1. Florianópolis, Brazil
Island spirit, surf breaks, and oysters too
With more than 40 beaches, surf-ready swells, and forested trails that dip into turquoise coves, the ‘Magic Island’ that is Florianópolis lives up to its name. In the north, Jurerê buzzes with DJs and beach clubs; down south, hiking paths lead to untouched beaches such as Lagoinha do Leste and Praia de Naufragados. The old-world charm of Santo Antônio de Lisboa mixes Azorean roots with seafood feasts, while Lagoa da Conceição pulses with caipirinhas and coastal cool – don’t leave without slurping oysters in this UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
Our recommended hotel: Ponta dos Ganchos Exclusive Resort
2. Québec City, Canada
Paris vibes, but with poutine and snow
Cobblestone streets wind past 17th-century stone facades in Québec City, a Canadian city with a European soul. Instead of Montreal’s well-trodden Old Port, explore bistros tucked into Petit-Champlain’s centuries-old buildings, listen to violinists playing beneath the Château Frontenac, and see artists painting along Rue du Trésor. In winter, the city glows under snow, with toboggan runs near the St. Lawrence River, and cozy cafes serving rich tourtière and mulled wine. At dusk, church bells echo through narrow lanes, inviting you deeper into the city’s storied heart.
Our recommended hotel: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
Chicago trades New York City’s frantic pace for Midwestern swagger and skyline views that rival Manhattan’s. Along Lake Michigan’s breezy shores, bold architecture meets a world-class arts scene – catch jazz in a subterranean bar or spend an afternoon with Edward Hopper at The Art Institute of Chicago. Neighborhoods such as Pilsen and Logan Square pulse with taquerias, speakeasies, and street murals. In summer, the Windy City spills outside: boat rides on the river, deep-dish pizzas on patios, and movie nights in the park.
Our recommended hotel: Pendry Chicago
At first glance, Ecuador’s Quito is home to all the action, but to truly get to know the country, Cuenca feels like a secret whispered through the Andes. With its cobalt-domed cathedral and thriving community of artists and philosophers, this highland city is quietly fascinating. Stroll the flower market in El Centro, visit workshops where Panama hats are handwoven with astonishing precision, or follow locals to riverside cafes serving canelazo on crisp evenings.
Our recommended hotel: Hotel Santa Lucía
Nicknamed La Ciudad Blanca, Arequipa stuns with baroque facades carved from sillar – a whitish-pink volcanic rock – and snow-capped volcanoes bathed in Andean light. Wander the terracotta and blue corridors of Santa Catalina
Monastery, sip pisco in leafy plazas, or sample rocoto rellenos and shrimp chupe at colonialera courtyards turned restaurants. Sure, Lima does burst with energy, but with fewer crowds and a gentler rhythm, Arequipa is where culture lingers in the air, showing a softer, sunlit side of Peru.
Our recommended hotel: Las Casitas, A Belmond Hotel, Colca Canyon
On the Dominican Republic’s southeast coast, La Romana offers sugar-white beaches, calm waters, and the kind of ease that invites long, languid afternoons. Beyond the shore, picturesque Altos de Chavón is a replica Mediterranean village perched above the Chavón River, complete with narrow alleyways and a Roman-style amphitheatre. Golfers tee off on world-class courses, while adventurers island-hop to Saona or dive into water sports. With polished resorts and a laid-back vibe, it’s perfect for travelers craving sun-soaked serenity without losing sight of culture or comfort.
Our recommended hotel: Casa de Campo Resort & Villas
In contrast to La Paz’s extreme altitude, Tarija rests in Bolivia’s southern valleys – still high at roughly 6,082ft – where some of the world’s highest vineyards thrive. Its fine wines and spirits are as celebrated as its grand festivals, and the city often revels in both. Mingle with locals at Mercado Central, sip muscatel at family-run bodegas, and dance the cueca late into the night. With Mediterranean light and a proudly Tarijeño pace, Tarija offers Bolivia in a gentler, unexpected register.
Our recommended hotel: Hotel Los Parrales
Once home to the powerful Maeda clan, Kanazawa offers a glimpse into Japan’s feudal era. Wander Nagamachi’s samurai lanes and step into Kenroku-en, one of the country’s most exquisite gardens. In Higashi Chaya, geishas still perform behind closed doors, though select Saturdays provide a rare look inside. Then fast-forward to avant-garde installations at 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. Between it all, savor Kaga cuisine – delicate seafood, mountain harvests, and Ono’s sweet soy sauce.
Golden stupas gleam against jungle-cloaked mountains, but there’s more to Chiang Mai than temple-hopping. The northern capital pulses with creativity – find espresso bars hidden in teakwood houses, street food that rivals Bangkok’s, art galleries on Nimmanhaemin Road, and traditional boutiques displaying handwoven textiles and celadon pottery. By night, the scent of lemongrass, grilled meats, and rich khao soi fills lantern-lit courtyards, while monks chant at mountaintop Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
Discover the world’s most exceptional stays in our recent post on The Top 10 Best Hotels in the World for 2025
