■World's 10 most underrated cities
Perhaps because of their proximity to better known locales, these cities are too often neglected by travelers.
Call us sentimental, but that's an oversight we can't condone.
These places are livable, creative hubs, championed by friendly locals, and they’re worth way more than a transit stop.
Queens, New York City, United States
A "city" within a city.OK, officially it’s a part of NYC, but this borough has a population of 2.3 million and virtually qualifies as a city in itself.
It might lack the glitz and glamour of Manhattan, first port of call for visitors, but it is one of the most diverse places on the globe. More than 170 languages and dialects are spoken in the borough -- residents say it’s like going around the world without ever leaving.
First stop? Jackson Heights gives a subcontinental vibe. It’s the place for saris and gold jewelry and South Asian restaurants. Then there’s Flushing, home to the second largest Chinatown in NYC, and Jamaica, with its jazz heritage.
Other fun "musts" include a the Museum of Moving Image and the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden -- a relaxed neighborhood park and watering hole, serving Czech beer and food, with live music -- perfect in the warmer months.
Queens boasts plenty of beaches and forested parks too -- including Rockaway, a surfing beach, and Flushing Meadows Corona, with a zoo, lake, theater, and Shea Stadium, if you fancy watching the Mets play baseball.
Bergen, Norway
Small-town charm in the mountains.As Norway itself tends not to be on the radar of most holiday makers it’s not surprising Bergen gets overlooked. Which is a pity: surrounded by mountains and the gateway to the Norwegian fjords, this pretty city on the west coast is the ideal destination for a break that’ll tempt even die-hard nature lovers.
By European standards it’s compact, and locals are proud of Bergen’s small-town charm and laid-back atmosphere. Attractions include the old quarter of Bryggen, a UNESCO heritage site with picturesque alleyways and harbor buildings.
Music lovers will be drawn to the The Edvard Grieg Museum, once home of Norway’s most famous composer, while foodies will want to sniff out the Bergen Fish Market.
There's also a funicular to the top of Floien Mountain to catch views of the city and a selection of hikes on well-marked trails.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
The beaches are great, but the city's not bad either.Given Puerto Rico's stunning beaches and coastal highlights, including the Bioluminescent (phosphorescent) Bays and El Yunque Rainforest, people sometimes assume the capital will not have much to offer.
They couldn’t be more wrong.
There’s the dramatic El Morro Fortress, high above the sea, and the charming, cobbled streets of Old San Juan, with their 16th- and 17th-century Spanish colonial buildings -- but the city is also in the throes of a revival.
From chic new hotels, to trendy nightspots, boutiques, dance venues (salsa rules here), art galleries, urban sophisticates will find much to whet their appetites: for starters, there’s the newly revamped Museo de Arte, featuring Puerto Rican artists, a two-hectare garden and theater.
Night owls will love sleek hotel The Water Club, with its waterfalls, blue-lit rooms, bars, restaurants and minimalist decor, and the Nyuorican Café, which boasts a live salsa orchestra.
And if you’re craving a midnight curry you’ll find it at the Latino-Hindu fusion restaurant, Tantra.
Darwin, Australia
Overshadowed by Sydney, but should it be?Too often in the shadow of iconic metropolis Sydney, Darwin is a balmy, tropical city, with a chilled-out vibe. It’s also just four hours by air from Singapore, and two from Bali.
Robbie Mills, a traditional Larrakia guide (his people are the traditional owners of Darwin), offers cultural walking tours along the city’s esplanade.
You’ll learn about aboriginal history and culture, bush tucker and plants. Mindil Beach has some great open-air markets, open from April to October, from sunset till late.
Here you’ll find a range of food stalls serving global fare and everything from indigenous art to pottery. There are live beats too.
Harbor cruises and, if you’re a fan of the late Steve Irwin, the Cage of Death -- an underwater crocodile viewing cage -- at Crocosaurus Cove, are also part of the fun.
Isfahan, Iran
Iran can be romantic -- try a walk along Zayandeh river to the beautiful Khaju bridge. Isfahan is one of Iran's great treasures, breathtakingly elegant, perched at the foot of the Zagros mountains.
Its star attraction? That honor goes to Imam Square. It’s one of the world’s largest, and dominated by the Imam Mosque complex which twists towards Mecca -- though it’s the smaller Sheik Lotfollah mosque with its stunning dome that silences visitors.
Then there’s the covered bazaar, just off the square, great for miniatures and decorative tiles and chaikhanas, or teahouses, offering fresh brews and flavored shisha pipes.
After dark belongs to the courtyard café and tearoom at the Abbasi, a five-star hotel and former caravanserai: it’s a magnet to the city’s movers and shakers, who are keen to practise their English on the all-too-rare tourists in their midst.
Final mention must go to the Zayandeh river and its exquisitely pretty, arched Khaju bridge.
More on CNNGo: World's 10 best cities for foodies
Lisbon, Portugal
All the romance of Paris, without the aggro.When it comes to European cities, tourists usually look to Paris or Rome. But Lisbon is, arguably, just as characterful and flanked by beautiful, uncrowded beaches, making it a good alternative to the touristy Algarve.
The city is home to the Gulbenkian, one of the world’s great (largely unsung) museums, housing a collection of Egyptian, Green, Roman, Islamic, Asian and European art and the Belem tower, an iconic city landmark.
Portugal is renowned for the sweet, soft eggy confection known as Pasteis de Nata. So if you’re after the best custard tart in town, head for the Antiga Confeitaria de Belem.
The recipe is 170 years old and the sweet treats were originally thought to have been sold at the Jeronimos Monastery, across the road.
Glasgow, Scotland
Great music waiting to be unearthed.Travelers who make the journey north from London more often head to the much adored capital Edinburgh.
Glasgow, however, arguably has the best music scene in Britain (though Londoners might dispute this) with scores of clubs and concert halls, including the much raved-about Barrowland, which hosts all sorts of acts -- large, cool and up-and-coming.
There’s lots to mine here for those seeking non-aural diversions: for families, there’s the Science Centre, and the collections of curios at the Zaha Hadid-designed Riverside Museum -- it has everything from children’s toys to motorbikes.
If you’re looking for booty you can walk off with, rest assured, the city has some of the best shopping outside of London.
For designer bling there's Prince’s Square, while Willow Tearooms, designed by the influential Scottish architect, designer and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh provides a great cuppa. The menu features Scots Porridge -- available all day -- and Scottish shortbread.
Hoi An, Vietnam
The special kind of taxi you can only find in Vietnam. Technically not a city, but this seaside heritage spot on Vietnam’s Central Coast is such an enchanting contrast to hectic tourist magnet Hanoi that it’s worth a mention.
The former trading port is known for its historic architecture, a mix of Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese and European styles. Visitors rave about its fairytale lanterns, Vietnamese silk and custom tailoring -- it is the place to come if you’re looking to revamp your wardrobe.
A Japanese-designed bridge, old canals, are galleries and great street food -- local specialities include "white rose" seafood dumplings -- make this town memorable. You can learn to cook the dumplings at the Secret Garden, a restaurant and live music venue that runs classes.
Where to stay? Try the swish Nam Hai Hotel, seven kilometers up the coast on Ha Mai beach. It’s in immaculately landscaped grounds and the hotel runs a shuttle bus to the town.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
One of the fastest growing cities in Canada. Canada’s gateway to the Rockies is often viewed as little more than an airport pick-up point. But it’s special -- it has a cowboy heritage all of its own, and is one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities.
In winter, hockey team Calgary Flames roars into action, while in summer, their place is taken by the local football heroes, Calgary Stampeders and The Calgary Stampede -- one of North America's best loved sporting events.
If you’re more "do-er" than watcher, the Olympic park offers seasonal skiing, zip lines and mountain biking.
Calgary’s also home to the Glenbow Museum, Canada’s largest, housing a vast horde of art and artefacts documenting the history and culture of Western Canada.
There’s a growing foodie scene here too: at the Farmers' Market you can find specialities such as elk and bison or pick up a pie at the Saskatoon Berry Farm stall.
Durban, South Africa
A city with year-round sunshine. Perceived to be unsafe, it’s not surprising that the city, on the country’s eastern coast, isn’t exactly first port of call for visitors.
But, in large part thanks to its recent stint as World Cup host, tourist numbers are up. Locals rave about their city’s year-round sunshine and vibrant, cosmopolitan vibe.
Among cities, Durban is home to the highest concentration of Indians outside the subcontinent and it’s a blend of African and European cultures too.
Big draws include surf-friendly golden beaches, the many temples and mosques (including the beautiful -- and beautifully named -- Hare Krishna Temple of Understanding) the uShaka Marine World theme park, and the mammoth art deco style Sunset Casino, which doubles as a shopping mall and boasts a private beach out back.
Local speciality Bunny Chow -- piping hot curry in a scooped out bun -- is best had at The House of Curries, on Florida Road.
More on CNNGo: 10 of the best medieval walled cities
■World's most beautiful towns
Yeh, yeh, a town is made by its people; but sometimes the buildings and landscape count for something too.
There’s a lot to be said for a town’s design. These ones do it best.
Have you visited a town that struck you for its beauty? Tell us about it in the comments
Also on CNNGo: 10 of the world's most underrated cities
1. Gordes, France
A rare specimen -- attractive to both politicians and artists.
More than just a beautiful village perched on one of the most scenic hillsides of Provence, Gordes has seen serious political action.
Harnessed for its defensive vantage point by everyone from the Romans to the Normans, Gordes played a crucial role in the French Resistance during World War II, and suffered accordingly.
In peacetime it’s the beautiful central square and cobbled alleys overlooking the fields of the Vaucluse that have attracted artists including Chagall and Vasarely.
Today visitors come to enjoy the lively open market in the square dominated by a Norman castle, the surrounding lavender fields and the 12th-century Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque.
Nearest airport: Avignon, or Marseille for international arrivals; www.provenceguide.co.uk
2. Miyajima, Japan
The temple that walks on water.
The name means “shrine-island” and this one has an exquisite torii.
The presence of the sea is as much a part of Miyajima’s charm as the shrine itself -- the village is lined with a boardwalk which is a great favorite with grazing deer.
What you see is not necessarily all you get in Miyajima -- you need to walk behind the main street and away from the shrine to encounter an enchanting staircase leading to a Buddhist temple at the foot of scenic Mount Misen.
Nearest airport: Hiroshima; www.visitjapan.jp
3. Essaouira, Morocco
A blue, white and gold desert paradise.
In a country awash with red earth, Saharan desert heat and dust, Essaouira is a refreshing and surprising breath of fresh coastal air.
Not a resort, but a bustling little town with a fishing industry, it’s a vision of bright blue and white, with the odd golden accent.
The Medina, or old market center, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where visitors shop for marquetry, textiles and hand-made raffia slippers known as babouches.
But an even bigger attraction is the fishing port, lined with outdoor restaurants overlooking the Scala Kasbah and a sea of blue fishing boats.
Nearest airport: Essaouira or Marrakech for international arrivals; www.visitmorocco.com
4. Savannah, Georgia, United States
Nearly lost, now much loved.
This jewel of the American South nearly fell apart from sheer neglect until a plan to demolish one of its mansions to make way for a parking lot shocked the populace into restoring more than 1,000 splendid buildings.
Even though Savannah boasts the largest historic district of any American city, it was overlooked by visitors until Savannah’s more colorful 20th-century citizens found themselves playing starring roles in the best-seller “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”
Although it reads like a thriller, John Behrendt’s 1994 book is a factual history peppered with the socialites, low-lifes and eccentrics who made the city what it is today.
The fabulous Bonaventure cemetery central to the book would alone be worth a visit to Savannah. In death as in life, Savannah socialites are determined to outdo each other in extravagance, and the statuary, overhung by dripping live oaks, is outstanding.
Nearest airport: Atlanta; www.savannah.com
5. Lucca, Italy
Another jewel from the land of sun, sea and love.
This walled medieval town is one of the loveliest in Tuscany, with a unique elliptical piazza, the Anfiteatro.
This former colosseum was converted in the 12th century into a residential space, now awash with cafés. It’s surrounded by many other picturesque piazzas, punctuated with spectacular churches. San Michele soars to crazy heights with its tiers of blind arches supported by wildly-decorated columns.
San Frediano, with its colorful mosaic facade, is another delight.
Lucca is equally beautiful on the outside. It’s surrounded by thick 16th-century walls on top of which locals stroll or bike, gazing over the surrounding parkland.
From the hotel strip just beyond the walls, it’s easy to slip into town on foot or bike through one of the many alleys.
Nearest airport: Pisa; www.luccatourist.it
6. Safed, Israel
Full of character -- human and architectural.
You only have to stand in the centre of Safed, where the mysticism of the kabbalah was disseminated by rabbis hundreds of years ago, to feel the magic.
Historic little synagogues, cobbled alleys, blue-painted arches and far-ranging views from the hilltop make this one of the most scenic little towns in Israel.
The Great Stairs cut the town in two and were used by the British to separate Arab and Jewish Quarters, while the Citadel with its Crusader and Mamluk ruins and the eclectic shopping along Gallery Street add a mix of history and current culture.
Many local characters are keen to engage visitors in this New Age center, where natural healers and modern mystics abound.
Nearest airport: Tel Aviv; www.safed.co.il
7. Plockton, Scotland
A Scottish Hawaii -- or as close as it gets.
Palm trees in the Highlands? Bizarre as it sounds, the Gulf Stream has brought tropical foliage to this beautiful little village just over the water from the Isle of Skye.
Original named Am Ploc, it was a crofting hamlet until the 17th century and then a home for refugees displaced to make room for sheep during the Highland Clearances.
Today, the special feature of the high street is the gardens -- separated from their quaint little houses by the main road, they all face the sea and in spring and summer are a beautifully kept riot of brightly colored flowers and neat lawns.
Roam to the edges of town and you’ll find another attraction -- the beautiful shaggy brown
Highland cattle munching the outlying hedgerows.
Nearest airport: Inverness; www.visitscotland.com
8. Taxco, Mexico
Cobbled streets and piazzas rest within kilometers of countryside.
This colonial silver-mining town 170 kilometers south of the capital is arguably the jewel in Mexico's crown. Its maze of cobbled streets and beautiful piazzas overlook the breathtaking vistas of the surrounding Guerrero countryside.
The Federal Government has designated Taxco a national historic monument, so its 16th-century architectural heritage will be preserved.
Even the flocks of tourists shopping for silver on their rest stop en route to Acapulco (Taxco is half-way between the resort and the capital) don’t spoil the colonial ambience -- and if you want to get away from the shoppers, it’s easy to dive into the covered market, a great place for an authentic lunch, or the beautiful and central church of Santa Prisca.
Nearest airport: Acapulco; www.visitmexico.com
9. Zhouzhuang, China
Venice of the Orient.
If Shanghai is the Paris of the Orient, then this exquisite little town punctuated with canals, just a couple of hours to the west, is China’s Venice.
The highlight is the picturesque Zhouzhuang Double Bridge, and there are even Chinese gondoliers waiting to ply visitors down the canals.
But there’s more to Zhouzhang than the water -- fabulous examples of Suzhow-style architecture lining the banks which it’s said do not exist in Suzhow anymore.
And there are gardens beautiful enough to rival Suzhow’s much more famous ones.
Nearest airport: Shanghai; www.chinatravel.net
10. Mendocino, California, United States
Clapperboards and cannabis.
Once a Victorian whaling town, this gorgeous little village remains in a 19th century timewarp -- all clapperboard buildings perched on a clifftop, often shrouded in swirling mist.
Mendocino is at the heart of a new black economy -- the marijuana groves which surround it -- which may be one reason for the lazy pace of life in this tiny village of pretty inns, decent restaurants and highly eclectic shops.
Although it can be overrun in summer, it’s a delightful place to visit out of season and taste the local Russian River wines.