100 under-the-radar places everyone should visit in the world

This bright blue grotto at Canada's Bruce Peninsula National Park is so mesmerising that it doesn't quite look real.Meg Wallace Photography/Shutterstock

Travel should be more than crossing attractions off a bucket list. It should be an opportunity to see some truly magnificent — and surprising — parts of the world.

That's why we have compiled a comprehensive list of lesser-visited destinations, whether they are natural or man-made spectacles, hidden wonders, or points of breathtaking scenery.

From a Japanese island that doubles as an active volcano to a neon green lake in New Zealand, here are our top 100.

Methodology: We have considered the number of current traveller reviews on TripAdvisor to rank the attractions in this list, from those with the most to least visitors. Have we missed any under-the-radar spots? Let us know in the comments.

100. Go surfing in Munich, Germany, where city-based surfers take their boards to the Eisbach, a small man-made river in Englischer Garten park.

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99. Have afternoon tea in a rainforest in the centre of London at the Barbican Conservatory.

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98. Weave through the world's longest hedge maze at Wiltshire's Longleat Maze, which measures nearly two miles.

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97. In Prague, take a funicular up Petrin Hill to stroll through a verdant rose and lavender garden. While there, climb the Petrin Tower — a 210-foot-tall steel structure often called Prague's "little" Eiffel Tower — for beautiful city views.

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96. Swim under the waterfalls of Croatia's stunning Krka National Park in Dalmatia.

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95. Find your way out of the maze at Vancouver's VanDusen Botanical Garden in Canada.

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94. Swim beside waterfalls in beautifully clear water at the Fairy Pools in the village of Carbost on Scotland's Isle of Skye.

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93. These adorable cottages in north-western Japan are all constructed in the “gassho-zukuri” architectural style. The entire village of Shirakawago is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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92. These strange rock formations in Australia's Northern Territory are giant termite mounds. They act as enormous magnetic compasses, with their thin edges pointing north-south and broad backs east-west. This helps the termites keep cool and survive in Australia's harsh climate.

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91. Trek to Albania's Sarandë District to peer into the Syri i Kalter ("The Blue Eye"), a gorgeous natural spring that goes deep underground.

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90. Travel to the very north of Denmark to Grenen, a beach in the town of Skagen that connects two seas: The Skagerrak Straight in the North Sea, and the Kattegat, which flows between Denmark and Sweden.

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89. Explore Vietnam's Phong Nha Caves, an incredible network of caves that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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88. In Slovenia, skip Lake Bled and check out the lesser-known Lake Bohinj, which offers equally breathtaking surroundings.

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87. Offering stunning sunset views for those willing to plan a trek or a hike, the active Rinjani Volcano is a must-see site on the island of Lombok in Indonesia.

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86. Take a boat tour of the "Lost Sea," a large underground lake that takes up more than four acres in Sweetwater, Tennessee.

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85. Go on a hike in California's Mammoth Falls to see the Devils Postpile National Monument — an impressive natural basalt formation that is surrounded by a mountainous landscape.

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84. Walk along the sand dunes of Nairn Beach in the Scottish Highlands. You may even spot a dolphin off the coast while you're there.

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83. See one of the world's coolest rock formations at Armenia's Symphony of Stones, a complex natural structure made of basalt rock on the side of Garni Gorge.

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82. Hike to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, a stunning yet lesser-visited national park in Colorado, US.

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81. Take a scenic hike through Ethiopia's Simien Mountains National Park.

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80. Climb inside the crater of an active volcano (if you dare) on the island of Nisyros in Greece's Dodecanese. The volcano's last eruption was in 1888.

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79. Take in the views from the Kolukkumalai Tea Estate — a sprawling piece of land that sits at 8,000 feet above sea level — in Munnar, India.

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78. This bright blue grotto at Bruce Peninsula National Park in Ontario, Canada, is so mesmerising it doesn't quite look real.

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77. Take a scenic drive along Romania's winding Transfăgărășan road, which links Transylvania to Wallachia.

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76. Look up at a series of intricate tombs built into the side of a mountain by the Lycians in Fethiye, Turkey.

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75. Stay inside the temporary Ice Hotel installed every winter in Quebec City, Canada. It's not just the architecture that's sculpted out of ice — even the furniture is made out of the stuff.

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74. Near the Colombian city of Ipiales lies the Las Lajas Sanctuary basilica church. Straight out of a fairytale, it is built on a bridge that dangles over a gorge.

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73. Marvel at the view of Lake Ohrid from the Church of St. John the Theologian, pictured below, in Ohrid,FYROM.

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72. Admire the ornate patterns on the houses and church in the village of Pyrgi, on the Greek island of Chios.

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71. The Staubbach waterfall in Switzerland sits next to the houses and church of a local town, covering it in a mist of spray.

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70. Knight Inlet in British Columbia, Canada, is only accessible by boat or sea plane. It's great for seeing wildlife like grizzly bears and sea wolves.

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69. Swim in the translucent water of Giola, a natural rock pool in the region of Astris on the Greek island of Thassos.

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68. Hop on a raft to drift beside Croatia's Blue Cave of Bisevo, a naturally vivid grotto that is so bright in the sun it looks artificially illuminated.

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67. Road trip along Norway's Atlantic Ocean Road and drive over the Storseisundet Bridge, a nausea-inducing crossing that makes people feel as though they're driving in the sky.

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66. Explore the fascinating remnants of 300 million year-old animals and plants at Joggins Fossil Cliffs in Nova Scotia, Canada.

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65. The Bodegas Ysios building in Spain's Rioja Alavesa uses incredible modern design to create the perfect environment for fermenting wine.

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64. Avoid the crowds at Stonehenge to see Machrie Moor Stone Circle on the Isle of Arran, Scotland.

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63. Take a tour of the Gede ruins — the remains of a Swahili town located in Gedi, a village near the coastal town of Malindi in Kenya.

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62. The US city of Boston is filled with cool cultural spots. George's Island, which is one of the islands in the Boston Harbour, was used as a coastal defence in the American Civil War.

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61. Israel's Nimrod Fortress, or Nimrod Castle, sits on a mountain overlooking the Hula Valley's rivers, waterfalls and thick forests. It offers a stunning view of the entire Golan region.

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60. Armenia's Etchmiadzin Monastery's cathedral is thought to be the oldest running cathedral in the world.

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59. Climb up a dormant volcano in Austria to see Riegersburg Castle. Inside there are two museums — one on the legacy of women in the area and another on witchcraft.

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58. Visit Qasr Amra, an ancient castle that dates back to the eighth century. It is found in the desert near Amman, Jordan.

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57. Hold your balance on the Trift Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the Swiss Alps.

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56. Marvel at multicoloured geological formations at the Paint Mines Interpretative Park in Colorado, US.

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55. Check out the eerie ruins of an old fortress that surrounded the city of Liepaja on the coast of Latvia.

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54. One of the most remote places in India, Zanskar Valley is inaccessible by road in the winter because of heavy snowfall. Even in the summer, it involves a trek not for the faint of heart.

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53. The Korean island of Oedo has been turned into an elaborate and imaginative botanical garden, Oedo Botania. It's a romantic spot, especially during the summer.

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52. Visit one of several ancient bridges that are believed to have been built centuries ago by the Venetians in Cyprus.

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51. The breathtaking Buddhist monastery Kye Gompa is spread over a hill in The Spiti Valley in the Himalayas. It sits at at an altitude of 4,166 metres above sea level.

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50. Shidakako Lake is the perfect place to see Japan's famous cherry blossoms.

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49. In San Francisco, there's a giant seaside instrument known as the Wave Organ. It is made up of pipes that are designed to emit sound when hit by waves.

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48. The striking Haifoss Waterfall in Iceland is only accessible to committed hikers and 4x4 vehicles, which keeps the 122-meter-tall cascade under-the-radar.

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47. Kariega Beach is an unspoilt oasis between the game reserves in South Africa's Eastern Cape.

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46. This strange Hand Sculpture is one of the Atacama Desert in Chile's most iconic features — but it is 7,000 kilometres from the nearest main road.

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45. Foray into Portugal's enchanting Peneda-Gerês National Park for scenery that looks like it is out of this world.

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44. Badain Jaran Desert in Inner Mongolia, China, offers spectacular scenery. Remarkably, this desert contains approximately 100 lakes.

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43. See Europe's version of the Grand Canyon in the Czech Republic at Velka Amerika, near the village of Mořina. Once a mining quarry, the site now contains a glorious lake.

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42. Walk across the Sheytan Krupriya (or "Devil's Bridge") near Ardino, Bulgaria. Built in the 16th century, the eerie-looking bridge is rumoured to be haunted.

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41. Explore the mountainous terrain of Sweden's stunning Sarek National Park.

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40. Climb up a mountain to the Caves of Kesh in Ireland's Country Sligo for spectacular countryside views.

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39. If you're looking for an alternative to the Grand Canyon, Black Magic Canyon in Idaho is stunning. Its ancient lava formations were carved over 10,000.

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38. An alternative to the tourist-filled region of Cinque Terre, the peaceful village of Tellaro, Italy, is just as beautiful.

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37. Dubai's skyscrapers can be overwhelming. Instead, travel through Oman and reach Hatta, an ancient village in the middle of the desert with an enormous freshwater lake

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36. Tsitsikamma National Park in South Africa's Eastern Cape is relatively unknown to tourists. It is where Storms River meets the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and is a great spot for kayaking and scuba diving.

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35. The surreal sandstone rock formation, called The Wave, may draw you to Arizona, but a difficult hike awaits those who want to reach it.

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34. The imposing rock formations dotted around the coast make it worth the arduous journey to Niue, one of the most remote islands in the world.

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33. St. John's, the port city located in Newfoundland and Labrador on Canada's east coast, has a small town vibe despite being the province's capital city. Visit in the winter to see the colourful houses and winding streets coated in snow.

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32. Walk around the beautiful port city of Odessa, Ukraine.

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31. While it may not be appealing for a dip, this neon-green sulphur lake at the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland in Rotorua, New Zealand, makes for a fascinating visit.

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30. Check out a Hungarian village where residents live in stilt cottages dotted about Lake Bokodi between the towns of Bokod and Oroszlány.

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29. Lie on a secluded beach on the beautiful island of St. Agnes in the Isles of Scilly, UK.

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28. Go to Liechtenstein, an underrated, small country between Austria and Switzerland, and climb to the top of Vaduz Castle for dramatic Alpine views.

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27. Watch the sunset over a seafood dinner in Pangkor Island, a lesser-visited holiday spot off the west-coast of Malaysia.

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26. Journey to the edge of a cliff in the Faroe Islands to visit the remote village of Gásadalur and enjoy breathtaking views.

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25. Rent a canoe in Giethoorn, a town without roads in the Netherlands, where people get around by ferrying along the canal, or walking or cycling along paths.

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24. The market square bordered by neat rows of colourful buildings in Poznań, Poland, offers visitors a perfect photo opportunity.

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23. Go to Luxembourg. Established in the 10th century, the tiny nation bordered by France, Belgium, and Germany is often overlooked but it is packed with enchanting castles and nature trails.

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22. Spend a day hiking amid views of the Pyrenees in Andorra, a small country sandwiched between France and Spain.

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21. The British territory of Anguilla is one of the lesser-known Caribbean islands, meaning you can enjoy the turquoise waters and white sandy beaches without the crowds.

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20. Hop on a colourful boat in Aveiro, a vibrant canal city that's bursting with cool architecture on Portugal's west coast.

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19. Explore forests, lakes, and volcanic caves on the Azores Islands, off the coast of Portugal in the Atlantic Ocean.

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18. Visitors to North Stradbroke Island, affectionately referred to as Straddie, in Queensland, Australia, will often spot dolphins or humpback whales.

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17. Visit Bulgaria's smallest town, Melnik, perched in a remote spot amid the Pirin Mountains, for stunning views over a glass of local wine.

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16. Bathe in the crystal-clear water of the Ionian sea off the Greek island of Paxi.

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15. Ko Kut is considered one of the most beautiful and quietest islands in Thailand.

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14. Cycle through the Czech Republic's Palava region, known for its vineyards and picture-perfect green fields.

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13. Hop on a boat from Malta to visit its little-known neighbour, Gozo — an island strewn with temples, salt pans, and picturesque beaches.

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12. Spend an afternoon in the old town of Oviedo — the capital of Asturias, a principality in north-west Spain — and admire the mismatched houses that line a typical street.

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11. Take in views of the Portuguese countryside in Monsaraz, an ancient village with whitewashed houses, cobbled streets, and a castle.

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10. Take a scenic walk in Lukomir, a remote village in Konjic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, that sits on the lip of a large canyon.

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9. Intrepid travellers who don't mind the trek should visit Aogashima, a picturesque Japanese island that also happens to be an active volcano.

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8. Visit Setenil de las Bodegas, a village in Andalucia, Spain, that was built into cliffs and where residents' houses have large rocks covering them instead of roofs.

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7. Escape the noise of urban living with a visit to Lago de Yojoa, a peaceful natural lake in Honduras surrounded by idyllic scenery.

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6. Commonly referred to simply as Baños, this Ecuadorian city translates to mean "holy water baths." It is known for its healing hot springs.

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5. Walk through the Mani, a hilly region in Greece's Peloponnese that's known for its crumbling architecture.

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4. Trek through the rainforest in the small Bolivian town of Rurrenabaque.

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3. Go diving amid the ruins of a sinking abandoned prison in the town of Rummu in Estonia.

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2. Copper Canyon is much bigger, and much greener, than the Grand Canyon in the US. The best way to see it is on the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico, a train which travels 600 kilometres across northwestern Mexico.

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1. The small Peruvian city of Huacachina was built around this beautiful oasis in the middle of the desert.