Let’s face it, with this quarantine we might not all have a ton of money or the ability to travel at the moment, but what we do have, is time – and a lot of it. In fact, we have so much time, that the mind has nothing else to do but dream of magical new places. Well, that or worry and I think choosing the former will help get us through this with most of our sanity still intact.
Most of us are experiencing wanderlust about our dream destinations. London, Paris, and Rome are probably high on most people’s lists. But what about the places you have barely seen on social media or the tv screen. Places that are on the rise and close to being the next “it” destinations that we are dreaming about.
I don’t know about you, but for us when this is over we very much want to be somewhere completely new. More than likely the first location will be with friends, at a local bar, or restaurant. But after that: somewhere new and refreshing and most importantly, not absolutely jam-packed with people.
That’s why we at The Travelers Tips – who are just as bored as you are – wanted to curate the next best Top 5 Places To See Post Quarantine. Hopefully soon, we can all enjoy these locations together, or at the very least, get some much need human interaction – in doses.
5 Underrated Places You Need To Visit After The Quarantine Finally ENDS!
1-Goa, India.
Let’s start with Goa. Some have described it as Miami meets India – where partying and foreign culture meet. While this may be true in some form or another, Goa has much more than drinks and dancing along the Arabian Sea.
India was famously under direct British rule for nearly a hundred years during the 19th and 20th centuries. That time period has greatly influenced the country in more than just their knowledge of the English language.
Fun fact, did you know that long before Britain ruled India – the Portuguese colonized it? During the early 16th-18th century, Goa was built up by Portuguese settlers, which becomes rather apparent once you visit Old Goa. As a matter of fact, Old Goa is eerily similar to the Bairro Alto in Lisbon, Portugal.
Goa has three main parts: Old Goa, then North Goa and finally South Goa. The North is known for its historic center, nightlife, and Indian Bazaars. Though if you are looking to enjoy the beach here; try to avoid Calangute and Baga as those will be filled with tourist traps. Instead spend time at either: Mandrem, Aswem or Morjim.
At some point during your trip to Goa, and most preferably at the end, make sure you spend time in South Goa. South Goa, is the least touristy area in all of Goa and in that vein, it has the best and least crowded beaches. Spend time here doing absolutely nothing, but relaxing by the beach, with a local Kingfisher Beer in hand.
5 Must Do’s In Goa
- Start your Saturday night at Ingo Market: with a mix of both tourists and locals (always a good sign.) Live music, open bars and a ton of booths with authentic indigenous foods, clothing, and souvenirs makes this the place to be.
- Go to Old Goa for a real feel of how Portuguese culture has influenced Goa. Then make your way to Braganza House, for a more detailed account of the colonial history between Portugal and Goa.
- Eat at the Moon Star Restaurant and get the paneer tikka, cooked in this special brick oven.
- Spend the day at Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife. Escape the parties and beaches; instead spend time with Leopards, Deers, Indian Bison and the famed Elephants of India.
- Avoid Calangute where the clubs are overpacked with sweaty tourists and instead go to Tito’s Lane, an open-air and less extreme nightclub.
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2- Krakow, Poland.
Poland is unbelievably undervalued as a country for vacations. Yes, it’s brutally cold during the winters, but so is Chicago and that doesn’t stop people from visiting.
Aside from my personal opinions, there are a few things that set Poland, and Krakow specifically, apart. Yes, one of them is incredibly cheap and incredibly smooth – Vodka. Russians may have popularized it when they claimed it as their own, but it was the Polish who actually invented it.
Though what really sets Krakow apart is its sheer variety. Baseball aficionados refer to a potential star player, as a ‘5 tool player’, meaning they possess all 5 major skills needed to be the best in their sport – Krakow is akin to the city version of this. Tool 1) Beauty in its Old Town, Tool 2) Nature in its numerous lush parks, Tool 3) Diversity in both its Jewish and Christian quarters, Tool 4) History in its proximity to the infamous Auschwitz and Schindler’s list, and Tool 5) Culture with some of the best nightlife, cuisine and cafe culture in the world.
Krakow is one of those places you are drawn to; you are drawn to learn from its dark history but end up coming back because it has risen from that darkness to become an absolutely special place: filled with amazing people, perogies and parties.
5 Must Do’s In Krakow
- Visit either Schindler’s Factory or Auschwitz, preferably both. We do a disservice to ourselves as fellow travelers if we don’t see first hand, the length we can go as humans. Though sobering, it will give you a much better outlook on current everyday life, and a reminder that life is so precious.
- Visit Kazimierz for the Jewish quarter; where you will see a vibrant, but laid back cafe culture, similar to that in Spain or Italy.
- For a more intense, techno-driven night, visit the Christian side of Kazimierz and the Stare Miastro Area.
- Head underground, literally, for one of the most mind-melting experiences of your life, at Wieliczka Salt Mine,
- Tour Southern Krakow, for the Food of ‘Lesser Poland’: with dishes like moky sheep’s cheese of the mountains, crispy zapiekanki breads, and chewy pretzels of obwarzanek you won’t soon forget why visitors rave about this food.
3- Johannesburg, South Africa
Cape Town = South Africa ?
Guess again.
The Real Charm is Johannesburg or “Joburg” as the locals say it.
Cape Town might have the sprawling beaches and the on-location movie shoots, but Johannesburg under the grit, has a pulsating culture.
Joburg, a city much like Berlin or even Brooklyn, in its early stages, in that it is being built on street art, a powerful music scene and hip underground clubs.
Though, the two neighborhoods in Joburg that are setting the world abuzz with the arts are: Braamfontein and Maboneng. Braamfontein is Joburg’s downtown: with farmers’ markets, a proper theatre, music venues, famous jazz clubs and even bike tours it’s filled with a ton of culture. Not only that but Braamfontein’s greater area, is home to Joburg’s world-famous zoo and botanical gardens.
Tip: Give yourself a chance to experience both sides.
Speaking of experiences, Maboneg is the newest, and hippest location in Joburg. Here, expect to find a melting pot of street art, unique cafes, insane nightlife and some historically driven art, that will have you rethinking the past while getting excited about the future.
.5 Must Do’s In Johannesburg
- Walkthrough the past and into the future – literally. A greater portion of Joburg can still be a little gritty, but with an influx of art and new money flooding into the city daily, you can see neighborhoods change right in front of your eyes. We recommend Past Experiences which will take you through neighborhoods like Chinatown, Ferreirasdorp, Newtown, Braamfontein and Fordsburg along your tour.
- Go to Arts on Main, which might just be the cultural heartbeat of the city. Here, a series of old worn down buildings have been converted into a community space: which holds galleries, shops, and cafes.
- Experience the melting pot of cultures, colors, and cuisine that is Jo’burg at Che. The Argentine restaurant known for its ribs,steaks and tango on friday nights.
- Truly make the effort to understand Johannesburg checkered past – at the Apartheid Museum. Then continue the history lesson into Joburg’s Jazz roots at The Orbit. Known for their live Jazz acts, which have been a vital part of Joburg history for quite some time.
- Spend a Saturday at Neighbourgoods Market for a round of craft beers, more live music and tons of food trucks. Start your Saturday there.
4- Provincetown, Massachusetts .
I have to admit, part of me is extremely happy our research showed that Provincetown is one of the rising places in the states, and the world. Anthony Bourdain, one of my personal heroes, got his start as a chef here.
I am sure you can see where this is going, so yes you guessed right, there will be a lot of talk of food – well seafood and sunsets to be exact.
New England has long been known for a few things: for its importance in our revolution, its extremely hard to understand accents and most of all, its seafood. Here in Provincetown, a neighborhood in the cape cod area, this is no different.
In fact, this forward-thinking town boasts a strong fisherman community, with fresh seafood daily, a powerful LGBT hub, and restaurants that some of the best chefs in the world only dream of eating at – especially during the summer months.
Provincetown is worth the trip all on its own, but only 90 mins away from Boston, and under 5 hour drive from NYC, you can easily make this part of larger – North Eastern, American trip.
5 Must Do’s In Provincetown
- Stroll down Commercial Street where art galleries, gay bars, quirky cafes, bakeries and candy shops will find you in between colorful street art.
- Get Social at The Canteen On Commercial Street. There long beer-gardenesque tables are specifically designed for you to meet new people, who just might want the same world-famous cod tacos as you.
- Picnic at Race Point Beach at sunset, and eat and drink amongst the sand dunes, in between a blanket of course.
- Take a daytrip to the world-famous Martha’s Vineyard; for a wine experience unlike anything the east coast of America has to offer.
- Finish a glorious weekend with a cocktail at the Red Inn, a bar/restaurant with an absolutely breathtaking view of the Atlantic.
5- Busan, South Korea
Busan is a big place. Actually it’s the second-largest city in South Korea – behind well of course – Seoul.
Though Busan ranks second in city size in South Korea, it’s almost unheard of, when it comes to international popularity. We often hear of a place in the world, and distill that place into a few words. In this case, South Korea brings upon buzzwords like, “not the evil one right? “, ” I’ve had soju before” and ” I had a friend who went to Seoul once”.
But not often do those outside of Southeast Asia talk about what Busan has to offer. Busan, first and foremost is a beach city, with some of the best to offer in South Korea. Many Seoul residents choose Busan as a weekend getaway, especially during the warmer months- but in many regards its popularity ends there.
When you do make it to Busan, make to check out Haeundae. In short, it’s known as the best town in Busan for laid back beach vibes. While Seomyeon is the downtown area, known for nightlife and the shopping district. It is often compared to the widely popular Gangnam district in Seoul – which can be heard in PSY’s international hit: Gangnam style.
Lets not forget though, the famed Gamcheon Culture Village. Famed for its steep winding streets and pastel-painted houses. Get lost along the twisting alleyways, and find yourself at a bar washing down your Bulgogi with Soju.
5 Must Do’s In Busan
- You must try a ssiat hotteok, which is a fried pastry stuffed with sugar, honey, nuts, and sunflower seeds.
- Get Lost in Gamcheon Culture Village and collect stamps. Each stamp correlates to a location in the village: cafe, art galleries etc. Once you collect them all you can claim a prize at their information center.
- If you are feeling adventurous, take a night tour of lively Busan. Which includes a cruise along the Nakdonggang river and ending at the famous, Hwangnyeongsan Mountain.
- If you are feeling like a foodie, then head over to Gukje Market. Once a location where refugees could exchange goods, it has since transformed into Busan’s biggest traditional market.
- If you are seriously into music, and seriously into partying then Club Babau is the place you want to head to. Boasting the best sound system in Korea; expect the energy, and sound, to be at all-time highs.