Welcome back to Underrated Cities, bringing you unexpected (and occasionally controversial) ideas for your next destination.
This edition: we sweat it out in a cold place, take a cool dip in a hot place, and chill in a Bolivian place.
Know a city that's criminally underrated and should be featured in a deeply excellent email series? Hit reply and let us know your top tip.
In the meantime, find your next destination below... |
|
While Helsinki soaks up all the Nordic design tourism and Lapland gets the Northern Lights crowd, Tampere sits quietly between two lakes, officially holding the (glorious) title: Sauna Capital of the World.
And we're not talking about a few hotel spas. We're talking 60+ public saunas, including Rajaportti – Finland's oldest still in operation since 1906 – and waterfront spots like Rauhaniemi where locals jump straight from the steam into the lake. Year-round. Yes, even when it's frozen.
Beyond the sauna pilgrimage, Tampere has red-brick industrial charm (it's nicknamed the "Manchester of the North", which, well, OK), excellent doughnuts at Pyynikki Observation Tower, and a walkable city center. What more could you want?!?!
Our tip: head to Sauna Restaurant Kuuma on Lake Pyhäjärvi for the full experience: Nordic food, rooftop views, and of course, more saunas. |
|
Accra doesn't get the safari crowds that East Africa pulls, but Ghana's capital is one of West Africa's most genuinely underrated cities – and we haven't even mentioned the beaches yet.
Markets like Makola give chaotic energy, the nightlife at Labadi Beach runs until dawn, and jollof rice arguments get serious (Ghanaians claim theirs is better than Nigeria's, and we aren't brave enough to make a comment either way).
But what really sets Accra apart is how accessible it is. English is widely spoken, it's safer than most African capitals, and the growing tech scene means you'll pull decent wifi at traditional drumming performances.
Our tip: skip the standard restaurants and head to Buka for proper West African food. The banku with tilapia and egusi soup are the go. |
|
Samaipata is a bohemian mountain village nestled in Bolivia's foothills – only three hours from Santa Cruz, but a world apart in terms of climate.
Most people come for El Fuerte, a UNESCO World Heritage site with Bolivia's largest pre-Inca ruins – an enormous carved rock temple that predates the Incas by over a thousand years. But they end up staying for the vineyards, the waterfalls, the expat-run cafes, and the subtle but inescapable sense that time moves differently here.
It's small enough to walk end-to-end in twenty minutes, international enough to have excellent Turkish street food, and off-the-beaten-track enough that you can still find handmade jewelry in artisan shops that's actually legit, not "handmade" by "artisans".
Our tip: grab a shawarma or burger at La Cocina. Turkish owner Serdar bakes the bread fresh daily and it has a rep as the best in Bolivia. |
|
Our rec for the Minaal gear best suited to these destinations?
You'll want to deal with some rugged terrain and never worry about your gear.
So of course, it's the Original Travel Set. |
|
"I literally cannot say anything bad about this bag. I have owned it for years and it holds up as good as it did when I first bought it. I am able to pair it with the Daily Bag and maximize its use. It is so nice to get through an airport in less than thirty minutes after arriving and it is easier to walk around through some countries in Europe when I am walking through cobblestone that I know traditional wheeled luggage would have an issue with. On to many adventures and trips more with these bags!"
– Juan, Minaal Owner
|
|
Got a city you think is underrated? Hit reply!
Let's get planning,
J, D, & the Minaal team |
|
Made with ❤️ all over the 🌏 by the Minaal crew.
2026 MINAAL / PRIVACY
You had me at opt-in.
Wanna part ways?
click here
Minaal | 14525 SW Millikan Way Beaverton, OR 97005-2343
|
|
|
|
|
