" I ’m unremarkably suspicious of touristy spots , but seeing this home with my eye blow me away . It ’s cliché , but delineation do n’t do it justice . "

Whenever I travel, without even trying, I always come up with an idea in my mind about what a destination will be like. Thanks to social media, Google, or even word of mouth, it’s difficultnotto have travel expectations. So Redditoru/tophogasked, “What place have you visited that lived up to orexceeded the hype?” Here’s what travelers from Reddit and theBuzzFeed Communitysaid.

1.“Norway. It’s one of the most naturally beautiful countries I’ve visited. It helped that I didn’t do that much research going in, but everywhere I went felt so incredibly scenic.”

2.“North Cascades National Park in Washington State. It’s overshadowed by Mt. Rainier and Olympic National Parks, but it’s just as close to Seattle. IMO, it’s arguably the most beautiful of the three, with stunning jagged mountains, glaciers, crystal clear alpine lakes, and plenty of hiking trails.”

3.“Isla Holbox, Mexico. This place was magical between the crystal clear water, flamingos, swimming with whalesharks, and the breathtaking sunsets.”

4.“Trieste is probably one of Italy’s least talked about cities. It has green hills cascading into the turquoise bay and some of the most beautiful sunsets. If you are interested in history, there are a lot of interesting museums to visit, and the influences for the neighboring Slovenia and imperial Austria make for a cityscape and food culture that isn’t found in most other places.”

5.“Taiwan. I had a few expectations before visiting. I just knew people raved about the food and the people. I went there earlier this year and haven’t stopped thinking about it since. The relative affordability of this country is just the cherry on top.”

6.“South Island, New Zealand. I felt a bit skeptical, wondering if it could possibly be any better than Alaska or Norway. TBH, I think it is, and either way, it lives up to all the hype!”

7.“Corsica,France. Think of all California’s most gorgeous nature spots and then crank them up to a level 10. That is basically what you get on this island. It’s absolutely gorgeous.”

8.“Patagonia: the nature, the remoteness, the atmosphere, the wind. It is one of my favorite places on earth, and I wish to visit again someday.”

9.“Bath, England. I chose to go there at the last minute as a holdover between London and Stonehenge. I was more impressed with the beauty and history there than I imagined.”

10.“Iceland! It is amazing. The people, the sights, the landscape, the vibe, the food were all wonderful. I’d go again in a heartbeat.”

11.“Machu Picchu. I’m usually wary of touristy spots, but seeing this place with my eyes blew me away. It’s cliché, but pictures don’t do it justice. Peru as a whole was great as well, especially the food.”

12.“Slovakia! More castles per capita than any other country in Europe. Bratislava is an amazing, lively town with a beautiful old center. Most people go to the Czech Republic but overlook this hidden gem.”

13.“This might not be the most exciting answer, but Rome. The history, the food, the architecture, everything blew me away. I went last year with my wife for our ten-year anniversary, and we are going back in a few weeks with the kids to do it all again!”

14.“Bagan, Myanmar. Angkor is truly amazing and more than lives up to expectations, but Bagan is something else. I loved it so much that I cycled from Thailand to see it again.”

15.“I saved up for four years to go to Alaska. When I was finally ready to go, I worried I would be disappointed, but Alaska lived up to it and more. It’s the most incredible place I’ve ever seen.”

16.“Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. The pictures are beautiful, but walking through the valley and looking up at the cliffs is mind-blowing.”

17.“The Grand Canyon. Hoooooly. I swear to you there has never been a photo taken of it that prepares you for the reality or does justice to how unbelievably awesome it is.”

18.“Edinburgh, Scotland. When you walk around the old town, it truly feels like traveling back in time.”

19.“The Canadian Rockies. Hiking in Banff and Jasper National Parks are even better than I ever imagined.”

20.“Nepal. Not so much Kathmandu, but trekking out in the Himalayas is an experience I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. I cannot be oversold.”

mention : Submissions have been edited for length and/or lucidness .

People strolling and sitting along a waterfront with a row of distinctive, steep-roofed buildings in the background under a clear sky

Mountain landscape with a diverse meadow of purple and yellow wildflowers in the foreground, and a range of mountains under a cloudy sky in the background

Aerial view of a serene beach with few boats anchored near the shore

A view of the Grand Canal in Trieste, Italy, with boats docked in the canal and a neoclassical church, Sant'Antonio Taumaturgo, visible in the background

Coastal landscape with winding road, lush green hills, rocky shoreline, and ocean waves. There's no text or people in the image

A serene lake surrounded by lush trees with snow-capped mountains in the background under a clear sky

Boats docked in a harbor with a historic stone fortress on a hill in the background, and multi-story buildings along the waterfront

A lone hiker stands on a rocky terrain wearing a yellow jacket, overlooking a waterfall with towering mountains and a dramatic sky in the background

A bustling outdoor market with numerous stalls and many people browsing. The market is set in an urban area surrounded by historic buildings

Person in a hooded jacket standing on a trail near a large waterfall, with vibrant greenery and cliffs in the background scenery

A llama stands in the foreground with the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu and a large mountain in the background

Aerial view of a European town square with historic buildings surrounding a central fountain and scattered pedestrians. Treed hills and castle in the background

A scenic view of Rome, Italy, featuring historic buildings, the Tiber River, and the Ponte Sant'Angelo bridge. Trees and hills frame the background

A scenic view of numerous ancient temples and pagodas amidst a lush green landscape with distant mountains in the background

Two people kayaking on a calm mountain lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks and lush slopes under a cloudy sky

A scenic view of a lush green valley surrounded by mountains, with scattered houses and a small village in the distance under a partly cloudy sky

A person in a red jacket stands on the edge of a cliff overlooking the expansive, rugged terrain of the Grand Canyon under a cloudy sky

A charming view of a historic village with a narrow river running between old stone buildings and greenery

A serene lake surrounded by mountains with a cluster of trees on an island in the middle. The sky is clear, and the sunlight illuminates the scene

Mountain village scene with traditional prayer flags, buildings with intricate details, and stone structures amid misty, forested mountains. No people present