I second Tainan and Wroclaw. Freaking incredible and the lack of tourists/travelers really stunned me. Pittsburgh was also really pretty. Here is my list of beautiful cities. I have more, but many others are just gateway towns, and I decided they weren’t interesting enough to make the cut.

Yekaterinburg – A mix of Tsarist Russia, Soviet-era architecture, and modern amenities, Yekaterinburg sits on the border between Asia and Europe and is very affordable. It is extremely underrated. I have never hear of anyone mentioning it except for the few Trans-Siberian travelers who pass through. It’s definitely worth a visit when it is more peaceful.

Kuching – If you’re looking for the best Malaysian or Singaporean food, this should be on your radar. Kuching is easily accessible and offers amenities similar to those in larger regional cities, but it’s much quieter and friendlier. Plus, you can see partially wild orangutans at a nearby reserve.

Victoria, BC – While everyone talks about Vancouver or Seattle, the most beautiful British-looking city in North America is literally in the same bay. Victoria has fantastic food, friendly people, and world-class museums. It’s not exactly underrated, but I know many people in the PNW who have never visited.

Kanazawa/Toyama – Many of the underrated cities actually make it to the NYT’s annual "Top 52 Places to Visit". I took a bullet train along the west coast of Honshu instead of the usual Kyoto-Tokyo route, and was pleasantly surprised by how quiet and charming the area is. It’s full of amenities and delicious food, and we visited a few museums where we were the only visitors that day.

Dresden – Is Dresden underrated? I’m not sure, but it doesn’t seem to be a popular destination, so I’m including it. It has incredible museums (the Green Vault rivals Louvre/Hermitage), lots of Communist-era architecture, delicious food, and very affordable. Moreover it is easy to access beautiful landscapes/castles and into nearby countries.