Naples, Italy

The third-largest city in Italy is chock full of history, art, architecture and delicious food, yet it gets a bad rap for its crime and grime. While these blemishes are certainly a reality for residents, they're far from ubiquitous, especially where tourism is concerned. Choose to literally find higher ground at places like Certosa e Museo di San Martino and you'll be rewarded with truly spectacular views. Stroll the Via Caracciolo e Lungomare di Napoli or chat with the friendly locals and you'll start to experience some of the magic that this port city holds. And, of course, you can't forget the transcendence that comes from that first bite of Neapolitan pizza (in the city credited with inventing the pizza pie), nor that perfect sip of espresso.

You can't judge a book by its cover, and you most certainly can't judge a city for its rough edges – doing so would make it easy to miss out on its real treasures, including underground frescos, royal palaces, Tuscan architecture and so much more.