The world is full of incredible destinations offering breathtaking landscapes and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, so it's no wonder that we can often overlook what's right on our doorstep. But sometimes looking a little closer to home is the best thing to do. A UK city has beaten a whopping list of the top places to visit in the eyes of a very well-travelled explorer - and it's not London.

Henrik Jeppesen has journeyed to every single country in the world - a staggering total of 193 - and has ticked off more than 2,000 destinations on his ever-expanding list. The globetrotter, who hails from Thy in northwest Jutland, Denmark, has been exploring the world since he was just 17, amassing a treasure trove of insider knowledge and a long list of advice.

Despite being well-versed in Europeantravel and having experienced countless countries worldwide, there's one destination that he can't recommend highly enough - and it's right here in the UK. "I absolutely loved Belfast when I visited. I still remember it as being one of the best and most surprising cities I've been to", Henrik exclusively told the Mirror. "The city is so charming, and it has a very rich history."

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The capital of Northern Ireland is the birthplace of the RMS Titanic and home to the Crumlin Road Gaol, a former prison that has been converted into a museum.

Meanwhile, City Hall takes centre stage in the city, which earned the nickname 'Linenopolis' during the 19th century when Belfast was known as the world's linen capital. In addition to its legacy, Henrik had nothing but praise for the people who call the city home.

"I really loved it there, and the people make the place special. They are really fantastic, and I met, I don't know how many Northern Irish people - they're just fantastic, talkative and lovely," he said. "Then the feeling about walking the streets, beautiful buildings - it's really a lovely city with the atmosphere, and the food was great."

Despite visiting Belfast 15 years ago for just three days, Henrik still holds fond memories of the city and is eager to return. "I had plans to visit last month, but I couldn't go, so I'll go in the future. The city of Belfast is one of the great cities of Europe, and of all the cities I've visited, I haven't felt that they've been that special like Belfast has."

Noting why it could be seen as an overlooked city in the UK, Henrik said: "You hear so much negativity in the media from the conflict back in the day, so it doesn't really stand out as a place you want to visit; people think about London, Dublin or Edinburgh. Edinburgh is a fantastic city, but I think Belfast is highly underrated. It's so simple and easy to get to, so if you want a quick weekend break, it makes so much sense to explore the city."

For anyone looking to book a getaway to Belfast, or anywhere in Europe, Henrik shared some vital advice when it comes to how long you should spend in one destination. "If you go to other parts of Europe, you might want to do five cities in two weeks, but that might be too fast. I would say you have two weeks. It's better to spend one week in each location, rather than two places," the expert advised.

"It's not to feel rushed. Is it really a holiday if you're rushed? It shouldn't be that you rush and hurry to see alot of stuff. I've had moments in my travels when I've had to rush, but I don't enjoy it as much; it's better to take your own pace and explore a lot of things."

You can find more of Henrik's world adventures on his website.