The lure of big, popular cities for short breaks is undeniable – checking out famous sights, indulging in food, wine and culture, getting the all-important pics for Instagram. But if your budget is tight, you feel like you’ve done the well-known destinations to death, or you just fancy something a bit more sedate, here are six great alternative city breaks.
Forget Paris; try Lyon
Paris is heartbreakingly pretty, it’s a gourmet’s paradise and there are plenty of bucket list items one can tick off there. Equally, it can be expensive, uncomfortable in summer and it’s not everyone’s cup of thé.
Lyon, France’s third-largest city, is considered by many to be France’s true gastronomic capital. The city’s bouchons – traditional, characterful restaurants – are great for trying Lyonnais favourites. From andouillette, a robustly seasoned pork sausage, to tarte aux pralines roses, a bold sweet pink dessert, the local cuisine is the perfect match for a Beaujolais or Côtes du
Rhône.
While you won’t be getting your cheesy Eiffel Tower selfie in Lyon, the historic centre is a glorious UNESCO World Heritage site. There are plenty of opportunities for envy-inducing photos in the narrow streets that date back to the 4th century or at Lyon’s own Notre Dame, the imposing Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière.
Getting there:
Lyon is served by two international airports – Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) and the smaller Lyon–Bron Airport. The main international train station is Gare de Lyon Part- Dieu. While served well by major highways, pricey parking is very limited and drivers may find Lyon’s air quality measures make it challenging for cars.
Forget Barcelona; try Palma de Mallorca
Barcelona is known for its lively nightlife and a particularly spectacular unfinished basilica. But the equally photogenic Palma de Mallorca, the capital city of the island of Mallorca, offers more than enough for a wonderful long weekend.
The holiday island capital is perhaps a tad classier than Magaluf, its rowdy little brother, which is a 50-minute bus ride away if you really want to let your hair down. But within Palma itself, you will find no shortage of bars, restaurants and cafes for everything from traditional Balearic cuisine to fine wine to lively pubs.
Just as Barcelona has Sagrada Familia, the star attraction in Palma is the breathtaking (and completed) Cathedral of Santa Maria. It’s definitely wise to pre-book your tickets as the queue an get long, especially in peak tourist season. The cathedral’s audio guide can be confusing, but you’ll probably be too busy marvelling at the sensory overload interior to notice.
Getting there:
Palma’s international airport connects to 195 destinations, so no matter where you are in Europe, you’re probably not too far away from a direct flight. As well as being a popular cruise port, there are ferries to Palma from Barcelona, Valencia, Ciutadella, Ibiza and Formentera.
Forget Krakow, try Wroclaw
Krakow has developed a reputation as a stag do destination thanks to a compact city seemingly designed for easy pub crawls. This is not for everyone, but Wroclaw is an underrated patch of Poland that offers culture, history and hearty food in equal measure.
Like Krakow, Wroclaw has a walkable city centre with plenty of places to eat, drink and be merry. Delightfully, since 2005, the city has been home to more than 1,000 small bronze gnomes. These whimsical symbols of a peaceful protest movement can be found everywhere from alleyways to lamp posts and gnome-spotting has become one of the more wholesome things one can do on a European city break.
History buffs should add the Depot History Center to their Wroclaw list. Located in a former streetcar depot, it offers an unvarnished look at the social, political and cultural upheavals that took place in Wroclaw and the rest of Poland during the 20th century.
The communist era grocery store will ensure you never take toilet paper for granted again.
Getting there:
Wroclaw’s Copernicus Airport has direct connections with 79 cities across 30 countries. By rail, Wrocław Główny station is easily accessible from major Polish stations, as well as links to Berlin, Budapest, Frankfurt and Vienna. If you drive, a hotel on the outskirts of the city makes more sense as the centre is definitely more pedestrian-friendly.
Forget Munich; try Ingolstadt
Bavarian beauty is not limited to Munich. Travel just an hour by car or 40 minutes by train from Munich and you’ll come across intriguing Ingolstadt. It’s just as pretty as Munich, it’s a bit more affordable, you won’t need to fight your way past influencers and you can still enjoy plenty of steins.
Ingolstadt’s beautifully preserved old town is a wonderful opportunity to experience traditional Bavarian architecture without the crowds. The must-see sights include Kreuztor Gate, which has stood since the 14th entry, the 15th century New Castle that houses the Bavarian Army Museum, and the grand Liebfrauenmünster church, a timber-roofed gothic minster.
Munich may be home to BMW, but car lovers can definitely indulge themselves at Ingolstadt’s Audi factory. The tours offer insights into Audi history, motorsport and new technologies, as well as showing rotating exhibitions.
Getting there:
Ingolstadt Manching Airport is mostly used for chartered flights, so it’s easier to fly into Munich and transfer by road or rail. Ingolstadt Central Station is well-connected to the rest of Germany, as well as offering international services to Austria, France and Switzerland. Ingolstadt is one of Europe’s more driver-friendly destinations, as long as you don’t try to park right in the historic centre.
Forget Prague; try Ljubljana
Prague is a true spectacle of a city. Presided over by a magnificent castle, thousands of tourists traverse the Charles Bridge every day. But if you fly over Czechia and Austria and keep going until you land in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s picture-perfect capital, you will be rewarded with eastern European beauty that stays with you.
Unlike pretty much every city in Europe, the food and drink prices remain the same at the bars and restaurants that line the Ljubljanica River. No need to go one or two streets back to avoid tourist trap prices. Ljubljana Castle is more compact than Prague Castle, but the views from the top are no less rewarding.
Priced between 41 euros to 59 euros depending on the length of your stay, the Ljubljana Card is a great way to access all the sights with minimal fuss and expense.
There’s a quirky art scene, Nostalgija is probably the friendliest rock bar in the world and for the price of a cheap train ticket, the day trip to Lake Bled is one of the best ways to enjoy nature, architecture and amazing cake all at once.
Getting there:
There are direct flights from 25 destinations in 19 countries into Ljubljana. As well as being part of Slovenia’s excellent rail network, Ljubljana can be accessed by rail from Zagreb, Vienna, Munich, Frankfurt, Budapest and Zurich. Driving to Ljubljana makes for a scenic road trip, but the city’s park-and-ride facilities make more sense than trying to find a spot in the middle of town.
Forget Marrakech; try Tunis
While Marrakech and Tunis are not actually in Europe, one of these north African cities draws way more tourists. Marrakech is the very definition of splendid chaos with the labyrinthine souq, snake charmers and incredible food. But the equally accessible Tunis has a great souq experience, plenty of French and North African flavours and – like Morocco – underrated but good wine.
The French influence in the Tunisian capital is obvious with wide boulevards offering plenty of room for civilised footpath dining. Deep in the heart of the city, Dar el Jeid restaurant is well worth seeking out for its stunning decor, sunsets from the roof terrace and authentic local flavours.
A short drive from the centre takes you to the UNESCO-listed ancient ruins of Carthage. Once you’ve had your fill of history, nearby Sidi Bou Saïd offers bougainvillea-laden white buildings dancing down a cliff to the sea. It’s a perfect place for a seafood lunch with a view.
Getting there:
Tunis is easily accessed by air from most parts of Europe in three hours or less. Cruise passengers dock at La Goulette Port, which is about 12 kilometers from the city centre. By ferry, the main European routes leave from Palermo, Marseilles, Civitavecchia/Rome and Salerno.
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Read more about city breaks here in Dispatches’ archives.
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Georgia Lewis
Georgia Lewis is an Australian expat who spent five years living in the United Arab Emirates before moving to London in 2011. She is a freelance writer and editor. When she's not writing or editing, she loves cooking, trying new restaurants, going to the theatre and travelling. Her favourite destinations are the Greek islands, Mallorca, Oman and Vietnam.
