Aberdeenshire , Scotland Prices from £75/night There is plenty to do and see in this small city with many museums, a university, and many festivals. I have some posts on it too. Looking for where to stay in Tallinn? I loved the gorgeous Thon Hotel Rosenkranz, and I don’t normally go for chain hotels but it was perfect. And there are plenty of options. This laidback Swedish city is brimming with quality restaurants, bistros and cafés. It’s more akin to the laid-back air of Porto than the bigger capital of Lisbon. The tour is not for the claustrophobic, but it’s a great way to learn about life in the mediaeval city. Within a few minutes’ walk, you can visit the Orthodox church, the Catholic cathedral, the synagogue and the mosque. Getting around is best on two wheels and it’s made even easier with the city’s free city bikes (yes, we really did say free). I’d go for the beautiful and well-priced Alex Hotel. Save an extra 10% on these fantastic UK break ideas. Looking for where to stay in Podgorica? Besides petrolheads, Brno is of considerable interest to wine enthusiasts. One of the most famous attractions in Douglas is the horse tram. Ljubljana city is really charming. But there are so many other alternative, more off-the-beaten-track cities that can still give you all the culture, sightseeing, shopping and (of course) eating that you want from a city break. It’s unusual, because many people still don’t realise Poland’s tourism potential. Make sure to visit the historical Dom Square, where you can climb up The Dom Tower. The best time to visit? This is where Winter Olympic Games took place in 1984. You can read my full guide to the Isle of Man here. With thanks to fellow travel blogger Lisanne from Chapter Travel: you can see her full post about day trips in The Netherlands here. Go here instead of:Copenhagen It may have spent many years in the shadow of Denmark’s capital, but as the country’s second largest city, Aarhus is not to be ignored. There are just some places that you instantly take a liking to. Now, Blloku is the trendiest neighbourhood in Tirana. To ensure you still enjoy the things you enjoy exploring most on holiday, we’ve considered food, drink, architecture and local experiences to bring you the up-and-coming city break destinations you should visit before the crowds... Picturesque Reims is the unofficial capital of Champagne, so, naturally it would be rude not to tour its numerous world-class Champagne houses. Brno is a delightful Moravian city, not at all overrun with tourists. Because Rotterdam was bombed during the Second World War, it had to be build from scratch. Walk across the Roman Bridge over the Guadalquivir River to the Calahorra Tower. Today, there are just five but you can end your city break in Tbilisi with a private spa room and a massage for around £15. We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived to Perugia, the capital of Umbria in Italy, on a cold winter day a few years ago. Kutna Hora is an old trading hub that is filled with haunting beauty from the Middle Ages. It doesn’t really matter what you like. It’s vibrant and full of life. Looking for where to stay in Annecy? Hike up Schlossberg for beautiful views of the city. I’d go for the Boutique Hotel Kristaly. The scenery rivals that of the Lake District and Highlands but it doesn’t have the volume of tourists. These are from people who died of the plague in the 14th century and during the Hussite wars in the 15th century. Annecy is often called France’s prettiest town. Looking for where to stay in Perugia? In the centre, there are dozens of shops, bars, and restaurants. Europe latest 19 Jan 2021, 6:30am Due to its history, Gdansk has its own unique identity. In the 1800s, the bones were arranged into decorations, the most famous being a magnificently creepy chandelier. Today, the castle houses the Estonian government. With thanks to fellow travel blogger Sarah from TripGourmets: you can see her full post about a city break in Tallinn here. You can read my full post about three days in Bergen here. The capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, is an unusual city break to take. Looking for where to stay in Gdansk? Now, Rotterdam has a lot of unique buildings, such as the Cube Houses pictured above, and a beautiful skyline that actually resembles New York a bit. And probably more things not beginning with ‘C’. Constanta, Romania is a charming port just a short train ride away from the hustle and bustle of Bucharest. Head to the design city in August to catch Scandinavia’s biggest music and arts festival, Malmöfestivalen, or visit in winter if planning to head north towards the aurora. A statue of Anne Frank is located in front of Janskerk, which stands as a memorial those in the Netherlands that were persecuted during World War 2. It’s a truly haunting experience and an incredible city to visit. Looking for where to stay in Kotor? Genoa is not typically on people’s must-visit list for Italy, but for those who love beautiful palaces, stunning streets and UNESCO sites, this historic and once powerful Italian city is worthy of a visit. Its second-largest city is a loud, friendly port town boasting everything from trendy designer cafes to busy local fish markets. It’s full of rainbow-coloured facades to take photos of by day and cool bars to frequent by night. You can stay in the capital, Douglas, as a base to explore different towns, villages, beaches and countryside all over the island. Looking for where to stay in Lucerne? This dates from the Middle Ages, when Bolsward was a member of Europe’s Hanseatic League of trading cities. I hate that word but it is. With thanks to fellow travel blogger Alex from Swedish Nomad. It was previously a glass recycling centre. Wildly underrated, Madeira’s capital has all the ingredients you need for an excellent city break: cobbled streets, a cable car, culture, coastal views and custard tarts. Nightlife is amazing too. When people think about taking a quick trip to Cyprus, they’re usually thinking of Paphos, Agia Napa or Larnaca. Looking for where to stay in Tblisi? With thanks to fellow travel blogger Leyla from Women on the Road: you can see her full post about things to do in Annecy here. East meets West and cultures and religions collide. I adored Haga, the oldest district in Gothenburg. Looking for where to stay in Sarajevo? 5 Unusual City Breaks to Take This Year The city break; often the ideal, low-cost alternative to a full blown summer holiday is great for experiencing new cultures, cuisines and customs. Bolsward’s is De Vleermuis, meaning ‘The Bat’, by the artist Johan Creten. So eating well (and reasonably) is as simple as picking up a menu. After a day’s skiing less than an hour away, there’s nothing better than gathering around a convivial fondue pot for an evening of fun. The problem with Annecy is that you don’t know where to look. If you’re anything like me, you’ll fall in love with the place. The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina might not be the most popular city break destination in Europe but it surely is among the most interesting ones. . Cars are banned and there are only around 800 inhabitants. Looking for where to stay in Constanta? The attractive city hall conveys a sense of Bolsward’s long history. It’s smaller and calmer than Stockholm, but still has all the cleanliness, beauty and chic vibes you know to expect from Sweden. Putting this chicken and egg dilemma to one side, there’s no doubting that this is a gorgeous city-break destination with a vibrant student community and lively riverside café culture. A tour of ancient Athens is a must, with the legendary Acropolis, Parthenon and Odeon of Herodes Atticus some of the top sites to visit. And ALSO, Ljubljana has some of the best shopping I’ve ever experienced on a city break. With culture, sightseeing and shopping in abundance, you’re sure to enjoy a memorable city break holiday with us. UNUSUAL CITY BREAKS. Córdoba has a range of accommodations to suit every budget and fun places to discover if you are a foodie. With thanks to fellow travel blogger Natasha from The World Pursuit: you can see her full post about visiting Italy here. Book … One of them Rotterdam, a booming city with futuristic architecture and a lot of great restaurants, cafes and buzzing nightlife. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 10 Valentine's weekend break deals from £126, The only 10 pieces you need for a holiday wardrobe, Why this UK city should be your next foodie break, Golden Globe-inspired breaks for TV and film fans, Copenhagen travel guide: 72 hours in Denmark, Eurostar is offering tickets to Paris for £25, Bath could become first UK city to impose tourist tax, Good Housekeeping, Part of the Hearst UK Fashion & Beauty Network. It’s like someone decided it’d look nice as a backdrop to a city and so just went ahead and built it. From Lucerne, you can reach dozens of other beautiful places in under two hours. Dun, dun, dun… (dramatic pause). It’s also one of the sunniest and warmest cities in Germany! Looking for where to stay in Bergen? There’s also a castle, where I took this photo, which is well worth dragging yourself up the hill for. Gdansk is a city in the North of Poland, right in the Baltic coast, making it the country’s main seaport. As the legend goes, it once had so many churches that there was one for every day of the year! Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge about holidays. You can read my Ljubljana travel guide here as well as where to eat in Ljubljana. The answer is quite simple: The city is just extremely beautiful. Head for a traditional Christmas … As a local myself, it’s hard to keep up with all the new trendy hotspots that appear out of nowhere. This medieval university city deep in the Black Forest offers plenty to keep you busy. See the open-air Museum of Stones. On the waterfront, local artist Nikola Basic created a solar-powered dancefloor for the public to enjoy, and a sea organ allows visitors to hear music created by the crashing waves. The main road is Haga Nygata. It’s very close to both Rome and Florence, too. The city is particularly pretty in spring, when the tulip gardens around the city’s beating heart, Republic Square, come into full bloom. Despite its popularity – with French tourists from across the country and with day-trippers from Geneva – its eateries have kept up their quality. With thanks to Noel from Travel Photo Discovery: you can see his full post on visiting Genoa here. Squares are populated year-round for chatting and sipping delicious red wines, while a walk to post-industrial Confluence - where the Saune meets the Rhône - will give you a glimpse of experimental architecture. Aside from knocking back the best bubbly in the world, there are a cluster of UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit, including the stunning Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims and a fabulous shopping district. In Podgorica, there is lots of history and architecture to be enjoyed. Looking for where to stay in Freiburg? Looking for where to stay in Antwerp? I’d go for the beautiful Het Weesuis, which has adorable on-site donkeys. Grand Hotel Savoia opposite the train station. I like to read your other content. Looking for where to stay in Nicosia? It’s for good reason. It’s no question that Aarhus is a great city break that is not mainstream. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s owner is strictly prohibited. Somewhat less macabre is the Labyrinth under the Cabbage Market, a network of chambers that was once used to store food and wine. Innsbruck, Austria is that city in the heart of Europe. Gothenburg is quite possibly my favourite of them. 5 Unusual City Breaks to Take After the Coronavirus Pandemic. There are loads of restaurants, cafés and bars along the riverbanks, where you can sit and do some people watching. After all, it’s in the heart of the Czech Republic’s wine-growing region, so tours to vineyards are easy to arrange. I’ve done Prague and it *is* touristy. Few of those have even heard of the tiny but picturesque city of Bolsward. The longest siege in modern history happened here in 1992-96. If you’re looking for things to do in Cyprus, and specifically Nicosia, head to the tourism office at the Larnaca airport on arrival. Tbilisi has only recently garnered significant interest among Western Europeans and we’ve been missing out. City breaks – 10 classic destinations vs. 10 unusual alternatives. The waterfront is gorgeous against the mountainous backdrop and it was one of the prettiest places we’ve ever explored. With high mountains on one side and the Bay of Kotor on the other, you just didn’t know where to look first! The old town of Tallinn is one of the most beautifully preserved medieval cities in Europe. You’ll find it here. , new York to Cape town, set right in the northern half of the oldest part of an below! Attend a tour in advance is essential of 20th century history the infamous Hursaren. 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