5 European Cities to Visit

Today I have a fantastic post, full of European city break ideas, from one of my favourite bloggers the fab Sally Akins, who has the perfect ideas for holidays next year, check them out.

The dark months of winter are a great time to organise holidays for the next year. So here are five European cities to help inspire your travel plans. You might not have thought of visiting them before, but each has something special to offer.

Valletta, Malta

Malta is one of the smallest countries in Europe, but it has a lot to offer to visitors. Malta’s capital Valletta is a fascinating city with influences from many different cultures. It was selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2018. You’ll find lots of special events going on throughout the year, so there’s never been a better time to visit. Malta’s delicious cuisine makes it ideal for a foodie weekend, and there’s plenty of watersports available for a more active holiday. And the island enjoys great weather, with temperatures above 20C from March to October. This makes it perfect for a European city break outside the main summer months.

Dundee, UK

Scotland’s fourth largest city is quickly becoming one of the country’s top destinations. In fact, the Washington Post recently named Dundee as one of the world’s coolest cities to visit. And it’s no surprise because Dundee has lots to see and do. Dundee’s bay area is a great place to stay, with lots of hotels and restaurants to try. Fans of maritime history will love visiting the RSS Discovery and HM Frigate Unicorn, and the V&A museum. It’s easy to access Dundee by air either through its own airport or via Glasgow. Or for something a little different, you could take the Caledonian Sleeper train overnight from London.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Weekend breaks to cities like Prague and Bratislava are very popular, but have you thought of visiting Ljubljana? Slovenia makes a great location for a weekend break at a very reasonable price. It’s surrounded by several countries, and each of them has had a distinct influence on Slovenian culture. Ljubljana is a fascinating city with a very romantic feel, thanks to its beautiful architecture. It also has a real focus on nature, with lots of pretty green spaces dotted around the city. The Stunning Castle which overlooks Ljubljana can be accessed by a funicular railway, and even houses two restaurants and a nightclub!

Antwerp, Belgium

When you think of travelling to Belgium, you probably think of Brussels and Bruges. So if you’re looking for a different destination, why not pay a visit to Antwerp. It’s a city full of cobbled streets, beautiful buildings and cool cafes like Cafe de Muze, the world famous jazz cafe. Belgium’s second city also has an eclectic selection of museums covering everything from art to fashion. Antwerp was the home of the 16th century painter Rubens, making it the ideal place to view his works. Antwerp is also the capital of the diamond world, so it’s worth paying a visit to the Diamond Museum for an eye-popping display of jewellery and diamond history.

Malaga, Spain

You may already know Malaga as the gateway airport for beach holidays on the Costa del Sol. But this city in the Andalucia region of Spain is also an ideal destination for a city break. The city is compact enough to explore in a short break and the large pedestrian area gives it has a very relaxing feel. There are historical sites like the Moorish Alcazabar palace and the unfinished Cathedral, and fans of Picasso will love the Picasso House

And Malaga’s location lets you combine a city break and the beach in one weekend. The weather in southern Spain is excellent for most of the year, but the heat is intense at the height of summer. Luckily, Malaga’s beautiful city park has plenty of shaded areas if you need a break from the sun.

Those are my suggestions for a European city break – which destination has caught your eye?

Sally Akins writes at SallyAkins.com, the UK Over-40 travel, food and lifestyle blog. She can also be found on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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