Swap your city: the best alternative European city breaks

Some of Europe’s city break destinations have become too popular for their own good, so check out some lesser-known alternatives.

Summer in the city means lazy days on café terraces, a bit of culture and – if you choose wisely – some beach time. But some of Europe’s city-break destinations have become too popular for their own good, so now’s the time to check out some of these lesser-known alternatives. And for tips on how to make the most of your city break, head here.

1. Instead of Barcelona, try Valencia

As Barcelona attempts to cracks down on tourist numbers – an astonishing 32 million people visited last year – the southern coastal city of Valencia makes an appealing option. Once you’ve had a look around the art nouveau Central Market, take a tour of the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences before hitting the beach.

2. Instead of Dubrovnik, try Zadar

Croatia’s biggest tourist draw can attract up to 9,000 people a day from cruise ships. For a more relaxed experience along the Adriatic coast, go north to Zadar and spend a few days exploring Roman ruins and town’s beaches. Don’t miss the old town’s wonderfully wacky public art installations – the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun.

3. Instead of Cannes, try Sète

If the glitzy glamour of Cannes is a bit too bling for you, go west to the Languedoc port of Sète. This chilled-out town is set on a series of canals and has some of France’s best seafood, thanks to the oyster and mussel beds in the Thau lagoon just inland from the coast. And 11 miles of sandy beaches are right on the doorstep.

4. Instead of Kraków, try Gdansk

Poland’s cultural capital can get a bit busy and crowded, so make your way to the Baltic Sea port of Gdansk. Its historic center is a reconstructed baroque wonder, with a revitalized waterfront and buzzing bars. The attractive beach resort of Sopot – one of the loveliest on the Baltic coast – is only a 15-minute train ride away.

5. Instead of Naples, try Tropea

Naples is pretty full on at most times of the year, especially in the summer. But head further south to the Calabrian town of Tropea, an exceptionally pretty place whose colorful houses seem to cling to the edge of a cliff. And down below is a fabulous beach, where you can cool off after you’ve tried Calabria’s famously spicy cuisine.

6. Instead of Athens, try Thessaloniki

Greece’s second city might not have the Parthenon, but there’s plenty of ancient Greek and Byzantine history to enjoy in this cosmopolitan port. The nightlife is exceptionally good, and you can take in views of the city from the beaches at the nearby villages of Peraia and Neoi Epivates.

7. Instead of Copenhagen, try Aarhus

The 2017 European City of Culture is stealing attention from Denmark’s capital, and with good reason. There’s everything from an open-air museum with half-timbered houses to the cutting-edge, rainbow-colored ARoS art museum. Once you’ve done the cultural highlights, hop on a bike for a 10-minute ride to the beach at Den Permanente.

8. Instead of Stockholm, try Gothenburg

The star of Sweden’s west coast is also one of the country’s top foodie hot spots. Come in August for the massive crayfish parties before checking out some of the gorgeous beaches in and around the city.

Anderm/Shutterstock

9. Instead of Lisbon, try Porto

As Portugal’s capital grows in popularity, the coastal city of Porto has been quietly becoming one of the country’s hippest spots. Once you’ve tasted the local port wine and strolled through the medieval riverside, flop on the beaches just a short distance from the city center.

10. Instead of Florence, try Lucca

Tuscany’s capital throngs with visitors in the summer, so veer westwards to the delightful walled town of Lucca. Explore the cobblestoned Renaissance streets before hopping on the train for a 17-minute ride to the coastal resort of Viareggio and its endless sandy beaches. If you visit from July 14 to August 19, you can catch the annual Puccini Festival in a dreamy lakeside setting by the Torre del Lago.

TravnikovStudio/Shutterstock

11. Instead of Paris, try Bordeaux

We all love Paris, but France’s wine capital has transformed itself from a stuffy and staid city to one of the country’s liveliest. Bordeaux’s revamped city center and riverfront areas are crammed full with cafés and restaurants, where the wine is as heady as the atmosphere. For a change of scenery, the Atlantic coast and sandy beach at Arcachon are only an hour away.

LucVi/Shutterstock

12. Instead of Dublin, try Galway

Western Ireland’s most animated city is a hive of brightly painted pubs where the sound of live bands fills the air. In its medieval heart you’ll come across street performers and everyone up for a good craic. For a break from the party, unwind on the sandy beaches at the neighboring seaside resort of Salthill. You won’t want to miss the chance to feast on Galway Bay’s renowned oysters.

EQRoy/Shutterstock

13. Instead of Seville, try Cádiz

If you want something more laid back than Seville’s flamenco bars, visit the leading light of the aptly named Costa de la Luz. Soak up Cádiz’s rich Roman and Moorish history in its narrow cobblestoned lanes, and you can’t fail to spot the shiny golden dome of the 18^th-century cathedral. With beaches along three sides of the city, you’ll find plenty of space for your afternoon siesta.

kavalenkau/Shutterstock