Bologna, Italy
For 25aubrey, Bologna is “a beautiful city that
goes under the radar”. His recommendation came for its cafe culture, dining and
the fact that being a university town there’s “a healthy supply of bars, to
quench those studying thirsts”. A good spot for some intelligent drinking is
the bar at the Museum of Modern Art, and a day trip to the gelato
museum (which opened just outside the city a couple of years
ago) is a must.
Nice, France
Monctonian recommended Nice, pointing to the fountain area, huge prom
and great views over the sea as highlights. The city’s got a great culinary
scene, too: check out the Michelin-starred Restaurant
Aphrodite. Meanwhile, the art galleries and museums,
including the fantastic Matisse Museum,
are perhaps the highlight of Nice’s rich cultural offerings.
Alghero, Italy
This medieval
Sardinian city was recommended by mignonnette,
who praised its “intriguing mix of Sardi and Moorish-Spanish architecture”.
Also highlighted was its “exquisite town beaches”. Alghero has been recommended
in the past by other readers, who tipped Il Lazzaretto as one of Sardinia’s
best beaches, with its crystal-clear waters and views of the
city across the bay. We can suggest checking in at Hotel Domomea,
if you’re looking for a well-located spot to stay.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
A huge number of
commenters chose the capital of Bosnia and Hezegovina as their favourite city. paully84 described it as “breathtaking”, while1984isNotEmmanual said
it was “a city that’s so welcoming”. It’s easy to make your way round the historical
centre on foot but sign up to one of the Sarajevo Walking Tours (free during off-season) if you want to be led by a
knowledgeable guide. In the evening there are plenty of bars and restaurants to
choose from;Pravda does a mean cocktail.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
What Botham77 had to say about Ljubljana: “Nicely slow-paced and beautiful,
friendly locals, decent beers and loads of meat.” The Slovenian capital has a
stunning city centre, with love-locked bridges over the river and bars along
the banks. One of the best places to stay is Hostel Celica, a
former prison that’s had every room/cell converted by architects and artists
including the likes of Antony Gormley. Just behind the hostel you’ll find the
independent cultural centre and music venue Menza Pri Koritu – a warehouse coated in brightly coloured art – and nearby is
the exceedingly well-curated museum of modern
art.
Granada, Spain
Montfort described Granada as a “lively city in a beautiful setting”.
And added: “The Alhambra is, for me, one of the seven wonders of the world …
With the Sierra Nevada mountain range behind it, seen from the Gipsy barrio on
the other side, a view to die for.” Make sure you also check in to El Bañuelo, a
stunning Arabic bath complex and make the most of the free tapas at the bars on
Calle Navas.
Sofia, Bulgaria
The Bulgarian capital
was another favourite city of many commenters. Asjamescrouchman pointed out, it has Roman ruins, Byzantine churches, mineral
springs and a plethora of cafes and restaurants. The Free Sofia Tour is the perfect way for budget travellers to get an insight
into the place. Meanwhile, Borisova Gradina is a lush park where you’ll find
cafes and a huge historical monument celebrating heroes of socialism.
Thessaloniki, Greece
“Thessaloniki is
brilliant!” said hammersmithtownie,
one of several who put it on their list of destinations for the best
alternative city break. The historical White Tower is the obvious landmark and
there’s a great bar, cafe and nightlife scene. As we recently reported, in our foodie traveller series,
it’s also home to the incrediblebougatsan creation
– a cross between a croissant and a custard pie – conjured up by the team at
the Estrella Cafe.
Wrocław, Poland
A notable chunk of
commenters recommended western Poland’s biggest city, which has seen a boom of
cultural activity in recent years. Venue, cafe and barFORUM Przestrzenie is a great example of this, repurposing a former hotel on the
riverbank. The Puro
Hotel is a sleek, modern,
design led hotel right in the middle of the city’s Jewish quarter, where you’ll
find popular bar and restaurantMleczarnia.
Basel, Switzerland
There appears to be
far more on offer in Basel than just the art fair, according to a number of commenters
who suggested the city as a great short-break destination. The recently
renovated Volkshaus has a chic restaurant, as well as being a venue
for a wide range of gigs and club nights, while the Fondation Beyeler has a
spectacular collection of art housed in a museum designed by Renzo
Piano. Just 5km from the city centre – but across the
border in Germany – you’ll find the Vitra
design museum, one of the top centres for cutting-edge design
in the world, with its main building designed by Frank Gehry.
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