Europe is home to a stunning diversity of city breaks. Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in a vibrant and rich culture, or soak up the sun on a sandy beach, or go for a morning stroll in a cobble-paved section of a historic town centre, there’s a destination waiting for you.
When you’re planning your next tour of Europe, why not make room in your itinerary for any of the following?
Tbilisi, Georgia
The Georgian capital offers a unique combination of Medieval and Soviet architecture. Certain sections have a remarkably bohemian vibe, with bars, restaurants and cafes built into disused factories and warehouses. You can expect to pay a very modest price for a very respectable bottle of table wine.
The name of the city comes from the bathhouses, built onto natural sulphur springs. They’re still in use, and visitors should make a point of spending some time in them!
Palma, Mallorca
The main avenue of Palma, the Passeig del Born, offers a wealth of amazing boutique shops and galleries. If you’re in search of culture and history, however, it’s the Santa Maria Cathedral that will appeal. Head to the top of Bellver Castle, and you’ll be rewarded with incredible panoramic views of the surrounding city.
Basel, Switzerland
This Swiss city occupies the border of three countries: France, Germany and Switzerland. You can land in one country and step straight into another. Then there’s the appeal of the nearby Rhine, along which rivergoing tourists can gently drift.
If you’re looking for a staging ground for forays into any of the three countries, then Basel might just provide it. But the city appeal also has an appeal of its own, with the old town offering incredible architecture in the art nouveau style.
Athens, Greece
Few cities on the continent can really rival Athens when it comes to tourist appeal. At the heart lies the hilltop citadel, the Acropolis, which was constructed more than two thousand years ago. The most famous structure here is the Pathenon, but there are plenty of other ruins to explore.
While you’re in the area, you might also make the time to visit some of the surrounding Attica coast, which is richly furnished with amazing seaside resorts. While history and culture might be what brings you to this part of Greece, there’s no reason to forgo the other great stuff!
Valletta, Malta
The capital of Malta might not be quite as sprawling as some of the other cities on the mainland of Europe, but it offers a nicely compact and memorable kind of city break. You can get around everywhere on foot, with cobbled streets and an amazing harbour to explore by boat.