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We all know how the hordes descend on Barcelona, Rome and Paris at any time of the year. But it’s perfectly possible to get that cultural fix with the reduced crowds in lesser-known cities. Here are ten city breaks that fit the bill…
BORDEAUX, FRANCE
A little gastronomy? Hey! Southwest Bordeaux offers good food, great wines, and more cultural attractions (over 350) than you can squeeze into a weekend. Getting there is cheap thanks to easyJet and Ryanair flights.
Enjoy the grand architecture in the city squares and the Rue Sainte-Catherine shopping boulevard is ideal for a party. Do you need a photo to send to those at home? Head to La Grosse Cloche, Bordeaux’s beloved 7,750kg urban cloche.
Don’t miss: Soak up the knowledge at La Cité du Vin, a museum dedicated to Bordeaux’s greatest export.
Reserve it: Three nights at the four-star Hotel de Seze and flights from £739 per person B&B (kirkerholidays.com).
VALLETTA, MALTA
Small but mighty, the Maltese capital has numerous historical sites, with St. John’s Co-Cathedral and the 16th-century Grand Master’s Palace among its landmarks. Malta also has an average of 300 days of sunshine a year.
Don’t miss: An explosion of modernity at City Gate, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano in 2011.
Reserve it: Double rooms at the five-star Iniala Harbor House Malta from £341 B&B (inialamalta.com); Return flights between London and Malta from £103 (kmmaltairlines.com).
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
Dismiss Switzerland’s largest city as a “business” destination at your own risk (and also, don’t let the suits have all the fun). This German-speaking metropolis, in the visually pleasing spot where Lake Zurich empties into the Limmat River, offers crowd-pleasing attractions such as the Lindt and FIFA museums, and impressive architecture such as the university library. Who can resist bircher muesli for breakfast and Geschnetzeltes, beef with potato rosti, for dinner?
Don’t miss: A little haute couture window shopping on the elegant Bahnhofstrasse.
Reserve it: Doubles at the four-star 25 Hours Hotel from £168 (25hours-hotels.com); Return flights to Zurich from £90 (ba.com).
CORK, IRELAND
Dubbed the “true capital” of Ireland, Cork is just as successful as Dublin when it comes to old-fashioned pubs, galleries and exuberant sociability, just without the masses of 24/7 tourists. Cork City Jail offers a stark snapshot of what imprisoned Corkians once faced, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral has gargoyles galore and the Franciscan Well Brewery celebrates links to Ireland’s amber nectar.
Don’t miss: A gourmet sausage from O’Flynn’s in the city’s 18th-century English market.
Reserve it: Doubles at Hotel Montenotte from £182 B&B (themontenottehotel.com); return flights to Cork from £124 (aerlingus.com).
THESSALONIKI, GREECE
Athens wins the tourist dollar, but Greece’s second city has a lot to write home about. Thessaloniki, where a shiny new and long-awaited 13-stop metro opened last week, is a lively place and surpasses its former sister in gastronomy.
Don’t miss: Climb the 96 steps of the sturdy 15th-century White Tower for a 360-degree view.
Reserve it: Three nights at the five-star Met Hotel from £469pp bed and breakfast, including flights (olympicholidays.com).
SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN
How to win the end-of-year sunshine lottery and dine like royalty? Take a step forward in San Sebastián, the gastronomic paradise of the Basque region. Michelin-starred restaurants cluster around the golden bay of La Concha, but a simple San Miguel and pintxos (local tapas) are equally appealing. Those crowds? They are 70 minutes away in Bilbao, where you will arrive by plane.
Don’t miss: Take the 1912 rack funicular to Mount Igueldo for views of the bay.
Reserve it: Doubles at the five-star Nobu San Sebastian from £338 B&B (sansebastian.nobuhotels.com); return flights to Bilbao from £69 (vueling.com).
LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA
Airline tickets to Slovenia’s photogenic capital drop once summer ends and Ljubljana’s pedestrian-friendly, easy-to-negotiate Old Town abounds in understated elegance. It is crossed by the Ljubljanica River, crossed by ornate bridges, among which the Triple Bridge stands out. Cycle or walk along its shores or save your legs and book a boat trip.
Don’t miss: The best view of the city is found by taking the funicular up to the hilltop Ljubljana Castle, which dates back to the 16th century.
Reserve it: A four-day guided tour including transfers and accommodation costs from £689 per person bed and breakfast (untravelledpaths.com); Return flights to Ljubljana from £51 (easyjet.com).
GHENT, BELGIUM
If you can easily access the Kent ferry terminals, Ghent is a winning city break. If you travel cheaply in low season to Dunkirk, you’ll be just over an hour’s drive from this Flemish beauty. Belgium’s oldest and most walkable city is much less crowded than Bruges, but has a similar appeal with cobbled streets, gabled houses, narrow canals and cozy pubs.
Don’t miss: Travel back in time at the 12th-century Gravensteen Castle, complete with moat, turrets and loopholes.
Reserve it: Doubles at 1898 The Post five-star hotel from £249 (1898thepost.com); Dover to Dunkirk return from £159 (dfds.com).
KRAKOW, POLAND
Much of the action in what was once Poland’s royal capital centers on Rynek Glowny, one of Europe’s largest shopping plazas, packed with cafes. Home to the magnificent St. Mary’s Basilica and the Renaissance shopping centre, the Cloth Hall, it’s where you’ll head for a short, strong espresso in the morning and a short, strong shot of “wodka” at dusk. evening.
Don’t miss: A hot plate of pierogi, Krakow’s beloved stuffed dumplings.
Reserve it: Double rooms at the five-star Hotel Copernicus from £150 (relaischateaux.com); Return flights to Krakow from £32 (wizzair.com).
BRINDISI, ITALY
Ryanair flies to Brindisi all year round and most tourists travel to see the rural charms of Puglia. Slow-paced and great value, Brindisi is made for idly strolling and enjoying leisurely lunches. Lose yourself among ornate palaces and churches, take a stroll along the harbor, and spend the day enjoying a plate of orecchiette pasta and a bottle of Primitivo.
Don’t miss: The only surviving Roman column marking the end of the ancient Appian Way.
Reserve it: Double rooms at four-star Grande Albergo Internazionale from £91 B&B (booking.com); Return flights to Brindisi from £44 (ryanair.com).