Alternative city breaks: European destinations to visit in 2019
Bored of Barcelona? Take the road less travelled with our guide to the coolest weekend trips from London and alternative city breaks 2019
Quirky culture in Ljubljana
The saying goes that if Vienna and Prague had a baby, Ljubljana would be the lovechild – but there would be an Italian lover in the mix.
Slovenia’s charming capital is a mish-mash of architecture and culinary influences – you’ll find candy-coloured art nouveau terraces side by side with Brutalist tower blocks, while ravioli, sausages and goulash are served in the same restaurant.
To see the city’s rebellious side, make your way to Metelkova Mesto, where a former army barracks has been developed into a creative district with mind-blowing street art and alternative clubs.
With its buzzy al fresco riverside bar and café culture, and peaceful city centre parks, Ljubljana makes for a languorous, sunny city break. And with British Airways launching a direct service from Heathrow to the capital for summer 2019, there are more flight options on the way.
Avant-garde architecture in Dusseldorf
Don’t judge Dusseldorf on first impressions when you exit Central Station – there’s more to it than first meets the eye. The city’s avant-garde roots live on through its world class galleries and exciting fashion scene. And did you know this German metropolis is home to the third-largest Japanese community in Europe (after London and Paris)? Its Little Tokyo district lies moments from the station, with excellent restaurants (join the queue for freshly made noodles at Soba An) homeware stores and bookshops.
On a Friday or Saturday, stop by the bustling farmers’ market at Carlsplatz in Old Town for a bratwurst and a pint of Altbier (the region’s crisp brew), before strolling along the Rhine Embankment Promenade, which leads you past the crooked Frank Gehry-designed buildings of Rheinhafen to a sandy urban beach.
Epic scenery and village vibes in Gstaad
Described by none other than Dame Julie Andrews as 'the last paradise in a crazy world', Gstaad’s epic mountain scenery and village feel offers an interesting alternative to a summer beach break. The two-to-three-hour train ride to reach Gstaad from Geneva or Zurich airport is an experience in itself, with jaw-dropping Alpine scenery accompanying you the whole way.
Gstaad has strong decadent streak. The lobbies of its luxury hotels are like miniature art galleries – you’ll find pieces by Alec Monopoly at Ultima Gstaad and Tracey Emin in the Alpina Gstaad. A lovely touch is that the town’s designer stores – from Louis Vuitton to Cartier – are housed in quaint wooden chalet-style buildings.
Gstaad is just 30 minutes by car from Glacier 3,000 ski resort. Home to the world’s only peak-to-peak suspension bridge and a hair-raising toboggan run down the side of the glacier, it’s a fun option for active families.
Gourmet innovation in Graz
If you’re prepared to forgo direct flights from London (fly with Austrian Airlines via Vienna, or KLM via Amsterdam in four hours tops) Austria’s second city is well worth it. Your journey will be rewarded with tranquil green spaces and eye-catching architecture – such as Kunsthaus Graz art museum, which looks like a giant blue blimp has landed among the city’s terracotta Baroque rooftops.
Considered Austria’s culinary capital, Graz is ideal for those who like to eat their way around a city. To sample Styrian delicacies, reserve a table on the terrace of Aiola Upstairs and pick up some pumpkin seed oil as a souvenir from Kaiser Josef Market (apparently it’s delicious with ice cream...)
Even better, if you visit during August, pull up a seat at the The Long Table of Graz, where 700 guests enjoy a five-course dinner together at a giant open-air table in Graz’s historic centre.
Streetfood and Scandi cool in Gothenburg
Been to Copenhagen and loved it? Then Sweden’s second city may be for you.
Known for its vinyl record stores (such as Bengans), thriving coffee culture (or fika) and its mouthwatering streetfood, Gothenburg has a friendly, Scandi-cool vibe that will make you envy its citizens.
The city is home to Scandinavia’s largest amusement park, Liseberg. Open since 1923, its old-school fairground attractions are redolent of Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens, but overall, Liseberg has a more commercial feel.
Gothenburg even has staggering natural beauty on its doorstep. To experience it, jump on a ferry and island hop around the its archipelago (many of its 20 islands are car-free, some are even uninhabited).