Why only see one place when you could see two? Luckily for those of us living in Europe, it’s pretty easy to squeeze two great cities into just one long weekend away, so here are some of our top picks of cities that are close by in distance, but offer two very different experiences. Before you go, be sure to read some of our tips on exploring a city in 48 hours.
As capital of Belgium and the EU, Brussels isn’t just a politically significant city but an exciting one for tourists too. It’s packed with museums, attractions and great restaurants, and is a must-visit for architecture lovers, with its imposing Grand Square. Make sure you check out the Musée Fin-de-Siècle Museum, which exhibits varied works by both Belgian and foreign artists, and don’t miss out on the Belgian Chocolate Village, an enormous museum dedicated entirely to chocolate.
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Just a short train ride away, the picturesque city of Antwerp is a perfect holiday pairing if you're travelling to Brussels. It’s an easily walkable city that’s also fun (and safe) to get around by bicycle. There’s plenty to explore, from the stunning Cathedral of our Lady, which took 169 painstaking years to build, to the Rubens House; where you can walk through the house of the famous Baroque painter and admire his masterpieces and those of his contemporaries.
London is one of the most-visited cities in the world, and there really is something for everyone in this diverse capital. The likes of Big Ben, the London Eye and Buckingham Palace can easily be taken in on a bus or walking tour, while the range of free museums, like the British Museum and V&A, means it’s easy to discover the city’s cultural riches on a budget. And, of course, there are the gorgeous parks to explore on foot.
Just short of an hour away by train is the beautiful city of Oxford, home to the world-renowned Oxford University. You can walk in the footsteps of some of the nation's prime ministers, revered Nobel Prize winners and famous authors, who all lived in Oxford while attending the prestigious university. While there, you can take in several locations where the Harry Potter films were shot, such as the Bodleian Library (Hogwarts Library). Another must-visit attraction is the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, the first purpose-built museum in England.
Just over an hour’s train journey away, Bavaria’s second-largest city Nuremberg waits to be explored. Visit the Nuremberg Historical Mile to take in numerous striking buildings, from ornate churches to powerful fortresses. You can also visit the courthouse where Nazi leaders were tried for their crimes, with Court Room 600, where the trials took place, still a working court. The Nuremberg Trials Memorial on the top floor is an information centre educating visitors about the trials.
Spend just €6 and you'll get a first class train ticket to Kaunas, a UNESCO City of Design located just an hour away from the capital. There’s lots to do, from snapping eye-catching street art to visiting Kaunas Castle, the oldest stone castle in Lithuania, built in the 14th century. Arty types will also enjoy spending time in M. Valančiaus Street, nicknamed the "Gallery Street" for its galleries full of contemporary Lithuanian art.
If you want to team culture with sport, look no further than Grenoble, just 90 minutes from Lyon by car. While its mountain location means that hiking, climbing and biking are never far away, there’s plenty for non-active types too. Take the famous “bubble” cable cars up to the fortified mountain of La Bastille to take in sweeping views of the city, visit the Musée de Grenoble for art from the 13th century to the modern day and lose track of time in gourmet food markets.
Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow is full of energy, with friendly locals, a lively arts scene and notable architecture varying from Victorian structures to the modern Riverside Museum, designed by Zaha Hadid. As a UNESCO City of Music, there’s always a live music event to attend, and shopaholics will love the Style Mile, where you can browse well-known high street stores, vintage shops and quirky boutiques. Plus, you won’t go hungry, with its exciting global dining scene.
Just an hour away by train, Scotland’s capital Edinburgh is a picturesque, hilly city that’s perfect to explore on foot. Take in historic buildings, royal palaces, magnificent cathedrals, cobblestoned streets and the enormous Edinburgh Castle, sitting on the peak of an extinct volcano. When the hills get too much, stop to enjoy some exceptional Scottish hospitality: Edinburgh has more Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere else in the UK except London.
It takes just over 30 minutes to reach Rotterdam from Amsterdam by train, and once you're there you’re in for a treat. Drink in the eye-catching architecture, with hyper-modern skyscrapers, cubed upside-down houses and the circular De Markthal, a fusion of luxury housing and an indoor market with a huge, brightly coloured artwork covering the ceiling. Make time to drop by the Euromast observation tower for 360-degree views of Rotterdam.
A three-hour drive from Lisbon is Portugal’s second-largest city, Porto, perfect for a tranquil break after racking up those steps in Lisbon. With great wine bars, sleepy cobbled streets and plenty of cultural points of interest, it’s all about exploring Porto at your own pace. If you’re a bookworm, make a beeline straight for Livraria Lello, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world at a hundred years old, and said to have inspired JK Rowling’s Harry Potter locations.
Italy’s gorgeous capital needs little introduction. Rome is practically bursting with fascinating monuments, ruins, museums and architecture, with iconic structures such as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Roman Forum reliably drawing in the crowds year after year. There’s an almost endless list of things to do in the city, but a great way to start is to head to the beautiful baroque Piazza Navona to have an espresso and take in fountains, sculptures and a magnificent church from your seat.
Hop on board a two-hour train from Rome to Bologna for even more Italian charm with far fewer tourists. Often called Italy’s gastronomic capital, if you’re visiting, you’d better take elasticated clothes. Head for the central square, Piazza Maggiore, for lively bars and restaurants and prominent buildings such as the Basilica di San Petronio. Plus, when you need to walk off all that pasta, there are more than 50 museums to explore.
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A 2.5-hour journey from Vienna, the fairy tale-like city of Salzburg is not only visually stunning, but has a fascinating history. It's where Mozart was born, where The Sound of Music was filmed and where the prominent Salzburg Festival has been held since 1920. Fans of the classic Julie Andrews film can walk in the steps of the real Von Trapp family and the movie characters, visiting shooting locations such as Leopoldskron Palace and the Summer Riding School.
Architecturally outstanding, the city of Budapest has a seemingly inexhaustible supply of beautiful buildings, from the Baroque to the Art Nouveau. There’s so much to see, from the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, the first to permanently connect the two areas of Buda and Pest, to the jaw-dropping Parliament building, the third-largest in the world and home to the Hungarian Crown Jewels. Once your feet are tired from walking, head for one of Budapest’s famous bathhouses to make the most of the city’s hot springs.
Cities don’t get much cooler than Stockholm. Although it has a fascinating old town, museums and castles, many people visit for the modernity of the capital city, with its hip bars, gourmet restaurants, nightlife and quirky shopping boutiques. The Moderna Museet (Modern Art Museum) is a must-visit for anyone interested in modern art, while those with a love of photography should make time for Fotografiska, where you can take in works by world-famous photographers.
In just over three hours you can reach the city of Gothenburg by train. This city has its own energy, but is a little more laidback than Stockholm. Get your trainers on and enjoy walking through the picturesque streets. Stop at the Gothenburg Museum of Art, which houses Nordic collections from the 15th century, eat plenty of seafood at one of the city’s many trendy restaurants and get a different view of Gothenburg via a waterside city tour.
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Many people visit Dublin and come away wishing they’d had time to see more of the Emerald Isle. A two- to three-hour drive or train ride away lies the small town of Knock. Okay, it's not a city, but it makes a great starting point to venture around the surrounding green lands of County Mayo. On top of its current Edinburgh, East Midlands, London Luton and Manchester flights roster, Ryanair recently launched a new route from Birmingham to Knock.
Take a budget-friendly FlixBus from Prague’s Florenc coach station and less than three hours later you’ll arrive in Brno. You’re in for a treat in the Czech Republic’s second-largest city; head up the observation tower in the Old Town Hall for sweeping views of the city’s terracotta rooftops, enjoy a spot of museum-hopping, take in many modern public art installations and pause at a hipster brewery or pub to round off the day.
One of the best things to do in Split – or any European city for that matter – is to go on a walking tour. As your guide tells you all about this ancient city and shows you around the likes of UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace (recognisable from HBO’S Game of Thrones), dream of a post-dinner stroll along the pleasant Riva Promenade, which offers watery views of the shimmering Adriatic Sea.
It’s less than two hours from Split to Zadar by car. Continue the sea-theme and watch the sunset from the city’s southwestern quay. While you’re here, listen to the impressive Sea Organ; the movement of the waves and sea breeze transforms this art installation into a musical instrument. If you can tear yourself away from the water’s edge, the city’s historic centre is packed with Roman ruins and medieval churches. Want to spend more time here? Ryanair recently launched new routes from Birmingham and Bournemouth to Zadar.