Short breaks to Europe

Beyond the bustle of boulangeries, galleries and alfresco cafés, our weekend itinerary will lead you into lesser-known corners of France’s romantic capital.

Explore the honey-hued streets of Bordeaux. Feel the sand between your toes as you climb Europe's largest dune, and cool off in the waters of the Arcachon Basin.

Burgundy's capital and UNESCO site, Dijon's walkable centre is filled with half-timbered medieval and Renaissance buildings dating back to the 15th century.

Oh-so-cool neighbourhoods, vibrant fusion food and vintage markets, cue the captal of the Hauts-de-France region and rising star of regenerative tourism: Lille.

The Netherlands' laid-back capital needs no rigid itinerary. Dodge (or join) the city cyclists and get lost in the maze of canals, pausing for coffee and Stroopwafel.

Rotterdam is the second-largest city in Holland, characterised by striking modern architecture, sustainable urban design and a rising plant-based food scene.

The home of Vermeer, Delft Blue pottery, and lazy Saturday bric-à-brac markets along the canal. Perfect for culture vultures who enjoy museums without the crowds.

Brussels ticks all the boxes of culture, nightlife and gastronomy, from Michelin-starred dining to paper cones of moules-frites washed down with Belgian beer.

Bruges is all leafy canals, gingerbread houses and cobbled streets, with a history of lace production and a beer culture so good it's been declared UNESCO Heritage.

Brimming with parks and nature reserves, Ghent is a city green to its core: home to the largest car-free zone in Europe and Belgium's 'Veggie Thursday' movement.

Aachen is a spa city in Germany’s Three-Border Region, home to beautiful forested landscapes, lake-side hiking trails and sprawling national parks.

One of Germany’s most diverse cities, you'll hardly scratch the surface of Cologne’s museums that range from chocolate to perfume, modern art to Roman history.

Put aside Zürich's corporate reputation. With a stunning Alpine location, dive into the Limmat River and drink straight from the fountains that pepper the Altstadt.

Turin combines authenticity with glamour: its crumbling Roman old town (head here for great-value Osterias) opens up to palatial squares and elegant city parks.

Dip your toe into the alternative scene of Scotland’s historic cities, rounding off with a dram of whisky on the Caledonian sleeper home.