These are My Top 10 weekend destinations in Europe
Europe is the holy grail when it comes to quick weekend trips.
What to listen to while reading this: I Treni di Tozeur by Franco Battiato, Alice
Shalom, hallo, and olá curious readers,
There is nothing better about being in Europe than being able to travel around easily, quickly, and cheaply. No other place in the world offers such vastly different experiences all within a 3-hour flight. In most cases you do not even need to take a day off from work to enjoy some of the great destinations the continent has to offer. Grab a late evening flight on Friday and get back late Sunday evening, instead.
One thing I will say, however, is that if you have only got a weekend on your hands (i.e., 2 nights), choose a destination that is not overwhelming. Do not bother to travel to a city with hundreds of sights to see, with thousands of people to bump into on the street, and an unlimited number of restaurants to tick off. Fortunately, Europe offers dozens of mid-sized cities that look as if they were made to be visited in just a single weekend.
So, if you would like to get away for a bit but cannot take a day off and do not want to travel too far away - keep reading. As always, direct flights are available from Amsterdam and I have visited all places listed. Without further ado, this is My Top 10 list of weekend destinations in Europe.
1. Oporto, Portugal
Last November, I had the pleasure of visiting Oporto for the first time. I came there with little expectations. Better said: I expected a small city that would be really quiet with not a lot of things to do. But man, was I wrong. I fell in love with Oporto: the city that was made to be a weekend destination. Though bigger than I had expected, you are able to tick off every sight in the city in two days. The food is great, the people are nice, but what sets this city apart are its students. They bring never-ending life to it soul.
Eat bacalhau croquettes (wheat-free!) by the shore of the river Douro, go for a walk in the Crystal Palace Gardens, eat a Francescinha (a croque madame in spicy tomato sauce), cross the Luís bridge by foot, and end the day with a cocktail at Bosco. Get to know all my recommendations for Oporto in this newsletter. Flight time to Oporto from Amsterdam is just over two hours.
Afternoon drinks at Bosco.
2. Strasbourg, France
Accessible by train, car, or flight, Strasbourg offers an unexpected citytrip experience in the Alsace region of France. To be fair, I am not (and have never been) the biggest fan of France, but Strasbourg made me reconsider. Now, of course, it must be said that the city looks nothing like what you are used to in France. You are more likely to think you are in Germany whilst walking down the medieval streets. If anything, Strasbourg is a fairytale city. To this day I am convinced that if you pay really close attention, you will find Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs living in one of these streets.
Another great reason to visit Strasbourg is its gastronomy. The Alsace is known for its cuisine that is heavily influenced by the German character of the region. While I cannot say that I am a fan of German food, I can say that some chefs in Strasbourg elevate Alsatian cuisine to unparalleled levels. Do yourself a favor and book a table in advance at La Hache before catching a good night’s sleep at Cour du Corbeau, an MGallery Hotel, set inside one of those Snow White-like buildings. Just stunning.
Hotel Cour du Corbeau, Strasbourg.
3. Salzburg, Austria
Another one of those fairytale destinations is Salzburg. Birthplace of Mozart, you will immediately understand where the guy got his inspiration from. The city is tiny, but against the backdrop of the river and lush green mountains, it is nothing short of the ideal setting for a Disney movie. On a sunny day, sit down for lunch at the rooftop of the Steinterasse offering a stunning view over the river and of the Hohensalzburg Castle.
After lunch head to the Mirabell Garten and surround yourself with colorful flowers and stunning views of the palace. In the evening, walk through the idyllic streets of the old town to the main square where, if you are lucky, you might just find a choir singing. Salzburg is easily accessible from Amsterdam by direct flight.
Views of the Hohensalzburg Castle from the Steinterasse on a sunny day.
4. Verona, Italy
I am not the biggest Italy fan, but it is undeniable that the country offers some stunning destinations, even for a weekend getaway. One with lots of history, beautiful old squares, colorful buildings, and great food is Verona. It was here that I discovered that the Italians now also do gluten-free pizza and I can attest that it was, indeed, great.
The highlight of any trip to Verona, however, is the Arena di Verona. Now, plan your trip wisely, because you might just be in luck to get your hands on tickets for an opera performance during the infamous Arena di Verona Festival. Through pure luck and coincidence, we managed to get tickets for La Traviata. After you got your opera fix, visit the famous Romeo and Juliet Balcony (but trust me, five minutes there is more than enough) before heading over to the Giusti Gardens, one of the best examples of Italian garden architecture. Along the way, eat your body weight in pasta and gelato, and you will leave a happy camper.
Performance of La Traviata at the Arena di Verona on a summer evening.
5. Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is one of the most well-known and cheapest citytrip destinations in Europe. The city is great and full of life, but to be fair, I think just a weekend is enough. In my opinion, the city does not compare to nearby cities like Prague and Vienna. To me, Hungarian cuisine was not a whole lot to write home about and the city did not offer a whole lot of major sights either. However, the atmosphere is great and the drinks are affordable. Therefore, if you are in for fun, you are guaranteed to have a good time in Budapest.
During your one full day in the city, I would recommend you visit the Jewish neighborhood, located in the 7th district. It houses the second biggest synagogue in the world which is great to visit while you are at it. You will find lots of colorful murals in this neighborhood that offer great photo ops. Budapest is also known for its ruin bars, many of which are located here in the 7th district.
One of the ruin bars in Budapest.
6. Nice, France
What is better than diving in the Mediterranean Sea on the weekend? Nice offers a wonderful combination of a picturesque city centre and the blue waters of the Mediterranean. For many, Nice is a day trip while on their vacation to the South of France, but the city is worth a trip on its own. Go for a stroll on the boulevard, have a salade Niçoise (what else?) for lunch, and enjoy French cuisine at Le Sejour Café for dinner.
I would recommend getting a hotel along the boulevard so you can take in sea views from your room and get in a nice morning walk when heading to the city center. We stayed at the Radisson Blu right on the beach.
The stunning blue waters of the Mediterranean right across from the Radisson Blu.
7. Geneva, Switzerland
When I was younger, my grandma would always blindly trust anything that was German-made. Cars, televisions, washing machines, you name it. If it was German, it was good. I have that same association with anything made in Switzerland. It is the only reason I need to say ‘yes’ to a product or service. Is it Swiss? Bring it on. It is something that I noticed the moment I first stepped foot into Switzerland: things just work. Not everything is the flashiest or the newest, but this place breathes quality and luxury.
Geneva is an impressive city for so many reasons. First of all, Lake Geneva. A massive lake with crystal clear blue water that forms the central point of the city. The lake is surrounded by beautiful pink and red flowers and offers a great spot for people watching from one of the many terraces that surround it. Moving on, Geneva is an incredibly important city globally since it houses the seat of, among others, the World Health Organization, World Trade Organization, and several arms of the United Nations of which the most impressive is the Palais de Nations - home of the United Nations Office at Geneva. If you want to go into nature, there is plenty to explore in the surrounding areas of the city. I do not know what is not to love.
The crystal clear waters of Lake Geneva.
8. Brussels, Belgium
Brussels - you love it or you hate it. Another important city globally, or better said: an incredibly important city for the European Union. The Capital of Europe might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but away from its eerie gray streets, the city offers a luxury weekend escape. It was here in Brussels that high-end brands, like Longchamp, had a flagship store long before they came to Amsterdam. I just cannot shake off the feeling that there is something chique about Brussels.
Again, this city does not offer limited sights. But if you want to enjoy nice food, marvel at charming European architecture, and shop beautiful pieces of clothing and exclusive purses, Brussels is your friend. Yep, I can almost see your eyebrows raise as you read this. But I stand by what I said.
The trick to Brussels is not to spend too much time there, because there simply is not an awful lot to do and the city might feel a bit less bustling than Amsterdam or Paris. But while you are there, I say, pamper yourself. Stay at the Steigenberger hotel, have dinner at Nüetnigenough (order the ham shank), and buy chocolates at Pierre Marcolini like your life depends on it. That’s how you do Brussels.
The Steigenberger Wiltcher’s hotel in Brussels.
9. Milan, Italy
Milan is an interesting choice to put on this list, if I may say so myself. First of all, because I am not a Milan fan. Not at all. Second of all, because the one thing I would recommend you do when visiting Milan is leave. Why? Well, because Milan offers a great central location from which to visit wonderful places like Como, Modena (birthplace of among others Ferrari, Lamborghini, and for years home to the best restaurant in the world, Osteria Francescana), and Lago Maggiore. And trust me, Milan itself is primarily a small (really small) business city whose sights are not half as interesting as many of Italy’s other cities’.
There is one obvious reason to put Milan on the list, however: there is always a cheap ticket to find. We flew to Milan Bergamo for just €19 return. So whether you would like to visit Lake Como for a day or just feel like having some authentic Italian food, Milan and surrounding area are great for a weekend. Oh, and the outlet stores in Milan are unmatched. All in all, you will not have to break your bank, you will have lots of fun, and will not need to travel far and wide to experience a weekend full of excitement.
Views during lunch in the centre of Milan.
10. Sofia, Bulgaria
Eastern Europe offers some of my favorite budget destinations. I have come to love Bulgaria, a mix of Slavic culture and a dash of Turkish influence. The country is cheap, its drinks are strong, and the food is great. I have always loved to come to Sofia, the capital city. It is small and far from limitless, but full of surprises. The cobble stones that form the main avenue in the city center shine in the sun while luxurious cars drive up and down. Sofia is very old and near the seat of the presidency, you can see the ruins of the age old city that lies underneath.
When in Sofia, make sure you eat shopska salad with feta cheese, find a terrace that serves barbecue meat, and party like you have never before in Student City. If you are in for some culture, visit the Kvadrat 500 as part of the Bulgarian National Gallery. The Kvadrat 500 is made up of two 19th and 20th century buildings which are in and of themselves worth a visit. Oh, and good chance the weather is great.
Sofia's Nevksy Cathedral.
There you go, My Top 10 weekend destinations around Europe. Do not expect mind-blowing and unlimited sights, but aim for fun and just enough to do and you will have the time of your life. I sure cannot wait to go back to some of these destinations.
In the meantime, stay curious.
L.