{"id":11507,"date":"2023-05-06T10:46:52","date_gmt":"2023-05-06T10:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/11-alternative-travel-destinations-europe-spend-long-weekend\/"},"modified":"2026-08-04T10:42:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T10:42:21","slug":"11-alternative-travel-destinations-europe-spend-long-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/11-alternative-travel-destinations-europe-spend-long-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Best European Weekend Travel Destinations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Woohoo!!! It’s (bank) holiday time – you think of spending some time in Europe and the first places that come to mind are places like; London<\/a>, Rome<\/a>, Paris<\/a>, Barcelona<\/a> and the like but there’s so much more to Europe than the obvious.<\/p>\n

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Granted, like everywhere else in the world, Europe also has its own fair share of dull places (not bad, just dull) but these places will give the more known destinations a good run for their money when it comes to looking at potential holiday destinations.<\/p>\n

To top things off, as these places are not necessarily the most obvious to the undiscerning traveller (of which you are not!), prices are generally lower so you can definitely #TreatYo’self a lot more there.<\/p>\n

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Without further ado, here are the top 11 alternative Europe.<\/p>\n

1.) Nimes, France<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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This little city in the South of France<\/a> (Nimes<\/a>) was also another great discovery as I wasn’t sure what to expect initially and was pleasantly surprised by the abundance of things to do.<\/p>\n

There are a lot of sights to take in and amazing restaurants with some of the best creme brulee I’ve had so far! It’s such a lovely laid back place and a perfect long-weekend getaway.<\/p>\n

Read more: Best things to do in Nimes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

2.) Cartagena, Spain<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Discovered this rather randomly on a long drive in Spain and this has proven to be one of the best last-minute holiday discoveries.<\/p>\n

Cartagena is full of other surprises too and plenty of lovely restaurants and bars to ensure you get a nice mix out of your long weekend away.<\/p>\n

Read more: Best places to visit in Spain<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

3.) St Ives, United Kingdom<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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So beautiful and amazing that even us Brits (who typically like to go out of the UK on holiday) stick around and head to St Ives in Cornwall<\/a> for a nice little holiday.<\/p>\n

Make some time to try out some proper Cornish clotted cream on scones while you’re at it too.<\/p>\n

Read more: Best things to do in Cornwall<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\n4.) Gothenburg, Sweden<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Stockholm’s smaller (and rather feisty) brother has a lot going on for it and is very proud to let you know. <\/span><\/p>\n

The nightlife is amazing though some people seemed surprised that we’d left London to go to visit Gothenburg<\/a> but this was one of the most interesting Nordic cities we’ve had the pleasure of visiting and definitely makes for a great holiday destination.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n5.) Palermo, Italy<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Steeped in stunning architecture and flowing over with delicious food, Palermo is the perfect little Italian city for a nice getaway.<\/p>\n

I say little – there are over 1.2 million people in the greater metropolis – so as you can imagine, Palermo offers all the wide range of options you would come to expect of a cultured city with the laidback charm of local town – its the perfect mix really.<\/p>\n

Read more: Best places to visit in Southern Italy<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

6.) Porto, Portugal<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Porto<\/a> is another jewel is Portugal that is sometimes overlooked for the bright lights of Lisbon but wrongly so.<\/p>\n

Lisbon is amazing, I absolutely loved it there but Porto is also really great to visit and just spend a long weekend exploring the city.<\/p>\n

All whilst stopping to refuel on a glass of wine here and there for your perfect city-exploration-buzz.<\/p>\n

Read more: Best places in Porto to see<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\n7.) Munich, Germany<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Sometimes, seen as the more mature, less grungy and wealthier relative of Berlin, Munich still packs a punch when it comes to keeping you entertained during your visit to the city.<\/p>\n

Munich<\/a> is very pretty to visit too so pack your camera and go explore the city!<\/p>\n

Read more: Best things to do in Munich<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\n8.) Maastricht, Netherlands<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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This is the birthplace of a lot of EU Laws and boring stuff you probably don’t really care about but Maastricht is also home to a lot of stunning sights!<\/p>\n

Get lost in the side streets and explore what Maastricht has to offer.<\/p>\n

\n9.) Tampere, Finland<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The 3rd largest city in Finland<\/a> is quite quaint but this makes for a more immersive experience into Finnish culture and lifestyles and is perfect for a more laid back weekend away.<\/p>\n

Read more: Best places to visit in Finland<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\n10.) Ghent, Belgium<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Ghent<\/a> is another stunning city in Belgium and definitely worth a visit!<\/p>\n

Check out the Cathedral and guild houses and do remember to take a walk across the river. Definitely a holiday to go equipped with your camera and comfy walking shoes.<\/p>\n

Read more: Best places in Ghent to explore<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\n11.) Tromso, Norway<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Tromso<\/a> is another stunning Nordic city albeit a more laid back one.<\/p>\n

This is a perfect long weekend holiday if you want to relax and get away from the daily grind while taking in some authentic Norwegian cuisine and culture.<\/p>\n

Read more: Cities outside of London to visit in the UK<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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14 Cities Outside of London That You Need To Visit In The UK<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n