From underrated Lille to Faro – where storks can be seen in giant rooftop nests: European city breaks that offer better value for money… and fewer people
- Lille is considered France’s most underrated city and is less than 90 minutes from London by Eurostar
- Faro is often overlooked when holidaymakers head to the Algarve coast for golf courses and tennis clubs
- Hungary’s capital, Budapest, is only a two-and-a-half-hour flight from London, yet feels “enticingly exotic.”
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Each week, our holiday hero, Neil Simpson, delves into a brilliant holiday topic and does all the legwork so you don’t have to. This week: stylish city breaks for September.
Lower temperatures, fewer people and better value for money make September ideal for a European city break. Here are three to consider.
Lille
The collection in the central Palais des Beaux Arts in Lille is second only to the Louvre and features works by Rodin, Renoir, Rubens and Monet
For a gallery with a difference, head to Lille’s La Piscine, a 1920s Art Deco swimming pool reinvented as a museum, where water shimmers beneath glass floor panels
Lille has been dubbed France’s most underrated city and is less than 90 minutes from London by direct Eurostar.
Art lovers are spoiled for choice. The collection in the central Palais des Beaux Arts is second only to the Louvre and features works by Rodin, Renoir, Rubens and Monet. The nearby LaM Museum features Picasso, Miro and Modigliani.
For a gallery with a difference, head to La Piscine, a 1920s Art Deco swimming pool reinvented as a museum, where water shimmers beneath glass floor panels.
Lille is famous for antique shops, pop-up fashion shops and Europe’s largest flea market on the first weekend in September. It’s a big student town, so it’s easy to find lively and inexpensive places to try the local moules-frites.
Weekend offer: Train tickets and three nights at the Novotel Center Grand Place cost from £327 per person in September (eurostar.com).
Faro
Enter Faro’s old town through the grand Arco da Vila gate, then look up to see (and often hear) storks in giant rooftop nests.
The Carmo Church in Faro hides a grisly secret: the walls and ceiling of its “Bone Chapel” are covered with the skulls and skeletons of 1,000 monks
Faro is often overlooked when holidaymakers head to the Algarve coast for golf courses and tennis clubs. But the small Portuguese town is perfect for weekend breaks.
Enter the old town through the large Arco da Vila gate, then look up to see (and often hear) storks in huge rooftop nests. Sidewalk cafes fan out from Se Catedral, where you can climb the bell tower or sit in the courtyard under the orange trees. The nearby Carmo Church hides a grisly secret: the walls and ceiling of its “Bone Chapel” are covered with the skulls and skeletons of 1,000 monks.
On long weekends, a 30-minute boat ride to the secluded island beaches of Ria Formosa Natural Park should be included. In the evening, sample local cod with fried potatoes and parsley, listen to a fado concert, or explore the marble-paved streets in search of a late-night pastel de nata.
Weekend offer: Get Jet2 flights and three nights at Faro Boutique Hotel from £340pp (jet2holidays.com).
Budapest
Budapest is only a two-and-a-half hour flight from London, yet it still feels enticingly exotic. At the top is the Chain Bridge, a great place to watch the sunset
Viewed from the banks of the Danube, the honey-colored stones of the great Hungarian Parliament building turn orange and then pink as night falls
Budapest is only a two-and-a-half hour flight from London, yet it still feels enticingly exotic. Begin by exploring the fairytale spiers and majestic imperial architecture of baroque, Unesco-protected Buda on one bank of the Danube (the more racy Pest is on the other).
A funicular takes you to the top of Buda Hill, where you can enjoy great views from the towers and terraces of the Fisherman’s Bastion. Cross the Chain Bridge in time for sunset.
Viewed from the banks of the Danube, the honey-colored stones of the great Hungarian Parliament building turn orange and then pink as night falls.
Pest is full of restaurants and “ruin bars”: lively clubs in buildings that were once in ruins. Enjoy a Sunday swim at the open-air Szechenyi Hot Springs Baths, where you can really see the locals play chess while relaxing in the steaming waters.
Weekend offer: easyJet flights and three nights at Buda Castle Fashion Hotel from £391pp (easyjet.com).
