This post is in collaboration with Opodo
I can’t believe that it’s taken me until my mid forties to discover the thrill of European city breaks. Our day trip to Amsterdam was when I fell in love with the city, and we returned in the summer and had three days to explore. And with Copenhagen booked for next year, I am now on a mission to find hidden gems in Europe that we can visit.
Bled in Slovenia
I first came across Bled when a lady on my instagram visited there over the summer, and wow it looked beautiful. Bled is a town that sits along Lake Bled, which has a small island in the middle where you will find a church. The whole town looks so beautiful and peaceful, and is definitely the place to go for a relaxing few days away.
Malmo in Sweden
When we visit Copenhagen, we are also planning to go to Malmo in Sweden for the day. Malmo is 40 minutes by train from Copenhagen Central Station, and with trains running every 20 minutes, it seems a great opportunity to visit Sweden for the day. Malmo is the third largest city in Sweden, and you can find historic buildings, beautiful parks and even beaches to sunbathe on. You just need to remember to take your passport, as you are entering another country.
Algarve in Portugal
Whilst the Algarve might be best-known for its sandy beaches and golf resorts, Faro is the capital of the Algarve region and is definitely on my travel list. Faro combines our love of city breaks with beach breaks, and would be a good destination for us as a family. There are plenty of historic buildings to explore, pretty streets to stroll around, and the beach is there for when you need a rest. And with easyJet flying from Manchester to Faro, it certainly sounds a good option of getting to the Algarve.
Budapest in Hungary
Another place which has made it on my ‘Travel List’ thanks to instagram, is Budapest in Hungary. It seems like this destination is getting more popular by the day, and whilst it may not be a hidden gem for much longer, it’s still high up on our cities to visit. The city sits on the River Danube, and is a mixture of history and modern architecture. And one place I will definitely be booking is the Szechenyi Thermal Bath Spa, which is over 100 years old.
If you are looking for more inspiration for your next European trip, the infographic below has some great ideas, and you can find out more about Europe’s hidden gems with eDreams here.