You’ll receive a warm welcome, discover stylish bargains, and enjoy unparalleled food, wine, fashion, and culture in Europe’s small cities.
Europe’s most famous metropolises are usually its biggest ones: London, Paris, Rome, and Berlin naturally come to mind. But if you dig a little deeper into European history and culture, you’ll discover a different world. Europe’s “secondary cities,” which, as you might have guessed, are the second-largest in population, often offer an unrivaled selection of great food, art, cultural sites, and affordable accommodation. Here are six of our favorite secondary cities where you can have a great European vacation without breaking the bank.
1. BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom
A Foodie Destination in the Heart of England
Anyone visiting a city that was the birthplace of J.R.R. Tolkien and Ozzy Osbourne should expect a dose of cognitive dissonance, and Birmingham, with its canals (yes, they surprised us too), offers more contemporary architecture than you’d expect from a 6th-century city and a food scene that deserves more Michelin stars than any British city except London.
WHY BIRMINGHAM IS UNRIVALED. In a word: the food. But we’re not talking about nearby Cadbury World or Birmingham’s wildly popular Custard Factory. These days, the city is more focused on innovative cuisine and locally sourced ingredients. The Balti style of making cashew curries – in small, artisanal batches rather than giant pots – was developed here in the 1970s, and an entire neighbourhood, the Balti Triangle, serves up delicious, bargain-priced versions at restaurants like Al Frash. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver Jamie’s Italian dishes often include wild rabbit tagliolini and crab spaghetti. And when it comes to modern takes on classic English dishes, there’s a lot to love. Well, yes, you can. Steve and Claire Love’s waterfront restaurant has wowed British food critics with dishes like Warwickshire venison and Gloucestershire pig’s head.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is home to one of the world’s most prestigious collections of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, including the iconic 19th-century work of Birmingham native Edward Burne Jones. Speaking of other worlds, Lord of the Rings fans should definitely spend time at Sarehole Mill, which is said to have inspired the story of Tolkien’s trilogy. And no trip to Brum is complete without a visit to Bullenring Market, which is both a throwback to England’s agricultural past and a future source of inexpensive local fruit and vegetables. The hub is also known for its rag market.
There. Birmingham is 117 miles northwest of London, a two-hour drive or three-hour bus ride.
2. ANTWERP, BELGIUM
An inland port with world-class style
Antwerp’s playfulness is evident everywhere you look—whether it’s an oddly dressed local in a public square, a mannequin in the Old Town, or the stunning design of the Aan de Stroom Museum. Located on the quays that made Antwerp Europe’s second-largest port after Rotterdam, the museum’s exterior resembles giant packing boxes stacked on top of each other.
WHY ANTWERP IS LIKE THIS.
Walk down any street in Antwerp and you’ll see style. Whether you’re looking for imaginative architecture, the most inspiring new art galleries, or a wide selection of vintage and second-hand clothing, Antwerp will pleasantly exceed your expectations and will likely send you home with something surprising.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.
The Zuid district is the place to be for art lovers. Here you’ll find the Royal Museum of Fine Arts (with an exquisite collection of paintings by Flemish Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens, such as The Adoration of the Magi), contemporary art galleries, and a thriving café culture. Kloosterstraat runs north from the square in front of the museum and is home to a number of hip antique shops, often offering mid-century design finds alongside older pieces. (On Sundays, the shops open at 2pm, so plan to visit after rather than before the museum.) Ready to cleanse your palate of modernity? Het Steen was built in the early Middle Ages as a defense against – wait for it – Viking raids; it’s been built several times since then and basically looks like a child’s fantasy of a castle.
