Riga, Latvia
Quite why the Latvian capital remains so under the radar is a mystery; the cobbled streets of the Vecrīga (old town) and the elegant art nouveau architecture make it one of the most beautiful cities in eastern Europe. Long summer evenings, with temperatures rarely topping 30C, form the backdrop for rooftop bars thrumming with live DJs, as well as alfresco concerts in leafy parks, while the beautiful sandy beaches of seaside Jūrmala are just a half-hour bus ride away.
Visits should start with a stroll along the city canal, and then down Alberta Street. This street is lined with beautiful art nouveau-style mansions. The sprawling Central Market, housed in five former German Zeppelin hangars, offering dozens of local cheeses, smoked meats and classic dark rye breads – perfect sandwich fare.
The streets kick into life in summer, with free weekly concerts on Wednesday nights in Dzegužkalns park and in the Vērmanes gardens on Fridays The best time to visit for jazz and world music enthusiasts is between 2 and 5 August. Rīgas Ritmi Music Festival
Where to Stay Behind an art nouveau frontage, Hotel Neiburgs (from €114 B&B) combines the flexibility of self-catering apartments with hotel add-ons such as an excellent restaurant, fitness room and small spa.
Antwerp in Belgium
Anyone who thinks Belgium is a bit boring has never been to Antwerp – an artsy, quirky city packed with cocktail bars, coffee shops and independent art galleries that sparks into alfresco life in summer. Sint-Anneke Beach (on the left side of the River Scheldt), which is a popular spot for locals to enjoy the sun and eat mussels in one of the many restaurants that line the riverbank, fills with people on sunny weekends. The parks and open areas are used for street theatres, circuses, and outdoor cinema, especially during the Zomer van Antwerpen arts festival (19 June to 31 August).
For a glimpse into the rich history of the city, visit MAS, an architecturally striking museum on the river, with each floor charting Antwerp’s history as a global trading port, topped with a huge rooftop terrace that gives spectacular 360-degree views.
Antwerp is a city of chocolate shops, microbreweries and chocolatiers. moules frites Every corner. The latest addition to the collection is WolfA food market with ten restaurants. You can pick up a food picnic and enjoy it in the gardens. Middelheim Museum’s World-class sculpture park. The park features six zones that explore the relationship between human and nature using abstract installations, strikingly innovative pieces and Erwin Vurm’s boat curving off a jetty, Misconceivable.
Where to Stay The historic centre Hotel Matelote (from €115 B&B) features chic, minimalist design within the framework of two 16th-century buildings.
Bolzano, Italy
The capital of the South Tyrol – a fusion of Germanic architecture and history with Italian culture and food, set among the spectacular peaks of the Dolomites – is a gem. It is surrounded by vineyards, lush mountain plateaux and one of Europe’s best summer music scene. Visit between 27 June and 06 July if you are a jazz fan. Südtyrol jazz festival More than 50 concerts are offered in the region. Bolzano Festival Bozen (5 August-7 September) is a treat for classical music lovers, with performances held in some of the city’s most beautiful buildings, including Dominican cloisters and the 13th-century Castel Mareccio.
Most visitors to Bolzano head out to explore the spectacular scenery – at its loveliest in the summer months – either on foot along the city’s greenways or by taking a cable car up to the Ritten plateau. The Guncina Promenade is a 2.8-mile (4.5km) walk from the centre of the city out into the hills, with lovely views back across the skyline, while hiking trails unfold from the 1,227-metre high cable station at Oberbozen, along with the South Tyrol’s only surviving narrow-gauge railway. The big historic draw in Bolzano is Ötzi, a 5,300-year-old mummified iceman found by hikers in 1991 and sensitively displayed at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.
Where to Stay Goldenstern Townhouse (doubles from €149 room-only) is set in the city’s medieval arcades and makes a wonderful base.
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Gothenburg (Sweden)
Gothenburg, on Sweden’s westcoast, is a Scandi city that looks increasingly appealing as summer temperatures in the Med soar. Näsetbadet and Askimsbadet beaches are short bus rides away, while a tram to the ferry port opens up the tranquil waters, unspoilt villages and long sandy beaches of the Gothenburg archipelago. The waterside deck offers a great place to explore by kayak or by ferry. Tullhuset restaurant on Hönö island a great spot for a seafood lunch, before a paddle on the long stretch of sandy shoreline on Rivö island.
Gothenburg is famed for its oysters and seafood, best sampled at Feskekörka, the city’s waterfront fish hall, is home to a number of great restaurants and an outdoor terrace that’s flooded with sunlight. There are 40 independent breweries in the city, some of which have tap rooms and restaurants. Sink a couple at Poppels CitybryggeriTry the new brews or. Sad RobotOpen every Friday and Saturday night.
Need to clear the thick head? Take a dip in the city’s culture of sauna, which includes everything from a free public sauna in Jubilee Park You can also find out more about the following: Dyrön electric sauna, a short boat ride from the city, with a spectacular three-mile hiking trail The door.
Where to Stay Hotel Bellora (from 806 krona/£62 B&B) is a One of the best rooftops bars in the city is a slick boutique.
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva is much more than a gateway for the Alps. It has a relaxed beachy atmosphere in the summer with a touch of Swiss flair. Popular spots for a swim include the artificial beach at Eaux-Vives on Lake Geneva (including a doughnut-shaped overwater deck and central pool), the floating “beach platform” at the Quai de Cologny and the Genève-Plage, where all manner of watersports, from yachting to paddleboarding, are on offer alongside a straightforward dip.
Vieille Ville is a great place for wine lovers. The streets of the old town are littered with wine bars. They range from the ultra-modern to the sleekly traditional. Soul Wines The more traditional Vino Olio Caffe. Most roads lead to Cathédrale Saint-PierreThe imposing exterior of the building is the perfect prelude to the stunning views that can be seen from the towers. There’s more to do after sightseeing. Find vintage treasures at the Plainpalais Flea Market (on Wednesdays and Saturdays), or learn about the history of watchmaking in the City Museum. Patek Philippe museum, or soak up live music at the Genève-Plage with three nights of alfresco performances at the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande festival (21-23 August).
The city is also filled with a lot of indulgent attractions. Fromageries The best farmers’ markets in Paris are the Plainpalais (on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday) and Eaux-Vives (on Wednesday and Saturday). Get a seat at Le Gruyérien for fondue, best worked off with a hike across the green slopes of Mont Salève – just a five-minute cable-car ride from the city.
What to do in the area In a city with astronomically expensive hotels, the Tiffany by Fassbind (from 122 Swiss francs/£109 room-only) is a relative steal, tucked away on a quiet street in the Les Bains neighbourhood with a chic terrace restaurant.
Accommodation prices correct at time of going to press. Prices are accurate at time of printing. You can also find out more about the following: lowest available rates for July/August
