European City Breaks Worth Packing For

Five cities. One small suitcase. Absolutely no sensible shoes required.

There is something rather wonderful about a city break.

A couple of nights somewhere beautiful, long lunches that accidentally turn into drinks, streets made for wandering and the entirely reasonable belief that calories consumed abroad don't count.

We've picked five European cities we'd happily book a flight to tomorrow — places with fabulous food, beautiful hotels, interesting shops and enough culture to justify another glass of wine.

No frantic sightseeing schedules. No ticking off 27 attractions before breakfast.

Just brilliant places to wander, eat, drink, shop and occasionally sit somewhere lovely doing absolutely nothing.

Passport ready? Let's go.

01 - SEVILLE, SPAIN

Sunshine, tapas and absolutely no reason to rush.

WHY WE'D GO

Seville is the sort of city that makes you wonder why you're always in such a hurry.

Orange trees, tiled courtyards, ridiculously beautiful buildings and tiny bars where ordering just one more plate seems entirely reasonable. It's compact enough to wander, but interesting enough to lose a long weekend in.

And when your feet have had enough? Find a sunny terrace, order something cold and consider sightseeing officially completed.

DON'T MISS

THE REAL ALCÁZAR

Go for the extraordinary architecture, stay for the courtyards and gardens. It's one of Seville's absolute must-sees — and yes, this is one occasion when booking ahead is a very good idea.

THE CATHEDRAL & GIRALDA

Yes, it's one of the obvious sights. It's obvious for a reason. The Cathedral is enormous, beautiful and impossible to ignore, while the Giralda is one of the great landmarks of the city.

A WANDER THROUGH TRIANA

Cross the river and give yourself a few hours to wander. Triana is known for ceramics, flamenco, little bars and colourful streets. No itinerary required. Just walk, stop when somewhere looks interesting and repeat.