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City Breaks

The calmest holiday destinations in Europe: 10 chilled-out hotspots

From dazzling Greek islands to underrated cities, these are the destinations to consider next time you want to do little else but unwind

These are the sunniest capital cities in Europe for the ultimate cultural break

Best of all, four out of five of the cities are withing super easy reach of dazzling beaches…

Off Season Spain: illustrator Abraham Menéndez on how to spend the perfect spring in Madrid

From making the most of the city's best parks to that first restaurant terrace trip, Abraham Menéndez explains why spring in the Spanish capital is his favourite time of year

Lille: the undiscovered European foodie gem you can catch a train to

Chocolate shops, Flemish fare and cosy drinking dens at every turn – this French city is our latest lip-smacking obsession

This slow-paced European city is our favourite destination for culture-rich downtime

Bridging Europe’s east and west, Vienna came of age in the 19th century but has become the forward-thinking, go-slow city we need right now

This brand-new sleeper train is about to make European city-hopping much more exciting

You could be waking up in Venice before you know it…

How to spend 3 days in Paris

Parisians place serious value on leisure, beauty and food. Put these principles at the centre of your trip and you can’t go far wrong – here’s how

When is the best time to visit Budapest? The Hungarian capital through the seasons

Our season-by-season guide on when to visit Budapest, whether you're looking to explore the baths or attend a music festival