Cities That Deliver More Value Than Their Famous Neighbors
The under-the-radar cities one train stop from the obvious ones
Ghent next to Bruges
Bruges is one of the most beautiful small cities in Europe and one of the most visited. Ghent, 30 minutes by train, has the same canal architecture with a working student population, two cathedrals, the Van Eyck altarpiece, and considerably better restaurants per capita. Stay in Ghent and visit Bruges on a half-day. You'll thank yourself.
Haarlem next to Amsterdam
Haarlem is 15 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal by train and feels like Amsterdam at half the noise and a third the rental price. The Grote Markt, the Frans Hals Museum, and the canals are all here without the tour groups. Use Haarlem as your base and day-trip into Amsterdam for the Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank House.
Girona next to Barcelona
Girona is 38 minutes from Barcelona on the AVE. It has one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Spain, a cathedral with the widest Gothic nave in Europe, and an old town that has aged better than most Catalan tourist centres. Add the Dalí museum at Figueres on a third day.
Strasbourg next to Paris (or instead of)
Strasbourg isn't strictly cheaper than Paris but it delivers a different and arguably more satisfying European weekend at a saner pace. The Petite France district, the cathedral, the European Parliament walks, and the Alsatian winstub food culture all add up.
Bergamo Alta next to Milan
Bergamo's airport is what most travellers see. They miss the upper town, Bergamo Alta, which sits on a hill above the lower city and is reached by a funicular. The Venetian walls are UNESCO listed. The Piazza Vecchia is one of the prettiest squares in Lombardy. Two nights are plenty.
Suggested itinerary
- Belgium long weekend: Base in Ghent, day trip to Bruges before 10 am and back by 4 pm.
- Netherlands long weekend: Base in Haarlem, train into Amsterdam for specific museums, return for dinner.
Local highlights
- Ghent's Graslei waterfront
- Haarlem's Grote Markt and Frans Hals Museum
- Girona's Jewish quarter
- Strasbourg's Petite France district
- Bergamo Alta's funicular and walls
Nearby destinations
Other places worth combining with this trip: Bruges, Leiden, Figueres, Colmar.
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