City guide: Krakow

With Southern Europe sweltering under a heatwave, with temperatures expected to peak on Tuesday afternoon, the relative cool of the UK’s July has never been so appreciated.

Aside from turning forests into tinderboxes and sparking unprecedented wildfires across Greece and Turkey, the extreme weather is also putting tourists off their usual Mediterranean escapes.

For those second-guessing their Spanish beach holiday or Italian cultural escapade – or who simply have yet to book a summer getaway – Express.co.uk has it covered.

With a wide range of sights and activities to offer and charm to spare, these European cities are among the Continent’s most sought-after destinations.

Best of all, you can still fly to each of them from the UK for a week in late August for around £100.

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Riga

The Latvian capital may not be top of every potential tourist’s radar, but it certainly ought to be.

The historical centre of Riga, the 800-year-old Old Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its art nouveau and wooden architecture. Along its cobblestone streets and colourful squares are hundreds of pop-up art galleries, museums, eateries and impressive landmarks.

St Peter’s Church is adorned with the highest spire in the city and is one of the most valuable medieval monuments in the Baltic. Testament to the new, on the opposite bank of the Daugava River stands the National Library of Latvia, the uber-modern Castle of Light.

Crowned European Capital of Culture back in 2014, Riga was also designated a European Region of Gastronomy in 2017. The best place to get a taste of local hand-rolled meaty dumplings or sauerkraut is undoubtedly the Central Market, officially Europe’s largest housing over 3,000 vendors.

And for those who fear missing out without having the sand between their toes this summer, Jurmala, a 20-mile strip of fine white sand on the Gulf of Riga is just 20 minutes away from the central train station. The water temperature, however, averages just 18C (64F) in summer.

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Amsterdam

Just an hour’s flight from London, Amsterdam has long been a favoured weekend getaway for Brits, but it is well worth settling in for a full week.

The canals are obviously the main postcard draw. If an audio-guided water tour of the city’s attractions isn’t for you, a variety of companies offer small boats to hire for you to venture out and explore the maze alone. The most adventurous can even rent pedalos.

On land, the Van Gogh Museum – displaying the largest collection of the Dutch post-impressionist’s work in the world – has to contend with the masterpieces of Rembrandt and Vermeer in the Rijksmuseum for the title of the city’s best museum.

Walking around the picturesque Negen Stratjes neighbourhood, full of designer and independent clothing stores and quirky boutiques, the Anne Frank Museum, housed in the 17th century canal house where she and her family lived, is just around the corner. It’s worth booking well in advance, however, as its popularity means it fills up almost every day in summer.

Brits in Amsterdam also benefit from the total lack of a language barrier, with between 85 and 90 percent of the locals able and happy to converse fluently in English.

Krakow

People tend to think cities in Eastern European ex-Soviet states are lined with plain, imposing concrete blocks devoid of all character and warmth. Krakow dispels this myth completely.

Poland’s second city was its official capital until 1596 and has long been its academic and artistic hub. Dating back to the 7th century, its cultural heritage spans the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque eras.

The neatly organised Old Town is overlooked by the majestic Wawel Royal Castle, under which, local legend has it, a mighty dragon once lived. A warren of activity also exists beneath the streets, where you can find jazz clubs, bars and even a 65,000-square-foot museum.

Escape the buzz in the vast Planty Park which rings the whole city centre, and meander along the pathways weaving between fountains, sculptures and brick towers.

History buffs also won’t want to miss Krakow’s darker more recent past, where after the invasion by Nazi Germany the newly defined Distrikt Krakau housed their occupying government. Auschwitz is also just an hour away.

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Bruges

Looking past the gloomy storyline of Martin McDonagh’s 2007 film “In Bruges”, viewers will have been hard-pressed not to notice how beautiful the gothic town itself was.

Too often overshadowed by Belgium’s bigger, flashier cities of Brussels and Antwerp, the Venice of the North is well worth the detour. Dominating the vast central market square is the Belfry Tower. Those with the heart to do so can scale its 366 steps to hear the bells ring up close every hour, as well as look out upon stunning views of the city.

The nearby Roman Catholic Basilica of the Holy Blood may be dazzling to look at in itself, but also – as its name suggests – contains a phial carrying a cloth said to have been soaked in the blood of Christ.

No trip to Belgium would be complete without indulging in chips and mayo, tasting some of the richest beer on Earth and dropping in on one of the city’s master chocolate makers – Chocolatier Dumon coming highly recommended.

Prague

The former home of Franz Kafka, Mozart and the mythical Golem, Prague is as romantic as it is magical. Hopping aboard the heritage Tram 42 as it twists and turns through the city centre offers perhaps the best way to see the sights.

Across the 1,700-foot medieval stone arch Charles Bridge – an attraction in itself – lies Prague Castle, the largest castle complex in the world, and its surrounding district, all of which is free to roam around. Just off the Old Town square, the astronomical clock has been ticking since 1410, making it the oldest public timepiece still in operation.

The historical capital of Bohemia, Prague is one of the best places to taste traditional beef goulash or a piping hot cinnamon chimney cake, sold by street vendors throughout town. For a drink, pick a sunny afternoon to spend on the Vtlava quayside, whose circular vaults are now brimming with trendy cafes and bars.

To top it all off, the city is notoriously cheap by British standards. An unlimited monthly travel pass costs just £17, while a traditional half-litre of Czech lager will set you back just over £1.

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