You’ll get a warm welcome, find stylish steals, and enjoy food, wine, fashion, and culture that’s second to none in these intimate European metropolises.
BIRMINGHAM, U.K.:A foodie destination in England’s heartland
Anybody visiting a city from which both J.R.R. Tolkien and Ozzy Osbourne sprang should be prepared for a dose of cognitive dissonance, and Birmingham (or “Brum,” as it’s affectionately known in the U.K.) delivers, with canals (yup, they surprised us, too), more contemporary architecture than you might expect from a sixth-century city, and a foodie scene that has earned more Michelin stars than any U.K. city other than London.
MUST-SEE SIGHTS. The Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery offers one of the world’s most acclaimed collections of pre-Raphaelite paintings, including the iconic, otherworldly work of 19th-century Birmingham native Edward Burne Jones. Speaking of other worlds, Lord of the Rings fans must spend time at Sarehole Mill, said to have inspired the locale of Tolkien’s trilogy. And no trip to Brum is complete without dropping by the Bull Ring Open Market, which is at once a throwback to England’s agrarian past and a forward-looking source of local fruits and vegetables at great prices. The nabe is also known for its Rag Market (not as dismal as it sounds—think eye-popping fabrics, vintage clothing, household goods, and treats like mince pie and pickled chile peppers for a song).
SPLIT, CROATIA: History comes alive on the Mediterranean
You don’t have to remember the name Diocletian to have a blast in Split, a city of more than 250,000, but you can thank him for pioneering the notion of Split as a lesser-known Mediterranean getaway. A Roman emperor who abdicated his position in the face of rival claims, Diocletian built an amazing palace here, completed in A.D. 305, and to this day the city has one of Europe’s finest collections of Roman ruins.
MUST-SEE SIGHTS. When you yearn to return to the land of the living, drop yourself on Bacvice beach, a crescent-shaped stretch of sand that rivals any of the tonier—and pricier—Mediterranean beaches. We won’t tell if all you want to do is stretch out on a blanket and soak up some rays. But when the sun goes down, dip a toe into Split’s lively bar scene, with popular “crawls” around the neighborhood of the Roman palace ruins. In the morning, get classy again with a trip to the Metrovic Gallery, spotlighting the work of Croatia’s best-known sculpture, Ivan Mestrovic.Read more: Budget Travel
Source:Budget Travel
6 Charming & Affordable European Cities You Haven’t Visited Yet
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