Euro Inspiration For Jettsetters With Refined Taste

When you’ve retired from your nights at the discotheque and your worst nightmare is a three-transfer Eurorail ride, your must-dos might look a lot different while traveling. These cities are accommodating and easy to navigate, offering welcoming atmospheres and accessible attractions where your Google Translate app might even collect dust. Here’s where you can take a cozy trip and stroll on the less-wild side, discovering a wealth of historical scenery and cultural charm ablaze with finer things beyond party hostels.

bRUSSELS, belgium

Grand Place

In the central square of Brussels, the Grand Place serves as a perfect starting point for getting familiar with the city. Its medieval splendor dates back to the 12th century and underwent reconstruction after destruction by the French in 1695. Having transformed from a market square to a modern town hall and event space, the Grand Place is an ideal spot to leisurely tour and rest amongst the gold detailing and opulent guildhalls.

Sablon

In a short walk from the Grand Place, Sablon is a neighborhood that boasts the multicultural social history of Brussels, complete with a stunning gothic church and a vibrant art scene. Visit the Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon for a service (or a musical concert), then head to Lower Sablon to peruse art galleries or the Sablon Antiques Market, held every Saturday and Sunday. Belgian chocolate abounds along the streets of Sablon, so don’t leave without stopping by Godiva or retreating to Egmont Park with a locally made chocolate truffle.

Cantillon Brewery

Cantillon is a century-old brewery-museum, complete with creaky floors and cobweb-lined oak barrels (to avoid disturbing the beer’s natural environment—obviously).When midday thirst kicks in, head to Cantillon—just under a half-hour away from the Grand Place by any mode of transit—and sip on lambics, Cantillon’s spontaneously fermented, rare beers.

Stockholm, sweden

Fika

It’s really almost as if Stockholm is begging travelers to slow down and sniff the coffee. Fika is a long-observed Swedish tradition of enjoying coffee and cake with friends or family. Many cafés feature the original interiors of the budding café culture beginning in the early 1900s, adding to the homey nature of enjoying a warm beverage in good company. 08’ers (Stockholm’s telephone code transformed into a local nickname) keep the cafés buzzing all throughout the day, grabbing kanelbullar and drinking specialty roasted coffee. After decades perfecting the scene, Swedes not only craft the perfect pour, but do so mindfully, with knowledge of where their beans come from and how their producers are treated. Sustainable impact and a culture that not only celebrates, but encourages a sweet treat break is not something you’ll find at your neighborhood Starbucks. Here’s where you should fika in Sweden with a focus on ethical production:

Drop Coffe @dropcoffeeroasters

Wollmar Yxkullsgatan 10, 118 50 Stockholm, Sweden

Johan & Nyström @johanochnystrom

Swedenborgatan 7, Stockholm

Stora Bageriet @stora_bageriet

Sibyllegatan 2, 114 51 Stockholm

Djurgården

Djurgården’s tranquil greenery provides a lush escape from the typical city scenery. In fact, it’s a completely separate island in the archipelago of Stockholm. Its beauty is practically royal, as large portions of the park are still owned by the crown. Rarely will you come across a national park in the middle of a city, yet Djurgården offers more than just nature and leisurely strolls along the water. It’s home to Stockholm’s most popular museum, the Vasa Museum, displaying the capsized and restored Vasa ship from 1628. But more importantly, the ABBA The Museum. In Djurgården, you may also find yourself on a tour of Prince Eugen’s home or riding on a rollercoaster at Gröna Lund.

Gamla Stan

In one of the best-preserved medieval cities, history nerds will drool over Gamla Stan (Old Town). It’s the most central island of Stockholm and is home to the Swedish Royal Palace. Though touristy, its historic buildings and narrow alleyways are a must-see while here. The old town island is small in size (just less than half a mile across) and the perfect place to stroll around and sightsee in one place. In Gamla Stan, you can take a free walking tour along the cobblestone streets, watch the changing of the guards, or dine in a traditional Swedish restaurant.

Budapest, Hungary

Thermal Baths

Although far from a tropical resort, Budapest serves R&R on a silver platter unlike any beachfront vacation. And, it’s had hundreds of years to concoct the perfect healing bath. Both indoor and outdoor baths host iconic medicinal experiences fed by natural hot springs. The city is scattered with thermal springs; Széchenyi has chess players in the pool by day and a DJ on Saturday nights, while Gellért spoils guests with colorful tiles and mosaics in true Art Nouveau fashion.

Danube River Cruise

The waterway winding through Budapest flaunts the city's most notable Gothic and Baroque architecture. It’s also the dividing line between Buda and Pest, the previously separate cities having only been merged in the 1870s. On a sightseeing cruise, you’ll have the luxury to explore both sides without going back and forth over the bridge, ensuring you don’t miss out on all of Budapest’s beauty from the river. Along the Danube, you’ll come across Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion, the Parliament Building, Buda Castle, and Margaret Island. Or, you can book an evening cruise to view the nighttime cityscape over drinks and dinner.

Prague, Czech Republic

Old Town Square

Straight out of a fairytale, the Old Town Square dates back to the 10th century, where it served as a huge medieval marketplace in the middle of European trade routes. Though its dungeons, chambers, and merchant markets are no longer in active use, its 15th-century Astronomical Clock still draws in hundreds of visitors on the hour. It’s not really just a clock, as its astronomical dial displays positions of the Sun and Moon, zodiacal constellations, and planets—move over, CoStar. Each hour between 8 AM and 11 PM features a show of apostle figurines and a skeleton of death striking the time, so if booking an international trip to go see a clock wasn’t on your bingo card, think again. The Old Town Square’s most famous attraction is surrounded by columns and the Old Town Hall, which tower over the medieval houses adorned with painted facades and Gothic details.

The Square really shines during Christmas, offering one of the most popular Christmas markets in Europe. Nothing will compare to sipping mulled wine, eating trdelník, and lining up to watch the clock’s apostles dance for the hour on a snowy December night in Prague. Follow @hbtourandtravel to see where else to visit for a Christmas Market.

U Medvídků

In Prague, enjoying a crisp beer feels like a divine right, especially at U Medvídků, where it’s a medieval experience not to be missed. This is one of Prague’s oldest restaurants, dating back to 1466, and it has a lot to show for it. This will come as no surprise when entering the old-timey pub, where wooden tables and chairs fill a crowded room and the heavenly smell of goulash fills the air. In its past life, U Medvídků was once a brewery and then briefly transformed into Prague’s first cabaret, so the walls are practically steeped in wenchy history. Dumplings and cream sauce aside, here you can get the strongest beer in the Czech Republic, X-Beer 33, along with their beloved Budvar.

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