Why always travel only in summer? Especially in Europe there are so many beautiful places to discover during the year. And besides, what could be better than rewarding yourself with a city break at the weekend every now and then? Exactly. The only question is where to go. After all, (almost) everyone has seen Paris, London and Amsterdam. We show you European cities that are only an hour's flight away, but which are special and which we don't necessarily have on our radar when it comes to travel.

Valletta, Malta

The capital of the island nation of Malta scores points with culture vultures for its historic cafés, narrow street canyons and unique harbour. There are many churches and museums to explore and the annual jazz festival takes place in July. There are also plenty of opportunities for snorkelling and other outdoor activities. Although island states tend to be overpriced, this is (still) very limited in Valletta.

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Small but mighty. More than 100 years ago, the Austrian crown prince was assassinated in Sarajevo. Since then, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina has changed. Christians, Orthodox and Jews live here peacefully in harmony with each other. The Bosnian war (1992-1995) left the city quite shattered, but Sarajevo has recovered from the aftermath. For those interested in history, there are free guided tours of the city, during which war sites are explained in more detail.

Krakow, Poland

The old town of Krakow was fortunately spared from destruction by the 2nd World War, so until today buildings from Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque are included. Culturally, you are well provided for with numerous museums and churches. Poland is also very popular for its cuisine. The national dish Pierogi, dumplings filled with vegetables, cheese or meat, is affordable and very delicious.

Seville, Spain

Barcelona has to dress warmly, because Seville is not only culturally exciting, but also much more attractive in price than the Catalan capital. "Game of Thrones" was partly filmed in Seville - no wonder, because the scenery is unique. With the cathedral, the royal palace Alcazar and the Metropol Parasol, Seville stands for tradition and innovation at the same time.

Hamburg, Germany

Especially for Shopping-Hamburg is THE PLACE TO BE. After Rotterdam and Antwerp, Hamburg is the largest port city in Europe. As a result, prices for beauty products, food and clothing are significantly lower than in the rest of the country. With the newly built opera "Elbphilharmonie" and the Kunsthalle, the port city is right up there for architecture and art lovers.

Picture credit: Michał Ampuła / Unsplash