Time Out: unveils the 16 best city breaks in Europe for 2022

Time Out, the global media and hospitality brand that helps people explore and discover the soul of the city, has released its list of the 16 best city breaks in Europe for 2022. The list features the official capitals of culture, lesser-known second cities and under the radar destinations that will host some of the biggest festivals and openings of the year.

As vaccination and booster rollouts continue around the world, Time Out believes that in 2022 travelers will rediscover a passion for city breaks, especially with this year being rich in new cultural openings and in return. many big festivals. Time Out’s network of 16 expert local European copywriters and writers chose these emerging destinations because of their great food, culture, nightlife and community spirit – things that have always made European cities great places to be. . In these climate-conscious times, the list also only features places that are easy to reach by train and bus.

Caroline McGinn, Global Editor-in-Chief of Time Out, says: “Over the past 18 months, travelers have largely explored closer to home, with country trips particularly popular, but in 2022 we expect city breaks will make a triumphant return. Where else can that be? Do you order an espresso, walk into a museum, taste a local liquor and go out? Whether you’re looking to attend a successful festival or visit a new museum, we hope our list provides you with some much-needed travel inspiration this winter.

Read the full list at www.timeout.com/europe/things-to-do/best-city-breaks-in-europe

1. Arles, France

Known for being the city where Vincent van Gogh completed his legendary series of sunflowers in the 1880s, Arles is also home to Provence’s largest street market and is the region’s cultural capital for 2022. Highlights are LUMA , a vibrant new arts district. with multimedia exhibitions and art installations; the Carrières des Lumières, an immersive artistic experience in a career; and Les Rencontres de la Photographie, a festival featuring pop-up bars, food trucks and world-renowned photographic exhibitions.

1. Brno, Czech Republic

The second Czech city has repositioned itself as a post-industrial science and technology hub with a reinvented food and drink scene featuring everything from contemporary international to Element in VýÄep na Stojáka, a modern take on a traditional pub. In 2022, the INdustrial project celebrates Brno’s manufacturing tradition, with several former industrial buildings open to the public for the first time, as well as Káznice, a Habsburg-era prison, which is also being redeveloped and will house events in summer.

1. Kaunas, Lithuania

There is no better time to visit Kaunas than in 2022, as it has been named the European Capital of Culture, with a year-long program of over 1,000 events to celebrate, including exhibitions by Yoko Ono. , William Kentridge, Marina Abramović and more. Be sure to check out the rest of the delicacies the city has to offer, like its hundreds of Modernist masterpieces, as well as the MK ÄŒiurlionis Art Museum (dedicated to the Symbolist musician and painter) and the Devil’s Museum frankly. weird.

1. Odense, Denmark

Just 90 minutes by train from Copenhagen, Odense is small but perfectly formed. It is home to the brand new architectural wonder, the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, which brings the story of the fairytale author and the worlds he created to life. A new light rail is under construction and is expected to open in spring 2022, connecting the beautiful old districts of the city and the new lively districts.

1. Ljubljana, Slovenia

In 2022, the Slovenian capital will host Velo-City, a summit aimed at encouraging cycling across the continent. For more casual bikers, bike rental in the city center is free. Restaurants are encouraged to use local ingredients, so meals often include freshly picked vegetables and produce from urban farms. For music fans, the Ljubljana Festival, featuring world-renowned classical virtuosos, is back after a Covid-induced hiatus. There is also a jazz festival every July, and the city is transformed into a stage during the Ana Desetnica Street Theater Festival.

1. Oslo, Norway

The revitalization of the historic port district of Bjørvika is well underway, with the brand new Munch Museum now open to the public, right next to the Deichman Bjørvika Library and the famous opera house (with its own urban beach, Operastranda). For foodies, Oslo’s food scene now includes VIA Village, a bustling new food court, just minutes from the Aker Brygge area. For those visiting in the summer and beyond, the long-awaited new National Museum will open in June and earn the title of Largest Museum in the Nordic Countries.

1. Turku, Finland

Often referred to as the “Paris of Finland” for its abundance of sidewalk cafes, Turku is Finland’s oldest city (and historic capital). With a great music scene, next year will see the highly anticipated return of festivals like Archipelago Sea Jazz and Ruisrock. It’s also a leader in sustainable tourism, with the city running electric boat tours, nature trips, and food tours that showcase the best local produce. This is all part of Turku’s plans to become carbon neutral and ‘zero waste’ by 2040. Want to get there greener? The city is easily accessible by train (from Helsinki) and ferry (from Stockholm and Tallinn).

1. Valencia, Spain

Returning with a bang (literally) in 2022, Valencia will once again host the Las Fallas Festival to kick off spring with bonfires, fireworks, parades and parties throughout March. Nearby, La Tomatina, the ‘world’s biggest food fight’, will also be back for the first time in two years. This year, Valencia was named not only the European capital of smart tourism but also the world capital of design, with more than 100 events scheduled for the latter.

1. Sheffield, England

Sheffield was recently named the UK’s ‘greenest city’, with its 4.5 million trees (more per person than any other city in Europe), 250 public parks and 52 square miles of national park. Combine lush greenery – and proximity to the Peak District – with a bustling city rich in culture, food and drink, and you have two types of vacations rolled into one. Do you prefer the green of a football field? Sheffield will host three group matches and a semi-final of the 2022 UEFA European Women’s Football Championship in July.

1. Trikala, Greece

Trikala, in northwest Thessaly, is Greece’s first official “smart cityâ€. This city under the radar is green in every sense of the word: a shady spot topped by its Byzantine castle and crisscrossed by the Lithaios River filled with trout. Getting around is easy with a bike-share program and a host of new bike paths – and when summer temperatures soar, there are pit stops where you can collect (free) water. . It also has the country’s first driverless buses. See you in August for the three-day Ziria music festival that takes over the ski slopes of Trikala.

1. Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina

In the northwest corner of Bosnia and Herzegovina, you will find Bihać on the banks of the magical Una River. It is the perfect city break for nature lovers who wish to admire the panoramic view of the valley: the cycle path from the city center to the remains of the Sokolac fortress is now open and new eco-friendly accommodation such as Japodski Otoci and Eko-Selo Natura Art offers both adventure and restoration. Add in several local initiatives to clean up the surrounding lakes and rivers, and you’ve got a destination that encompasses all that Bosnia’s most beautiful river has to offer.

1. Liverpool, England

Liverpool’s nightlife is one of a kind – so it was no wonder the city hosted the UK’s first club night in a year, with footage being shown around the world. Now is the time for everyone to find out too, whether it’s for a night out at a club in the ‘Baltic Triangle’, or something bigger like Creamfields or the International Beatles Week in August. 2022 will also see the welcome return of DaDaFest International, one of the world’s leading festivals dedicated to the work of artists with disabilities, deaf people and neurodiverse – a welcome reminder of what an inclusive place really is.

1. Rotterdam, the Netherlands

After the success of Eurovision 2021, Rotterdam feels like it has a new lease of life. After undergoing extensive renovations in the run-up to the 2020 event – only to be delayed for a year – the song contest has firmly placed the Netherlands’ second city on the tourist map . No doubt many will flock here in 2022 to explore its incredible art museums and architecture, as well as top-notch cuisine and nightlife. Topping the list should be Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the world’s first publicly accessible art storage facility housing 151,000 objects. Then marvel at the floating buildings comprising an office, a farm, and even an entire street – all developed in response to the fact that 90 percent of Rotterdam is below sea level.

1. Milan, italy

In an effort to shed its industrial image and create a more sustainable metropolis, this northern Italian city continues to expand its parks and cycle paths to create a “green lung†around the center. 2022 will see the return of big events like the famous furniture fair Salone del Mobile (April 5-10), taking control of Milan with lively art installations and events open to design professionals and the public. More in your music? In June and July, Stromae, Chemical Brothers and Green Day perform at the Milano Summer Festival.

1. Freiburg, Germany

Considered the sunniest and warmest city in Germany, Freiburg is also the gateway to the Black Forest: this well-known natural wonder is only a short walk from the center. A long-time champion of conservation and sustainability, Friborg-en-Bresau is a shining example of how ‘green living’ and ‘urban sprawl’ can go hand in hand. Recent initiatives include a million euro initiative to plant new trees and Dietenbach, a climate neutral eco-district which is currently under construction.

1. Inverness, Scotland

The perfect starting point to begin a journey of exploring the Highlands, Inverness has all of Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle and the Culloden Battlefield close by. If you want a cultural side to it, in 2022 the Eden Court Theater will host some of the UK’s best comics, as well as productions from Emma Rice’s ‘Jersey Boys’ and ‘Wuthering Heights’. Musically, July sees the return of the powerful family-friendly Belladrum Tartan Heart festival, with lineup including Nile Rodgers & Chic and Ibibio Sound Machine.