Europe is home to some of the most popular cities in the world, with people travelling from all over to see iconic structures, interesting attractions and unique features. If you wish to escape the crowds but still get the same experience, consider some of the alternatives.
Below we’ve compiled a list of three alternative cities to a city break in Berlin. If you’re wanting to experience the infamous street art and iconic history but not the crowds, visit Łódź, Belgrade or Bilbao instead.
Łódź, Poland
One of Berlin’s most popular attractions is The East Side Gallery, where you’ll discover an overwhelming amount of graffiti and street art. This open-air museum consists of murals painted on a 1,316-metre-long remnant of the Berlin Wall.
Łódź in Poland also has plenty of colourful, unique street art that catches the eyes of passers-by. It has a tradition of using urban wall space for the manifestation of creative ideas. Many of the murals you see today were created during the 1960s and 70s to advertise the communist era when state-run companies were abundant.
In 2009, the Urban Forms Foundation initiated a project to turn Łódź in to an open-air art gallery to improve its image. Since then, new ideas and paintings have sprung up around the city thanks to locally known and international artists. If you choose to take a tour around the captivating pieces, keep an eye out for painted and stencilled gas and electricity boxes.
Belgrade, Serbia
Another popular attraction in Berlin is its 19th-century parliamentary building, the Reichstag Building. It’s home to fascinating history and showcases a beautiful blend of Baroque and Renaissance architecture along with a glass dome situated on top.
Belgrade’s parliamentary building, the House of the National Assembly also has a rich heritage that involved the architect winning a competition to design it. Built during the 18th and 19th century, in a Baroque architectural style, this edifice incorporates two horse sculptures by its dramatic entrance and a green-coloured dome aligned on top.
If you visit during the evening, it’s all lit-up, creating a picturesque spectacle you’ll want to get your camera out for. Much like the Reichstag Building, guided tours are organised when the building is not in use, allowing you to see the magnificent interiors.
Bilbao, Spain
A third reason that you may wish to visit Berlin is because of its wide selection of museums. It features so many that it has an island for several of them. If you’re hoping to visit a multitude of museums, why not swap the German capital for the distinctly less crowded attractions of Bilbao, Spain?
The archaeological museum aims to raise awareness of the city’s history. Artefacts from the prehistoric period up until now are conserved here for safekeeping to allow visitors to learn the history of Biscay.
Bilbao’s jewel in the crown is the Guggenheim Museum, showcasing an awe-inspiring, architectural design that features curved, metallic components. Inside you’ll discover exhibitions divided up by the exterior’s design, displaying 250 contemporary works by artists and sculptors from all over the world.
If you would like to learn more about the alternatives to a Berlin city break mentioned above, call the team on 0800 988 3369. Alternatively, contact us via our website and we’ll tailor-make your trip however you like.
