Travel
The Quaint Escape: 12 Small Cities To Visit
Slide Nr 1While big urban destinations can get overwhelming, tiny towns can easily become boring. These small and mid-sized cities, however, occupy the Goldilocks zone of travel – where there are plenty of things to do, and plenty of time do them.
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The Quaint Escape: 12 Small Cities To Visit.
Slide Nr 2Ljubljana, Slovenia – One of Europe’s smallest capitals, Ljubljana is a leafy, laid-back and highly liveable city. The largely carless streets of the Old Town and city centre invite visitors to discover the headlining attractions all on foot – from the medieval hilltop castle to the Baroque cathedral, as well as the many masterpieces of architect Jože Plečnik, whose plazas, parks, bridges and buildings not only lend Ljubljana its beautiful visage, but also its welcoming demeanour. And while most of the sights are historical, this city is no museum: a large population of artists, students and creatives keeps the culture current flowing with a constant stream of festivals and exhibitions, as well as a lively nightlife scene.
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The Quaint Escape: 12 Small Cities To Visit.
Slide Nr 3Delft, Netherlands – Gentle canals, quaint row houses, bikes as far as the eye can see… but no throngs of tiresome tourists? You’ve not entered the Amsterdam of a parallel universe: you’re in Delft. About an hour south of the capital by train, this picturesque city offers everything you’re looking for in a Dutch escape, just in a more intimate package. You’ll want to stroll around the almost perfectly preserved Old Town with its façades hailing from medieval times and the Golden Age, as well as visit the stunning churches, market square and city hall, and walk in the footsteps of Delft’s most famous resident, Johannes Vermeer. Don’t forget to take a piece of local history and culture home with you, in the form of some exquisite blue-and-white Delftware porcelain.
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The Quaint Escape: 12 Small Cities To Visit.
Slide Nr 4Bergen, Norway – It may be Norway’s second-largest city, and boast of a prestigious Hanseatic history, but Bergen today exudes a certain small-town charm and a clear affinity for nature – which it has in spades. The first and most iconic sight to see is undoubtedly the row of colourful clapperboard houses at the historic wharf Bryggen, followed by a visit to the Fish Market that’s been peddling the fruits of the sea for more than 700 years. Exploring the spectacular surrounding mountains and fjords is also an absolute must – though with an average of more than 200 rainy days each year, you’ll probably need some indoor entertainment, too. Luckily, Bergen is known for its world-class music and arts scene, offering numerous museums and concert halls in which to seek shelter and enlightenment.
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The Quaint Escape: 12 Small Cities To Visit.
Slide Nr 5Bordeaux, France – Calling all bon vivants: from food to culture, shopping and, obviously, wine, Bordeaux is a heavyweight in the best kinds of hedonism. You’ve got Rue Sainte-Catherine, the longest shopping street in Europe. You’ve got an embarrassment of restaurants, cafés and bars serving French gastronomy and exuding joie de vivre. You’ve even got the world’s largest urban World Heritage Site, encompassing a wealth of historical monuments like the Grand-Théâtre opera house and the majestic Place de la Bourse. Ideally you would dedicate a few extra days to exploring the surrounding vineyards and wineries, but if time is of the essence, pay a visit to La Cité du Vin instead. The 2016-inaugurated museum and cultural centre is devoted entirely to wine: understanding it, appreciating it and, yes, tasting it.
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The Quaint Escape: 12 Small Cities To Visit.
Slide Nr 6Valladolid, Mexico – Located about halfway between Cancún and Mérida on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, Valladolid is overshadowed by its more famous neighbours – and is all the better for it. Those who do stumble upon Valladolid usually use it as a launching pad for visiting the nearby ruins of Chichén Itzá, but quickly discover that this official Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) has charms of its own. You can spend hours wandering among the colourful buildings of the various barrios, touring the cathedral and fort, browsing the Mayan handicraft shops, indulging in specialties from street food stalls and feeling like a local. When the heat of the day sets in, take a dip in the enchanting Zaci cenote – an oasis found mere steps from the city’s main square. [Photo: Andrea Schaffer/Flickr]
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The Quaint Escape: 12 Small Cities To Visit.
Slide Nr 7Charleston, USA – Abounding with historic architecture, rolling in natural riches and drenched in Southern hospitality, it’s easy to see why this city on the South Carolina coast has become one of America’s most talked-about destinations in the past few years. A day here can contain multitudes: stroll colonial cobblestone streets in the morning, lie on a beach in the afternoon, watch the sunset over the wild marshlands in the evening, then sip cocktails and chat with affable locals well into the night. Just avoid visiting in summer with its stifling humidity and equally suffocating traffic and crowds; spring and autumn are much more hospitable. Whenever you come, come hungry: Charlestonian chefs are making waves across the country for their modern take on Southern comfort food and coastal classics.
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The Quaint Escape: 12 Small Cities To Visit.
Slide Nr 8Palm Springs, USA – Almost exactly on the other side of the US is Palm Springs, the iconic Rat Pack haunt of the 1950s and ‘60s that’s now offering refuge for hipster LA exiles, well-heeled retirees and a large LGBTQ community. The first order of business for any visitor will, of course, be an architecture tour to view the modernist homes built by superstar architects and inhabited by celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. Next will be a trip to one of the many contemporary art museums and galleries, or perhaps a round of golf against a stark desert backdrop. Whether you spend the rest of your stay hiking in the mountains or lazing by one of the iconic resort pools may depend on the time of year and your general level of motivation…
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The Quaint Escape: 12 Small Cities To Visit.
Slide Nr 9Ayutthaya, Thailand – If ever you needed a reminder that nothing is forever, Ayutthaya is it. Never heard of the place, you say? Exactly. For about 400 years, until the mid-18th-century, this city – located about 80 kilometres north of Bangkok – flourished as the trading capital of Asia and one of the world’s most important centres of commerce and diplomacy. Alas, the kingdom was sacked by the Burmese army and burned to the ground in 1767. Ruins of the vast palaces, temples and Buddhist monasteries from the glory days can still be visited, situated in a UNESCO-designated archaeological park around which the modern city of Ayutthaya sprang up. Rent a bike to explore the impressive ruins as well as visit the important landmarks of the contemporary city, like the working monasteries, temples and floating market.
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The Quaint Escape: 12 Small Cities To Visit.
Slide Nr 10Luang Prabang, Laos – Who says you have to travel to three different destinations to ‘eat, pray, love’? In Luang Prabang, you can eat your fill of incredible Laotian cuisine, cooked up with skill and heart by mom-and-pop street stall owners and the region’s top French-trained chefs alike. You can pray alongside saffron-robed Buddhist monks at the city’s 33 golden UNESCO-preserved temples. And you can fall in love with the verdant mountains that cradle the city, beckoning hikers and cyclists to discover their gem-toned waterfalls and mysterious caves. Largely spared from mass tourism – at least, for now – this city at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers is truly a destination that nourishes mind, body and spirit.
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The Quaint Escape: 12 Small Cities To Visit.
Slide Nr 11Essaouira, Morocco – Known as the “Windy City of Africa”, many would-be beachgoers give this port city a miss during the summertime – but honestly, it’s their loss. Those very winds keep things light and breezy, as opposed to sweaty and sticky, making for much more pleasant sightseeing; the winding medina, picturesque port and pungent fish market are all high on any itinerary. But beware: you may not be able to resist getting snap-happy as you stroll the streets of the old town: Essaouira has become Insta-famous for its whitewashed buildings adorned with pops of brightest blue on doors, shutters and window frames, a pigment derived from murex shells found on the Purple Islands right off the city shores.
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Travel
The Quaint Escape: 12 Small Cities To Visit.
Slide Nr 12Hobart, Australia – Flush with fascinating art museums, trendy cafés and an annual festival programme that could put some mainland cities to shame, the Tasmanian capital is, as the tourism website puts it, “a small city with big ideas.” And there’s an idea for everyone. Culture enthusiasts can take their pick of museums both modern and historical. Outdoor enthusiasts can summit Mount Wellington for unparalleled views over the city and harbour. The foodie cohort can head for the waterfront precinct and its smorgasbord of buzzy restaurants, hip eateries and cosy old pubs, not to mention pay a visit to Australia’s oldest brewery. And everyone can enjoy wandering the streets among the lovely Georgian and Victorian architecture. We think it’s safe to say this former penal colony has fully reinvented itself as a place worth visiting of your own free will.
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The Quaint Escape: 12 Small Cities To Visit.
Slide Nr 13Onomichi, Japan – Understandably, most tourists in Japan never make it past the head-spinning diversions of Tokyo or the peaceful temples of Kyoto, but this port city in Hiroshima Prefecture is an under-the-radar treat for travellers with time to spare. Onomichi’s unique geography – built across several hilly islands – means you’ll often be treated to magnificent vistas, and the fact that the city escaped World War II mostly unscathed means it’s home to a number of historic temples: enjoy both the views and the history on the Temple Walk, which leads up and down these slopes as it takes you past 25 different temples. There’s also the Onomichi City Museum of Art – of viral internet fame – but do make room in the itinerary to cycle at least part of the Shimanami Kaido, an island-hopping road with 70 kilometres of designated bike lanes and stunning panoramas. [Photo: Koji Haruna/Flickr]
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