Great trips to San Sebastián start here.

As a former magazine editor, current freelance writer, and lifelong wanderluster, it is my job and passion to find and stay in incredible places. Every property on this list, from boutique hotels to off-the-grid resorts, has been personally vetted and visited by yours truly...and might just change your life.

If you're looking for a city escape to live your European Summer dream, you've come to the right place! This is my 100% honest opinion of my 10 favorite European cities to visit in Summer. I see lots and lots of guides out there suggesting Paris (hello, has someone heard of the Olympic Games taking place?), Madrid (if you love 45° weather I guess) or Lisbon (great choice if you want to be 1 or 100 000 tourists). While these are all great destinations year-round, I don't think Summer is the right season to visit them. Personally, I'd go there in Spring or Autumn, not during the high season. Full disclosure, this is a no Greece, no Italy guide. You'll only find cities that I love, and I think are worth going to discover if you're looking for a short city-escape this Summer. What will you find in this guide? 📅 Recommended trip duration ☀️ Weather info 💰 Cost, $, $$ or $$$ 👉 Top 3 Activities in each city ⛰️ Top 3 Day-trip from each city 😴 $, $$, and $$$ accommodation options Which cities are you going to discover? 1. Kraków, Poland 🇵🇱 2. London, UK 🇬🇧 3. Prague, Czech Republic (Czechia) 🇨🇿 4. Lyon, France 🇫🇷 5. San Sebastián, Spain 🇪🇸 6. Budapest, Hungary 🇭🇺 7. Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹 8. Brussels, Belgium 🇧🇪 9. Tallinn, Estonia 🇪🇪 10. Edinburgh, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 PS: Don't forget to click on each destination to get my personal insights on each city! But, if you really don't care about my life, which I understand, we don't know each other, you can skip ahead.

While this is still a largely undiscovered part of the world by most foreigners, it's widely known as a culinary mecca for everyone with an interest in food and food culture. Basque cuisine is renowned worldwide for being some of the most visionary and avant-garde in the industry, and food as a whole is an extremely important part of Basque culture. There's so much more to do in the Basque Country than just enjoying the food though! The entire region is truly a gift to the planet in terms of natural beauty, being nestled between mountains and the sea. Basques have been fishers and mountain climbers, sailing the seas and scaling mountains, while also developing some of the strongest industry in Southern Europe. Here's a guide to some of the absolutely crucial visits you *must* make while you're in the area, whether you're based in Bilbao or San Sebastián (referred to as "Donosti" by Basques, a shortened form of its Basque name Donostia), though I prefer Bilbao because I'm biased. 😜 This guide encompasses everything from landmarks to towns and even a few restaurants, perfect for when you're considering whether to check out this beautiful and charming region. I focus on the Spanish Basque Country as it's what I'm most familiar with, but recommendations for the French Basque Country (known as the "Iparralde" or "north country" in Basque) will come soon!