Marseille

France’s oldest city boasts an eventful past, 300 days of sunshine a year and all the raw charm of a sailor’s wife.

Indulge: Douceur au caramel, Saint-honoré, Charlotte aux fruits rouges: The sweet delights from the legendary Boulangerie Aixoise don’t just sound like poetry to the ears, they taste like a sonnet, too. If savoury is more your thing, try one of the wide variety of baguette sandwiches.

See: Don’t miss this Marseille architectural highlight! Mucem, the Museum of the Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean, opened in 2013 during the city’s tenure as the European Capital of Culture. The sea facing side of the building is clad with a spectacular concrete net that can be admired for free on an outside stroll.

Sleep: Staycity Aparthotels, Centre Vieux Port: The building’s exterior may look a little spartan, but inside you’ll find simple but attractively appointed and very clean apartments. The kitchenette offers free capsules of your morning coffee. And with its central location, this hotel is the perfect address for travellers seeking a value-for-money stay.

Selection & Text: Barbara Lienhard, Photos: Henrik Nielsen

Thessaloniki

The city is filled with the enchanting aromas of fresh bougatsa and hearty bakalariaka. All around: the warmth of the locals and Mount Olympus, which towers over Thessaloniki Bay and is visible from almost everywhere in the city.

Indulge: The Diagonios corner restaurant has been offering up hearty Greek fare since 1977. It combines it all, too, with the best of old-school Greek dining, from its smart and charming waiters to its starched tablecloths and the finest gyros in the city. The home-made soutzoukakia are a further delight, as is the spicy aubergine salad, accompanied by a glass of retsina, of course.

See: An elevated view. There’s no finer place to watch the sun set over Thessaloniki than from Ano Poli’s ancient city walls.

Experience: An excursion to the mountain village of Arnea is well worth it for the honeyed touloumpakia alone.

Text: Patrick Lindner, Photos: Adrianna Glaviano

 
Wrocław

The Polish city of Wroclaw dazzles its visitors with its imposing architecture and its pretty façades. But there’s far more to it than that.

Indulge: Mleczarnia Bar & Hostel: The Mleczarnia (“dairy”) is a place we fell in love with at once. The interior is romantically nostalgic, and the staff are extremely friendly. The room rates are very affordable, too, and the White Stork Synagogue is right next door.

See: The old Market Square “Rynek” with its colourful façades is the ideal starting point for exploring the city. It’s regularly frequented by street artists, too, keeping the crowds entertained. Do take the time to visit the tower of the Old Town Hall as well. It’s quite a climb up, but the views are spectacular.

Shop: Wroclaw’s imposing Market Hall looks and feels more like a church than a centre of commerce and trade. Here you’ll find not just fruit, vegetables and Polish pastries but also handwoven baskets and fine foods from all over the world. And the bar by the entrance also offers traditional local fare.

Selection & Text: Roberta Fischli, Photos: Véronique Hoegger

Madrid

Madrid is as splendid as Paris or Vienna, but more relaxed, friendlier and sunnier. It’s a magical place, with phenomenally beautiful buildings and an amazing variety of different districts. It’s a proud capital, with its royal palace and its art museums. And it’s a city which has always known how to party.

Indulge: Restaurant Sacha: Rare are the tourists at this old-fashioned bohemian-style restaurant with its idyllic garden terrace. But to the locals, Sacha is an insider tip that’s all too well known. No wonder: the cuisine is phenomenal, whether you opt for the home-smoked sardines on almond cream, the kingcrab-stuffed ravioli or the anchovy omelette with roasted piparra peppers.

Experience: Rowing on the artificial lake in El Retiro Park. Boats can be hired and in the background is the monument erected in 1902 in honour of King Alfonso XII.

See: Museo Reina Sofía: Viewing “Guernica”, Pablo Picasso’s masterpiece, in the flesh in this spacious modern museum is an experience not to be missed. But there’s a lot more to discover here, too, including fascinating works by Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Juan Gris and Antoni Tàpies. The museum is located in a former hospital dating from the 18th century, with a new extension designed by Jean Nouvel.

Drinking: Madrid has many roofterrace bars. But Radio must surely be the most glamorous. It’s a place where the local VIPs and their entourages sit and chill under a starry sky to well-mixed drinks, DJ sound and a cinemascope view. Relax and take in the purple-lit towers of this extravagant edifice. At weekends the queue for the lift is often longer than the cocktail menu.

Text: Patricia Engelhorn, Photos: Agi Simoes