THE (NOT SO) FAMOUS FIVE

These copycat destinations are half as pricey and packed as their more famous counterparts

DON’T GO TO Dubrovnik GO TO KOTOR

(Pronounced Kor-torr) There’s a touch of Game Of

Thrones about this medieval Montenegrin city. The Old Town here was built as a maze to confuse invading forces, so by the time you’ve navigated your way to the main square, you more than deserve a chilled local Nikšićko beer on the terrace of Hotel Vardar. For the perfect Insta-post, climb the steps to the hillside Castle Of San Giovanni (rewarding yourself with a seabass supper at harbour-side Galion restaurant on the way down). Recline at chic city hotel Forza Mare – Beyoncé’s been snapped there and everything. Ryanair.com flies to Podgorica from £65 return

DON’T GO TO Berlin GO TO GRAZ (Pronounced Gra-tzss)

You go to Berlin for the edgy art and culture, right? Well, this Austrian city has both in spades, without the need to queue all night for a club you won’t remember the next day. A few things to tick off your list: museum Kunsthaus Graz (looks like a cast-off from the Westworld set); Murinsel Graz (below), an artificial island in the River Mur that has everything from strudel to cinema. And try Blendend for tasty veggie burgers and cocktails, then head to Die Scherbe bar to try a glass (bottle) of the wine of the month. Stylish Augarten Art Hotel is where we’d lay our heads for a night or two. Lufthansa.com flies to Gras from £139 return

DON’T GO TO PRAGUE GO TO BRNO (Pronounced Burr-no)

What it lacks in vowels, it makes up for in blonde beer, baroque buildings and a merciful lack of stag dos. The Czech Republic’s second-largest city is home to the Moravian Karst, a network of underground caves that will look super intrepid on your ’Gram. Try the cheesecake at Soul Bistro, and sip beer at the Lucky Bastard Beerhouse. For late-night action, it has to be Super Panda Circus, adored for its crazy decor. Chic hotels aren’t plentiful, but Avanti’s rooftop spa and city views are as good as they come. Wizzair.com flies to Brno from £38 return

DON’T GO TO Bologna GO TO BARI (Pronounced Baa-ri)

Yes, it sounds like your dad’s mate, but this southern Italian city is better looking and smells a lot less like Old Spice, and a lot more like pasta. There’s a castle, and the seafront Lungomare Nazario Sauro (a promenade). Shop at Mimma Ninni, stay at Hotel Imago (Hotelimago.it; from £84 per night), and sample local speciality polpo arricciato (octopus beaten until tender), at La Tana Del Polpo. Ryanair. com flies to Bari from £50 return

DON’T GO TO Barcelona GO TO GIRONA (Pronounced Jii-rone-air)

Catalan culture, modernist architecture and (nearly) year-round sun make this ancient walled city, an hour from the Costa Brava coast, a total find for a weekend break. It even has its own Rambla to stroll along, minus the hordes and creepy character actors. Stop for lunch with the mahogany-tanned businessmen at Cafè le Bistrot, browse the boutiques in the Old Quarter, and when it gets too scorchio to shop and sightsee, head back to Nord 1901 Hotel, where there’s a pool and airy suites to restore equilibrium. Three-Michelin-starred El Celler de Can Roca, regularly voted one of the best restaurants in the world, is the place to dine, but, if you don’t have €300 spare, tuck into cannelloni beneath the arched ceilings of Divinium. Jet2.com flies to Girona from £63 return ◆