Fall for a city hop
MARJORIE YUE
Autumn is a great time for a European city break – it’s less crowded and prices are down from the main peak season. And while the worst of the summer heat is gone... well, you don’t want to be shivering, do you?
So look south for your autumn city getaway for super sights and tempting temperatures. Even with the falling pound, there are still bargains to be had at this time of year.
Seville ticks all the boxes – the weather in southwest Spain in midNovember often reaches 22°C, it’s a wonderful destination and there’s a less than 25 per cent chance of rain.
The Real Alcazar, a Moorish fort converted into a beautiful royal palace and gardens, is unmissable and just yards away is the huge cathedral, with its soaring 344ft Giralda tower and the tomb of Christopher Columbus.
There are scores of good tapas bars and restaurants in the rabbit warren Santa Cruz district nearby. Look to pay around £53 a night for a central threestar hotel in mid-November – and flights start at £66 return.
Next stop: Naples . Chaotic, crazy, but compelling. Expect daytime highs of up to 18°C, with Vesuvius forming a brooding 4,200ft backdrop. You’ll need a jumper for evenings and there’s a 45 per cent possibility of a sprinkle.
Aside from the Italian city’s many fine sights – the Roman mosaics at the Archaeological Museum, catacombs and Sansevero chapel are musts – it’s a great base for trips to Pompeii, chic Capri, serene Sorrento or up Vesuvius. Neapolitan pizzas are pretty good too!
A central three-star hotel is around £45 a night, and flights from £100.
Marseille ’s split personality combines a modern multicultural metropolis with an undoubted gritty port air, warmed to perhaps 16°C. The Provençal sunshine can give way to cloud and there’s a 40 per cent likelihood of showers. A bit cool at night.
The Basilica Notre Dame is an ornate hilltop cathedral with fine views, while a boat trip to the Frioul islands takes only 20 minutes. Bouillabaisse is a spicy fish stew and the city’s (expensive) signature dish. Pastis is the iconic aniseed-flavoured tipple.
Expect to pay around £35 a night for a central three-star hotel, with flights from £33 return.