5 little-known European cities you'll love

Paris, London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Rome - even those who have not been there know a lot about these cities. Millions of tourists come there from all over the world, taking photos against the background of the same sights, lining up in a queue. But there are other, not so popular cities, which have preserved the real culture and traditions of good old Europe.

Bordeaux

Serenity... This is the definition of Bordeaux. This is an unknown for many tourists corner in the south-west of France. Life here is quiet and measured, and the inhabitants of the city prefer to eat - deliciously, drink - sweetly, and sleep - soundly. Bordeaux has no world-famous sights. But it has something that many tourist cities do not have - a quiet and unhurried way of life, thanks to which you can truly relax.

What Bordeaux is really famous for is its wine tradition, and if you're a connoisseur, we suggest taking a tour that will show you how this region became the center of French winemaking.

Here you'll find a real authentic France: with vineyards and truffles, the most delicious wines and ornate gardens. Old cobbled streets, Gothic-style towers - in short, a real medieval in the 21st century.

Hotel accommodation: from €30 to €140 per night.

Rotterdam

When it comes to the Netherlands, most people only think of Amsterdam with its gingerbread houses and windmills. Rotterdam rips that template to shreds. Rotterdam is a city of the future. It is 30 years ahead of its time. Looking at the variety of all kinds of architectural masterpieces, one can imagine what Europe will be like in a few decades.

The kilometers of futuristic buildings are confusing - it feels like you're on another planet. It makes you want to look up to see if there are flying cars overhead. A bridge that looks like a swan, a house in the shape of a pencil, a 185-meter tower in the form of a ship's mast - such a number of unusual and amazing buildings can hardly be found in all of Europe combined.

If you want to learn more about how an unremarkable village became a real futuristic wonder, we advise you to take the tour "Architectural Rotterdam".

Hotel accommodation: from €18 to €125 per night.

Bilbao

Bilbao is the largest city in the Basque Country. You haven't heard of it? It's not surprising, because it's not on the world map. The Basque Country is an autonomous community in the north of Spain. In fact - it is Spain, but this "country" has its own language, its own cuisine and traditions.

You can start getting acquainted with Bilbao on a sightseeing tour, and then explore the surrounding area - the rocky coast, fishing villages and ancient towns.

Bilbao is a city of modern art. It is everywhere here: fancy bridges, oddly shaped houses, sculptures. This city is unusual, sometimes incomprehensible, but that makes it even more interesting. Perhaps that is why its main attraction is the Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art.

Hotel accommodation: from €10 to €75 per night.

Bologna

Bologna is a city of contrasts in northern Italy. On the one hand - ancient architecture, a thousand-year history and the oldest university. It would seem to be an ordinary city in Italy. Well, except for the fact that its history goes back 2500 years. But the other side is hundreds of thousands of students. They are everywhere here: they walk, socialize, read books, engage in various hobbies, and organize noisy parties. It is students who set the active rhythm of the city's life, and there is no escaping it.

And, of course, don't forget the world-famous dishes from Bologna: pasta with Bolognese sauce and little tortellini dumplings.

Hotel accommodation: from €18 to €170 per night.

Nottingham

England is not just London, oatmeal for breakfast and tea at five in the evening. The country's big cities have lost a bit of their real British charm as they've been swept up in the wave of globalization, the influx of tourists and emigrants. Nottingham is where the real England is: aristocratic, preserving ancient traditions and secrets.

There is no Big Ben or Tower Bridge here, but there is good old provincial England. By the way, history says that it was in Nottingham that the famous outlaw Robin Hood lived. The city has a monument erected in his honor. And for Batman fans we recommend visiting the Wallaton Hall Palace - it was the setting for the superhero's mansion in the movie "Batman".

Hotel accommodation:from €25 to €140 per night.