Taking a deep dive in Helsinki’s subterranean city
Under the Finnish capital lies a world of swimming pools, go-karting tracks, playgrounds – and even an art gallery
Bolognina: make tracks for Bologna’s bustling former rail workers’ quarter
This once industrial area has been transformed into a vibrant artistic hub with a thriving food and drink scene
‘Fabulous museums and no queues’: five of the best under-the-radar city breaks in Europe
From the Renaissance treasures of Parma to offbeat creativity in Nantes, these cities offer world-class art, great food and a laid-back alternative to Europe’s hotspots
A city break in Łódź, Poland’s capital of cinema and factories
The imposing red-brick mills of its industrial past are a stunning example of urban regeneration in the former ‘city of a thousand chimneys’
‘It feels like Italy with the volume turned down’: readers’ favourite (smaller) city breaks in Europe
You share your favourite low-key alternatives to overcrowded hotspots, from an island city in the Med to a Norwegian art nouveau gem
Architourism in France: the retro futurist seaside town near Montpellier that’s out of this world
With buildings inspired by Mayan pyramids and featuring ‘intergalactic curves’, La Grande-Motte is a great alternative beach resort for fans of modern architecture
Katendrecht: Rotterdam’s sailors’ quarter reinvented as cultural hub
The regeneration of historic warehouses has transformed this former red-light district into one of the port city’s most vibrant areas
San Lorenzo: Rome’s rebel neighbourhood shaped by resistance, art and students
This overlooked quarter swaps the grandeur of tourist-saturated central Rome for murals, graffiti, cheap eateries and a working-class rhythm
‘Hearty fare, red gingham tablecloths and chalkboard menus’: my search for the perfect bouchon in Lyon
These traditional restaurants are the culinary backbone of this gastronomic capital, but finding the real deal means tackling offal – and red wine – for breakfast
How Porto’s gritty, industrial neighbour became a cool coastal hotspot
Matosinhos was built on fish, but today its retro seafood restaurants and canneries sit alongside great art spaces, museums and landmark architecture
‘The heart of Munich’s underground scene’: exploring edgy Schlachthofviertel
Butcher’s shops and dive bars sit side by side in a district where you can swap the touristy beer halls of the city centre for raw creative energy
‘It feels like an independent republic’: Madrid’s new arty barrio of Carabanchel
This traditional neighbourhood ‘across the river’ is where the city’s creatives are heading as the centre heats up
‘Neighbourhood renaissance’: once noble La Sanità in Naples is open for business again
After decades in the shadows, the residents of this historic quarter came together to launch local businesses and make the area an attractive proposition once more
‘The air resounds with a Babel’s Tower of languages’: why I wrote a novel based in Victoria Square, Athens
It once housed the fanciest shops and restaurants in Greece’s capital city – then it crashed. Now the area is reborn as a vibrant, multicultural neighbourhood
Cool bars and friendly vibes: readers’ favourite city neighbourhoods in Europe
These are the less explored corners of Stockholm, Amsterdam, Berlin and Porto that you’ve ‘stumbled into and ended up staying’