Sign up to Simon Calder\u2019s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discountsGet Simon Calder\u2019s Travel emailGet Simon Calder\u2019s Travel email<\/p>\n
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our\u00a0privacy policy<\/p>\n
Valentine\u2019s Day is fast approaching, and what could be more romantic than whisking your beloved away on a European city break?<\/p>\n
Naturally, the allure of couple-centric front runners \u2013 Paris, Florence and Prague \u2013 dominate the search bar for loving long weekends filled with tables for two, rose-strewn duvets and flutes of champagne amid intimate itineraries.<\/p>\n
With these can come steep price tags, swarms of sightseers and impossible restaurant reservations \u2013 all things that are sure to kill the mood.<\/p>\n
This year, forget the hearts and flowers heavyweights vying for the crown of the city of love \u2013 opt instead for an under-the-radar alternative for better value, fewer tourists and just as much opportunity to hold hands and stare lovingly into each other\u2019s eyes…<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how to cheat the canals of Venice in a love affair with Annecy and trade fairy-tale Bruges for the charms of Strasbourg this 14 February.<\/p>\n
Read more: Inside the six Paris neighbourhoods you should know before visiting<\/p>\n
Swap Dubrovnik for Pula <\/p>\n
Pula has a historic pedigree to rival the walled cobbles of Dubrovnik (Niels Bosman)With a prime spot on the Mediterranean, promenades of sophisticated seafood spots and distinctive medieval architecture, the cobbles of Dubrovnik are undoubtedly a haven for lovers and the proclaimed \u201cPearl of the Adriatic\u201d welcomes hordes of visitors to its sun-kissed walls year-round.<\/p>\n
An escape to frequently neglected Pula in northern Croatia offers an amphitheatre of Roman ruins to wander, a ragged coastline for bathing and authentic tavernas to taste pours from the Istria wine region without the perpetual hustle of southern hotspot Dubrovnik. Savour sailings watching the dolphins dance, Mediterranean meals beginning with\u00a0pr\u0161ut\u00a0ham and local olive oil, and lively nights in buzzing bars post sunset in Istria\u2019s historic main city.<\/p>\n
Where to stay <\/p>\n
Relax mere metres from the Adriatic, float hand in hand in a heated outdoor pool or stretch out during a couples massage at the stylish Boutique Hotel Valsabbion just 10 minutes from the heart of Pula. <\/p>\n
Read more: <\/p>\n
Trade Venice for Annecy<\/p>\n
Medieval Venice-esque canals weave Annecy\u2019s waterways (Mathias Reding)Annecy in south-east France is known as the Venice of the Alps \u2013 and for good reason. This medieval canal city has several waterways running through the centre, fed by the neighbouring Lake Annecy, set to a backdrop of snow-capped mountain peaks.<\/p>\n
It also features a charming old town with cobbled streets and pastel houses; the Ch\u00e2teau d\u2019Annecy, which looks like it fell straight out of a storybook, looms large, and is now home to a museum. The city rivals Venice for picturesque beauty and has the additional boon of the glorious lake, which visitors can explore on pleasure boats or on foot, following the trails around the water\u2019s edge.<\/p>\n
Where to stay <\/p>\n
Located on the banks of the Vass\u00e9 Canal, the contemporary\u00a0Le Splendid Hotel\u00a0faces Lake Annecy with old-town gift shopping, the fairy tale Palais de l\u2019\u00cele museum and idyllic boat tours at your fingertips.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Read more: The best hotels in Paris for budget-friendly breaks and luxury stays<\/p>\n
Switch Florence for Ferrara<\/p>\n
Ferrara is a romantic Renaissance heavyweight (Melina Kiefer)Florence may be the cradle of the Renaissance, but the reasons tourists flock there \u2013 world-class art, architecture, food and drink \u2013 can be found elsewhere in Italy. The oft-overlooked city of Ferrara, sat between Venice and Bologna, is a serious Renaissance art destination, plus a Unesco World Heritage Site. Its proximity to better-known cities makes it a relatively quiet option, with less competition to see the signature Castello Estense, a giant castle complete with moat in the city centre, and various palazzos boasting fine frescoes and examples of Renaissance art. <\/p>\n
Food-wise, there are plenty of trattorias serving traditional Ferrara dishes, such as cappellacci di zucca (pasta filled with pumpkin, parmigiano cheese and nutmeg) and pasticcio di maccheroni (a sweet-crust pie with macaroni, b\u00e9chamel, dried mushroom and truffle filling).<\/p>\n
Where to stay <\/p>\n
With wooden beams, rich red accents and antique furnishings there\u2019s a warm ambience to the\u00a0Princess Art Hotel\u00a0that encapsulates a bygone era. Think cosying up by the fire, unwinding on the garden patio and making the short stroll to Este Castle.<\/p>\n
Read more: The best city breaks in Italy, from art-filled Florence to coastal Cagliari<\/p>\n
Change Bruges for Strasbourg<\/p>\n
Strasbourg beats Bruges as a fairy tale base (Chan Lee)Bruges\u2019 pretty market squares, cobbled streets and soaring church spires mimic a medieval fairy tale. The drawback? These attractions also attract huge numbers of tourists. Find a quieter yet equally charming base in Strasbourg \u2013 the underappreciated Alsace gem on the French-German border that combines the best of both. <\/p>\n
Half-timbered, colourful old buildings lining winding streets give their own take on the fairy-tale style, while cosy winstubs (traditional Alsatian taverns) welcome travellers for food and drink. Get a cultural fix at the 18th-century Palais Rohan, dubbed a \u201cVersailles in miniature\u201d, or go more modern with a visit to Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Art Moderne et Contemporain, which features works by Kandinsky and Picasso.<\/p>\n
Where to stay <\/p>\n
The grand 16th-century H\u00f4tel & Spa Le Bouclier D\u2019or has preserved its historic splendour among the waterside timbers of \u201cPetite France\u201d. Le Bouclier d\u2019Or even hosts a steamy hammam, moody wine bar and impressive views of Strasbourg Cathedral.<\/p>\n
Substitute Prague with \u010cesk\u00fd Krumlov <\/p>\n
For a pint-sized Prague, visit \u010cesk\u00fd Krumlov in the South Bohemia region (Mike Swigunski)Plentiful beer, architecture that roams from Gothic to baroque to art nouveau and a maze of pretty, cobbled streets \u2013 Prague has all you need for a romantic break. And, apparently, for a less-than-romantic stag do.<\/p>\n
Escape the morph-suit-clad crowds this Valentine\u2019s Day by travelling to \u010cesk\u00fd Krumlov, a pint-sized Prague in Czechia\u2019s south. With its own Unesco status, plenty of Renaissance architecture to admire and a fairy tale castle perched above the Vltava River, this small-scale town blends the highlights of the capital with peaceful and responsible tourism.<\/p>\n
Where to stay <\/p>\n
For riverside accommodation in \u010cesk\u00fd Krumlov,\u00a0Garni Hotel Castle Bridge\u00a0sits on the Vltava River with views that stretch to its iconic stronghold. Picture hearty breakfast platters on the banks and spacious double rooms just a stone\u2019s throw from the main square.<\/p>\n
Read more: The perfect European city Christmas market break \u2013 with a hidden spa twist<\/p>\n
Replace Paris with Bordeaux<\/p>\n
Ditch the bustling city of love for quiet carafes of margaux this February (Getty Images\/iStockphoto)Hailed as one of the world\u2019s most romantic cities, Paris attracts more than its fair share of lovebirds. But those looking for good food and wine and a chance to brush up their langage de l\u2019amour should look further south for all the romance with less of the clich\u00e9.<\/p>\n
Bordeaux offers a compact city centre, pedestrianised boulevards and restored neoclassical architecture at every turn. Swap the Eiffel Tower for the Miroir-d\u2019eau, the world\u2019s largest reflecting pool, take advantage of the city\u2019s illustrious wine heritage in the Cit\u00e9 du Vin museum, and forget Notre Dame \u2013 Bordeaux\u2019s Cathedral of Saint Andrew is a Gothic masterpiece in its own right.<\/p>\n
Where to stay <\/p>\n
A dream for couples, luxury is king at\u00a0Villas Foch\u00a0in downtown Bordeaux. Here, a world-class spa meets romantic Juliet balconies, indulgent p\u00e2tisserie and swirls of red in the dimly lit bar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Read more: How to do a Bordeaux wine tour by public transport<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sign up to Simon Calder\u2019s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discountsGet Simon Calder\u2019s Travel emailGet Simon Calder\u2019s Travel email I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our\u00a0privacy policy Valentine\u2019s Day is fast approaching, and what could be more romantic than whisking your beloved away […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4046,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n