We visit every European city you can get to by direct train from the UK with £35 tickets and hidden tourist spots
DESPITE being an island, Brits are lucky enough to be able to hop over to the continent easily enough without getting on a plane.
And with Eurostar’s £35 ticket flash sale until Thursday, there is no better time to explore some of its city destinations.
The international train operator currently has five direct trains from London St Pancras to Europe.
The closest is Lille, a mere 1hr22 from the UK, followed by Paris, taking just over two hours.
If you fancy heading to Belgium, Brussels is slightly quicker, taking 1hr53.
Or you can hit up two places in the Netherlands, taking 3hr16 to Rotterdam and 3hr52 to Amsterdam.
And the Sun Travel team have visited each destination over their many years of exploring the continent.
So we’ve explained why they are so great to visit, and shared some of our top spots, cheap eats and favourite places to stay.
Rotterdam
Gritty Rotterdam is the epitome of urban cool – with great nightlife and a buzzing street food scene.
The post-war rebuilding of Amsterdam’s second city saw some unconventional architectural gems including De Rotterdam, with its three linked towers and the quirky, bright yellow Cube Houses.
You can even stay in one of the houses at the StayOkay Hostel.
Also a must-see is the Markethal – a lofty, towering building stuffed with stalls offering all sorts of global cuisines.
Head to Witte de Withstraat for cool cafes, art galleries and a host of bars and restaurants as well as some unique boutiques.
– Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
Paris
Paris has been a popular holiday destination for Brits since the early 1900s, thanks to its reputation as the city of love, the iconic Eiffel Tower, world-famous brasseries and bakeries… and as the only destination where we feel comfortable sporting a beret.
But in the last couple of years, it has also shot back up to the top of cool city break spots.
Young Parisians have been busy opening achingly cool restaurants and bars.
Netflix show Emily In Paris has reached a new generation of tourists and the 2024 Olympics televised the best parts of the city to the world.
I visited this summer to see popstar of the moment – Fred Again – perform at the city’s summer music festival, Rock en Seine, which was full of yet more cool Parisians, sipping rose in dainty plastic wine glasses while rocking out in a park on the outskirts of the city.
We ate at fusion restaurants (Pantobaguette), dined on affordable oysters and white wine (Trincante) and trawled the flea market for chic antiques.
All while staying at the glamorous Hotel Molitor, with its Wes Anderson-esque lido that also featured in Emily In Paris.
Perhaps best of all though, was the ease with which we got home to the UK – jumping back on the Eurostar at the Gare Du Nord, it took just over two hours to arrive back in London.
– Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel
Amsterdam
Pint-loving crowds spill out onto the streets from the brown bars in summer, while the winding maze of flower-lined canals are lit up by twinkling lights in winter, Amsterdam really is a city for all seasons.
When you’re knocking back local ales (Amsterdam is the home of Heineken, after all), make sure to order a portion of bitterballen, a much-loved bar snack in this region.
You can pick up a handful of the deep-fried, stewed-meat balls for around €5 – Cafe De Blaffende Vis, on Westerstraat, is a great place to sample them.
Take a boat tour while you’re here or venture to spots that are lesser-known among tourists.
This includes the Jordaan (where the aforementioned cafe sits), which hosts a regular street market, or the De Pijp neighbourhood, crammed with bohemian cafes and arty shops.
The much-anticipated Rosewood Hotel is slated to open later this year in the city and it looks like it’ll be an attraction worth visiting in itself.
Housed in the former Palace of Justice, a building of impressive architecture, the hotel will feature 134 rooms with unbeatable views of one of the city’s most picturesque canals.
Although prices haven’t been revealed yet, it looks like stays may come at a steep cost, so for something more budget-friendly, head to Mr Jordaan, a compact yet stylish spot with double rooms from around €100 per night.
– Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Lille
Knowing that my train to the French city was faster than my London train commute made it an easy decision to make when choosing to visit Lille.
Often overlooked in favour of it’s famous city Paris it has a number of claim to fames.
This includes Braderie de Lille, Europe‘s largest flea market as well as being the birthplace of Charles de Gaulle (who the main Paris Airport is named after).
But while there, there are some must stops.
Foodies can grab a £3 waffle from Meert, filled with vanilla and chestnut cream, or a meringue from Aux Merveilleux de Fred.
Pop up to Nu, the city’s only rooftop bar with great views and a great place to try snails (which converted me, a first-timer).
And for a quirky, affordable stay, make sure to head to Mama Shelter, a short walk from the city centre but with zany interiors and a great on-site restaurant.
Don’t want to walk all the food off? You can go on a retro car tour of the city with Tradi’Balade in a tiny Citroen 2CV while being taught the history by the enthusiastic tour guides.
– Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
Brussels
Brussels is so much more than the home of the European Parliament.
The old town is charming with the Grand Place (Grote Markt) central square a UNESCO World Heritage site surrounded by opulent guildhalls and The King’s House.
While the famous boy urinating into a fountain – Manneken Pis – is one of its most famous landmarks, keep an eye out for the statues of the girl – and dog – doing the same!
The city has a rich comic history – with murals and statues of Tintin and Smurfs to spot.
With the city famous for its waffles and and chocolate, it’s also known for its mussels and fries with Ommegang on Grasmarkt a great place to try them all!