Copenhagen all booked up? Switch the Scandi favourite for its
edgy Finnish counterpart. Finland’s capital is an electric city
with a bumper list of offerings: Baltic Sea views, a burgeoning
food and drink scene and, in common with Copenhagen, a keen eye for
design. For architecture that wows, explore the area south of the
centre, playing bingo with the contemporary greats, from the
modernist lines of the Finlandia concert hall to the half-hidden dome
of the rock-carved Temppeliaukio Church. Don’t expect balmy
weather – this is a European city break, not a beach stay – but if
temperatures are a touch too low for your liking, head to the
slatted wooden pyramid on the waterfront that is Löyly, for a
warming introduction to Finnish sauna culture. Fuel up at 6K, a
contemporary street-food take on the city’s historic kauppahalli
(covered markets) – or head to one of the many cosy coffee spots.
Our choice pick is Café
Succès, where the cinnamon buns are divine.

Where to stay: Hotel St George Helsinki

Straddling east and west, Sarajevo is still often associated with the conflict
of the early Noughties, but that does the capital of Bosnia and
Herzegovina a disservice. With a dramatic mountain location, a
growing fresh-faced population and an edgy new direction that
brings to mind Budapest’s rise of around a decade ago, we’re
calling it: this is one of Europe’s coolest new city-break
destinations. Start in Baščaršija, the old town, trotting through
cobblestoned streets overlooked by Ottoman-era mosques and stately
Austro-Hungarian civic buildings, before grabbing sticky honey
baklava and a strong Bosnian coffee from Teahouse Džirlo. Refuelled, head over to Kazandžiluk
(Coppersmiths) Street to pick up your own copper coffee pot. The
recently revamped National Museum can help shape your
understanding of the country’s history – it was reopened with
funding from local residents after falling on financial hard times.
For dinner, head to quirky Cakum Pakum on Kaptol Street. The
diminutive eatery is dressed up in antique furnishings and tartan
tablecloths, and serves delicious savoury pancakes, pasta dishes
and steaks.

Where to stay: Hotel Aziza

Wolfgangsee is a study in Austrian elegance – all crisp mountain
air and verdant forests edging the aquamarine lake. Think of it as
an Austrian alternative to Slovenia’s Instagram-beloved Lake Bled, with significantly fewer hashtags
making it a tranquil choice for a long weekend. A trip to this
mountain region is all about getting back to nature, so don’t
forget to pack your hiking boots. Pick a meandering lakeside trail
and you’ll be strolling past quaint alpine architecture as you lap
the historic paddle boats chugging over the glassy water. Many of
the paths lead up into Austria’s high mountain plateaus, which, in
early spring, will be on the cusp of putting on their annual frothy
floral show. Finish your hike at a café set among the art nouveau
villas of Strobl, with a slice of malakoff torte – an indulgent
layer cake made with almond, sponge and cream.

Where to stay: Seehotel Berau

Look at photos of the Scilly Isles and you’d be forgiven for mistaking them
for somewhere in southern Europe. The Cornish archipelago, with its
bleached coral-coloured beaches and milky-blue waters more evocative of
the Caribbean than the UK, and a climate that tips towards the
subtropical, provides the perfect alternative to a crowded holiday
weekend on the mainland. Explore diminutive rural roads, scoff
top-class seafood at lo-fi beach joints and let the local wildlife entertain you (the seals are
everyone’s favourites). The five inhabited islands (of 140, in
total) are dotted with stone cottages offering a little
early-summer sanctuary. St Mary’s – the only isle with an airport –
is the easiest to reach.

Where to stay: Star Castle Hotel

Awash with crumbling medieval architecture, hidden thoroughfares
and, in our opinion, some of Italy’s best food, Palermo offers an
Italian escape in miniature. Start your day at one of the city’s
food markets (try La Vucciria, a souk-like complex founded over
1,000 years ago by Arab invaders, inspiring Renato Guttuso’s famous
Vucciria di Palermo painting), then take yourself on a
tour of the city’s nymph-filled baroque piazzas, ending at the
magnificent Palazzo Pretorio fountain. This is a city built around
its churches, so peek inside any you stumble upon – the lush gilded
interiors of the Palazzo dei Normanni’s Cappella Palatina are
jaw-dropping. A stroll through the colourful streets is the best
way to discover Palermo, complete with stops for cheesy, deep-dish
sfincione and, from Antico Caffè Spinnato, a refreshing coffee granita and
a couple of biscotti.

Where to stay: B&B
L’Olivella

No one’s pretending that Crete is an under-the-radar
destination, but, with its own airport offering ease of access and
near-guaranteed warm April weather, we’re sneaking it onto our list
as a no-brainer for a last-minute long-weekend getaway. Take your
pick from rustic villas tucked within sprawling olive groves,
hotels perched precariously on the red-rock
coastal cliffs or barefoot living on the picturesque coves that
fringe the island. Crete charms urbanites, who’ll find much to
enjoy in the colourful streets of Chania, while satisfying history
buffs, thanks to its historic monasteries and crumbling ruins. Book
a stay close to a beach and find the nearest checked-clothed table
at the local taverna – it’s all you need for the long weekend.

Where to stay: Hotel Off