8 underrated European cities to visit this summer

The reason people avoid European cities in summer? One word: crowds. But sidestep the obvious and a different set of urban escapes emerges. Across northern Spain, inland France and edgy Georgia, city breaks come with sea pools, sandy stretches and greenways made for roaming — all without the queues. Add courtyard restaurants, late-night bars, festivals and a wave of new openings, and suddenly summer in the city feels like an excellent idea. So, will it be an outdoors escape in the Azores? Or a museum-packed Italian city?

Celebrate the season in Toulouse

Seek out dappled light in La Ville Rose (‘the Pink City’), as Toulouse blooms for summer. The Augustins Museum has reopened after a six-year renovation, with its Gothic galleries unveiled once more. Its adjoining church — part of the same former convent — is due to follow in June, showcasing Renaissance art. There’s a new, well-priced, design-led stay in the shape of an Alfred Hotels property, complete with a leafy courtyard lined with bistro chairs and tables, plus summer-only food tours from Farinettes & Cie and Les Compagnons du Fromage — the latter led by a noted French cheesemonger. Come June, Rio Loco (10 to 14 June) animates the banks of the Garonne, with Morcheeba headlining as warm evenings draw crowds to this Unesco Creative City of Music.

Soak up Tbilisi’s creative scene

Georgia’s capital makes for an effortlessly cool city break, particularly in summer. Rub shoulders with locals at industrial-chic co-working hotspot Stamba Hotel, from the group behind Fabrika Tbilisi cultural centre and Rooms hotel, before checking out a Berlin-rivalling club scene — Bassiani is set in a disused swimming pool. Courtyard restaurants are the best way to sample the food and drink scene. Try Alubali for classic khinkali dumplings, the Wine Factory N1 for Georgia's amber wines or art-lined Salobie Bia for a legendary tomato salad. The Art Foundation Anagi modern-art gallery opened just last year, the Shalva Amiranashvili Museum of Fine Arts has been expanded and recently opened The Telegraph Hotel has raised the bar for luxury stays.

Fuel up on Irish hospitality in Cork

Ireland’s food capital is in fine fettle this year. There’s a new grab-and-go hub at  Urban Pantry, showcasing produce from local artisans, while sustainable vegetarian cafe Good Day Deli is runs cookery classes in the summer-ready gardens of Nano Nagle Place. For after-hours hospitality, head to the Savoy, an historic cinema, now reopened as a music venue after a decade-long closure. The next day, brush off the cobwebs on Ireland’s newest greenway, running 15 miles between the market town of Midleton and the coastal resort town of Youghal. Set along a former railway line, it’s made for walkers and cyclists, with bike hire available at either end.

(A pub-lover's guide to Cork, from craft cocktails to fireside pints.)

Be awed by Bilbao’s architecture

Architecture fans can’t get enough of Bilbao. Frank Gehry’s sinuous, sculptural Guggenheim Museum, unveiled in 1997, helped to transform Bilbao from a grimy port city into a modern, cosmopolitan metropolis. Now Norman Foster, in collaboration with Basque architect Luis María Uriarte, is reshaping the  Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. It’s set to reopen in June with a landmark contemporary extension and acres of new exhibition space. Come evening, make the most of the long summer nights by sampling local pintxos (the Basque take on tapas) around Plaza Nueva, then sip glasses of txakoli to live music at Ribera Market. For an easy day trip, hop across to San Sebastián for beach time on the shell-shaped Playa de La Concha.

(How to plan a weekend in Biscay.)

Embrace island life in Ponta Delgada

Escape the crowds this summer by heading to Europe’s western edge, where Ponta Delgada sits astride São Miguel, the largest of the Azores islands. Here, everything revolves around the elements, from the black volcanic stone that paves the city’s streets to the wild landscapes beyond. Head out on whale-watching trips (April to August), swim in the thermal pools at Furnas or hike among the crater lakes of Sete Cidades. Come afternoon, return to the city for a dip in the Piscinas do Pesqueiro sea pools, then feast on seafood at waterside Cais da Sardinha or join an evening food tour with Hungry Whales.

See more for less in Gdańsk

Affordability is part of the appeal of this Polish port city. Fuel up on pierogi at mleczny (traditional Polish cafeterias) or graze on street food such as zapiekanka, the local take on pizza. On the coast, the sandy sweep of Brzeźno beach is free to use, while summer brings a packed festival calendar. Mystic Festival delivers a blast of metal and rock in June, followed by the Solidarity of Arts festival in August, set against the backdrop of a former shipyard. That same month, Mozartiana takes over Oliwa Park, with classical performances dedicated to the composer.

(A culinary revival is taking place in northern Poland—here's why.)

Reap the cultural riches of Trieste

Italy’s most multicultural city reaches towards Slovenia and Croatia, blending Italian, Slavic and Habsburg-Austrian influences. Start with the food: Zinzendorf Opicina brings restaurant, shop, pasta workshop, deli, cafe and snack bar together under one roof, showcasing the city’s border cuisine. Then dip into Trieste’s storied coffee culture — this is the birthplace of Illy — at historic literary cafes such as Caffè degli Specchi, where Irish novelist and poet James Joyce spent part of his 16-year stay in the city. Canals and seafront settings make it an easy summer pick, too. There’s culture in spades, with recent additions including ITS Arcademy, Italy’s first museum dedicated to fashion, and  LETS Trieste, a literature museum.

(An espresso-fueled tour of Trieste, Italy's longstanding coffee capital.)

Sleep soundly in Ljubljana

A spate of stylish hotels has reshaped the Slovenian capital’s stay scene. Check into AS Boutique Hotel for its futuristic, matchstick-style architecture and leafy rooftop terrace, complete with whirlpool bath, sauna and castle views. Its courtyard restaurant, Gostilna As, long predates the hotel and remains a fixture of the city’s fine-dining scene. Over on Rožna ulica (‘Flower Street’), Hotel Bloom reflects its surroundings with vibrant greens, a hidden garden and a profusion of house plants. When you’re not bedding down, head to Center Rog, a vast creative hub set along the Petkovškovo embankment, with a restaurant, cafe, market and deli under one roof.