Elegant Via San Felice is Bologna’s quietly stylish fashion street, mixing vintage and second-hand shops with polished boutiques and artisan goldsmiths, plus a few bars and restaurants to break up the browsing. A paradise for shoe lovers, and only five minutes from Piazza Maggiore.
Once a defensive point against Austro-Hungarian troops, this hilltop bastion is now where locals and visitors gather for the finest view over Sarajevo. It’s a 15-minute climb up from Bascarsija – worth every step as the Old Town and the bright City Hall (Vijecnica) spread out below. Time it for sunset.
“Vrahakia” means little rocks – the smooth stone top of the Areopagus hill, with a sweeping view over Athens and the mountains ringing the Attica basin. A wonderful spot for a morning coffee with friends before the crowds, and the Acropolis entrance is just a few steps away. Find the path opposite Cine Thisseio.
Time seems to have stopped in this coffee-house of well over a century, where regulars nurse a Greek coffee and hunch over the chessboard set out on every table. The walls are lined with photos of famous players; strike up a game (Karpov once played here in 1992) and ask owner Yiannis for a plate of meze.
A hidden bar tucked inside an old lodge, beloved by fans of alternative music from techno to indie rock. The tiny interior is a proper dancing den that goes until dawn, while the larger courtyard is perfect for a laid-back drink. There’s no sign from the street, so follow the map to find it.
An Elvis-themed souvlaki joint where the grill does things differently – skewers served with fresh fried potatoes, lemon and bread rather than wrapped in pita. Relaxed, cheap and open late, it’s the go-to after a night out in Kerameikos, best eaten on the square right outside. Go for the pork.
A charming little 100-metre street in Osterbro lined with some of the most colourful facades in the city – a lovely, low-key alternative to Nyhavn. The neighbourhood around it is full of design shops and good cafes; come on a weekday to photograph the houses without parked cars in the way.
A Portland institution and the largest independent bookstore in the world – a whole city block of new and used titles spread across colour-coded rooms. Easy to lose an afternoon here; grab a coffee and follow your curiosity down the aisles.
Lugano’s tap water is famously excellent, and the many public fountains dotted (and half-hidden) around the city and lakefront are a genuine local treat on a summer day. Carry a bottle, skip the single-use plastic, and refill as you wander – some of the prettiest fountains are just outside the centre.
