Planning a European break in the coming year? Likely to be in the spotlight are Eleusis (near Athens) and Romania’s Timisoara, two reigning European Capitals of Culture, as well as Florence for its Donatello bronzes. Quietly becoming the coolest Balearic island, Menorca has scored gastronomic points of late, while world-class museums have ensured that Oslo will rank among gallery-goers’ top destinations in 2023. Elsewhere, fans of the Glass Onion sequel to Knives Out or Disney’s The Little Mermaid remake are directed to Spetses and Sardinia respectively.

1. Montenegro

Sometime soon, Montenegro will lure the masses. For now, however, the small Balkan country remains much cheaper than crowded Croatia, despite possessing similarly stellar islands, beaches — try Dobrec, only accessible by boat — and sights. The Tara river flows along Europe’s longest canyon at 51 miles, while Kotor’s Venetian palaces are wedged between sheer mountains and a dazzling blue bay. It’s ever more accessible, with Jet2 and Wizz Air starting fresh UK routes to Tivat and Podgorica respectively. And its fast-growing luxury hotel scene complements an assortment of superb boutique options.

Where to stay The elegant, 34-room Conte Hotel comprises four stone buildings in Perast, a sublimely pretty village overlooking the Bay of Kotor.

2. Athens, Greece

One of 2023’s three co-European Capitals of Culture is Eleusis. Just 11 miles northwest of Athens, this small satellite city once ranked among Ancient Greece’s five holiest cities and people travelled from miles away to participate in its autumnal Eleusinian Mysteries initiation ceremony, which was thought to guarantee a happy afterlife. You can visit the well-preserved Sanctuary of Demeter ruins and museum where the ceremonies took place, and enjoy pop-up art shows or concerts in converted soap factories. Visit on a day trip from Greece’s capital, which in 2022 the Post Office ranked as the continent’s cheapest city break — the first time in 15 years that a city in western Europe had earned this accolade.

Where to stay In the vibrant, upmarket quarter of Kolonaki, Athens Flair has just six suites and a rooftop garden bar with tremendous views of Lycabettus Hill.

3. Florence, Italy

From February 11, an exhibition of bronzes by the sculptor Donatello will transfer to London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. But while this V&A show will comprise Britain’s first major Donatello showcase and is expected to include David, the Renaissance master’s seminal work, it won’t feature four notable works forbidden to leave Italy. Accordingly, to see his renowned The Feast of Herod bronze relief and two 50cm-high statues, you’ll need to visit the baptismal font of Siena Cathedral; for beautiful bronze doors, it’s the Basilica di San Lorenzo in nearby Florence. Other works can also be found around Florence, where Donatello spent his first 40 years.

Where to stay On Piazza Santa Maria Novella, a sleepy spot that’s ultra-close to all the action, The Place Firenze’s 20 upscale rooms are Florence’s hot new place to stay.

4. Timisoara, Romania

This “Little Vienna” is another of 2023’s co-European Capitals of Culture. Nicknamed for its mixture of restored plazas and lavish greenery, Timisoara is a liberal, free-thinking place of six universities: medical breakthroughs have been seen here, while the eastern city was where the Romanian Revolution began. Just as impressive is the surrounding Banat region. Here you’ll find healing spa resorts, vineyards and a perfectly circular village, Charlottenburg, built by German colonists. You can hike to the mossy, magnificent Bigar waterfall or through the cave-ridden Caras Gorge, and visit Europe’s tallest stone sculpture, a huge carving of Decebalus sited spectacularly over the Danube River.

Where to stay Close to Timisoara’s centre, Hotel Tresor Le Palais is the posh place to stay, yet would cost £100 a night more in France or Italy — so why not treat yourself? 

5. Madeira, Portugal

Hoping soon to have silver certification from EarthCheck, an advisory group to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, the Portuguese-owned Atlantic island of Madeira — closer to Morocco than its parent country — will be much easier to reach in 2023. Not only has Ryanair made capital Funchal a new base, but easyJet has started a twice-weekly service between Gatwick and Madeira’s beach-lined sister isle Porto Santo. What the main island does have are levadas, irrigation trails whose adjacent walking paths amount to an 840-mile network criss-crossing the rugged, oh-so-lush island, and reliable dolphin sightings. Both are happily becoming ever more sustainable, as Madeira looks to secure its future.

Where to stay The clifftop Quinta do Furao hotel is handsomely framed by vineyards offering spectacular coastal views. Reducing energy consumption is a focus.

6. Oslo, Norway

Oslo’s new Munch gallery — simply called MUNCH, and devoted to titular, tortured Edvard — finally debuted on the Norwegian capital’s regenerated waterfront in October 2022. Tilting forwards, it hosts some of the artist’s experimental photography plus two versions of The Scream. To see the original painting, walk to the National Museum. From ancient Chinese porcelain to Picasso paintings, 5,000 works are displayed here across two storeys below an illuminated rooftop exhibition space.

Where to stay The choicest base is Sommerro, an art deco retreat amid the former headquarters of Oslo’s original electrical company. Alongside 231 opulent rooms, it includes the city’s first year-round rooftop pool, sauna and terrace.

7. Trondheim, Norway

Oslo is not your only option in Norway. The country’s creatives are increasingly flocking 240 miles north to a city situated on fjord-carved coastline. In particular, Trondheim is becoming known for hosting some of the hottest new Nordic cuisine out there. Michelin-starred Fagn and zero-waste Credo have been at it a while, yet the hotter ticket is informal Sellanraa Bok & Bar for hyperlocal plates such as confit clipfish with parsnips, fried cod skin and a hazelnut vinaigrette. Served by a Norwegian flight from Manchester, compact Trondheim’s other temptations include 18th-century wharves and gothic Nidaros Cathedral, where a 172-step climb of the tower is amply rewarded by punch-the-air views up Trondheim’s fjord.

Where to stay In the 150-year-old Britannia Hotel’s glass-domed Palm Court, afternoon tea involves croissants stuffed with goat’s milk cream cheese.

8. Menorca, Spain

Ibiza and Mallorca have long bagged all the Balearic attention, yet that rather suits their archipelago neighbour. Menorca has a less pretentious air; instead of raves or retreats, this is a simpler place of blissful beaches and elegant old ports. There are new trappings of trendiness, though: its traditional avarca sandals are mightily hip these days, while glam Swiss art gallerists Hauser & Wirth turned a former naval hospital into an art space and renowned hotelier Arnaud Zannier has opened Nonna Bazaar, a desperately trendy restaurant in a 400-year-old finca estate. 

Where to stay Nonna Bazaar’s arrival was shortly followed by the 159-room Villa Le Blanc, the Melia group’s first venture into carbon-neutral accommodation.

9. Courchevel and Méribel, France

Separated by the Sommet de la Saulire peak, France’s two Three Valleys resorts of Courchevel and Méribel will co-host 2023’s Alpine World Ski Championships, from February 6 to 19. It’s one of the world’s biggest Alpine skiing events and, to celebrate, Courchevel will unveil a two-mile black run called L’Eclipse in winter 2023, with an average gradient of 30 per cent promised, while Méribel has retired the Plattières 3 gondola and its colourful bubbles and debuted the fast Bouquetin chairlift in its place. In general, demand for French ski resorts is likely to be huge after three cancelled or severely impacted seasons due to Covid.

Where to stay In slightly-cheaper Méribel at the chalet-style Fermes des Méribel apartments, handily positioned for lifts and blessed with an indoor pool.

10. Spetses, Greece

Released over Christmas 2022, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is Rian Johnson’s sequel to the popular 2019 whodunnit. Daniel Craig is back as genius sleuth Benoit Blanc, alongside the likes of Edward Norton and Janelle Monáe — but this time his case is in Greece. Filming mostly took place on pine-scented Spetses, the southernmost Saronic Gulf island, not far from Athens. Set-jetters will find aquamarine coves, atmospheric old shipyards, tiny chapels and chic jewellery shops around pretty, mostly pedestrianised Spetses Town. And they might recognise scenery from The Lost Daughter: Olivia Colman’s Oscar-nominated picture also shot here. Is it time for a Best Supporting Island category?

Where to stay Upscale hotels abound, but none has more panache than the Poseidonion Grand.

11. Northern Sardinia, Italy

Another imminent blockbuster is The Little Mermaid, a Disney-produced, live-action retake of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale due out in Britain on May 26. American singer and actress Halle Bailey is voicing Ariel, with Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy also involved. Much filming took place on northern Sardinia, aided by the Italian island’s suitably crystalline waters. Locations included Rena Majore, a large and lovely but unsung beach near Aglientu, the church of Castelsardo (for Prince Eric and Vanessa’s marriage) and another sandy shore, dinky Cala Moresca. That latter cove is in the glitzy Costa Smeralda’s Golfo Aranci, which actually already has a mermaid: the partly submerged bronze statue, Canto della Sirena, honouring the first Italian fishermen to come here. 

Where to stay One of Sardinia’s best hotels lines Golfo Aranci: the family-run Gabbiano Azzurro, where Moorish arches lead to a pool just steps away from the private beach.

12. Pag Island, Croatia

Big changes are afoot in 2023 for Croatia: the country is becoming the 27th member of the Schengen zone and adopting the Euro in the process, meaning travelling there can only get easier. Why not time your visit with another big event, the annual Sonus Festival on Pag Island? Think five days of dancing under the stars, lounging on the beach and hopping between boat parties. The EDM festival is marking its tenth anniversary in 2023 with a line up that includes Diplo, Ben Böhmer and The Martinez Brothers.

Where to stay Try Hotel Loža. It’s centrally located and right around the corner from Zrce Beach where the parties take place.

13. Vilnius, Lithuania

The capital of Lithuania is marking its 700th anniversary with a programme of special events throughout 2023. Kicking things off is the Vilnius Light Festival on January 25, where illuminated art installations are set up around the Old Town. This day is also the official birthday of the city — Vilnius was mentioned for the first time in the Grand Duke of Lithuania’s letters on January 25, 1323. Several opera and arts festivals will follow, while a highlight will be the As Young As Vilnius festival in July.

Where to stay Be in the heart of the action. Hotel PACAI is housed in a baroque palace in the heart of the Old Town.

Source: The Time