City trip into the warmth: These are the six most beautiful sunny cities
Winter is not over yet, but the desire for spring and sun is growing. We present six trendy cities in southern Europe and North Africa – ideal for a short city trip with guaranteed warmth.
The one with one
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February 2024 will probably go down in the annals as one of the warmest in Germany. Spoiled by spring-like temperatures, the next onset of winter will hit us even harder. If you’re tired of the cold but don’t have much time, we recommend a city trip within Europe or to North Africa. Pleasant temperatures have already arrived in many metropolises. They make it possible to drink coffee in the sun without freezing or sweating, see the most beautiful sights and enjoy the time before the Easter hustle and bustle. We show six of the most fascinating cities in southern Europe – from west to east.
1. Lisbon: hills, suspension bridge and highlights at 20 degrees
Soft, golden light, seven hills on the Atlantic coast, historic old town with colorful tiled house facades: Portugal’s capital can be reached in just three hours by plane and scores with spring-like daytime temperatures of 15 degrees Celsius from January, which rise to a pleasant 20 degrees by March. The most iconic and cheapest way to discover Lisbon is with the nostalgic tram number 28. It rattles through narrow streets with its bright yellow carriages and winds through sharp curves.
Steadily uphill and downhill. The seven hills on which the city was built more than 2,000 years ago offer many spectacular views: of the red tiled roofs, the azure estuary of the River Tagus, the Atlantic coast and the 2.3 kilometer long suspension bridge Ponte de 25 Abril what the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco looks like. Another eye-catcher are the facades of the houses. Because many are decorated with colorful tiles – with azulejos, some of which are still hand-painted. Street art in Lisbon is older than in most cities in the world. The highlights also include the Castelo de Sao Jorge fortress with integrated castle ruins, the Moorish district of Mouraria and the Torre de Belém.
The 16th-century tower lies in the middle of the Tagus River and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Time for a latte? Here you can also eat a Pastéis de Belém, a crispy puff pastry tart with sweet egg cream. Or would you rather have a glass of Vinho Verde in the old town under the palm trees? Don’t rush, because Lisbon’s nights are long, after all there are still a few Fado bars to explore.
2. Barcelona: Perfect mix of culture, sun, beach, sea and mountains
Spectacular location between the mountains and the Mediterranean. Mediterranean climate with lots of sunshine and palm trees. Historic old town and great Art Nouveau architecture. Art, bars and this relaxed, easy attitude to life. Barcelona is the dream city of many short and weekend trippers. Here you can not only admire world-famous sights such as Antoni Gaudi’s unfinished church La Sagrada Familia with its 100 meter high bell towers. Or the Picasso Museum.
Or the promenade “La Rambla” and the Gothic quarter Barri Gotic. But also more than 60 rooftop bars with spectacular views of the Catalan capital. Harbor tours also offer an unusual perspective. It is still too cold in March to swim on the four-kilometer-long sandy beach, which is a ten-minute walk from the city center. But the locals already meet here to relax in the sun and take a walk along the beach promenade.
Of course there are also works of art such as “Peax”, the giant bronze fish or the W Hotel, which is built in the shape of a glass sail. In between there are nice cafés that invite you to have a Copita de Cava. A glass of bubbly is a must because Cava, the Spanish answer to champagne, is largely produced in the Penedes wine-growing region. This region is less than an hour southwest of Barcelona. Plus a few tapas with a view of the azure Mediterranean.
3. Marseille: Southern French lifestyle and harbor flair
“Mama Marseille” is also affectionately called the oldest city in France. Although it has a reputation as a rough and down-to-earth port city (also because of the gang wars), it still has a lot of beautiful things to offer away from the problem areas – and has been doing so for more than 2,500 years.
The historic city center, for example, which is in close proximity to the old harbor. The Vieux Port is ideal for exploring Marseille, including culinary. It dates back to the 15th century and is surrounded by two fortresses. In 2013 it was completely rebuilt to mark Marseille’s nomination as European Capital of Culture. Since then, you can stroll in car-free pedestrian areas and be enchanted by the Mediterranean atmosphere with the sailing boats and yachts dancing on the water. Also nearby are the MuSaMa soap museum, the oldest district of Le Panier and the MuCEM museum (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations) as well as the Canebière boulevard.
The city’s landmark is the neo-Romanesque-Byzantine basilica Notre-Dame-de-la-Guarde, which sits on a 160-meter-high rock. But Marseille can also be very modern, such as the Cité Radieuse complex by Le Corbusier and the futuristic 147 meter high office tower by star architect Zaha Hadid. The cuisine is also highly praised; after all, the famous fish soup bouillabaisse is said to have been invented here. Fresh fish and seafood are among the most specialties, influenced by the people of different cultures who have lived in Marseille for thousands of years. The latter also create the lively atmosphere of the Provençal metropolis on the Cote d’Azur.
4. Florence: art, cappuccino and cantuccini
The wealth of museums, palaces, monuments and Renaissance-style buildings has earned Florence not only a title as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The capital of Tuscany is home to some of the most impressive buildings of antiquity and some of the greatest works in art history – from the Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River to the colorful marble-clad Florentine Cathedral with its imposing dome and Michelangelo’s statue of David.
It is a place of pilgrimage for art lovers; even art philistines quickly fall under the magic of the historic city. More than 70 museums invite you – from the Uffizi to the Medici Chapels, the Bardini Museum, the Museum of Prehistory and the Galleria dell’Accademia to the Museo Galileo, Leonardo Interactive Museum or the Selfie Museum.
If you want to get an overview first, you can climb a small hill on the quiet side of the Ponte Vecchio towards Piazzale Michelangelo. Our tip: While strolling through the old town, drink a cappuccino in a bar and nibble on a bag of cantuccini. The almond cookies are a typical specialty.
5. Naples: Loud, lively and exciting underground
Naples is the third largest city in Italy after Rome and Milan. Located deep in the south of Italy, it is the capital of the Campania region. Even though chaos, dirty streets, mountains of rubbish and crime are as much a part of Naples as Pizza Margherita, there are still many reasons to visit the city by the sea. Example of architecture: of the approximately 400 churches, the cathedral and the Jesuit Church of Gesù Nuovo are among the most magnificent.
Exploring it involves strolling through the narrow streets of the old town, where lively life takes place. Between small street cafes, facades with patina and a southern Italian dolce vita atmosphere. One of the most exciting activities is strolling through the narrow streets of the old town, where lively everyday life takes place. And a visit to the underground. There is an underground tuff stone labyrinth almost 40 meters below Naples. Napoli Sotteranea stretches over a length of almost 80 kilometers. With squares, streets and amphitheaters that were created by the Greeks and Romans in ancient times and later used as shelters during the Second World War.
If you want to get some fresh air, stroll towards Castel Sant’Elmo, which is located on the Vomero hill. From up there you have a great view over the center, to Vesuvius and the islands in the Gulf of Naples. Speaking of the island: A detour to the island of Capri with its spectacular, rocky coastline and the famous Blue Grotto is another highlight. A few more days left? Then there are trips to the surrounding area, to Pompei and Vesuvius or to the nearby Amalfi Coast.
6. Marrakech: The magical world of Aladdin and Ali Baba
A jumble of sounds, smells and colors: Medina is the name of the old town of Marrakech, which is surrounded by a twelve-kilometer-long, red sandstone wall. Anyone who delves into the labyrinth of alleys, squares, shops, cafés and riad houses will think they have landed in a fairy tale from the 1001 Nights. The flight from Germany to this oriental magic takes four hours. It is crowned by March temperatures around 22 degrees. The best entry into the city is the Square of the Jugglers, also called the Square of Delights, the Square of the Beheaded or the craziest square in Africa. Snake charmers, fire breathers, dancers, faith healers and musicians meet here.
The souks branch out right behind it. A shopping paradise that ranges from hand-woven silk carpets, silver jewelry and ceramics to argan oil and spices and snake skins. Would you like relaxation and peace? This is also easy to find in Marrakech: in the Jardin Majorelle, the most beautiful garden in the city. The botanical garden gained great fame in the 1980s thanks to its owner Yves Saint Laurent – as did his art objects in cobalt blue and yellow.
Another source of inspiration is the Maison de Photographie, a photo collection in a typical riad house with a white courtyard and rooftop terrace, which shows Marrakesh and its residents in times gone by. How about visiting a traditional hammam before dinner (specialty tagine)?