Europe's best smaller cities to escape the crowds - from a quiet Paris alternative to lesser-visited Italian beauties

We all know the top European capital cities: Paris for romance, Rome for food, Berlin for edgy nightlife and Madrid for culture.But hiding in the shadows of popular tourist cities are a wealth of smaller cities, or 'second cities', with just as much on offer – and far fewer crowds.Here, the Daily Mail travel team has compiled a list of their favourite spots. From hidden gems in the Baltics to Italian foodie hubs and even the French wine capital, there's something for all tastes, ages and desires.Read our guide to the best smaller cities for some inspiration for your next city break... Beautiful BordeauxERIN DEBORAH WAKS, TRAVEL WRITER For wine, food and plenty of shoppping and mooching to be done, head to BordeauxFrom the architecture to the cafe culture, Bordeaux is almost like a mini Paris - except without the crowds, chaos and hectic city vibe. Food and drink is at its best here. Try a canelé, the region's rum and vanilla pâtisserie, at Le Boulanger de l'Hôtel de Ville, a tucked-away bakery with an old-world French charm.Of course, a visit to Bordeaux is incomplete without a trip to one of the region's outstanding vineyards - whether you want to taste or just explore a chateau and expansive grounds. A standout option is Chateau d'Olivier – expect a magnificent building, expansive gardens and delicious wine desperate to be tasted. You can book through GetYourGuide for just £17.Beyond food, the city's Musée d'art Contemporain de Bordeaux is great for culture vultures, and a stroll along the river at least once is a must. Vibrant ValenciaGENIE HARRISON, EXECUTIVE TRAVEL EDITOR While Spanish cities Barcelona and Madrid face issues surrounding anti-tourism, wonderful spots like Valencia can really come into their ownAs anti-tourism protests reign on in Spanish hotspots such as Barcelona and islands Ibiza and Mallorca, there's all the more reason to explore Spain's lesser-visited corners.Valencia, a vibrant coastal gem on the country's east coast, is one such place.Visitors here can spend days enjoying large, steaming plates of paella in its birthplace, and while away afternoons on the golden-sand beaches.The city also has plenty of excellent attractions to explore, too, from cultural hub the City of Arts and Sciences to the gorgeous botanical gardens and the Basilica Cathedral.When evening falls, there are intimate bars aplenty where you can watch performances of flamenco and salsa dancing.Magnetic ManchesterALESIA FIDDLER, TRAVEL REPORTER The UK's second city, Manchester, is also great for a city breakOften dubbed London's second city, Manchester has much of what the capital offers but with a strong dollop of northern charm.There are plenty of museums, art galleries and historical sites to explore. The John Rylands Library is one of my favourite spots – it treats visitors to a unique insight into Manchester's history and feels like stepping into Hogwarts with neo-Gothic architecture and stained-glass windows.Definitely Maybe Bar, in Afflecks, is a must for any Oasis fan. Live musicians frequently play and the walls are covered in memorabilia.The only downside to Manchester is the bleak weather; downpours and grey skies are often seen hanging over the city. But armed with an umbrella and a raincoat, you can explore the crown jewel of the North in true Mancunian style.Gorgeous Ghent JOANNA TWEEDY, ASSISTANT EDITOR, LIFESTYLE AND TRAVEL Skip overrun Bruges for equally picturesque Ghent in BelgiumYes, Bruges is beautiful... but the whole world knows it, and you'll have to do battle with hundreds of other tourists if you want a decent spot for lunch on Market Square. Point your compass 30 miles east instead at Ghent; it has all the medieval charm with half the tourists and is the perfect size for an autumnal getaway. Meander some of Belgium's oldest streets, shopping for cuberdons – conical sweets with syrupy centres or pitch up at the Gruut City Brewery, which serves up glasses of its signature herby beer. Culture? Put Sint-Baafskathedraal on your list. This cathedral dates back more than 1,000 years and is home to 15th-century Flemish masterpiece, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. Go for Gdansk TOM CHESSHYRE, TRAVEL WRITER Tom recommends the city of Gdansk for a Polish weekend awayWith a population of 487,000, Gdansk is much smaller than Poland’s capital, Warsaw (1.8 million), yet it packs a punch. It’s home to the world's largest brick church (St Mary's Basilica). It's known as The World Capital of Amber, thanks to plentiful supplies that wash up on its Baltic Sea shore.Meanwhile, the Solidarity movement that led to communism's collapse in Poland began in its docks – triggering upheavals across Eastern Europe. And, not to forget, the Second World War started here – the first shots being fired during the Nazi invasion in 1939.A lot has gone on, and still goes on, in this northern Polish city, also famous for some of the country's best beer halls and a local liqueur with gold flakes in it (Goldwasser, said to bring you good luck).With Ryanair flights from Stansted from an astonishingly low £31 return, it’s cheap to reach and hotels are reasonable too; rooms in five-star hotels are from about £100.Expect buzzy modern bars, restaurants and cafes by River Motlawa, which cuts through the labyrinthine lanes of the old town.Take a local bus to the Westerplatte peninsula to see poignant war memorials at the place where Nazis attacked on September 1, 1939. Then check out the European Solidarity Centre at the dock where the workers’ uprising was led by the shipyard electrician Lech Walesa, who went on to become Poland's president, seeing out Soviet control.It’s a fascinating history, while the first-rate nearby Museum of the Second World War covers the start of the conflict and includes harrowing displays on the Holocaust.Lovely LiepajaERIN DEBORAH WAKS, TRAVEL WRITER The Naval Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicholas is a must-visit in LiepājaLiepāja, a port city on the coast of the Baltic Sea in Latvia, is set to join Évora in Portugal as one of two European Capitals of Culture 2027.Upon arrival, you'll have to dig a little deeper than the surface to see the beauty – it's not as swish as capital Riga, or as pretty as some of Latvia's smaller towns. But it has a really interesting charm. At the city's Northern Fort, part of the Liepāja Fortress, a labyrinth of bunkers dating back to the 19th century form part of the Karosta region. The fort was established to protect the navy base from potential enemy attack, and was closed military territory during the Soviet occupation of Latvia.Nowadays, the ruins are open – yet, due to their location on the coast of the Baltic Sea, seem to be quite literally disintegrating into the water. It's a sight to see – it feels like a step into a dystopian sci-fi film.Elsewhere, the Naval Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, from up close, is truly magnificent. Its beauty is made even more apparent by the contrasting surroundings – you can see people trudging through snow towards impenetrable Soviet apartment blocks right next to worshippers entering the church. The crown jewel of Liepāja today is its concert hall – which, during a visit, a tour guide told me is often dubbed an 'Aperol Spritz' concert hall due to its orange hue, visible from both in and outside. Bountiful Bologna GENIE HARRISON, EXECUTIVE TRAVEL EDITOR Head to Bologna for gastronomy, food markets and, of course, BologneseWhile most tourists in Italy plump for magnificent ruins in Rome or frescoes in Florence, there's plenty to be enjoyed in Bologna, widely regarded as the 'food' capital of Italy (high praise indeed) and home to Europe's oldest university. You won't need more than a few days, but it's a joy to weave between the porticoes and visit the buzzy piazzas (Maggiore and del Nettuno) that make up this bijou city. And of course, no trip to Bologna would be complete without sampling heavily laden plates of ragu alla bolognese in its birthplace. Treats of Timisoara TOM CHESSHYRE, TRAVEL WRITER Timisoara is one of Romania's most underrated hidden gemsThis city in the west of Romania, close to its borders with Serbia and Hungary, has a population of a mere 251,000. It has a backwater feel, yet it can be easily and affordably reached on Wizz Air flights from Luton (from £79).This is a city that grows on you, with numerous squares lined with cafes and little restaurants and colourful Art Nouveau, Baroque and Vienna Secessionist buildings in pastel colours, mixed with ochres and mustards.One of the finest, on Union Square, is the tall, pale blue Casa Bruck with its curvaceous roof and arched windows on the top floor – which look strangely like eyes, giving the building the appearance of having a ‘face' – plus elegant stucco flourishes.Also on Union Square is the main art gallery featuring splendid portraits and landscapes, offering glimpses into Romania before the influence of communism, which was to fall in Romania after protests that began in Timisoara on December 16, 1989. These were focused on what is now called Victory Square, and a mere six days later the brutal communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was to flee Bucharest, Romania’s capital. The regime had fallen within a week.You can learn about communist days at Timisoara’s Communist Consumer Museum in a house that has been kept as it would have been during that period. There is also a Museum of the 1989 Revolution.An 18th-century Austrian fortress is waiting to be explored as are ornate orthodox churches, plus it’s fun to take a tram ride – in funny little yellow trams – or stroll along the peaceful parks by the River Bega.Bari's beauty JOANNA TWEEDY, ASSISTANT EDITOR, LIFESTYLE AND TRAVEL Bari is the capital city of the Apulia (Puglia) region in southern ItalyBoth Ryanair and easyJet fly into Puglia hub Brindisi, which is just a 25-minute train ride from Lecce, an Italian city so rich in 17th-century baroque architecture and stunning piazzas, it's often dubbed the 'Florence of the south'. For city breakers, it's surprisingly easy on the wallet too. Getting from Brindisi costs around £8 return, accommodation is reasonable and the food – to die for – is inexpensive, with a pizza costing around a fiver. Lose yourself in a city made for idle wandering, whether it's around the ornate Piazza del Duomo or the lush greenery of the Giardini Pubblici (public gardens). Buzzing BristolERIN DEBORAH WAKS, TRAVEL WRITER Bristol's historic city architecture and vibrant centre make it one of the UK's top spotsJoin the discussionWhich underrated European city have you visited that deserves to be more famous than the tourist hotspots?What's your view?Bristol deserves more attention than it gets. It's not just a university city, but a bustling hub with a more laid-back vibe than London, pretty parks (the Downs is a must-visit) and lots to do.The main attractions are the Clifton Suspension Bridge and SS Great Britain Ship, a Victorian passenger boat – and the world’s first great ocean liner – and that dominates the city's historic harbour.A stroll through one of the city's top neighbourhoods is a great way to spend an afternoon. Gloucester Road, thought to be Europe’s longest stretch of independent shops, is full of vintage shops and independent bookstores, while Clifton village is more upmarket, home to antique stores and stylish gastropubs.