Euro weekends BY TRAIN

No need to fly - these enticing cities are all an easy rail journey away

Lille, France

Vibrant Lille juggles fabulous French and Flemish architecture with superb food, museums, and shops. Its Grand Place is ringed by intriguing buildings, including the Renaissance Old Stock Exchange, while Place du Theâtre has the opera and the grand Chamber of Commerce. Work up an appetite viewing masterpieces by Rodin and Renoir at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, or Miró and Modigliani at the Museum of Modern Art, then savour beer-based specialties including slow-braised beef with sugar, ale and gingerbread at one of Lille’s many great restaurants. Don’t forget to try one of Meert’s divine chocolate waffles!

Stay: Contemporary and stylish Mama Shelter (mamashelter.com) has room-only doubles from £128.

Bruges, Belgium

Cobbles, canals, and culture meet classic cuisine in picturesque Bruges. This warm hug of a city has atmospheric, stroll-worthy neighbourhoods including Sint-Anna and Langestraat, plus a UNESCO-listed center whose 14th-century City Hall contains a glorious vaulted ceiling – and the magnificent Belfry’s 366 steps offer a workout after hearty fare such as wild boar on oyster mushrooms at De Stove restaurant. Visit the Groeningemuseum for works by Belgian artists including Bosch and Magritte, and nip into next door’s church to see Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child.