8 of the best city breaks to take in 2017: from Aarhus to Toronto

Start 2017 by planning where you can steal away for a few days – preferably somewhere where you can soak up fascinating culture and discover some fabulous cuisine. But with such a dizzying choice of cities, how do you whittle down the list?

You can start in Bordeaux, which has transformed itself from a stuffy, tired city into a buzzing place with an exciting restaurant scene and a state-of-the-art wine museum. France’s wine capital will be even easier to reach come July, when a new speedy train service from Paris will cut more than an hour off the journey.

As Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary, Toronto will be putting on a four-day bash around Canada Day on 1 July. But even if you can’t make the party, Canada’s largest city draws you in with its huge choice of restaurants, up-and-coming districts including the Junction, and the promise of lazy, sunny days on Toronto Islands.

While Warsaw and Krakow get the lion’s share of attention, the rejuvenated port of Gdansk is a highlight of Poland’s Baltic coast. Its enchanting Baroque centre was completely reconstructed after the Second World War, and the city’s attractive waterfront throngs with cafés and galleries. For sea breezes and beach fun, hop on a train to one of the Baltic Sea’s most popular resorts, Sopot – it’s only 15 minutes from Gdansk.

Canada isn’t the only country in an anniversary mood in 2017: Finland marks a century of independence with a year of festivities. Join the celebrations in Helsinki as events include a mass singsong and giant open-air dinner parties. Come in the summer and enjoy the 100km of coastline that squiggles around Helsinki’s archipelago of more than 300 islands.

Bridge the north-south divide by discovering both of this year’s European Capitals of Culture. Denmark’s second-largest city, Aarhus, combines superb Nordic cuisine with artistic architecture, great shopping, a revitalised waterfront and gorgeous beaches. For true Mediterranean warmth, head south to the west coast of Cyprus and explore thousands of years of history in Paphos. Wander through the Unesco site of Kato Paphos Archaeological Park and roam past ruins ranging from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages. Then hit any one of the area’s many beaches, from tiny coves to long sandy stretches that are perfect for families.

Watch your pound stretch further in Belgrade, one of Europe’s most affordable – and liveliest – cities. There’s been a hotel boom recently in the Serbian capital’s Old Town, with everything from elegant five-star hotels to stylish B&Bs. Belgrade’s nightlife is legendary, ranging from Budapest-style ruin bars in the Savamala district and Cetinjska street to the hundreds of floating clubs along the Danube and Sava rivers.

You don’t need much of an excuse to visit Marrakech, but later this year this sizzling Moroccan city will be opening a new museum dedicated to Yves Saint Laurent. The designer made Marrakech his own when he bought the Jardin Majorelle, those dazzling botanical gardens north of the Medina. Enjoy the calm of the gardens before plunging yourself into the colourful maze of the Medina’s souks.

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