Bright lights, big city

It’s always good to get away to another city, to take in a new place or culture.

Three of the most popular city breaks for Brits this year are Amsterdam, Paris and Berlin. So we’ve taken a quick look at what makes these three cities so popular and also gone behind the scenes to suggest a couple of alternative sights to see when you get there.

Amsterdam is a vibrant, canal-lined city blending historic charm with modern creativity. Bicycles rule the streets, tulips color the markets, and hidden courtyards and world-class art await beyond every bridge. It’s a city of freedom, contrast, and effortless cool.

Museum Van Loon

Beyond the coffee-shops and the Rijksmuseum its also a city of elegant buildings and secret gardens, such as Museum Van Loon Garden – A stunning 17th-century garden behind a canal house museum.

Or for a more alternative take you might want to visit De Ceuvel – A reclaimed shipyard in North Amsterdam turned into a sustainable community with floating offices, aquaponics, and solar-powered cafes.

Berlin is a dynamic city of contrasts – gritty and grand, historic and forward-thinking. Street art covers old walls, techno pulses through hidden clubs, and history lives around every corner. It’s a place where creativity thrives, rebellion is celebrated, and a turbulent past is never forgotten.

But it’s also a green city, surrounded by lakes and forests, and just to the south-west of Berlin you can find Pfaueninsel (or Peacock Island) – A fairy-tale-like island in the Havel River, home to peacocks, forest paths, and a romantic white castle.

Teufelsberg

Or for something a little grittier head west to Teufelsberg – A Cold War-era U.S. listening station built on top of an artificial hill made from WWII rubble, now covered in street art and offering panoramic views of the city.

Paris of course is a timeless blend of elegance and iconic landmarks, cobbled alleys, café culture, avant-garde fashion and underground art. Romance lingers in its light, history echoes in its streets, and every corner invites discovery – from grand boulevards to hidden gardens.

Beyond the crowds of the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre you may want to consider the more intimate feel of Butte-aux-Cailles (13th arrondissement) – A peaceful, village-like neighborhood with cobbled streets, art nouveau houses, street art, and quirky cafés. Elsewhere in the 13th you’ll find giant murals by international artists covering entire apartment blocks, making this area an open-air museum.

Le Comptoir Général

Or head North to  Le Comptoir Général (10th arrondissement) – Le Comptoir Général defines itself as a museum dedicated to ghetto art. The theme of African culture runs through the bar’s cocktails, the artists on display, the dishes, and even the food shop. The affordable Sunday brunch is known to be popular with the locals.

To celebrate these three cities, we’ve produced our city break mini-collection.

Sharp and minimalist, each t-shirt (Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin) features a crisp geometric monogram, subtly accented with the colours of their national flag. It’s a detail that’s small in scale, but full of identity. Like the cities themselves it doesn’t need to try to hard – it works fine just the way it is.

You can find out more about our City Break t-shirts here.