City breaks provide travellers with a wonderful ability to immerse themselves in a new culture and soak up a country’s urban atmosphere. Whilst a country’s capital might seem like the obvious choice, avoiding the crowds and heading to lesser-known ‘hidden gem’ cities is becoming increasingly popular. 

British hotel chain Premier Inn has analysed Google search data for hundreds of cities around the world, excluding searches for capitals, to uncover the alternative capitals people are most keen to visit this year.

Spanish city Malaga topped the list of alternative capitals to city break in, with over 470,000 searches for ‘Malaga holiday’ made annually. Brighton, Perth and Rio de Janeiro also feature in the top 10, alongside surprise entries such as Antalya in Turkey and Hurghada in Egypt. 

The Top 10 Most Searched Alternative Capitals

1. Malaga, Spain: With nearly half a million searches made for a holiday in the Spanish coastal city each year, Malaga’s wealth of stunning beaches, restaurants and free attractions such as La Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castle are certainly attracting travellers globally. The birthplace of Pablo Picasso, and home to the Picasso Museum (which is free on Sundays), it’s easy to see why so many are drawn to this Andalusian destination.

2. Venice, Italy: With just 250,000 inhabitants, Venice beat out Naples and Milan as the most sought-after city break destination for holidaymakers looking to skip the traditional stop of Rome. Known as “The Floating City”, Venice is a firm favourite for gondola rides, striking buildings and delightful Carnival celebrations.