District markets, walks along canals, contemporary art spaces, or even former airports turned into public parks. Often, the best reasons to visit the most popular European cities again lie beyond their most photographed landmarks, according to a press release from Wizz Air.
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“When visiting a famous city for the first time, we usually want to see with our own eyes the places we have seen in photos for many years, but when returning, there is much more freedom,” says Salvatore Gabriele Imperiale, Head of Corporate Communications at Wizz Air.
According to him, when we no longer feel obliged to visit every famous landmark, we can spend more time in different districts, local restaurants, or simply feel the daily rhythm of the city. Very often, it is then that a familiar destination reveals itself in a completely different way.
London: city district life instead of landmarks
The list of places to visit in London for the first time understandably dominates Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and the British Museum. However, on a second visit, there is no need to limit yourself to the same central city districts.
You can start with East London. On Sundays, Columbia Road Flower Market fills with flowers and small independent shops, and nearby Broadway Market is famous for food, cafes, and small local businesses.
From here, you can take a walk along the Regent’s Canal: replace busy central streets with paths, houseboats, and a completely different view of the British capital.
For those wanting to get even further from the tourist center, it is worth visiting districts like Brixton, Peckham, or Walthamstow. Their markets, restaurants, and local cultural spaces allow you to get to know a London that rarely features on the itineraries of first-time visitors.
Wizz Air flies directly from Vilnius to London four times a week, so when returning, you can forget rushing from one famous landmark to another and spend the whole day in just one city district.
Barcelona: not just the most famous A. Gaudí works
A second trip to Barcelona is a great opportunity to spend more time in individual city districts. Gràcia, known for its small squares, shops, and café terraces, allows you to feel a completely different city pace. Poble-sec, located at the foot of Montjuïc hill, is also worth attention for its local bars and restaurants.
For those wanting to admire architecture but not return to the same most famous A. Gaudí works, it is worth visiting Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau – an impressive Catalan modernist complex designed by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner.
Meanwhile, it is worth spending more time at Montjuïc itself: here you will find many gardens, museums, observation decks, and walking routes where you can easily spend most of the day.
Direct flights from Vilnius to Barcelona also operate four times a week. By giving up the pressure to visit all the most famous places in one trip, a familiar city can appear surprisingly different.
Milan: a city that doesn’t end at the Duomo
For many travelers visiting Milan for the first time, the city is primarily associated with the Duomo Cathedral, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II gallery, and Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper.” However, upon returning to Milan, the main role can be taken by its districts and contemporary culture.
Once a workers’ district, Isola today combines independent shops, cafes, and street art with the modern architecture of the nearby Porta Nuova district.
Meanwhile, Porta Venezia stands out with elegant Art Nouveau style buildings, restaurants, bars, and a multicultural atmosphere.
Another reason to return is contemporary art. The Fondazione Prada, located in a former industrial complex, presents contemporary art in an environment very different from historic Milan’s center.
In the evening, you can head towards the Navigli canals, where the district comes alive during aperitivo and reveals another side of the city.
Direct flights from Vilnius to Milan operate three times a week, so a second trip can be an opportunity to realize that this city is much more than the famous cathedral and fashion district.
Berlin: after a history lesson – unexpected city places
The first trip to Berlin is often inseparable from history – Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, remnants of the Berlin Wall, and Museum Island. These are undoubtedly important stops, but some of the most interesting Berlin experiences begin precisely when the main tourist route has been completed.
One of the best examples is Tempelhofer Feld, a former airport now turned into a huge public space. Here, Berliners ride bikes and rollerblades, have picnics, or spend sunny afternoons on the former airport runways.
Further west, Teufelsberg offers a completely different experience. An artificial hill made from World War II rubble, it was used as a US listening station during the Cold War and today is famous for abandoned radar structures, street art, and views of the surrounding Grunewald forest.
Another option is simply to choose one city district and explore it without a strict plan. From Neukölln cafes and bars to Treptow-Köpenick lakes and green spaces – different Berlin districts reveal how much city life happens beyond the Mitte district and its main landmarks.
Wizz Air will start flying a new direct route from Vilnius to Berlin on October 26, 2026, with flights operating three times a week.
So, when returning to a familiar city, the way of traveling changes. The pressure to visit every famous landmark disappears, allowing more time to simply turn into an interesting side street, spend an afternoon at a market, try a restaurant further from the tourist center, or leave room in the travel plan for unexpected discoveries.
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