4 Summer Bleisure Destinations for Working Smart and Staying Quieter

Planning a business trip this summer? Here’s a thought: why not make the most of it by extending your stay for a few days on either side? Bleisure – the art of combining business travel with exploring the destination at your own pace – allows you to work smarter and stay quieter. Summer is ideal for this kind of travel, with longer days perfect for morning strolls and evening relaxation. Here are four cities to rediscover at their best, away from the peak-season crowds.

According to the OWT, Wallonia’s tourism authority, visitors tend to stay an average of 2.3 nights in the region. For a smart traveller, it’s the perfect opportunity to buck that trend and discover the Liège that everyone else misses. 

In the “Fiery City” – a rail hub just an hour from Brussels and two hours from Paris – summer brings a breath of fresh air. As locals begin their exodus to the Belgian coast, the canals of Bruges or the Ardennes, Liège’s medieval alleyways and parks settle into a soothing, laid-back atmosphere. The bistros of Le Carré, Liège's lively nightlife district, and the brasseries of Outremeuse feel more intimate, freed from their usual bustle. 

The city never really sleeps, though. Its student population and cultural life keep things buzzing all year round. Visit the Ardentes festival in early July, or Stade Maurice Dufrasne stadium for a football match at the end of summer, to immerse yourself in the vibe.

Liège is a city best explored on foot. Your ideal base? Blooma Hotel Liège Centre - Handwritten Collection, a 4-star hotel housed in a former convent overlooking the Meuse. It combines the historic charm of the Old Town with everything you need for business. Make the most of every spare moment to explore the hotel’s immediate surroundings, narrow alleyways such as Impasse de l'Ange or Impasse de la Couronne, and hidden courtyards like the Cour Saint-Antoine. 

With a tram stop nearby, the city centre within walking distance, a local breakfast, barges gliding past your bedroom window, bright meeting spaces and a 24-hour gym, there’s everything you need for a bleisure stay in Liège.

Under 20 minutes’ walk from your hotel: Le Grand Curtius Museum; the Brasserie C microbrewery; L'Amicale des boulangers bakery; the Wattitude café-boutique; Saint-Léonard Park.

Liège is the perfect place for meandering. Here's where to go and what to do when you're there on bleisure.

• Outremeuse, famed Belgian writer Georges Simenon’s stomping ground. On the opposite bank of the Meuse from the city centre, this characterful working-class district is one of the liveliest in Liège. Come here to explore street art, beer bars and nightclubs on Rue Roture, and the Saint-Pholien Flea Market on Fridays.
• The Grand Curtius Museum and the Collegiate Church of Saint Bartholomew. Visit these two heritage gems in the late afternoon, when crowds have thinned. The Grand Curtius is one of Belgium's most iconic decorative arts museums, while the church houses 12th-century Romanesque baptismal fonts celebrated as wonders of medieval art.
• Get active. From the uphill stretches of the Coteaux de la Citadelle or the Montagne de Bueren to the trail along the banks of the Meuse to the Parc de la Boverie, see a different side of the city on a jog or run.
• Eat and drink like a local. Try the Saperlipopette waffles at Rue des Mineurs 18, modern European cuisine at Le Thème restaurant, Liège meatballs at Taverne Tchantchès et Nanesse, or a beer in energetic Le Carré.

A futuristic skyline on one side, half-timbered taverns on the other. In Frankfurt, a short walk or two metro stops is all it takes to escape the skyscrapers and immerse yourself in German culture and everyday life.

Frankfurt lives to the rhythm of international trade fairs and business. Yet venture a few streets away from the Messe (Frankfurt's vast trade fair complex) and the financial district, and the city takes on a village-like atmosphere. Sachsenhausen, a historic neighbourhood of cobbled streets and traditional cider taverns, and the banks of the Main, offer the perfect counterpoint to a busy business trip. So stay on for a weekend. Without the usual flow of suited businesspeople, Frankfurt slows down and reveals a more unexpected side.

Located in the culturally up-and-coming Ostend district, 25hours Hotel Frankfurt The Goldman is a 25-minute walk from the Sachsenhausen district. Enjoy its bold design, vibrant colour palette and Italian restaurant Isoletta – and above all, a truly restful night's sleep in its tranquil, well-insulated rooms.
 

Under 15 minutes’ walk from your hotel: a picnic with views of the city in Hafenpark; a cocktail in the sunshine on the banks of the Main at Oosten bar; an art exhibition in the vast Atelierfrankfurt warehouse.

Behind its serious façade, Frankfurt hides plenty of treasures worth discovering after your meetings.

• Citybeach Frankfurt’s rooftop on sunny days. On the banks of the Main, a stone's throw from the financial district. Cocktail in hand, gaze over the skyline from a sun lounger perched on golden sand, before doing a few lengths in the pool.
• A concert at the Alte Oper or the Künstlerhaus Mousonturm. Two venues, two very distinct vibes. Head to the Alte Oper for a symphonic evening in a neo-Renaissance setting, or to the Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, a converted former factory, for jazz, world music or electronic music.
• A drink at Zum Gemalten Haus in Sachsenhausen. The neighbourhood's oldest cider tavern, with its retro atmosphere and shaded patio, is beloved by locals and features a lovely outdoor seating area.
• A jog in Grüneburg Park. Recharge among 27 hectares of greenery, centuries-old trees and wide paths that are perfect for getting moving while on bleisure.

The setting sun painting the city's rooftops red. Bicycles weaving through cobbled alleyways. Local cafés welcoming early risers at dawn. Unlike Florence or Venice, Bologna doesn’t rely heavily on tourism. Instead, as a major university city and the gastronomic capital of Emilia-Romagna, it has a life beyond the peak-season crowds – though like much of Italy, it only truly comes into its own once the summer heat fades.

Frequent travellers know to wait until the very end of August to fully enjoy Bologna. Before then, the heat is stifling and locals pack their bags for the Adriatic coast, leaving many trattorias and neighbourhood favourites closed. The city comes back to life when they return. Everything is within walking distance. Step out of a meeting, stroll through a few UNESCO-listed porticoes and settle on a terrace with a glass of sparkling, chilled Lambrusco.

Mercure Bologna Centro makes a bleisure trip effortless. Located on Piazza delle Medaglie d'Oro, opposite the main train station and a few minutes' walk from the historic centre, it allows you to take in the city's highlights without having to navigate public transport. At the end of summer, you’ll also enjoy quick check-in, comfortable, quiet workspaces and attractive rates. All you need to do is drop off your bags and fire up your laptop.
 

Under 20 minutes’ walk from your hotel: a jog in the Giardino della Montagnola; a speciality coffee at long-standing Caffè Terzi Bologna; a plate of tortellini at the vibrant Mercato delle Erbe.

In Bologna, off-season bleisure offers a more local, more gourmet and more unexpected way to experience the city. A few ideas:

• The best views of Bologna. In the city centre, climbing the Torre dell'Orologio reveals a breathtaking view over the city's rooftops and the hills of Emilia-Romagna. Outside the city, a scenic walk leads to the Trecento Scalini, a well-kept local secret named for its 300 steps. Go at twilight for stunning vistas.
• Local cuisine. Book a table at Trattoria di Via Serra, just 5 minutes’ walk from Bologna Centrale station. The tortellini in brodo (pasta parcels in a clear broth) are a local favourite. Further south, try the tagliatelle al ragù (pasta ribbons topped with a slow-cooked meat sauce) at Trattoria dal Biassanot, a welcoming spot serving simple, flavourful traditional Italian cuisine.
• A typical Bolognese aperitivo at Bar Volare. The Italian pre-dinner ritual of drinks and small bites is a must after a day's work. With its retro-vintage atmosphere and daring cocktails, this bar is the perfect place to unwind.
• A weekend visit to the Santuario della Madonna di San Luca. With 4 km of porticoes linking the city to the hills, this Baroque-style Catholic church makes for one of Bologna's most beautiful escapes. Discover it before catching your train or plane.

Make the most of the Valencia sunshine once your meetings are over, and discover why the city is the perfect setting for bleisure.

Come here to embrace the simple pleasures of Spanish daily life. During the day, work in the cool of your hotel or meeting room. In the early morning and evening, the city is yours. Cycle to the beach after work, enjoy paella on a terrace at a local restaurant, or stroll through the Turia Garden to Ruzafa, a buzzing district filled with cafés and creative hubs.

Valencia naturally invites you to live outdoors – which is precisely what Novotel Valencia Lavant offers. Need to clear your head after a meeting or a particularly demanding project? Head to the pool or the rooftop bar. The nearby metro and wide, tree-lined avenues make the city feel open and easy to navigate at any time of day. Especially in high season, this hotel offers excellent value for a stay in Valencia.
 

Under 20 minutes’ walk from your hotel: a long run along the 9 km of the Turia Garden.

Valencia makes it easy to shift from a business pace to the Mediterranean rhythm. Here are a few experiences worth prioritising:

• The Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporània. This former convent, now a contemporary art centre, hosts exhibitions and cultural events all year round. Admission is free, and it’s an extraordinary place to unwind after a day’s work.
• Sky Bar at Novotel Valencia Lavant at sunset. After work, head upstairs rather than across town: this rooftop bar in Valencia pairs Mediterranean light, signature cocktails, poolside atmosphere and panoramic city views.
• Patacona Beach in the early morning. Quieter than Malvarrosa, this local favourite is popular with joggers getting their steps in before the workday begins.
• Summer events. In July, make the most of the more intimate side of the Gran Feria de Valencia festival with street theatre performances and concerts in the Viveros Gardens.

Bleisure is a shift in mindset as much as anything else. The business trip is already in the diary. The city is already on your doorstep. All it takes is the decision not to go straight home – and the summer does the rest. Already on holiday? Craft a quiet stay during an authentic trip or a wellness break in the destination you’ve always wanted, before it becomes everyone else’s destination.