What's the best European city break you've been on?

[gretagreengrapes]

I love a weekend away exploring, obviously not at the moment. Our last trip was to Paris in January this year. We've also been to Vienna, Copenhagen & Barcelona.

Where are some great cities you've visited in Europe and why? How long did you go for? Did you travel as a couple or a family?

My favourite is Venice, out of season - it's magical.

Barcelona is hard to beat. Basically all you could ever want in one city! A great cosmopolitan vibe, some of the best architecture in the world (Casa Batllo is a must do!) fabulous shopping and gorgeous beach and marina. Spring is definitely the best time to visit, warm enough to enjoy both the city and the beach however far less crowded than summer and not blisteringly hot

Krakow. I never get bored/ run out of things to see there. I was gutted we couldn't go this year.

Rome. Just me and DH but I think DS would enjoy it once he's 8 or so.

Munich. I've been a few times.

Venice. Especially when I travelled there on the sleeper train from Paris.

Budapest (for the spas) and Vienna (for the cafes) are on my list.

Naples - absolutely love it but many don’t.
Cadiz but hard to do a weekend it’s a bit awkward to get to.
Seville - return often. Try to time it for semana santa or similar. Summers are HOT.
Córdoba but stay as central as possible some great hotels are a bit far out.
Rome
Istanbul
Porto - great great city.
Lisbon - wonderful

I’m getting hungry as well as wanting to travel now !!

Krakow - beautiful buildings, fantastic museum, great food, an excellent (& free) walking tour. Organised visits to the Wieliczka salt and to Auschwitz are available. NB. visited last year pre-Covid 19.

A bit off piste but Thessaloniki. I was there in December and it was nothing short of breath taking, though I bet it is lovely in summer too. Short (and ridiculously cheap) flight from Manchester; history everywhere you turn, amazing food, beautiful bars, lovely people and so much to see that is free. It really is an absolutely beautiful place (and I have been to a LOT of European cities). I know they struggled with covid rates but it's one to consider as things get better

someone else said Bologna and I agree it's fab. So unexpected. A little rough round the edges but all the better for it. Also fabulous train links to elsewhere if you wanted to have a two centre break. But pretty much everywhere everyone has mentioned is great. I also second Seville and Lisbon - both for the food as much as anything! Walkability is important to me too. And all the places I've mentioned are walkable

Madrid. It's much better (in my opinion!) than Barcelona. It's cheaper for eating and drinking too.

Next on my list is Seville.

Seville is my favourite Spanish city. Don’t go in summer though, it’s about 40 degrees! You can get amazing weather very early in the year though and right through until November.

Thanks for starting this thread @gretagreengrapes

Having never been abroad in my life, we were planning a city break for my 40th but Covid happened.

We weren’t sure where to go so this thread has given me some great ideas of places to search out once we can travel properly again.

Tallinn
Gdańsk
Cluj
Sibiu

Also Burgas and Varna.

Istanbul, Lisbon, Barcelona, Prague, Amsterdam (😈) and Budapest. These are the cities I've enjoyed as a family but I also visited them before when I was single hence why I wanted to go again with a family.

@Restlessinthenorth interesting about Thessaloniki! What was the weather like in December? We fancy Greece for Christmas (Covid depending).

Was there much to do? Tia!

So pleased to see Ljubljana mentioned a few times. I've visited Slovenia a few times and Ljubljana is a cracking little place to visit. But then we loved every part of Slovenia we've seen. Such a stunning country.

Seville and Munich

Florence is my favourite (apart from all the other tourists :-)
I love the Tuscan landscape outside of the city, so I combine the two.

*loutypips

Madrid. It's much better (in my opinion!) than Barcelona. It's cheaper for eating and drinking too*

Totally agree. We much preferred Madrid.
Also as a family we’ve loved:

Paris
Berlin
Copenhagen
Verona
Venice
Cologne
Reykjavik

Istanbul and Marrakech I loved pre-kids. Copenhagen, Stockholm and Swiss cities like Zurich and Lucerne are great for families though v expensive. Really child friendly, lots to see and easy to get around.

My favourites are Valencia, Nice, Berlin, Stockholm and Dublin.

Seville. Athens. Helsinki. Porto.

Budapest. Most beautiful city ever.

I'm from Lisbon. Feeling a bit emotional with all the Lisbon love! Wish I could be there 😟

I was born and raised in Lisbon (even though I haven't lived there for almost 20 years now) and all the love for my city is making me tear up a bit.

It's such a lovely, friendly place with a special light all year around. Dry heat (hate the humidity), cold sea and fantastic food.

But then, I'd say that!

I love Edinburgh, Berlin and Zermat.