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?

Lisbon
Athens
Amsterdam
Budapest
London! Even though I live there (and am fully aware at how it could be seen as unpleasant in some places) I often walk around and think tourists must need a good few days to get everything done when so many cities can be done in a couple of days.
It is a fab city!

A Lisbon highlight.

@EspressoX10

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.

I haven't lived there for 22 years! It's so different now, so much busier and touristy. Still the soul is still the same and it will always be special! But I suppose everyone would say the same about their hometown!

Europe is full of amazing cities. We also loved Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, Vienna, Florence, Venice, Dublin, Paris. And Girona is a great alternative to busy Barcelona.

We were in Lisbon in October. The weather was great and it was much less busy than it would be in summer, I guess.
Went to Amsterdam in October as well. Had a lovely time. The canals at dusk are special with the glittering lights of the uncurtained windows reflected in them.

Helsinki in the winter was wonderful. Bloody cold, but walking on the frozen river was an experience! Also love Lucca and Salzburg.

Florence and Lisbon are my fave European breaks
There's so much to see and do in both places. Florence in particular is just beautiful

Lisbon is so special to me. I went pre kids, then a last minute break this Easter (other flights cancelled) so just before lockdown. We looked at flights and weather all over Europe and having been before pre kids we knew it would be great.

• aquarium, world class
• landscaping near there and cable car, incredible
• Sinatra, easy to get to and mind blowing
• cascais, got a taxi, easy and a night in swanky martinhal
• food hall, was wow, went twice
• belem, botanic gardens, sea front walk
• castle and alfama
• wonderful food and service
• prioritising children, skipping queues etc

I want to go back tomorrow and do the science museum and a host of other things again.

Loved Santander, beautiful architecture, great restaurants, lots of walking and beautiful white sand beaches.

Great thread.
Salzburg stands out for me. Arrived in a thunder storm and had schnitzel in the most cosy pub and heilbronn Palace was amazing.... Found people there rather unpleasant though.

Love Paris, Rome, Florence..

Marakesh is amazing, challenging.. Magical..

I also love nice, and Amsterdam! I was expecting this tacky place and it was super smart, chilled.. Great serving staff... Wonderful atmosphere etc.

I'm hoping to go to seville soon.

@OliviaBenson I honestly cant rate Thesoloniki highly enough! It's not warm, but it was dry, and we sat outside lots of bars in the evening (albeit with heaters on). It has gorgeous cafe culture, and the prep for the festive period was out of this world. Loads of great, fascinating museums and lots of free historical sites to see, along with art installations and the waterfront. The food was gorgeous and so cheap. The Ladadika area is particularly lovely. I've attached a few pics to give you a flavour

Gosh I'm loving this thread even though we're all just dreaming really! I fancy Helsinki in the winter after reading about the frozen river. And also Madrid. Oooo and lots of other places!

I’m really loving it too. I’ve been slightly avoiding thinking about travel because it’s depressing but actually this has been great to share Loved places and to reignite memories etc. It makes it seem as though it might be possible again !! I can kind of feel the sun and taste the food and just soak it all up for a bit.
Great thread.

Agree with the above. This thread has inspired my travel planning, or at least dreaming. I think I'm planning madrid and Copenhagen next. As an adult I'd like to say San Sebastian was really beautiful on the good weather days.. I just had to cook lots as the food not very suitable for my small children..the beaches and scenery were wonderful. It's a special city. There is a small aquarium and a lovely old fashioned fun fair. But, for family activities Lisbon still wins.
I've been to Kracow without kids and had a wonderful time..beautiful and cheap, but quite small.
Berlin on the other hand I found quite sprawling, but would like to try it again.
I had a better than expected time in Paris with a toddler too.

Really enjoying this escapist thread!

Berlin is great, along with the recommendations up thread I'd also add visiting Hohenschönhausen - a Cold War prison that never appeared on maps until recently - it has a fascinating history (and a good tour).

Sveti Stefan in Montenegro - just wanted to second this as someone upthread recommended it, and it's fantastic - like the old town in Dubrovnik

One of our favourites is Munich, with a train out to Fussen - lovely walks in the Bavarian Alps and a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle (there are 3 castles on the site). Apparently this is the castle the design of the Disney castle is based on (no idea if that's actually true). Not far from garmisch partenkirchen, that someone upthread had recommended.

This thread is really making me miss the world!

I'm surprised Paris hasn't been mentioned more. I think there's something magical about it.

Bruges at Christmas is just beautiful. There's something so lovely about walking around until you need another hot chocolate!

I really like Amsterdam too. My friend lived there for a while so I saw it more 'off the tourist trail' and thought it was very charming.

Rome is my all time favourite. There's just so much to do and it feels like there's always something interesting around every corner.

The only city I wasn't a big fan of was Barcelona. I had a family member working out there and went to visit but there were so many tales of muggings that I just felt on edge the whole time.

DW & DD rave about Rome. I preferred Cologne. Munich was rather dull surprisingly.

@Restlessinthenorth omg that looks super!!!

Do you mind me asking which hotel you stayed in? I'm tempted to go this Christmas (if we can!) did you hire a car or just stay in the city?

Florence, Prague, Valleta, Bruges, Rome, Bath, Cardiff, Edingburgh.

Sorry - posted too soon.

I love anywhere with interesting history and art. Florence took my breath away - so many beautiful buildings,and the art galleries.... Prague was amazing - we arrived on a Monday - Charles Bridge, the fenicular, the clock, the museums - all fantastic. Friday the stag parties arrived and the whole place changed - avoid the weekends!

Valleta was great. All bus routes go via here for Malta so great as a base. If you are interested in the Templars or in WWII it is brilliant. I also love Malese pasties!

Bruges for the architechture and chocolate. Rome for the history. Cardiff, especially the bay is great and of course the rugby :) Edinburgh - the museums, the art galleries, the welcome.

I don't think Strasbourg has been mentioned - loved it. Jaw dropping cathedral, picture postcard old town and we had gorgeous weather. Would love to go back at Christmas time.
Also have to add another vote for Seville - went in December. Sat in the sun eating tapas and drinking sherry. Was a lovely contrast to rainy, grey England.

@OliviaBenson we stayed at the ignatia palace. Breakfast was lovely, and it had a small pool/spa which was nice. Great central location and a cheap cab from the airport. We stayed on the city and did everything on foot; heaps to do and all entirely walkable. They give out great free maps at the airport with all the points of interest clearly marked. We literally based everything we did on that. I think our return flights were under £50 each! I wish we were going back this year, the city was really magical. We were there for the Xmas lights switch on (by chance) and it was just gorgeous!

Valletta
Lisbon
Vienna

Riga is one of my favourite cities; a really interesting mix of architecture, everything from medieval and Art Deco to brutal communist era. It’s perfect for a long weekend - but don’t eat the beaver. (Not a euphemism. )
Strasbourg, especially in the autumn. Gorgeous.
Skopje is mad as a box of frogs, I spent three days there grinning like an idiot.
Bucharest, such a troubled history, and some badly faded grandeur, but I loved it.
Berlin, Budapest, Rome, Ljubljana, Vienna, Bratislava, Madrid, Prague, Copenhagen, Lisbon, St Petersburg, Kotor all fantastic in their own way.
Closer to home, I really like Leeds and Liverpool, Lincoln and York.

We’re lucky to have so many fantastic cities within relatively easy reach, Covid-permitting.

@Restlessinthenorth thank you!! Need to get researching this weekend. You've been amazingly helpful.