To ask your advice on where to go on holiday in July for a week?

[blosh]

I want more of a city break - lots of beautiful architecture and history or alternatively the hustle and bustle of a busy city with lots to explore. Love just sitting at an outdoor cafe with a drink people watching. I loved Paris for this, and also loved New York. I'd love to go to Rome but it will be way too hot in July. Amsterdam doesn't appeal to me. Have thought about Boston but it's coming out quite expensive and not sure how I'd get around without a car. I've also thought about Edinburgh but I feel like it seems too moody and gloomy for a summer break - I think it would be perfect for an Autumn/Winter trip, though.

I'm a creature of habit so would love to just go back to Paris but I feel like I should explore somewhere new.

Any suggestions?

Edinburgh is lovely in summer
Copenhagen would be Brill
Cologne or Vienna? Not been myself but would fit your bill I think?

Another vote for Copenhagen. We spent a week there a few years ago and had plenty to do, and that was without summer weather (so no picnics in parks or harbour swimming).

Porto in Portugal would be gorgeous as would Saville, Vienna and Split .

Loved Stockholm.
On my list Tallin.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik as well.. A stunning walled cobbled city.. Beautiful location..

Copenhagen, definitely. Cologne and Vienna excellent shouts too

Paris ahead of the olympics might be a bit crazy anyway

Other ideas:

Bruges / Ghent / Brussels / Antwerp - could hop about a bit

Montreal - if longer haul is an option

Bilbao / San Sebastián / Santander

Salzburg

Basel / Lucerne / Zurich / Geneva - again could do a couple of cities to get more variety

Berlin

Budapest

Warsaw / Krakow

Ljubljana - could combine with either Trieste, Pula or Zagreb, three other cities I love

Curve ball: Turin

Also Zurich is awesome. Lake boat trip (go first class and have lunch), window shopping and there's an unbelievable spa with a rooftop pool.

Oh and also Porto! Beautiful setting and so atmospheric..Great value too!

Sevilla will be hotter than hell in July.

I understand Bologna is fabulous, but might be a bit hot in July. How about Reykjavik?

Thank you everyone, I'm researching each of your suggestions now :)

Annecy- beautiful old town, good food and a lake to cool down in if it gets too hot.

Twin centre break - Budapest & Vienna. 3-4 days in each - it's a short train journey between them. Both beautiful cities with loads to see & do.

That is exactly what I was going to suggest.

Stockholm, or Malmo/ Copenhagen double bill?

Or Tallinn, which you can do as a double bill with Helsinki via ferry if you prefer.

Krakow for me

Barcelona. It’s amazing and you can even go to the beach while you’re there to tick every box.

Copenhagen you can combine with Malmö. One of them might not be “busy” enough on their own, but you have twice the urban area to explore, and there is great access to smaller cities by train if you got bored and wanted to see some more rural areas too.

You don't need a car in Boston. We got a bus from the airport and walked/subwayed everywhere. It's not that big.

We're off to Barcelona in June. Jet2 City Breaks had an amazing offer back in March so we booked a few 5 nighters. Faro in April was lovely. I'd do that again.

How about Istanbul? So much to see. Loads of history. The public transport is very good. Ferries across the bosphorus. Amazing food.

Northern Spain is lovely and a little less hot with Atlantic breezes. Take your pick of great cities. San Sebastián for food and beaches. Bilbao for culture and art. Santiago for history.

Boston is really easy without a car. The city is really walkable and the subway/tram network is pretty extensive if a bit rickety.

It is a lovely city and you can also see nearby Cambridge. Accomodation is pretty pricey though!

If you are looking nearer to home and like Paris, how about other French cities - Lyon, Montpellier and Marseille are all great.

Marrakech would be my choice!