Where to go for a city break on my own?

[ChangingStates]

Have a bit of time without the kids in July so am thinking of taking myself off for a citybreak. Newly separated and need to get out in the world- have travelled a lot but never alone and mostly far away places.

So budget is small and only looking for 2 nights, maybe 3 - for not very much I can do Brussels or Paris by Eurostar or fly to Berlin or Luxembourg cheaply.

Don't know any of these cities so grateful for any recommendations and/or advice on solo city breaks!

Rome. I would go to Rome.
Beautiful city, lovely food,I just love it.

On your own, I'd go somewhere like Florence. Small enough to wander round easily but lots to look at.

I love Berlin, if that helps!

Copenhagen.

I think Luxembourg City could be good - it looks beautiful, but as I haven’t been I couldn’t say more than that, it’s just where I would pick from your list.

bruges.

Definitely Rome. I've been several times on my own.

I've just got back from Barcelona and am already planning on going back. It was stunning.

Ive heard that Bruges is lovely for travellers on their own- think the guardian did an article about it

Oh god I hated Rome

I'm currently planning a trip to Lisbon, Porto was lovely 2 years ago.

I second Copenhagen. Budapest was lovely too.

Pisa.

Really easy to get from airport into town and takes 15 minutes. Stay at www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g187899-d236025-Reviews-Royal_Victoria_Hotel-Pisa_Province_of_Pisa_Tuscany.html which is perfect faded grandeur, just enough to see in 2 days - if you wnat to stretch to 3 you can get train to Lucca and do that in a day.

Another for Bruges - lovely city, beautiful, easy to get to on Eurostar and then one more train. It’s really small so you don’t have to walk far to get to everything. No worrying about tube trains or buses, you can just walk.

Surely it depends on what your interests are and you should have a reason to visit somewhere. Personally I want to visit Newcastle because of a specific museum there, Liverpool because I have read loads of Liverpool based historical novels and Dundee because of a special publishing link there.

Bruges
Annecy
Bologna
Lille
Le Touquet
Geneva
Nice
Perpignan
Carcassone

Sorry, just realised you asked for advice on solo city breaks too. I go a lot of places on my own, and I love it because I can please myself! I tend to eat out at lunchtime and in the evening get snack/picnic food from a shop or market and just relax in my hotel room. Or most big museums and art galleries have cafés and the food is usually quite good if you can tie a visit in with mealtime.
I also go on short tours which is good because you generally learn interesting things and get some company for a couple of hours. I've been on food tours, walking tours etc. But I also love just wandering around by myself, taking loads of photos, stopping for a coffee and a bit of people watching.
Also if I have time I like to take a day trip out of the city - there's usually a beach or another town or somewhere with pretty scenery you can get to fairly easily on public transport.
I hope you have a fantastic time wherever you end up going!

I wouldn't recommend Luxembourg city - it's very beautiful to walk around, but it's small and there's not that much to do there. You could hire a car and drive around the countryside - there are some beautiful, forest walks and some of the other towns are nice, Echternach (I think is the spelling, it's a while since I was there) and Vianden.

Bruges is lovely as is Ghent, not a huge fan of Brussels though. Copenhagen is lovely as well but expensive (you said budget is small). Paris is always a good option too. All will be very busy in July obviously.

Depends what your interests are what you like etc. Food, art, museums, wandering around medieval cities, architecture,....

Never been to Berlin, but Germany is a great place to visit solo (and in general - I loved Munich for a city break, but there are lots of small, attractive towns all over Germany).

I agree with the tip on having you main meal at lunchtime as you feel less self-conscious about dining alone then (or at least I do) and prices tend to be lower too - menu of the day type of thing usually great value.

The "just wandering around by myself, taking loads of photos, stopping for a coffee and a bit of people watching" is exactly what I like doing too...rather than ticking off a list of 'sights'.

Stockholm
Venice
Dublin
Paris
I wouldn't choose Brussels. I've spent time there for work and although it's fine, I don't love it.

I've been to Paris alone. Loved it. Lots of walking was done! Didn't feel too safe around Gare Du Nord at night though.

Just back from Venice with DH. Would be a great place for a solo visit. Flights were really cheap. Stay in Mestre on the mainland to keep costs down. Buses are E1.50 a journey, and very regular, up til midnight every day.

Madrid is lovely, very safe. I walked home alone safely at all hours of the night when I was there alone, elderly people would be out walking the dog at 1am! And small kids still playing out at midnight. You could do a day trip by bus to Segovia which is a magical, fairy tale city. It is pretty hot in summer though.

Paris by Eurostar or Barcelona if you can find a cheap flight.

For a small budget, I would avoid most Western European cities. I highly recommend Lisbon or Porto. Plenty to see/do, very easy to get around and prices are so reasonable.

Madrid is one of my favourite cities. Lost a to do. Museums, galleries , palace. Plus tons of shops, bars and restaurants.

I haven't been there alone but I would. I always feel very safe.

I went to the grub in Croatia a few years ago. Loved it and it's great for a few days.,, I'm using dictation, Zagreb. Not the grub! 😂