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!

Amsterdam is great on your own. Plenty of quirky museums to look at, and bars with lovely big windows to people watch.

Another vote for Berlin! There is so much to do and think about there - being alone will give you space to contemplate.

Berlin is great and not at all expensive. I would also suggest Lyon although it would help if you can speak some French. Beautiful city and very friendly.

I wouldn't recommend Rome on your own as a cheap break. Public transport isn't particularly safe and there's a lot of undesirables around.
You can get cheap flights to Prague, public transport is good and safe and walking on your own at night is safe too. Barcelona or Amsterdam are good options too.

Amsterdam's quite expensive.

Does it need to be abroad?
What about Glasgow or Edinburgh?

Rome, Budapest and Paris didnt live up to my expectations. Bruges was rather dull for more than one night.

Loved Krakow.
Loved Geneva (tho spendy)

Definitely Berlin. Stay in Mitte or Prenzlauer Berg.

Another vote for Ghent! It’s much less touristy than Bruges but just as beautiful. Plenty to see and do there. Feels very safe. Only half an hour or so from Brussels by train.

Oh wow- so many choices! You've all made it worse by giving me even more to be indecisive about

In terms of what I like to do- mainly I love to walk around places that are different & new and soak up atmosphere, happy wandering streets of old parts of cities- will visit sights and museums etc but it's not the driving force behind my choice. I have been to Barcelona, Madrid, Turin, Amsterdam, Edinburgh- so not those. Love the idea in Venice as a PP suggested- flights are at the cheap end, places to stay pricey but hadn't considered staying on the mainland and getting the bus- will look into it a bit more!

Will update with my final choice after much procrastination and browsing, keep the suggestions coming.

Think you can Eurostar to Lyon, and I speak a smattering of French- will add that to the list too

Palermo, Sicily. Fantastic for solo trip

Munich, beautiful and wonderful food.

Lisbon, Antwerp (more to do than Bruges or Ghent), Krakow, Gdańsk...

I would go to Venice or Bruges. The Venice Lido hotels are a bit cheaper but get by the vaporetto end if you go there.

Tallinn is fabulous too.

We rented an apartment the last time we were in Venice. It was one block down from the main square and much cheaper than a hotel.

penguinsandpandas can you walk into the main bit of Venice if you stay in the lido area?

JessicaJonesJacket -exh and I always preferred apartments to hotels but I am finding singe rooms in hotels a bit cheaper on my own when browsing. Which site did you use?

Of your OP ideas Brussels, Paris and Luxembourg are all lovely cities in different ways but expensive for a traveller on a budget. Rome also has this problem though I disagree with it being unsafe for a solo traveler. Like any major city just keep your wits about you and your valuables tucked away.

When I travel solo I do the same as another poster, eat my main meal at lunchtime, spend loads of time wandering around soaking up the sights and head back to my hotel early evening.

I would recommend Budapest or Prague. Your money will go further in the former (as not on euro) and it has the edge with spectacular views and buildings. Will be hot in July.

Bologna would be my first choice. Fantastic small city. I lived alone there for fur months for work in my late 20s. First secondment and I loved it. Fab food, friendly people, felt very safe.

I have returned about eight times since, took DH when I met him, took DD when she was seven and it is still the same.

Otherwise I woul go to Florence, I wouldn’t go to time in July, well I did en route to somewhere else after we got married. I fainted in the heat, twice in one day, it will be vv hot.

Flipping heck, for not fur, Rome not time, would not woul, etc..

Venice is better avoided in July imo, lovely before April and after October.

Another one for Rome, it's not far from the airports and you can walk everywhere once in the city.

Budapest is a good choice as it's much cheaper than most European cities. You can walk around it, there's lots of history and the spas there are wonderful! 😀