Inspiration for a long European weekend, end of Jan/start of Feb?

[InDreamsHeCame]

Looking for some ideas, please.

For a couple who are able-bodied, happy to get around on foot and public transport. Flying from Dublin. Either a three or four night trip. Looking for a city break with nice food and sights. Like a bit of luxury so somewhere with good hotels, cocktail bars etc. Not overly tied on budget (can stick to three nights for an expensive spot, if needed).

Ruling a few places out as we’ve been to within the last couple of years and not looking at going back just yet-
Reykjavik
Lucerne
Geneva
Innsbruck
Vienna
Bologna
Florence
Milan
Rome
Berlin
Munich
Brugge
Copenhagen
Lund
Malmo
London
Oslo

Really loved Brugge when we went at the end of January in 2024 but it’s a small city so don’t want to go back again so soon. But somewhere with that vibe would be lovely- small, picturesque, cosy.

If anyone has been to Luxembourg, would you recommend? If so, what parts?

All ideas appreciated!

Right, I was veering towards Budapest but looked at Annecy and wow- looks amazing. Hotels seem pretty reasonable at that time of the year too.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Some great ideas on this thread.

is Malta doable?

Going to keep an eye on this!
Would just like to throw in Porto or Istanbul is amazing!!

Annecy. It’s in the French alps and it is stunning. Think Geneva or Lyon would be best airports. Lyon is a great city with fabulous food.

Bordeaux is fab. Marseilles/Cassis (easy flight from Dublin). Bergen was awesome but awesomely expensive.

Tallin is beautiful and has a good selection of high end restaurants/hotels at reasonable prices. It will be really cold though. As much as I liked Krakow the locals were unfriendly. Total opposite in Tallin everyone was so helpful and nice. It's got a great selection of vintage shopping and you can take a day trip to Helsinki by ferry.

Isn’t it nicer to see a really hot city in a cooler time of year instead of going to a northern country and freezing your xxxx off? Tallin really is better in the summer! Ditto anywhere around the Baltic!

If you liked Brugge you might like one of the Dutch cities - they all have lots of art and culture and many are extremely picturesque. Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Delft to name but a few.

I went to Krakow in early March- it was -9 at night but beautifully clear blue skies in the day. When you were bundled up it was actually great sightseeing weather! Gdansk is very pretty too.

Agree, we did it in February, really lovely

If you are from a temperate climate without much really cold weather, it can be nice to visit somewhere crisp and frosty

@InDreamsHeCame a word of caution - I lived in annecy for a year and January can be cloudy / sleety and I personally would avoid at this time of year. A better time to visit would be in the spring or summer as you can swim in the lake and cycle everywhere.
I'd also avoid Barcelona as it can be freezing at this time of year (ive lived there too from January to September). Again I'd go easter time onwards
I echo a pp who suggested seville - it will be warmer and you will enjoy being outside and exploring the city.

Milan and then a day trip to lake como. Vcold in Jan though

Nicossia, capital of Cyprus. Wonderful food, cocktails, some lovely boutique hotels.
Walk through passport control to the Turkish half of the city for a completely different atmosphere, more wonderful food, and an incredible hammam.

How about Ljubljana? Small, pretty, interesting, affordable, lovely vibe.

Basel is lovely and I liked Leuven and Ghent too

Another thought…I’ve just been reading last weekends Times which recommends various places in Italy… Matera, bologna, Ravenna, Siracusa, Trento, lecce. I’m really tempted by Matera where James Bond had a motorbike chase around troglodyte dwellings.

If you are going to Annecy, maybe make it a twin centre with a stay in Megeve to ski? Or a beautiful place in the mountains with hot thermal pool overlooking Mont Blanc. Authentic and special and plenty of other places like it in the area

https://almae-collection.com/armancette/

Interesting- Sicily mentioned by a pp sounds fun in January. And you can ski!!

Annecy
Lyon
Nimes
Salzburg
Krakow
Nice
Barcelona
Edinburgh

Seville or Malaga - amazing food, good weather, affordable prices.

We went to Venice for a week in Jan 2024. Freezing cold but sunshine and blue skies all week. Compared to visiting in the summer it was bliss - no cruise ships, queues, packed streets. The food was amazing and it was wonderfully creepy walking around quiet streets in the dark. We stayed at an Airbnb as we were working during the day, but plenty of swanky hotels to choose from if that’s your thing.

Stockholm.

I’m going gdansk in February and have been to riga and Prague both great. Prague is spectacular. Next is Tallinn and Nuremberg

Done lots of these. Seville is my favourite. And we went in January and were in t shirts during the day.

Annecy is lovely, but I’d suggest going there when you can for longer and exploring the surrounding areas
Budapest would get my vote. Or Seville (and do a day trip to Corodoba), Madrid, or Prague.