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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Favourite European City Break

45 replies

atalost · 03/01/2026 11:24

Looking for a city break for 4 nights in February. Any recommendations? I like to visit other places for the day by train if possible. Thanks

OP posts:
Brookiecookie · 04/01/2026 13:43

Definitely Budapest, other options on the train from there, but could easily fill all your time there. Went again in October and loved it

Brookiecookie · 04/01/2026 13:43

Definitely Budapest, other options on the train from there, but could easily fill all your time there. Went again in October and loved it

JoWilkinsonsno1fan · 04/01/2026 13:57

Berlin, Copenhagen, Krakow, Prague, Budapest all lovely cities in the winter 😀

WarrenTofficier · 04/01/2026 14:16

We loved Naples in October- great to see Pompeii without the crowds and relentless heat!

landslide51 · 04/01/2026 14:24

Palma/Soller is wonderful - but do it in summer, it's so much nicer in the sun (I've been at both times). Budapest is wonderful but quite spread out, you could probably fill your time without going elsewhere, the Baths are fab. Prague is beautiful too although I haven't been for years and years. Tallinn old town is compact and car free which is wonderful, it's really lovely and ideal for a short break - but maybe too small for you with no easy/obvious other place to visit. Porto is also so beautiful but maybe too small again. You've probably already been but you can't go wrong with Paris IMO, so much so see and do, Rome the same of course.

Berlin to me is a bit meh - apart from going up the Reichstag which was cool, it's not somewhere I'd go back but a lot of people love it. I don't love Amsterdam either and it was still really packed when we went in winter. Copenhagen is nice enough but didn't blow me away.

TheToteBagLady · 04/01/2026 14:24

I would go to Berlin, and take a trip to Potsdam

SerpentQueen · 04/01/2026 14:44

TheToteBagLady · 04/01/2026 14:24

I would go to Berlin, and take a trip to Potsdam

Was about to suggest this. Also getting to the lakes is easy by public transport. Loads to see and do in Berlin itself

Stompythedinosaur · 04/01/2026 14:48

Stockholm is my favourite, a fantastic city to explore for a few days!

Miranda65 · 04/01/2026 14:52

Rome is the best, and you don't need to go anywhere else.
Or, if you're keen to move around, try Padua - Verona - Venice.

Or Amsterdam for the amazing galleries, and throw in a day trip to The Hague for the Maritshuis ("Girl with a Pearl Earring").

JulesJules · 04/01/2026 15:21

Valletta is a great city break. No trains on Malta, but easy to get to Mdina on the bus

DisplayPurposesOnly · 04/01/2026 15:24

Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Chester, Liverpool and Manchester.

soontobeamama · 04/01/2026 15:46

Venice
Florence
Gdansk
Seville
Palma
Salzburg
Amsterdam

CurlyhairedAssassin · 04/01/2026 15:49

I'd avoid some of the places suggested in February, like Soller/Port de Soller, which are much better enjoyed in early summer, when you can enjoy lunch overlooking the bay or an evening sundowner. It's a bit cold to do that in February and some restaurants are closed. Some hotels etc will have building works going on before the peak tourist season.

If I was looking for actual winter sun to escape the cold of the UK I'd go to the Canaries but it's a bit far for a city break.

If I wanted it a bit warmer than the UK with culture, good food and lots to do I'd go to Barcelona, maybe to coincide with the carnival.

But probably, I'd go with somewhere that's totally set up for winter life, where it looks beautiful in the snow and frost, with lots of museums and lots of cosy cafes which you can retreat to from the cold.

If you go to somewhere like Rome, and haven't been before, then you're missing out on the joys of a coffee, aperitivo or lunch/dinner outside in a square, or picturesque street, which warmer weather allows you to do.

RachTheAlpaca · 04/01/2026 16:38

You can't go wrong with literally any part of Italy stunning country and food. But outside of Italt, Budapest has been our favourite. Beautiful place and the thermal spas are amazing in the cold weather, then snuggle up with a nice bowl of goulash after :)

HitchensGeck · 04/01/2026 18:41

Loved Lisbon and Madrid but Lisbon I believe is suffering from rampant immigration and the inevitable trouble that follow is.

Also loved Malaga as a city break, it's a big Spanish city not just a beach holiday

maddiemookins16mum · 04/01/2026 18:46

Krakow or Prague. We were in Prague last September and visited Dresden by train for the day , really easy and inexpensive and was lovely.

Londonmummy66 · 04/01/2026 19:52

Valetta - no train but lots of buses and the ferry to Gozo

Vitriolinsanity · 04/01/2026 20:22

Malaga

caringcarer · 04/01/2026 20:26

Salzburg. Lots to do.

jumpingbean1810 · 05/01/2026 16:45

Another vote for Lisbon, train to Sintra and Cascais. But whether is hit and miss in February.

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