City breaks.. yes or no

[SouthMumof2]

had a City break in Barcelona recently.. what can I say… busy, noisy, smelly… gave me massive anxiety! It didn’t help the Ramblas was being dug up so like a massive building site, could not escape the sound of diggers ect, nowhere nice to sit outside and eat, either next to massive bins or next to a traffic jam. Also the whole place smelled like a toilet. Lovely buildings to look at and all the food we ate was great, but had to keep escaping down the the beach / marina area for some fresh air and views as I was actually getting so anxious in the city! Never felt like that before… anyone else felt like this during a city break? I am now firmly back into countryside/ beach camp for holidays and breaks!!

Barcelona is a big and busy city and is getting busier. Don't go if you don't like large busy cities.

Don't go to Las Ramblas, it is notoriously horrid even without roadworks - it is like going to London and hanging out in Leicester Square all day.

There are plenty of nice squares, parks and beach front areas to sit and eat.

Sounds like a you problem.

DH and I often go on city breaks and really like them. I can't stand sitting on a beach all day, but everyone is different.

My issue with Barcelona was that our hotel room was absolutely tiny, and not cheap. We enjoyed a few days there though.

Naples is like marmite. Whilst we enjoyed Pompeii and the museum, it did feel a bit edgy. I hated getting the taxi from the airport. Drivers standing around, laughing and leering. I do speak some Italian, far from fluent, but enough to agree a price. When we arrived at the hotel, the price had gone up and it just felt like we'd been scammed. Walking down to the port was souless and grey and just not pleasant. Like anywhere, there are some nicer parts, but there are other places I'd gladly return to instead of Naples.

You went to one of the busiest parts of a very busy city, I’m not sure what you expected. There are lots of less touristy parts of every major city - we were in Paris last week and if I hung out in the really busy touristy bits I would probably have hated it but I didn’t.

City break is a huge category. The difference between a city break in Paris vs in Cologne, for example, is huge. Or Barcelona vs Geneva. Or Verona vs Budapest.

Not all cities are for everyone.

I love a city break. And as the DC get older, I'm looking forward to doing more. But I'll be choosing with care.

(DS and I loved Barcelona though - we did a trip together when he was about 12. Best time.)

You are comparing things that have nothing to do with each other. Yes, you use your days off, but by definition city breaks and countryside/ beach camp are completely different.

Depends what your goal is, there's no right or wrong, and you can do them all at different time of the year.

Pre-kids I used to love them. With young DC, no way. Might revisit the idea when they are teenagers.

We love city breaks and loved Barcelona! What you need to do is get out of the City Centre, although I quite liked wandering around (we went in November, so quieter, but the temperature was still in the low to mid 20s). The metro is great for going a bit further out - enjoyed Parc Güell, and wonderful views from Monjuïc Castle and cable car! Most cities are all the better for exploring a bit further out, and most we’ve visited have very easy public transport. We usually try to get public transport from the airport into the city, if feasible. Don’t be put off, op!

I didn't warm to Barcelona at all, thought it was an awful city.

We have done a fair few city breaks and love them, but always go when it’s a bit quieter - march for example, and love to explore.
I equally love a pool holiday!

i guess there are so many places to discover that you’re not going to like them all.

Dd and I went to Bilbao in July and it was fantastic. Perfect size, walkable, Guggenheim museum, great teen shopping, nice places to easy, lovely park. She had suggested Barcelona but I didn’t want a big busy city.

We also loved Copenhagen last year so it depends what you are looking for I think.

I think you have to go out of season and for 3 or 4 nights. I recently went to Rome and overall enjoyed it but wish I’d gone in October or November as it was still too hot and busy.

Yeah definitely not ideal for young kids. I was in Rome recently watching some poor, crying kids being dragged round the Sistine chapel it looked miserable for everyone.

My dd is now 20yo and the perfect age to go on a city break with.

That's a shame, I love Barcelona, was last there in March (although I also witnessed an elderly woman being unsuccessfully mugged about 6 feet away from me which wasn't quite so pleasant as the rest of the weekend). Las Ramblas is crazy busy, being repaired as you say, and generally a hot spot for pick pockets and muggings, but most of the rest of the city I find lovely, and have always found lots of lovely cafes to sit out and watch the world go by, I'm sorry that they weren't available for your trip.

As for your question, I love a city break, I live rurally so really enjoy getting a city fix, being able to wander around, use public transport. I'd recommend maybe Malaga or Palma if you'd like to try again, they both are also close to some nice beaches and not so big as to be overwhelming. City breaks don't tend to be that restful though with so much to see!

I disagree, city breaks can be fantastic with young kids, but as long as you plan it around your young children.

It's unrealistic to plan an adult city break with them, but a new city where everything has to be discovered and is new and interesting, young children love it. You just need to plan it properly and have the right accommodation.

I enjoy city breaks with and without our dcs, we've never had an issue with the crowds or noise but then we live in central London so we're used to it. When we take the kids it's just like taking them into central London on a weekend - we'd choose child-friendly attractions like a museum with interactive features, parks, toy shops and play areas. My dcs love exploring new places and will happily wander around a gallery with a sketchbook.

It definitely depends on the city.

I didn't enjoy Barcelona or Paris.

I did enjoy:
Munich
Rome
Avignon
Nimes
Edinburgh

And I'm looking forward to Cologne and Trier next month.

I can understand you being overwhelmed in a big busy city like Barcelona. But it's hugely popular so it must have its good points, and it does! Without lecturing you OP, you must do a bit of research before you go. So depending on where your interests/likes/dislikes lie you can wander accordingly.

I think you might have enjoyed a trip up to Park Guell (if you didn't do that), then a stroll back down the hill to Gracia district (not far from Sagrada Familia), which is great and not heaving like Ramblas. Don't give up, every city has a good and a not so good side, depending on your wants and needs.

I rather like Barceloneta, the Eixample district is also nice to walk around - it is easier to navigate and has wider streets and squares than the centre of the city.

This is why, as a general rule, I avoid cities altogether (even though my nearest one is more like a town than somewhere like Manchester city centre)... and why, when everyone else seemed to be jetting off to Spain, I was heading to a Scottish island instead. I had a lovely time! Most people thought it sounded so uncool when I came back, but I was very enthusiastic, and would cheerfully go back!

Not felt like you, op; but I think a lot has to do with where and when. I thought Athens was fantastic but went in April so less busy and whilst weather was great it was not the baking heat of summer. I likely might have had a very different view if I went in August.

I have a whole list of Spanish cities to work through but Barcelona would be near the bottom. I’ve no rationale justification for that. Equally no great appeal for Valencia either. Maybe I like somewhat smaller Spanish cities but as I really enjoyed Madrid, not sure that logic works either.

I'm not keen on a city break, eitiher OP. I don't like people, crowds and noise so anywhere that is very busy is a nightmare for me.

Smaller cities can be ok, although even places like York can be too much - trying to wander down The Shambles isn't much fun imo as it's always busy.

If I'm going to have 2 or 3 days away I'd rather get a cottage somewhere rural and peaceful and explore smaller sights around that area - bookshops, coffee shops and a local castle/museum.

I find going mid week in school time best now!

I forgot- I like Malaga.

Have to say I enjoy a smaller city city break these days...So Tours or Ghent rather than a great big city. It feels much more manageable.

Having said that came back recently from Mexico City which was fabulous - but I'd chosen a hotel in a leafy residential part. And the same with Istanbul - searched out parks and stayed in a quieter part at night.

Barcelona in or close to peak season is quite an extreme example! I love a city break and love Barcelona, but not anywhere near summer.

There's a middle ground though. You probably would've had a different experience even in a city of Barcelona's size and popularity if you'd gone in late Jan or February, for example. Harder to find quieter, more relaxed pace cities in summer if you want sun, but if you're more willing to be flexible it's doable.

City breaks in general - yes.
Barcelona, Naples or Marseille - no.