10 Best City Breaks in Europe

London provides a fascinating mix of historic and modern attractions. Among the iconic sights to see are the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and Shakespeare’s Globe, among countless others. The list is virtually endless as almost every street corner has had its own 15 minutes of fame at some point in the last few millennia.

The city isn’t just a massive collection of monuments, though. It’s constantly abuzz with unique events and activities. The theatre scene is world-renowned, as is the shopping. Who hasn’t heard of Oxford Street, Saville Row and Knightsbridge? If you want to get a really cosmopolitan city break experience, London is one of the best options in Europe.

Paris is famously one of the most romantic destinations for a city break in Europe. With the wealth of fine-dining restaurants, world-famous sights, beautiful parks, and historic palaces, it's pretty easy to see how this city earned its reputation.

Whether it’s taking a walk by the Seine, shopping on the Champs-Élysées or exploring the Louvre, the list of famous experiences in Paris that you must try at least once is extremely long. The fact that the city is also easy to get to, from and around makes it a fantastic and extremely popular city break destination.

Amsterdam is famously one of Europe's more quirky capitals and city break destinations. Its rings of canals were created as progressively expanding defensive barriers, while the tall and narrow houses are the response to unusual tax laws. How you explain the weirder attractions like the Museum of Torture, the Python Bridge or Electric Ladyland is anyone’s guess.

Amsterdam is somewhat famous – arguably notorious – for its nightlife, which wanders into the realms of risqué in parts. However, most of the city is quite family-friendly and the old-fashioned styling of the city centre gives it a distinct sense of escape from modern life.

Madrid can certainly be counted among the cultural capitals of Europe, thanks to its remarkable museums, architecture, and cuisine. Most notable among the attractions are the Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen art museums, each of which is packed with world-famous masterpieces. Each is also as impressive to look at from the outside as their collection is on the inside.

Of course, there's more to a great city break than just museums. Fortunately, Madrid also stands out for its impressive selection of first-class restaurants, fun nightlife, and its authentic, unpretentious atmosphere.

Dublin is most famous for its nightlife, making it a popular city break destination for those looking to unwind. It’s not just about the pubs, either – the city also has an array of world-class theatres, some excellent restaurants and even some very refined cocktail bars.

This historical and picturesque city is split in half by the River Liffey, with many memorable landmarks to visit along the banks of the river. Recommended attractions include Dublin Castle, the National Gallery of Ireland, Christ Church Cathedral, and plenty of other remarkable places are waiting to grace your Instagram feed. Popular attractions a little further from the waterside include the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College and the Jameson Distillery.

Berlin is a remarkably modern city, despite its long and vibrant history. The German capital has an extremely vibrant culture, with art and music among its top attractions. We’re not talking stale galleries and concert halls, either – the modern art and techno scenes are especially lively, making it a great city break destination if you like to party. Just head for areas like Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain and you’ll see what we mean.

Berlin is one of the most cosmopolitan capitals in Europe. It’s noted for being welcoming to LGBTQ+ travellers and has large immigrant populations, making for a colourful dining scene. Thanks to being split in half for several decades – literally and ideologically – you'll find noticeable differences between leafy Bergmannkiez in West Berlin and bohemian Mitte in East Berlin.

A visit to Rome is like a visit to 4 different cities at once. You have the ancient Roman capital, of course, in the shape of the Colosseum, the Forum and the Pantheon. Then there's one of the leading Renaissance cities, with the Trevi Fountain, Palazzo Farnese, and Piazza del Campidoglio. Modern Rome is known for its fantastic restaurants, nightlife, and shopping, while Vatican City is quite literally a whole different country within the city.

Suffice it to say, there’s plenty to see and do in Rome. You could go on multiple city breaks to the Italian capital and still have plenty more places to visit, demanding further breaks in future. While it can feel a little like the world's largest museum because so much of the city has historical appeal, the distinctive laidback atmosphere makes sure that it never feels stuffy and stale.

Barcelona is a city of exceptional features, including some of the finest beaches of any major European city, renowned cuisine, world-famous art and architecture, excellent football teams and famous nightlife. As much of a cliché as it may seem, Barcelona does genuinely seem to have something for everyone, regardless of what kind of city break you enjoy.

Among the must-sees in the Catalan city are the remarkable Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló and Park Güell, all of which showcase the unique talents of Antoni Gaudí. The iconic La Rambla street is an important hub, too, with shops, markets, cafes, and clubs to discover.

Lisbon is arguably one of the most underrated capital cities in Western Europe. It has the climate of Madrid, the cuisine of Paris, the culture of London, the nightlife of Berlin and the fabulous historical attractions of pretty much any of its contemporaries, yet it goes relatively overlooked.

Among the standout places to see during a city break here are the striking São Jorge Castle and Jerónimos Monastery. You can find excellent shops and bars around Avenida da Liberdade or Rua Augusta. Don’t miss out on Lisbon’s iconic yellow funicular, which takes you up some of the hilly city’s more extreme gradients.

Budapest is perhaps one of the best-preserved European capitals, having largely avoided the ravages of WWI and WWII. The Hungarian capital certainly has plenty of history to show, including Saint Stephen's Basilica, Buda Castle, and the Great Synagogue. There are also over 220 museums to explore.

The city was originally founded by the Romans because of the thermal spas, and they are still a big attraction even now, earning it the nickname of the "City of Spas". The Hungarian café culture and interesting cuisine are well worth exploring, too, as are the many lively beer bars in Budapest.