26 Best European City Breaks To Take All Year Round

Last Updated on 9th January 2025

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Europe is by far my favourite continent for some of the best city breaks in the world.

From iconic cities such as London to the romantic streets of Paris, to some of the most ancient ruins in Rome, I’ve been to dozens of European cities and I just adore how each city is unique and vastly different from the rest. Even when you remain in the same country and simply travel to different cities within that country, you can find yourself feeling like you’re in a different world.

Check out some of the best European city breaks below and let me know in the comments what some of your favourite city breaks in Europe are!

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1. Prague – best city breaks in Europe

Prague is one of my favourite European city breaks ever. Matt also loved it so much that he actually got two tattoos on his ankles inspired by the church above!

Prague is a wonderful city in Europe as it’s home to so many amazing things to do. From the otherworldly castle, to Charles Bridge and the Old Town, Prague is absolutely teeming with history and fabulous food.

The apartment we stayed at in Prague is also one of my favourite places I’ve ever stayed.

Read more: 3 Day Prague Itinerary

2. Vienna

Check out the Vienna Rathaus (City Hall)

The capital city of Austria is famed for its wonderful culture and artistic tendencies, as well as being the home of famous artists such as Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud.

There’s also plentiful palaces to explore such as the spectacular Schönbrunn Palace and the remarkable Belvedere Palace.

3. Budapest

Hungarian Parliament Building best European city breaks

Budapest is another one of my all-time favourite city breaks in Europe.

It was actually one of the first places Matt and I went on holiday together (after New York ) and so it will always hold a special place in my heart for that reason.

The Hungarian Parliament Building (pictured above) is undoubtedly one of the most impressive buildings I’ve ever seen and the thermal spas in the city such as the Széchenyi Thermal Bath are also unbelievably cool!

Check out my Budapest travel guides here.

4. Milan – best European city breaks

Milan is another one of my top city breaks in Europe and it’s a place that I’ve been lucky enough to visit numerous times now.

The Duomo di Milano is probably the city’s most iconic landmark, and of course, no visit to Milan would be complete without visiting some of the city’s top malls to discover the world’s most elaborate designer brands!

5. London

I couldn’t write a guide to the best city breaks in Europe and not include my country’s capital city of London!

London is without a doubt one of the famous cities in the world, never mind in Europe, so it’s definitely got to be on your European city bucket list!

I could sit here all day writing about the best things to do in London, but you’ve got to make sure you add the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Westminster, Tower Bridge and Big Ben to your itinerary!

6. Barcelona

The beloved Spanish city of Barcelona is a fantastic city break in Europe if you’re looking to combine history, culture and food into one awesome holiday.

The beautiful La Sagrada Familia should definitely be on your Barcelona itinerary, as well as Park Güell and the Cathedral of Barcelona. Don’t forget to eat plenty of tapas too!

7. Porto

Porto is definitely in my top 10 best city breaks in Europe (so far, at least!).

We ate the most delicious food while we were in Porto and stayed in such a lovely apartment; if you’re looking for a slightly less touristy holiday in Portugal, definitely consider Porto!

8. Berlin – best city breaks in Europe

The capital city of Germany is renowned as one of the best cities in Europe for its awesome nightlife scene, as well as for its infamous historic past too.

You can find iconic sites such as the Berlin Wall Memorial, the Reichstag Building and the Brandenburg Gate, amongst other things.

9. York

I couldn’t write about Europe’s best cities and not include my beloved hometown of York, could I?!

York is not only my hometown (and has been on and off for almost 20 years!), but it’s also definitely a city you need to visit at least once when travelling Europe. If you’re already from the UK, then I insist you make it a priority to visit York before you travel anywhere else!

I have a tonne of things to do in York listed in various posts on my blog, but some of the top things I think you need to see/do in York include the Minster (obviously!), The Shambles, the City Walls and of course, enjoy afternoon tea at Betty’s!

10. Athens

Greece’s capital city is famed for its historic sites such as the Acropolis, the Parthenon and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, amongst many other famous architectural sites.

11. Málaga

Málaga is a fab place to enjoy a few days in the sun; there’s not a tremendous amount of things to do there, but the beaches are lovely and the Alcazaba and the Castillo de Gibralfaro are well worth a visit.

12. Zürich – best European city breaks

Despite being one of the most expensive countries in Europe, Switzerland is home to some truly spectacular cities, including Zürich.

While it might not be the country’s capital city, Zürich is still one of the best and most popular places to visit in Switzerland if you’re looking for a lovely city break. With tonnes of beautiful churches to explore, plentiful museums and the huge lake of Zürich, this city makes for an ideal holiday destination in Europe, particularly in the winter.

13. Rome

Rome is yet another incredibly iconic city in Europe and one that certainly needs to be added to your bucket list.

I’ve actually only spent 6 hours in Rome so far, but we managed to see and do so much while we were there including the Colosseum, the Pantheon, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican and more. I’d definitely love to go back for a few days though and explore as much of the city as possible.

14. Dubrovnik

Now known as being one of the main filming locations of the Game of Thrones series, Dubrovnik actually has an abundant and rich history too.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to visit Dubrovnik if GoT influenced you (it’s certainly made me want to visit after watching it!) and while you’re there, you can take numerous tours that will take you to all the top locations around the city.

15. Venice

Venice is one of Italy’s most beloved cities and one of my personal favourite European city breaks.

The “floating city” is one of the most romantic places I’ve ever been, particularly thanks to St. Mark’s Square, the Basilica and of course, the many canals and bridges that decorate the city.

It’s certainly not the cheapest place in Europe, but it is one of the most beautiful.

16. Copenhagen – best city breaks in Europe

Denmark’s capital city is another place in Europe that’s famous for its many churches and palaces.

It’s a great place to visit all year round, but is particularly lovely during autumn and winter when the colours of the houses and buildings are complemented by the seasons’ changing colours.

Be sure to visit the Tivoli Gardens, the harbour area of Nyhavn and Rosenborg Castle, just to name a few.

17. Oslo

Oslo is one of my favourite places for a city break in Europe and it’s a place that I’d highly recommend to everyone. It’s definitely not a cheap city break in Europe, but if you’re looking for a little extra special treat for someone, then Oslo is the perfect choice.

It’s especially wonderful in the winter when the whole city is covered in snow!

18. Lisbon

The capital city of Portugal is a beautiful coastal city famed for its impeccable food scene, its wonderful beaches and its abundant history.

19. Edinburgh

Heading back to the UK now on our list of the best European city breaks, we have Edinburgh, which is actually one of my favourite places in the UK.

One of the best things about Edinburgh is that you can spend just one day exploring the city’s top sights such as Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Victoria Street and Calton Hill, or you can take a more leisurely approach and spend a good few days getting to know the city like a local.

20. Bruges – best European city breaks

Bruges is yet another one of my favourite European weekend breaks, largely thanks to its spectacular architecture, romantic cobbled streets, and delicious chocolate!

21. Reykjavík

Similarly to Oslo, Reykjavík isn’t really a city that you just head off to on a whim as it’s pretty expensive to visit. From the food, to the alcohol, to the accommodation and even the activities, Reykjavík is one of the most expensive cities in Europe.

However, that doesn’t mean to say that you can’t do it on a reasonable budget, providing that you do your research on where to stay and the best places to eat beforehand.

I think Reykjavík is definitely a place that’s well worth a visit, especially during the snowy season and bonus points if you can tie in a visit to the Golden Circle and see the Northern Lights while you’re there!

22. Stockholm

The capital city of Sweden is another place in Europe that’s lovely to visit all year round.

You can enjoy the city’s top sights such as the Royal Palace and Drottningholm Palace, plus fun activities like the ABBA Museum if that’s your kind of thing!

23. Paris – best city breaks in Europe

Paris is a place that I’m sure is on most people’s bucket lists and for good reason; it’s one of the most famous and romantic cities in the world.

While I wouldn’t necessarily say that Paris is one of my personal favourite cities in Europe, it still packs a punch when it comes to things to see and do and it’s a great place to visit for a quick weekend break.

24. Kraków

With things to see and do such as the Wawel Cathedral and Castle, as well as the Kraków Barbican, this city is teeming with magnificent architecture and culture.

25. Amsterdam

I have so many fond memories of our time in Amsterdam, particularly because we spent one New Year there and it was one of the best New Year’s Eve parties I’ve ever been to!

I also remember eating a kebab from this one particular takeaway several times, simply because it was that good. Of course, the rivers and canals, plus the infamous Anne Frank House Museum are top things to do in the city if you’re looking for a more educational experience and a deeper delve into the city’s historic past.

26. Dublin – best European city breaks

Despite having been to Dublin numerous times with my family who live just an hour away, I don’t really feel like I’ve ever properly experienced the city.

Of course, you can’t visit Ireland’s capital city without having a pint (or two!) of Guinness and a hearty Irish pub meal!

Getting to/around Europe

Europe is obviously bloody huge, so while I won’t go into detail about how to get to/from/around every single country, there are a few tips that you can bear in mind when it comes to travelling to/around Europe.

Flights into pretty much any big city in Europe can be found with most major airlines. If you plan on travelling around Europe via plane, then the top European airlines include Ryanair, Jet2, easyJet, KLM, Lufthansa and many more. Flights between countries range in price depending on where you’re flying to/from, but you can often find deals for as little as £9.99 each way!

Rail travel is another very popular way of exploring Europe and there are trains that go across many mainland countries, as well as to/from the UK via the Channel Tunnel into France. I’ve actually had very limited experience with rail travel in Europe so far, but that’s something I’m hoping to change next year!

Accommodation options in Europe

We’ve been lucky enough to stay in some of my favourite accommodation ever in Europe, particularly in places like Prague, Paris and Reykjavík.

Your top places to find accommodation in Europe are obviously places like Booking.com and Airbnb, but websites such as Hostelworld are also a good shout if you’re looking for something more affordable.

Hotels and apartments can be pretty pricey throughout Europe, so it’s definitely worth looking around and considering your options.

Conclusion – best city breaks in Europe

And there you have it! My non-exhaustive list of the best European city breaks to enjoy all year round! I’ll be sure to update this list as and when I visit more cities in Europe, but for now, I hope you’ve found plenty of inspiration!

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Pin for later – best European city breaks

Do you have anymore European city breaks that you’d add to this list? Let me know in the comments or in my Interrail Facebook Group!

7 Comments

Meghan Emceesays:
31st October 2020 at 2:43 pm

This is a great list! I’ve explored some of these beautiful cities but still have many more to go 😀 Saving for later for inspiration!

1. chloedickensonsays:
  3rd November 2020 at 9:03 am
  
  Thank you so much!
  
Holidays from Helssays:
31st October 2020 at 4:06 pm

Some of my absolute favourites here – Prague, Dublin and Venice. Also a reminder to me of all the places I have yet to explore – Oslo, Milan and Vienna. Thanks for sharing.

1. chloedickensonsays:
  3rd November 2020 at 9:03 am
  
  Prague is definitely one of my favourites too, and I’d highly recommend Oslo!
  
Taylorsays:
31st October 2020 at 4:21 pm

Great list! Been to 17 on the list! More to go still

1. chloedickensonsays:
  3rd November 2020 at 9:03 am
  
  Thank you! And that’s so cool that you’ve been to so many!
  
Kristasays:
31st October 2020 at 10:43 pm

I would 100000% agree with visiting Vienna at any time of the year – the city is so beautiful and there are a lot of things on year round!

26+ Best European City Breaks To Take All Year Round