Six dazzling destinations you can savour on a short city break
Desperately longing for a holiday but lacking the time or the funds for an extended break? No worries. These 6 destinations will satisfy your need for a change of scenery, and they offer enough exciting attractions that you can cram into a couple of days.
Mini city breaks in the UK
The UK is home to some truly great cities that can be explored and enjoyed within a weekend. You can stay in a holiday letting in Bath for a therapeutic soak at the Thermae Bath Spa, or rent an Edinburgh flat with views of the rolling cityscape.
London is a goldmine of world-famous attractions
London is ideal for a short break, since many of the must-see landmarks can be tackled in an afternoon. Hop on the Tube to Westminster and you’ll find Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street and the iconic clock tower housing Big Ben, a bell that chimes every hour. Holiday rentals near the West End easily allow for nights at the opera or the theatre, and if you still have energy afterwards, a lively bar crawl in Soho. If you’re keen on museum hopping, you can stay near South Kensington, where the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum conveniently sit close together.
Enjoy short city breaks in enchanting Edinburgh
Ediburgh is just the right size for a weekend trip, and its lovely city centre is easily explored on foot too. Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum of Scotland and the Royal Mile are among the attractions in the medieval Old Town, while the Georgian New Town features neoclassical buildings and plenty of shopping and dining. Bisecting the city, the Princes Street Gardens offer a verdant setting for catching your breath. If you have time to squeeze in a hill walk, Arthur’s Seat is an extinct volcano that’s right in the city, and the easy hike to its rocky peak will reward you with uninterrupted views over Edinburgh.
Bath offers soothing spa holidays
A 2-night city break is enough to appreciate this honey-tinted spa town in South West England – the city gets its colour palette from the stone used for most of its grand Georgian architecture. The incredibly well-preserved Roman bathhouses are the must-see attraction in Bath, though they’re now just for sightseeing and not for soaking. You can do the latter at the 4-storey Thermae Bath Spa, whose rooftop pool offers superb views of the rolling cityscape; as the spa is very popular, it’s best to make reservations in advance so you won’t be disappointed.
Quick and easy European escapes
With options ranging from leisurely sightseeing in Ljubljana to clubbing til the wee hours in Berlin, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to exciting 2-night city breaks in Europe. Remember to book a holiday home for greater comfort and convenience – and when you’re only in town for a weekend, proximity to the stops on your itinerary is a definite plus!
City breaks in Berlin are anything but boring
Travellers with an appetite for history and culture will be more than satisfied by mini city breaks in Berlin. Museum hopping is a breeze on Museum Island, home to 5 top-tier attractions. The 18th-century Brandenburg Gate is an icon of the city, while Checkpoint Charlie and the remnants of the Berlin Wall are sobering souvenirs of the German capital’s more recent past. For sweeping views over the city, climb up the Fernsehturm, a TV tower near the busy Alexanderplatz square and transport hub. If you still have energy left for a late night, join hardcore partygoers at Berlin’s celebrated nightclubs.
Seville will sweep you off your feet
It doesn’t take very long to fall under Seville’s spell. Short city breaks to Andalucia’s capital and top destination typically involve enjoying tapas and watching (or even learning) flamenco, along with admiring the breathtaking attractions in the historic core. Visit the Real Alcazar, a magnificent Moorish palace, and see the room where Christopher Columbus’s expedition to the Americas was plotted out. The famous explorer’s final resting place is in the Seville Cathedral, a 15th-century Gothic landmark whose minaret-turned-bell tower, called the Giralda, is itself a beloved monument. You can book a holiday letting on the cobbled lanes of the old town, or find a rental flat offering views of the Guadalquivir river.
Enjoy a mini city break in lovely, low-key Ljubljana
Low-profile Ljubljana may not feature on most travellers’ bucket lists, but that’s a plus for a short city break to Slovenia’s capital – it means no endless queues to world-famous, but very crowded, attractions. Instead, you can look forward to an easygoing weekend exploring the car-free city centre. Cross the beautiful bridges over the Ljubljanica river; Triple Bridge and Dragon Bridge are must-sees. Take the funicular or walk up to Ljubljana Castle, visit the National Museum of Slovenia and browse the plethora of small shops in the Old Town. When you want to catch your breath or sit down with a good book, head to sprawling Tivoli Park.