[ad_1]
When it involves European metropolis breaks, there’s no scarcity of choices. Throughout the continent, there are magnificent capitals — Paris, Rome, Vienna to call just a few — that weave an online of historical past spanning greater than two millennia and supply a playground for tradition hunters. For many who suppose they may have executed all of it, there are charming second cities showcasing completely different sides of their international locations, from wine-fuelled Porto to the coastal charms of Dubrovnik. Modernity is there in abundance too, if you need it, whether or not that’s Berlin’s membership scene or the capital of Scandi cool, Copenhagen. Want extra inspiration? Listed here are the very best metropolis break locations in Europe.
1. Cordoba, Spain
A Roman metropolis that turned a centre of Islam within the Center Ages, Cordoba is an enchanting assembly level of cultures. See this within the majestic structure strewn round its cobbled streets, with the Mezquita-Catedral de Cordoba a specific spotlight — a Unesco world heritage website that started life as a mosque earlier than changing into a cathedral. Equally fascinating is the meals scene, which borrows from the Muslim, Jewish and Spanish heritage of the those that now name this metropolis house.
Don’t miss Dwelling to a thriving flamenco scene, Cordoba can also be the place the place you’ll be able to go to Centro Flamenco Fosforito, a museum charting the historical past of the dance with free performances
Flight time Round 2¾ hours to Seville after which 50 minutes by prepare to Cordoba
Fly from Birmingham, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester
![Cafés in the old Jewish quarter of Cordoba (Alamy)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F78ba103b-9e48-4fbb-9745-c5ce9d68bc8e.jpg?crop=2560%2C1708%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
Cafés within the previous Jewish quarter of Cordoba (Alamy)
• Best weekend breaks from London
2. Riga, Latvia
Don’t dismiss Riga, capital of Latvia, as stag-do central — though there is a component of that — as a result of its charming previous city, with its cobbled streets, is ripe for exploring on foot, particularly on a Sunday morning when many guests are nursing their hangovers. Past the clearly photogenic spots there are picnic-friendly parks dotted with sculptures and water options, and good-looking streets lined with structure starting from extravagant artwork nouveau to Soviet-style utilitarianism. There are some fascinating museums too, together with the previous KGB headquarters, the Nook Home.
Don’t miss Museum of the Occupation of Latvia expanded into a brand new location in 2022 and gives an perception into life beneath Soviet rule
Flight time Round 2½ hours
Fly from Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester, Nottingham
![Art nouveau architecture in Riga’s old town (Alamy)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F0734cf85-3576-4daf-ab44-5312e502fa6e.jpg?crop=2560%2C1708%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
Artwork nouveau structure in Riga’s previous city (Alamy)
• Best affordable city breaks in Europe
3. Basel, Switzerland
Proper on the border of each France and Germany, this Swiss metropolis is the proper tri-nation pitstop. What number of different cities have an airport in a single nation, museums in one other and public transport to seamlessly join all of them? Summer season and winter are the very best seasons to go to. The Rhine cuts via the town and a favorite summer season exercise is to stuff your belongings in a Wickelfisch swim bag and use it as a float to softly drift down the river. Its fountains present a spot to chill off if it will get too sizzling. And in winter, Christmas markets make it a magical winter wonderland.
Don’t miss Crossing the river on one of many water-powered boats, which makes use of the present to push the vessel from one financial institution to a different
Flight time Round 1½ hours
Fly from Bristol, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Manchester
![A tram crosses the Rhine on Basel’s Middle Bridge](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2Fe17b6b0e-d102-4664-8ede-e17e599b0d2d.jpg?crop=2560%2C1706%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
A tram crosses the Rhine on Basel’s Center Bridge
4. Valletta, Malta
Small in measurement however large in stature, Malta’s elegant, golden-hued capital Valletta is without doubt one of the most compact metropolis break locations in Europe. Inbuilt 1566 on a peninsula between two pure harbours, the complete place is Unesco-listed, with gilded cathedrals, fanciful pleasure gardens and grand mansion homes hugged by bastion partitions. Enter via the most recent incarnation of the Metropolis Gate, designed by Renzo Piano, saunter alongside the breezy cobbled streets and end with a ship tour of the Grand Harbour.
Don’t miss The Saluting Battery and firing of a cannon that takes place each day at noon
Flight time Round 3-4 hours
Fly from Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham
![St Paul’s Cathedral and the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Valletta (Alamy)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F480ab86b-fb37-4158-af72-2505f6a59bfa.jpg?crop=2560%2C1600%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
St Paul’s Cathedral and the Basilica of Our Woman of Mount Carmel in Valletta (Alamy)
5. Athens, Greece
Historical historical past performs out each day on this wealthy theatre of ruins. Initially centred round fifth-century BC hilltop citadel the Acropolis, the Greek capital has since sprawled into an city mass with gritty enchantment. Spend a morning weaving via the Parthenon’s crumbling columns and a day admiring politically charged avenue artwork on this numerous metropolis break vacation spot. Escape the warmth on day journeys to seashores alongside the Attica coast.
Don’t miss Exploring the marble stands of the Panathenaic Stadium. Constructed round AD143, centuries later it was excavated and hosted the primary fashionable Olympics in 1896
Flight time Round 3½-4 hours
Fly from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle
![Street art in Athens (Alamy)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2Faf15ddcf-5c11-4dbe-9862-23ddd08518a0.jpg?crop=2560%2C1706%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
Road artwork in Athens (Alamy)
• Best hotels in Athens
• Best things to do in Athens
6. Budapest, Hungary
A grande dame of Europe with designs on being probably the most enticing metropolis on the earth, Hungary’s capital seduces guests along with her golden-age glamour. From sensational artwork nouveau façades to stately baroque structure, the streets are stuffed with photogenic backdrops, many mirrored within the River Danube, which separates hilly, historic Buda and vivacious Pest. You’ll discover an abundance of sizzling springs throughout Budapest, the place thermal baths have been widespread since Roman instances. Calm down beneath elegant marble archways at Sixteenth-century Rudas, or social gathering with the plenty at Szechenyi.
Don’t miss The views from Thirteenth-century Unesco-listed Buda Fortress’s courtyards, that are free to enter and open all night time
Flight time Round 2½-3 hours
Fly from Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester
![Szechenyi Baths in Budapest (Getty Images)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2Fe2a54584-d856-48ee-9d47-d9454ac32c5a.jpg?crop=2560%2C1711%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
Szechenyi Baths in Budapest (Getty Photos)
• Best things to do in Budapest
7. Galway, Eire
Come for glorious reside music, dynamic theatre and a refreshing arts scene. Perched on the west coast in Connemara, straddling the River Corrib and a part of the scenic Wild Atlantic Approach, Galway is a gorgeous metropolis. On chilly days, go to historic pubs with cosy snugs; in milder climate, cycle alongside the promenade to Salthill, alongside a rocky shoreline dotted with lighthouses. Though not an apparent selection for a break in Europe, it’s a refreshing discover.
Don’t miss Having fun with the craic at pubs like Tigh Neachtain on Cross Road, well-known for its beers, whiskeys and proficient musicians
Flight time Round 1½ hours
Fly from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle
![Buskers in Galway (Alamy)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F859a4bf6-8748-400f-a34c-db3608af2af8.jpg?crop=2560%2C1706%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
Buskers in Galway (Alamy)
• Most beautiful places to visit in Ireland
8. Tbilisi, Georgia
A posh previous has left its mark on Georgia’s intriguing capital, the place cobbled streets have been as soon as dominated by Prussian and Russian forces. Artwork nouveau buildings share the skyline with modernist Soviet buildings and sixth-century Orthodox church towers, and a bohemian spirit breezes via hidden bars, eating places and vintage-style cafés. Disused factories have been transformed into boutique resorts, and the pure sulphur bathhouses (broadly believed to have given the town its title, which roughly interprets as “a heat place”) are nonetheless in use.
Don’t miss The wines, made right here for greater than 8,000 years. They’re low-cost too; pay round £6 for a bottle of desk wine
Flight time Round 6-7 hours
Fly from London Gatwick through Istanbul, London Heathrow through Istanbul
![The Chugureti district of Tbilisi (Alamy)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F1387668f-8b1b-4fe0-b421-2f8b0c4ff906.jpg?crop=2560%2C1706%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
The Chugureti district of Tbilisi (Alamy)
9. Break up, Croatia
Hugged by mountains and kissed by the ocean, this up-and-coming port has blossomed into considered one of Croatia’s prime cities to discover. Relationship again 1,700 years, the previous city of Break up has probably the most must-see sights, together with the Unesco-listed Diocletian’s Palace — considered among the finest Roman ruins in existence. The sprawling fourth-century complicated now homes many bars and eating places, and also you’ll discover a lot extra inexpensive pitstops alongside the Riva promenade. Go to a seventh-century cathedral nonetheless in use and climb a 57m bell tower for sweeping views of the peninsula.
Don’t miss Dipping your toes within the sand at Bacvice seaside, a ten-minute stroll from the previous city
Flight time Round 2½-3 hours
Fly from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, Manchester
![Split (Getty Images)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F3aec96ed-1b2e-4037-ae20-1d0ec20f20b4.jpg?crop=2560%2C1708%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
10. Dubrovnik, Croatia
Lapped by shimmering Adriatic waves, Croatia’s prettiest metropolis is a Unesco-listed gem. Wrapped by historical partitions, the previous city is an open-air museum; discover the cobbled streets admiring gothic and baroque structure, and search out backdrops featured in Recreation of Thrones. Boutique resorts constructed into the cliffs command breathtaking views, and sandy seashores comparable to Banje are a brief distance away. Choices for day journeys from Dubrovnik are plentiful: jump over to lush, forest-covered Lokrum or car-free Kolocep.
Don’t miss Climbing Fort Lovrijenac for views of the town partitions and bay
Flight time Round 3 hours
Fly from Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham
![The harbour in Dubrovnik (Getty Images)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2Fc361b326-e747-4b22-b37a-d06b084adc89.jpg?crop=2560%2C1706%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
The harbour in Dubrovnik (Getty Photos)
11. Madrid, Spain
The life and soul of Spain’s most interesting fiestas, this high-spirited European metropolis will get beneath your pores and skin. Cultural highlights in Madrid come within the type of fine-art galleries such because the Prado and historic squares comparable to Plaza Mayor, though it’s straightforward to get sidetracked drifting between charming tapas bars that vary from the delightfully boisterous to the reassuringly serene. The Mercado de San Miguel showcases a whirlwind culinary tour of the nation, whereas higgledy-piggledy Sobrino de Botin, based in 1725, claims it’s the oldest restaurant on the earth.
Don’t miss Picasso’s Guernica, on show on the Reina Sofia museum
Flight time Round 2½-3 hours
Fly from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted, Manchester
![Diners in the Mercado de San Miguel (Alamy)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F569ca323-cdb3-421b-9118-e2eb3653a56a.jpg?crop=2560%2C1708%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
Diners within the Mercado de San Miguel (Alamy)
12. Barcelona, Spain
If this Spanish metropolis have been a Tinder profile, you’d definitely swipe proper: placing seems to be and a fun-filled character are at its core. Architectural maverick Gaudi dominates the cityscape along with his surreal designs — calm down within the fairytale Parc Guell and marvel on the fantastical Sagrada Familia cathedral — though you’ll discover extra conventional buildings within the enchanting Gothic Quarter. Numerous Michelin-starred eating places and loads of high quality tapas bars make eating out in Barcelona a dream, with meals served alongside the spectacle of avenue performers on Las Ramblas to supply an entertaining night out.
Don’t miss The Joan Miro Basis, a gorgeous hilltop museum exhibiting among the artist’s most interesting work
Flight time Round 2-2½ hours
Fly from Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle
![The Pont del Bisbe in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter (Getty Images)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F0755bb85-8140-40f6-a8f7-b4a305707922.jpg?crop=2560%2C1706%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
The Pont del Bisbe in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter (Getty Photos)
• Best things to do in Barcelona
13. Paris, France
Whether or not you’re strolling alongside the Seine or sipping chocolat chaud from a Saint-Germain café, France’s devastatingly attractive capital remains to be probably the most romantic metropolis on the earth. Breeze via bohemian Montmartre, the place artists set their easels on cobbled streets, or spend a day gazing at masterpieces within the gargantuan Louvre. From classic shops on the left financial institution to designer boutiques alongside the Champs-Élysées, procuring in Paris is world class. Admire the swirling motifs of artwork nouveau façades and slip right into a world the place all the things feels effortlessly stylish.
Don’t miss Royal chapel Sainte-Chapelle for a repair of gothic glory
Flight time Round 1½ hours
Fly from Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, Manchester, Newcastle
By prepare Eurostar from London St Pancras Worldwide takes 2hr 16min
![Nightlife in the Latin Quarter of Paris (Alamy)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F5e3fa93b-cd2d-4f7a-aa4a-9cfd07a63f78.jpg?crop=2560%2C1706%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
Nightlife within the Latin Quarter of Paris (Alamy)
• Best hotels in Paris
• Eurostar guide: everything you need to know before you travel
14. Reykjavik, Iceland
Framed by snow-glazed mountains and lurid inexperienced lava fields, Iceland’s capital is a superb base for day journeys and a standalone metropolis break vacation spot. Whale-watching excursions depart from the harbour and northern lights safaris function within the winter season. Nevertheless it’s the quirky bars, pubs and eating places of Reykjavik that give a flavour of this tiny inhabitants’s offbeat lifestyle. The glass-domed Perlan museum offers an outline of Iceland’s geology and wildlife; stroll quarter-hour from right here to seek out the Nautholsvik Geothermal Seashore.
Don’t miss Steaming in sizzling springs — cease on the Blue Lagoon en route from Keflavik airport
Flight time Round 2½-3 hours
Fly from Edinburgh, Glasgow, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester
![Enjoying a drink in in Reykjavik (Alamy)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F01a3a5f6-0024-4594-a754-732e3401fb44.jpg?crop=2560%2C1706%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
Having fun with a drink in in Reykjavik (Alamy)
• Best things to do in Reykjavik
15. Lisbon, Portugal
As soon as a jumping-off level for Fifteenth-century explorers, this underrated European metropolis is now the massive discovery. An explosion of trendy bars and eating places in Lisbon has invigorated downtown neighbourhoods Bairro Alto and Principe Actual, remodeling the streets into an open-air social gathering, however there’s nonetheless one thing seductive concerning the metropolis’s dusty, clandestine artwork nouveau venues. Whereas medieval Sao Jorge Fortress presides over the azulejo-tiled Portuguese capital from considered one of its seven hills, you’ll discover Unesco-listed treasures additional out in Belem.
Don’t miss Trundling throughout city on the old school 28 tram and exploring the cobbled streets of Alfama, the town’s oldest neighbourhood
Flight time Round 2½-3 hours
Fly from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester
![Café A Brasileira in Lisbon (Alamy)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F5b337a66-35b5-403e-958d-ced214b1678d.jpg?crop=2560%2C1707%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
Café A Brasileira in Lisbon (Alamy)
16. Florence, Italy
The birthplace of the Renaissance nonetheless bears inventive fruits. Whereas works by Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci are on show in world-class galleries and museums in Florence, dynamic, fashionable artwork collectives function in numerous pockets across the Arno river. Climb one of many Tuscan metropolis’s surrounding hills for views of Brunelleschi’s knockout terracotta-tiled Duomo — or worship it from a rooftop bar at considered one of a number of boutique resorts. Take in the sights and smells of open-air meals market Sant’Ambrogio, then enterprise into the countryside on day journeys to pattern produce at its supply.
Don’t miss Getting misplaced within the epic assortment of masterpieces on show on the Uffizi Gallery
Flight time Round 2-3 hours
Fly from Edinburgh, London Metropolis, London Gatwick, London Heathrow
![Taking in the view of Florence and the Duomo (Getty Images)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2Fc242d56a-b8a2-408e-bd30-6e97940fd0d0.jpg?crop=2560%2C1706%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
Taking within the view of Florence and the Duomo (Getty Photos)
• Best things to do in Florence
17. Venice, Italy
Byzantine gold mosaics, baroque structure and opulent palaces vie for consideration in Venice, and each church inside, ornate doorway and elaborate façade is a murals. Linked by almost 400 bridges, everything of this lovely metropolis is Unesco-listed. Stumble down slender passageways to seek out hidden bars and eating places, or salute triumphant palazzos on a cruise alongside the Grand Canal.
Don’t miss Island-hopping between lace-loving Burano, glass-blowing Murano and sleepy, historic Torcello within the Venetian Lagoon
Flight time Round 2½ hours
Fly from Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester, Nottingham
![The shops and cafés of Burano (Getty Images)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2Fb60b02b0-b7b3-4f46-8da4-74fdf569efee.jpg?crop=2560%2C1706%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
The retailers and cafés of Burano (Getty Photos)
18. Porto, Portugal
Porto serves up nice meals, sights and sass. It’s house to classic port homes, comparable to Taylor’s, which has manicured rose gardens, a terrace restaurant with a view and peacocks strutting within the grounds, in addition to its much-loved ten-year-old tawny. This ravishing metropolis is all concerning the views, but it surely’s a schlep to catch each angle due to the river crossings concerned. So see all of it from the river, with Porto’s tumbling tropical gardens, tiled monasteries and space-age bridges revealing themselves on an easy-breezy hour’s sail on a conventional rabelo boat.
Don’t miss Working up an urge for food whereas feeding your Insta-fans on the Victor Hugo meals market, the place the stalls are stacked with gourmand shows of langoustines, oysters, meats and cheeses, in addition to muffins, flowers and wine
Flight time Round 2-3 hours
Fly from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester
![The Ribeira district of Porto (Getty Images)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F31f1fd17-74c8-4b0e-bc31-267cd6fbe623.jpg?crop=2560%2C1706%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
The Ribeira district of Porto (Getty Photos)
19. Prague, Czech Republic
Historical past sings from the cobblestoned streets of Prague, however amid the spires and domes you’ll discover a fashionable, cosmopolitan metropolis, with industrial areas reworked into arty hubs and a hip avant-garde restaurant scene. Step inside St Vitus Cathedral to admire its stained glass, then take a tour of the quirky Lobkowicz Palace with its dazzling balcony views.
Don’t miss Prague Fortress. For the utmost wow issue, enter via the courtyard of Queen Anne’s Summer season Palace
Flight time Round 2 hours
Fly from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester
![Queen Anne’s Summer Palace in the Royal Garden of Prague Castle (Alamy)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F18e6e3e0-aa86-4698-bb50-3b4bd7234808.jpg?crop=2560%2C1706%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
Queen Anne’s Summer season Palace within the Royal Backyard of Prague Fortress (Alamy)
20. Brussels, Belgium
Brussels is fingers down probably the most underrated metropolis break in Europe: simply two hours by prepare from London, filled with delightfully absurd structure, plus bars overflowing with fascinating beers and the world’s finest chocolate. It’s full of top-notch museums however, let’s be sincere, you didn’t come for them. The author Jean Cocteau known as Brussels’ principal sq. the “most interesting theatre on the earth” and, though it’s filled with camera-toting vacationers, its gold-leafed gables and gothic spires make this considered one of Europe’s most gobsmacking public areas. Duck down the Rue de l’Etuve for Brussels’s different laid-back landmark, the Manneken Pis statue of a chubby little boy having an unabashed wee.
Don’t miss Watching the winding streets of the medieval metropolis centre unfurl under you from the top-floor café of the Musical Devices Museum, a weird artwork nouveau constructing lined in jet-black wrought iron, on the stately Mont des Arts
Flight time Round 1-1¾ hours
Fly from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London Heathrow, Manchester
By prepare Eurostar from London St Pancras Worldwide takes 1hr 53min
![The café at the Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels (Alamy)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F6b12dd91-0829-4901-8755-21fddbcfcdb7.jpg?crop=2560%2C1743%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
The café on the Musical Devices Museum in Brussels (Alamy)
21. Amsterdam, Netherlands
With direct Eurostar trains whisking you there in lower than 4 hours from London, and super-short flights from elsewhere within the UK, few locations provide as straightforward a getaway because the Dutch capital. Amsterdam wears its historical past flippantly, with fairly canal streets dusted with elegant artwork and structure, and cosy pubs making it an amazing metropolis for strolling. There are some apparent standouts: the sleek Herengracht has among the metropolis’s most lavish buildings, notably alongside the stretch between Leidsestraat and Vijzelstraat, whereas Prinsengracht has among the cutest gables overlooking it (don’t be afraid to look inside both — window-dressing is a press release right here).
Don’t miss The Rijksmuseum. From Vermeer to Van Gogh, the Rijksmuseum has a set spanning 800 years of Dutch artwork. Rembrandt’s brooding The Evening Watch is its most well-known piece, however don’t miss Van Dyck’s high-society portraits or Vermeer’s tender The Milkmaid (who could possibly be the sister of his Lady with a Pearl Earring). And it’s not simply the artwork that’s spectacular — the beautiful neo-gothic constructing is now shining after a decade of renovations
Flight time Round 1-1½ hours
Fly from Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Durham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Humberside, Inverness, Leeds, Liverpool, London Metropolis, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Southampton
By prepare Eurostar from London St Pancras Worldwide takes 3hr 52min
![Prince’s Canal in Amsterdam (Alamy)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F7eccb2ca-2d2b-41b4-aaac-72784f895dac.jpg?crop=2560%2C1706%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
Prince’s Canal in Amsterdam (Alamy)
• Best boutique hotels in Amsterdam
22. Vienna, Austria
Can any centre rival Austria’s capital for architectural grandeur? Uncertain: with its majestic castles, imperial palaces and baroque streets, Vienna is endlessly elegant. The Metropolis of Music additionally packs a cultural punch. Waltzing in all probability started right here, whereas the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera each stage world-class performances. With neighbourhoods organized in rings, discover outwards from fairytale St Stephen’s Cathedral: first the cobbled previous city, then the restaurant and seaside bar-lined previous Jewish quarter, Leopoldstadt.
Don’t miss Some chocolatey Sachertorte in considered one of Vienna’s magnificent, marble-lined espresso homes
Flight time Round 2-3 hours
Fly from Edinburgh, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted, Manchester
![St Peter’s Church in Vienna (Getty Images)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F820e60f9-5022-4dde-8f8d-36732cbbc4fa.jpg?crop=2560%2C1951%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
St Peter’s Church in Vienna (Getty Photos)
23. Berlin, Germany
An distinctive artistic scene is the chief draw right here. From hedonistic, 24-hour nightclubs with brain-bending installations to continent-leading avenue artwork, Berlin has heaps to examine — and infrequently within the least probably areas. Nice graffiti even traces most surviving Berlin Wall remnants. Different engrossing sights evidencing the town’s traumatic previous embody Hitler’s bunker, Checkpoint Charlie and the Norman Foster-designed Reichstag dome. Energy your sightseeing with currywurst, and check out additionally to include some greenery: a 22,000-acre botanical backyard accompanies a whole lot of parks right here.
Don’t miss Strolling — or crusing up the Spree — via hip Kreuzberg, the district most emblematic of Berlin’s rebirth
Flight time Round 2 hours
Fly from Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester, Nottingham
![Nightlife in Kreuzberg on the Spree canal (Alamy)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F0affb496-8b76-46cb-95d2-ee22ae78ebb7.jpg?crop=2560%2C1707%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
Nightlife in Kreuzberg on the Spree canal (Alamy)
24. Copenhagen, Denmark
On this easygoing design hub, furnishings (Hay), ceramics (Stilleben) and trend (Holly Golightly) manufacturers’ sharp shops show as attractive as chocolate-box waterfront homes. Set on two islands, Copenhagen additionally does meals famously properly. Noma is right here in the intervening time — it’s set to shut in 2024 — whereas cooks who graduated from Rene Redzepi’s pioneering restaurant now provide Nordic fine-dining, tacos or seafood near shiny, svelte espresso dens. Extra basic sights embody the Little Mermaid and Tivoli’s retro, family-friendly amusement park. With winters so lengthy right here, summer season is a joyous, buoyant time to go to.
Don’t miss In leafy Assistens Cemetery, sunbathing {couples} and pink squirrels neighbour the graves of Hans Christian Andersen and Soren Kierkegaard
Flight time Round 1½-2 hours
Fly from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted, Manchester, Newquay
![Ready for some nourishment in Copenhagen (Getty Images)](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2Fecd8f0de-f399-4ef1-891b-3f2147a650b3.jpg?crop=2560%2C1706%2C0%2C0&resize=400&quality=3)
Prepared for some nourishment in Copenhagen (Getty Photos)
• Best twin-city breaks
• Best European cities to visit this winter
Take me there
Impressed to ebook a European metropolis break however but to ebook your journey? Listed here are the very best holidays from Tui and BA Holidays. These are the very best tours of Europe from our trusted partners.
Join the Instances Journey E-newsletter here.
[ad_2]