Europe City Breaks for Different Travellers

I often get asked by friends ‘where in Europe should we go on holiday?’ and I always find it such a hard question to answer because it totally depends on what you’re after. I’d recommend a different destination to different people based on what they are looking for. This made me think that I can’t be the only one who chooses a destination based on what it has to offer you.

Today I’ve put together a mini guide to share with you of different city breaks you can take depending on what you’re looking for. I’ve only based this on places I’ve been personally and that’s not the whole continent. These are all places which are easily accessible from airports and worth going even for a 2-3 day break, you could obviously spend more time there too. I hope you find this post useful, let me know in the comments below.

Europe City Breaks to Take for Different Travellers

Solo | Barcelona

I found it hard to pick a destination for solo travellers as most of the places I’ve visited in Europe would be suitable for a solo trip but based on price and amount to do in the city it has to Barcelona.

This city is one of my favourites in Europe because it has so much to offer: the famous Gaudi buildings, the beach, Montjuïc hill, the Gothic quarter, Las Rambla, the market and so much more. Barcelona is a city where you can see a lot without spending much money. There is also a wealth of hostels in the city making it easy to make friends while travelling solo and helping to keep the cost down as you can just buy a dorm bed instead of a whole room. Tapas also makes sharing late night meals with new found friends easy. It is also an easy city to navigate and one I felt pretty safe it, all though everyone should be careful with their bags in the busy hubs,

I’d also recommend : Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Berlin

Romantic | Venice

It was quite easy to pick a romantic destination as Venice was the city we got engaged in and it’s absolutely perfect for a romantic break.

Venice is quite an expensive destination so it’s worth picking it for a special holiday. It’s a city with so much history and even just the beautiful canals and back streets scream romance. The city is typically more travelling couples than groups of friends and there are plenty of hidden spots to eat, drink and enjoy time together at. Of course you’ll need to spend some time wandering with the aim of getting lost to truly enjoy the city. It is also worth getting up high and taking in the gorgeous views of the city.

Winter Adventure | Reykjavik

Iceland is probably my favourite winter destination in Europe that I’ve visited. Although it isn’t your typical ski resort destination, it has so much more to offer.

Reykjavik is such an exciting destination in the winter especially as someone who comes from the UK and is used to daylight between 7 and 4. You’ll be lucky to get 5 hours of daylight in the winter here and because of this the city is decorated with more lights that New York (okay bit of an exaggeration but you know what I mean). There are plenty of activities you can do day or night from Reykjavik including chasing the northern lights and having a dip in the Blue Lagoon.

Summer Sun | A Greek Island

I’ve left this one relatively open as many of the Greek Islands are similar but it will depend a lot on price and preference to where you go.

Still you can’t beat a good Greek Island holiday with all the fabulous beaches every island has to offer. Grab yourself some friends, a nice villa and maybe even a car and you’ve got everything you need to sit back, relax and enjoy the gorgeous weather that Greece has to offer in the summer. Head to the lesser known islands for cheaper prices, just as much sun and fewer people. If partying is your thing then Mykonos, Zante or Ios.

Family | Faro or around

I did promise at the top that all of these would be destinations that would be easy to reach from the airport but if you’re going with your family chances are you might be getting a car anyway…

Faro is the perfect airport to fly into for a family holiday as it is in prime position on the Algarve. Once you land grab yourself a car rental and drive to one of the gorgeous beach towns. I’d suggest somewhere near Lagos or Portimão as the beaches are beautiful and there is an abundance of villas perfect for the occasion. You’ll find plenty of beach fun to be had, a fantastic water park and so many road trip opportunities. The perfect spot for a family holiday.

Budget | Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of my favourite cities in Europe and one that could be suggested for so many different purposes.

The city is an all round budget friendly option from the UK. To begin with you can snap up some pretty cheap flights from many UK airports and once you land the transport here is pretty cheap too. The city has many different accommodation options including hostels, budget hotels and Airbnbs meaning no matter whether you’re with friends or alone it’s affordable to stay. Lastly, it is a city that can be explored by foot and many of the highlights are free to see such as the canals and flower markets.

I’d also recommend Barcelona, Lisbon and Budapest for budget trips. 

Food | Paris

This is possibly my most predictable suggestion on the list but as one of the best countries in Europe for food I couldn’t miss France and Paris out.

This is a city I have never really taken enough time to enjoy the food in but from reading and hearing others’ views I know Paris has so much to offer especially when it comes to sweet treats and dreamy cafes. If my food and drink experiences throughout the rest of France are anything to go by then expect big flavoursome meals with a good helping of bread. Don’t forget to order a bottle of local wine to share with your meal.

Where would your top suggestions be?

Find out more about the destinations mentioned

Barcelona

Venice

Iceland

Greece

The Algarve

Amsterdam

Paris