Top 10 Best European City Breaks in 2023
No other continent has quite as many showstopping cities as Europe: from art to architecture, cuisine to night clubs - they offer something for every taste.
Despite two devastating world wars, much of Europe's beauty has been preserved (or restored) - and it’s all within striking distance of the UK’s major airports.
The hitch is: which city should you choose?
In this article we bring you our top 10 city breaks, spanning some of the most historically, culturally and gastronomically important cities on the planet.
And if, like many people, you fancy a summer European city break, now could be the ideal time to start planning. - Don't forget to ensure you have your European travel insurance in place.
Valletta, Malta
The diminutive Maltese capital punches above its weight in terms of history, architecture and atmosphere.
Fabulous mansions, museums and churches fashioned from gold-yellow limestone huddle on the city's peninsula, itself flanked by two natural harbours.
Numerous boat tours - some featuring brand new catamarans - can be booked from Valletta. These present a great way of exploring the stunning Maltese coast, with stop-offs for snorkelling and swimming.
It might not feature in many 'best european city breaks' lists, but Valetta is sure to delight.
Best way to explore Valletta
Valletta's cobbled streets are best explored on foot.
If you're staying outside the city, it can be accessed with ease by shuttle buses that start and end outside the city gate (the latest incarnation of which was designed by Renzo Piano).
Eating out in Valletta
For those who enjoy sampling local food, start with the street vendors selling the popular pastizzi - a savoury cake featuring cheese or peas (costing about a euro).
Other local favourites include the Ħobż/Ftira biż-Żart (an open sandwich) and Torta tal-Lampuki (Lampuki Pie), a dorado fish pie with vegetables and olives.
How to get to Valletta?
Flight time: Up to 4 hours by air from the UK.
Budapest, Hungary
Split by the mighty Danube (the second longest river in Europe), together Buda and Pest make for one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Around every corner, it seems, another baroque or art nouveau masterpiece awaits your camera lens.
Things to see in Budapest
Highlights include the parliament building, Mattias Church and the Hungarian State Opera House. For a top-notch view, head to the 13th-century UNESCO-listed Buda Castle, open 24 hours.
Ensure you leave enough time for a visit to one the city's many hot springs, which have been enjoyed by locals since the Romans were in town.
It's the perfect way to unwind after a day of sightseeing.
For nightlife, head to effervescent Szechenyi on the Pest side (which is also home to another superb thermal bath).
Discover more things to see and do in Budapest.
How long do you need to explore Budapest?
Large as it is, a weekend break provides enough time to see the main sights.
Is Budapest safe to visit?
Overall, Budapest is very safe to visit. Like any city, there are certain things to look out for.
Find out our best tips for staying safe in Budapest.
How to get to Budapest?
Flight time: 2.5-3 hours by air from the UK.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Tbilisi may be on the eastern fringes of Europe, by it's definitely West-facing, as evidenced by the European Union flags that adorn almost every bridge, square and public building (even though Georgia remains outside the bloc).
Pretty art nouveau buildings share the skyline with Soviet-era structures, making for a fascinating - if not always pleasing-to-the-eye - capital.
The city boasts a number of natural sulphur bath houses, many of which are still in use today. These date back many centuries, and may have given rise to the city's name (which translates roughly as "a warm place").
Food and drink in Georgia
The seven-hour flight time may seem a bit much for a city break, but this unique city is sure to repay you. The wine, for instance, is often of very high quality (Georgians and their ancestors have been making it for over eight millenia). What's more, a bottle of restaurant table wine can cost as little as 6GBP, and half that in an off-licence!
The street food is also cheap - as well as delicious. Chachapuri breads, for example - filled with either cottage cheese or beans - are sold everywhere for a couple of pounds.
How expensive is a city break to Georgia?
Overall, Tbilisi's low prices are comparable to those of Thailand, making it a no-brainer for those on a budget - and a worthy entry in any top 10 European city breaks list.
How to get to Georgia?
Flight time: Up to 7 hours from the UK.
Madrid, Spain
Spain's vast capital is home to the nation's top fiestas, its finest restaurants and its most rewarding art galleries.
Chief among the galleries is the Prado Museum, featuring priceless works such as Las Meninas, by Diego Velázquez - a leading painter of the Spanish Golden Age; and the even more challenging Saturn Devouring his Son, by Francisco Goya.
You can enter the Prada for free after 6pm Monday-Saturday.
In the Reina Sofia museum you'll find the ionic Guernica by Picasso.
Eating out in Madrid
Foodwise, the city is packed with tapas bars of all styles and atmospheres, many of which are both affordable and tastebud-rewarding.
As for high-end dining, there are many options - not least of which is the Sobrino de Botin, said to have been founded in 1725, making it the oldest eatery in the world.
Why visit Madrid?
There's plenty to see, do and eat in Madrid for a city break - and it will almost certainly have you hankering for a second visit.
Plus, it's one of the warmest destinations on our list - so sunseekers might rank it among the best European city breaks in 2023.
Flight time to Madrid
Flight time: Up to 3 hours from the UK.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Take a city break to the Icelandic capital in July and be prepared for some very long days - in terms of daylight, that is.
Midsummer nights in Reykjavik last a little over three hours!
If you plan a night on the tiles here, you could easily enter a bar at sunset and leave a few hours later at sunrise - making for a very strange experience.
The Lebowski bar in Reykjavik
Fans of The Big Lebowski should pop into 'Lebowski' bar, located on one of the main pedestrianised zones.
While it doesn't have its own bowling alley, it has a unique ambiance and sells some very well-reviewed burgers (don’t miss the incongruously-named Jurassic Pork burger!).
But while bar hopping is a great way to meet the locals, there's lots else to do in and around the city.
Things to see in and around Reykjavik
It's the perfect base for day trips to the Blue Lagoon (Iceland's most famous hot spring) and the Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach.
Other highlights include the glass-topped Perlan museum, which explores the nation's rich nature and wildlife; and Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach.
It should be noted that Reykjavik is not a cheap European city break destination - but it is one of the most unique.
Flight time to Reykjavik
Flight time: 2.5 - 3 hours from the UK.
Florence, Italy
Few cities are so jam-packed with artistic treasures as Florence.
A case in point is the vast Uffizi Gallery, featuring works by Botticielli, Caravaggio, Da Vinci and Titian - including the latter's famous nude, The Venus of Urbino.
Do note that for a short city break, you might only want to spend a few hours in the Uffizi - since it could take days to fully comprehend the treasures on display here!
And then there's the architecture, best enjoyed by ascending the hill to the south, then gazing over the iconic Santa Maria del Fiori (Duomo) and the imposing Palazzo Vecchio.
But best of all is to wander the ancient streets, happening across kerb side cafes and trattorias, or strolling the banks of the Arno, with its 14th century bridge, Ponte Vecchio.
A truly romantic city that doesn't overwhelm in the way Rome or Paris might, Florence is sure to inspire a second visit.
How to get to Florence
Flight time: 2.5 - 3 hours from the UK.
Venice, Italy
If there's one Italian city that seems to have packed even more riches into its streets than Florence, it's Venice.
The fuzzy, confusing geography of Venice only adds to its charm: wander down mysterious alleys and find little bars and restaurants secreted away; happen across ornate doorways that in many other countries would find themselves in a museum.
More than 400 bridges connect the architectural treasures of this ancient maritime trading post - one of the few cities to have won UNESCO status for its entirety.
Places to visit near Venice
If you can pull yourself away from the Byzantine mosaics, opulent palaces, vast piazzas and baroque churches, then why not take a day trip to Burano (famed for its lace), Murano (loved for its glass blowing), or Torcello (known for its history) - the three most popular tourist haunts in the Venetian Lagoon.
Is Venice expensive?
Venice is far from the cheapest city break destination on our list, but you would be hard pressed to find it anything but fabulous.
If a summer or autumn trip seems too costly, visit between December and February - the only period when hotel prices fall.
How to get to Venice?
Flight time: 2.5 - 3 hours from the UK.
Prague, Czech Republic
Prague has become something of a leader in the European city break market, combining affordable prices with stunning Gothic architecture and a quirky bar-and-restaurant scene.
Prague highlights
Among the many architectural delights is the vast Prague Castle (enter through the courtyard of Queen Anne's Summer Palace for maximum impact) and the Charles Bridge, with its supremely Gothic Old Town Bridge Tower.
Other highlights include the Old Town Square and the mediaeval Astronomical Clock, which delivers a quaint animatronic show every hour.
It's simply a pleasure to stroll around the alleyways and come across ancient architectural treasures of all kinds.
Little wonder it has garnered the nickname “City of a Hundred Spires”.
Discover more of what Prague has to offer in our Prague travel guide.
Visiting Prague: Is Prague expensive?
Prague isn't all history and Gothic buildings: there are fabulous little bars and restaurants tucked down the labyrinthine alley system, where you can eat and drink very well for a fraction of the cost of London or Paris (assuming you avoid the tourist trap establishments!).
Hotel prices, too, are way below those of western European capitals, making Prague a great choice for low-cost city break this summer.
Flight time to Prague from UK?
Flight time: 2.5 - 3 hours from the UK.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
As laden with history as the Dutch capital is, its grand past doesn't overwhelm.
Things to do in Amsterdam
Indeed, Amsterdam is a city for canalside strolls, hot drinks at kerbside cafes, or cold ones inside quaint pubs.
That's not to say the city doesn't have its fair share of showstopping wonders: the two-mile-long Prinsengracht canal presents some of the grandest buildings, only rivalled by the Herengracht canal - especially between Leidsestraat en Vijzelstraat.
And then there's the world class art. You can see the finest collection of Dutch art at the Rijksmuseum, with works by Vermeer, Rembrant and Van Gogh. But with more than 800 years of Dutch art on display you may wish to make beelines for the most famous works - or you won’t have time to explore the rest of the city.
Head for Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and Rembrant's haunting The Night Watch - for starters.
Plus, there are some incredibly beautiful gardens to explore in and around Amsterdam.
Discover 3 Ways to See Amsterdam Without Walking (Much)
How to get to Amsterdam from the UK?
Reaching all these treasures is fairly quick and easy - especially if you're based near London. You can board the Eurostar at St Pancras and in under four hours you can find yourself on the cobbles of old Amsterdam.
The Dutch capital's proximity to the UK places it among the best European weekend break destinations - ideal for an impromptu getaway.
By Eurostar: under 4 hours; by plane: 1h 15m.
Vienna, Austria
The centre of Vienna is arguably one of the planet's most opulent capitals - with Baroque architectural masterpieces at every turn.
Unmissable examples include the Gothic wonder that is St. Stephen's Cathedral; Karlskirche; the Rathaus; and Palais de Justice.
Architecture aside, there's the music: World-class performances can be enjoyed at the Vienna State Opera, while the Waltz probably originated here.
And during the First Cold War Vienna was a hot-bed of spies, lending the city a particularly cinematic feel.
Eating out in Vienna
For sumptuous coffee and chocolate cake, set aside time to visit the city's marble-panelled cafes. For wining and dining come evening, check out Leopoldstadt, the city's Jewish Quarter.
Visiting Slovakia from Vienna
If you have an extra day or two to spare, you might hop on the ferry to Bratislava, Slovakia - just a short trip down the Danube (an experience in itself). You can also reach it by train (1h 20m).
Is Vienna expensive to visit?
Pricewise, Vienna is not a cheap city break destination, but it is worth every euro-cent.
Flight time to Vienna
Flight time: 2.5 - 3 hours from the UK.
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