Home - European Short City Breaks

Home

Best Summer City Break Destinations in Europe

Summer in Europe is just too nice to be spending your days stuck in the office or at home. Why restrict your holidays to the traditional '2 weeks in the sun' when there are so many fantastic cities in Europe to visit? Try something new this year, like visiting one of our favourite citybreak destinations for a long weekend. Below we have put together a short list of our favourite Summer mini break locations that offer a great balance of culture, sun and fun.

1. Barcelona

Royal Mile, Edinburgh

Thanks to the 1992 Olympic games and the revamping of the marina, Barcelona’s beaches have been receiving international acclaim for quite some time now. There are plenty of crowded and secluded beaches to enjoy with lines of bars, restaurants, and miles of promenade to create a memorable summer. There is the peaceful Bogatell Beach, Mar Bella Beach with its watersport activities, Barceloneta Beach with its sprawling palm trees and natural charm, and other beaches up north with stronger waves. More information on Barcelona city breaks .

2. Edinburgh
Need to get a break from that intense southern Europe heat? Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland is perhaps well known for it's 'temperate climate'. Average summer temperatures are a very comfortable 18-19degC which can make sight-seeing a much more pleasent experience. Arrive in August to enjoy the world famous Edinburgh Festival, nearly a month of full on art, live comedy, film and entertainment. Make sure you book your accommodation online before you go, it is a really popular time to visit and hotel rooms do become sparse. More information on Edinburgh city breaks.

3. Prague
While snow covered Wenceslas square might be beautiful to visit during the Christmas markets, the novelty of cold wet feet can quickly wear off. Lets face it, your photos of Prague’s beautiful architecture are going to look a lot nicer with clear blue skies and sun bouncing off the windows than rain drops on your camera lens, right? Hit the streets of Prague during summer to enjoy its typically fantastic weather and great outdoor dining. Getting a bit too hot? Retire to one of the many traditional Czech pubs and enjoy a nice cold Budvar or Gambrinus. More information on Prague city breaks.

4. Amsterdam
During the summer, Amsterdam and festivals go hand in hand. The third week of August presents the Grachtenfestival, a nine day celebration of classic music and boat performances on some of Amsterdam’s most picturesque canals. Be sure to catch the Prinsengracht concert, a headline that features some of the world’s finest classic musicians. It’s so festive, the partying spills over to private rooftops! More information on Amsterdam city breaks.

5. Venice
Venice, with its interweaving network of beautiful canals and gondolas, is also a thriving festival scene in the summer with the Redentore, a weekend long event in July that celebrates the end of a Venetian plague. This festival has the whole shebang: rooftop private parties, fireworks, and Saint Marks festivities. If you want to stay away from the crowds, take a 15 minute vaporetto ride from the heart of the square to Lido Island, Murano (glass making paradise), or any of the tiny towns on the outskirts. At night, you can take a one hour gondola ride (with a loved one preferably) across the canals and view the stars. Summer romance at its best! More information on Venice city breaks.

Tag it:

5 Top European City Break Destinations

Flags and signals in the center of Torino, Italy

New developments, changing tastes, time-honored traditions, and even older predilections have simultaneously led us to name Warsaw, Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Athens as the “5 Top European City Break Destinations.” While it is true that many amazing parts (and ports) of Europe had to be left out of this list, you will agree that each of our chosen city break destinations shows Europe at its very best.

Warsaw, the national, cultural and entertainment capital of Poland is also its largest city, and is served by the Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport. Aside from huge, awe-inspiring collections of Polish and foreign art, there are more than thirty major theatres in this city. Full Article ¦ Warsaw City Breaks

Barcelona, too, makes a strong statement for itself. Served by the Barcelona Airport, it is one of the most enigmatic cities to visit and is known for its high standard museums, theatres, art galleries and nightlife. Besides, the city is an architectural extravaganza in its own right. Full Article ¦ Barcelona City Breaks

Belin, the second most populous city in the European Union, is the third contender on our list. It has three commercial airports: Tegel International Airport, Tempelhof International Airport, and Schonefeld International Airport. Much like the other destinations that made the list, Berlin is also a city of art, yet it is unique in its own standing. The city has over one hundred and fifty museums in all, and a few of the ones providing an extraordinary experience include The Art Center Berlin Friedrichstrabe, the Museum of Indian Art, and the Museum of East Asian Art. Imbibing Berlin’s virtuosity is much like taking a university course in itself– and can only be truly appreciated in several trips. Full Article ¦ Berlin City Breaks

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, was carefully picked out for our list for reasons you are (or should be!) well aware of. Europe’s pride, and one of the world’s most colorful cities, Amsterdam is served by the Amsterdam Schipol Airport. The city started off as a fishing village in the twelfth century, and ironically enough, it is now the place to fish for the most exotic varieties of almost everything. Full Article ¦ Amsterdam City Breaks

Athens, landing the much deserved concluding spot on our list, will take you back to the dawn of civilization, in many ways proving to be the birthplace of European civilization as we know it. A huge, modern metropolis of sorts, the capital of Greece has recently been graced with the services of a new airport: Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport. The city is most certainly worth your money and your while, whether you’re looking for a short retreat from your hectic life, or - as clichéd as it sounds - a vacation of a lifetime. Full Article ¦ Athens City Breaks

Main Menu

Site Search

Your Vote

Top Destinations

Travel

Accommodation

Car Parking