From Krakow to Valencia: What are the best European city breaks right now?

Europe offers immoderate of nan astir divers and historically rich | metropolis breaks successful nan world, from idyllic formation spots, to civilization getaways and blase capitals. 

Consumer champion Which? conducted a study crossed much than 1,676 of its members successful April and May this twelvemonth to find what they thought were nan champion European metropolis breaks. Travellers needed to person visited a European metropolis for leisure successful nan past 12 months and person stayed astatine slightest 1 nighttime for their responses to beryllium considered successful nan survey. 

Destinations were classed based connected 7 factors. This includes accommodation, nutrient and drink, shopping, taste sights, easiness of getting around, worth for money and deficiency of crowds. 

A last traveller people was past calculated based connected really apt they were to urge nan metropolis and wide satisfaction. 

These were nan European cities that came retired connected apical of nan ranking. 

Krakow claims apical spot arsenic nan champion metropolis break

Krakow, Poland, took nan apical spot for nan 5th clip successful nan Which? yearly survey, which featured almost 40 destinations, pinch an awesome 92 per cent wide score. 

The city, which is simply a UNESCO World Heritage site, was rated nan afloat 5 retired of 5 stars for accommodation, nutrient and portion and easiness of getting around. It was besides nan only metropolis successful nan study rated 5 stars for worth for money. 

It besides received 4 stars for its taste attractions, which see imaginable time trips to humanities locations specified arsenic nan Wieliczka Salt Mine, different UNESCO World Heritage site, arsenic good arsenic Schindler’s Factory and nan Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum. 

“Beautiful, chiefly unspoilt city. Superb nutrient astatine a adjacent price. I’ve stayed galore times and location are tons of bully worth hotels. Friendly and beautiful safe,” 1 visitant said successful nan survey. 

Wander astir nan medieval Main Market Square (Rynek Główny), aliases caput to nan Wawel Royal Castle and Cathedral for a beautiful dose of history. Visit nan unsocial Kazimierz (Jewish Quarter) and tuck into accepted Polish cuisine for illustration zurek, a sour rye crockery and obwarzakek krakowski, a braided ring-shaped bread, earlier enjoying a stroll successful Planty Park. 

According to recreation hunt website Kayak, a edifice successful Krakow will group you backmost an mean of €99 per night.

Venice misses retired owed to crowds and costs

Venice came successful 2nd spot successful nan survey, pinch an wide people of 90 per cent, receiving 5 stars for taste sights and attractions, arsenic good arsenic for accommodation. This was contempt expanding concerns of overtourism, pinch visitors still consenting to sojourn nan beloved Italian city. 

However, Venice was rated 2 stars for worth for money and only 1 prima for crowds. 

Visit nan iconic Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica) and Doge’s Palace, aliases caput complete to Rialto Bridge for stunning views of nan Grand Canal. Travellers tin besides return a gondola thrust connected nan Grand Canal for a much immersive metropolis experience, earlier heading to Piazza San Marco for immoderate relaxing people-watching. 

Indulge successful classical Venetian nutrient for illustration bigoli successful salsa (pasta pinch anchovies), fritto misto (fried seafood) and sarde successful saor (sweet and sour sardines). 

“It is conscionable an unthinkable spot to visit. There is thing for illustration it connected earth, truthful romantic and historic,” 1 study responsive said. 

One nighttime successful a edifice successful Venice will costs you an mean of €153. 

Valencia emerges arsenic an replacement to overcrowded cities

In associated 3rd spot was Valencia, pinch an wide people of 89 per cent successful nan Which? survey. The vibrant Spanish metropolis is accelerated emerging arsenic a viable replacement to different cities overwhelmed pinch tourists, specified arsenic Barcelona and Madrid. 

With an outstanding nutrient scene, Valencia boasts a number of Michelin-starred restaurants, on pinch paella specialists for a much casual vibe. 

The metropolis scored 5 stars for nutrient and portion successful nan survey, pinch 4 stars for easiness of getting around. It tied pinch Malaga arsenic nan joint-best worth for money metropolis successful Spain. 

Visit nan City of Arts and Sciences, which includes a subject museum, opera location and aquarium aliases stroll done nan Jardines del Turia, created successful nan aged Turia River riverbed. Head to nan historical Valencia Cathedral, aliases La Marina and nan Urban beaches to relax pinch a cocktail adjacent nan sea. 

Don’t hide to effort nan iconic paella valenciana, made pinch rice, rabbit, chicken, beans, seafood and more, and esgarraet, made pinch cod, roasted peppers and oliva oil. 

“Valencia has it all. Medieval centre pinch associated architecture, constrictive streets and aged markets,” 1 traveller said successful nan survey. 

The mean edifice nighttime costs €122.3 successful Valencia. 

Vienna described arsenic ‘Disneyland for adults’

Vienna, besides successful 3rd place, received an wide people of 89 per cent successful nan survey. Described arsenic nan “Disneyland for adults” by 1 traveller, nan metropolis received 5 stars for nutrient and drink, easiness of getting around, tourer attractions and taste sights. 

Visit nan St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Hofburg Palace aliases caput to nan Prater amusement parkland for a nosy time out, including a thrust connected nan elephantine Ferris wheel, nan Wiener Riesenrad. Enjoy a free opera successful nan evening connected nan Staatsoper’s outdoor large surface aliases soak successful its creation astatine nan city’s galore galleries. 

Travellers tin besides caput to Hundertwasser House for immoderate unconventional architecture, aliases bask a romanticist horse-drawn carriage thrust done Vienna. 

Try nan celebrated wiener schnitzel, a signature Viennese dish, arsenic good arsenic tafelspitz, a accepted boiled beef dish, aliases sachertorte, a rich | chocolate barroom pinch a furniture of apricot jam.

However, it only scored 3 stars for worth for money, pinch 1 nighttime successful Vienna costing arout €120 connected average. 

Istanbul enters nan apical 5 for nan first time

Istanbul, a caller entrant successful nan apical 5 of nan survey, took 5th place, pinch an wide people of 88 per cent. The city, positioned astatine nan intersection of Asia and Europe crossed nan Bosphorus Strait, received a afloat 5 stars for taste sights and nutrient and drink, on pinch 4 stars for accommodation. 

Visit nan celebrated Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, arsenic good arsenic nan Topkapı Palace, to study much astir nan city’s rich | history. Head to nan Grand Bazaar for souvenirs and handicrafts, including Turkish carpets, spices and ceramics. 

Travellers tin return a Bosphorus cruise for a different position of nan metropolis aliases indulge successful a accepted Turkish bath aliases hamman astatine a historical bath house. 

Tuck into mouthwatering baklava, Turkish coffee, and thoroughfare foods specified arsenic midye dolma (stuffed mussels). 

Istanbul was described arsenic “the astir absorbing spot I’ve ever visited connected a metropolis break” by 1 traveller. 

“Teeming pinch history, visitant attractions and awesome restaurants- each successful a stunning location,” they said. 

The metropolis besides had 1 of nan lowest mean edifice costs per nighttime successful nan survey, astatine only €78.