Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is one of my most favourite places because it has a little bit of everything. There’s amazing food, places to drink and go out, loads of things to do and really interesting culture to explore – it’s also very cheap! Budapest is most famous for its baths, and there are plenty to visit, personally, I’d recommend the Szechenyi baths. It’s also technically two places; Buda and Pest, meaning there is double the amount to explore. Budapest boasts some amazing architecture, like Buda Castle and the Parliament building. The ruin bars are also super popular and are a really unique drinking experience, some of them also have a club, so you can party the night away after a day of relaxing in the baths and eating your bodyweight in Hungarian street food. Nice accommodation is really easy to get on a small budget, especially if you stay a little further out from the centre.

Krakow, Poland

Krakow has just been voted the best European city break for the third year in a row. This would lead me to believe there must be a good reason for it! It’s definitely one of the best destinations in terms of value for money, with beer costing as little as £2 a pint! Accommodation and eating out is also very reasonably priced, so you can eat and drink to your heart’s content. The salt mines are a really popular tourist attraction, as are the traditional markets.

Barcelona, Spain

Flights to Barcelona are pretty cheap and so is the city itself. Barcelona is great as it’s a city break and a beach holiday all in one, so you get the best of both worlds. If you’re a bit of a shopaholic, Barcelona is abundant with shops and has some seriously good ice cream and places to eat out. The Sagrada Familia is also absolutely worth a visit; it’s pretty spectacular from the outside but the inside is even more so. Barcelona is also a favourite for football fans, who can do stadium tours of FC Barcelona. 

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is one of the most popular European destinations for short breaks, especially for young people. Whether it’s the love lock bridge, the good food, the Fault in our Stars bench or the Anne Frank house, there is an abundance of reasons to visit this city. Lots of people choose to explore the city by bike as it’s a really convenient way to get from place to place. Amsterdam is also well known for being a really good night out and if you can manage it with a hangover the next day, there is a huge array of museums to explore, such as the Van Gogh or The Rijksmuseum.

Prague, Czech Republic

Another European city also rich in architecture and fancy buildings, Prague boasts landmarks such as Prague Castle and the Old Town Hall. There’s even the opportunity to catch a river cruise or take an evening stroll down by the water. Food and drink is very cheap and as Christmas market season is coming up, Prague has some amazing markets over the festive period in the Old Town Square. If none of that floats your boat, you could relax in a beer spa or take on one of the many famous bar crawls as beer is a bargain here! Accommodation is often cheaper a tram ride away from the city centre and not in the peak summer season, but this could be said for anywhere.

Asha Hipperson