One of my friends asked me recently for some advice on where he and his wife could go for a short weekend break in Europe which wouldn't break the bank. The challenge?
1. A couple of hours flight from the UK
2. Less than £250 for the weekend
3. An interesting location with things to see
4. Departing within the next .... 3 weeks... !!!
My first thought and advice to him was to avoid places that are typically associated with summer breaks, or your typical city break weekends. To me, that ruled out Spain, Italy and Greece ... or so I thought! The challenge definitely got me thinking about great locations, so to help inspire you too if you are looking for a last minute getaway this summer, check out these Top 5 cheaper, but equally beautiful, destinations.
1. Milan
Total cost: around £190 €215 $250
I have to admit that I was surprised when I saw the costs for this. I genuinely expected the whole of Italy to be out of budget, but with Milan being a hub for many airlines and three airports to chose from, it falls well within target. Milan is a lovely get-away for a weekend, and there is plenty for everyone: the sightseers, the shoppers, the nature immersers and the general cafe watch-the-world-go-by lovers.
Enough said for the shoppers as Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world! For the sightseers there is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the Duomo: regardless of religion, the architecture of this Gothic cathedral is impressive and worthy of a visit, both inside and out. For those nature lovers, the lakes and mountains outside of Milan are well within reach and truly beautiful and tranquil.... And those cafe watch-the-world-go-byers.....find that cafe and simply watch!
2. Paris
Total cost: around £190 €215 $250
There is so much to do in Paris and this beautiful city should feature on everyone's list of places to visit at least once in their lifetime. Similarly to Venice (check out my previous blog!), I don't get bored when I return to Paris. Apart from the obvious Tour Eiffel and Louvre, there are plenty of sites to visit. From Notre Dame, the Trocadero, and Sacre Coeur, the list seems endless. Here is an idea for some extra inspiration: the last time that I was there, I visited the catacombs where you will find yourself walking underneath Paris for miles. It is definitely a different experience and slightly off the beaten tourist track, but equally worthwhile. Just to note though, if you are not a fan of bones and skulls then I would avoid the catacombs....
3. Budapest
Total cost: around £220 €250 $290
Summer must be a much better season to go to Budapest than November when I visited. Despite the bitterly cold wind and temperatures where I was convinced my fingers might stay attached to my camera rather than my hands, I really enjoyed Budapest and I recommend this destination for a weekend break. This is a great location for what I am calling 'extreme power sight-seeing'. There is lots to see, but unlike some other capitals, it is dotted around so there is a bit of travel (and walking) involved to get between places. Notable mentions to visit while you are there are the Houses of Parliament (also worth a trip inside! Don't forget your passport as Europeans can enter for free), Fisherman's Bastion, and the Shoes on the Danube memorial. I found the latter particularly poignant and these will all feature in a future blog. For the photographers out there, walk along the river at night especially to see the House of Parliament and Bridge all lit up.
4. Edinburgh
Total cost: around £220 €250 $290
Too often we think that travel does not include visiting our own country. There is just as much in the UK to do and see, and it is worth spending that time discovering this also beautiful country. Edinburgh is great to walk around and I think this is the best way to see the city. Bear in mind that it is slightly hilly, so make sure that you are wearing comfy shoes. Edinburgh Castle, located on an ancient volcanic plug, is a typical tourist visit, especially around the hour of the cannon-firing (12-1pm). Don't forget that you are one of hundreds of tourists, so it will be crowded up there. If you are not fussed about listening to the canon, then I would suggest visiting first thing in the morning before the throngs of other tourists. The Scott Monument offers great views of both the castle and the Edinburgh skyline. Not for the claustrophobic, be prepared to relinquish your personal space when trying to get up and down tight windy stairs.
5. Barcelona
Total cost: around £240 €270 $2315
Again, I was surprised that Barcelona made the list. Not only is it a top destination at any time of year, but it is near the sea and so a great summer destination! The Gothic architecture which is apparent across the whole of Europe is encapsulated in the must-see Sagrada Familia (mixed in with a splash of Art Nouveau influence of course), which has only taken 135 years to ....not even finish yet. Due to be completed sometime in the next decade, you can spend a good amount of time wandering around the various spires and alcoves. Las Ramblas is a good walk, especially with an ice cream in hand, if only to be entertained by the numerous living statues that seemingly enjoy making tourists jump. You will be eating late in Barcelona as most restaurants open well after 8pm, so as you are out late I recommend you check out the Font Mágica (Magic Fountain of Montjuïc) - a wonderful light and sound show at the fountains around the Palace.
That's it from me for today! There are plenty of wonderful places around Europe that are worthy of a visit and many that will be featuring on my own list of places to visit. Other locations which had a great price-tag but did not quite make the list are as follows: Brussels, Marseilles, Bordeaux, Dublin, Belfast, and Copenhagen. Which destinations do you think would have made the list and what do you recommend for this summer?
If you want to do your own search and need even more inspiration then I recommend the Kayak website which I used to do some research into the costs for trips around Europe for this blog. Subscribe to my blog series to make sure that you don't miss out on the next blog which will highlight some useful tools and sites when you are doing your travel research and planning.