Escapadinhas citadinas

The world’s your oyster with our unrivalled selection of city breaks, near and far. Europe remains a firm favourite with countless exciting destinations to unlock on your doorstep. Short flight times and accessible airports mean you can hit the tarmac running and tick off numerous sights on the same day that you land. Yet you needn’t be restricted by geography. Why not spread your wings and venture a little further afield? The likes of Dubai, Marrakech and Muscat are all within relatively easy striking distance. If you’re feeling more adventurous you might like to go long haul and sample the delights of Rio de Janeiro, the clamour and glamour of Hong Kong or hop across the Atlantic to hit up the soaring skyscrapers and bright lights of New York or maybe the beautiful beachfront vibe in Miami.

So what makes for an irresistible city break destination? This depends greatly on the type of traveller you are. Are you a fan of street food, striking architecture and photography? Maybe you’re more drawn towards inspiring museums and galleries or simply ticking off the prime tourist sights. Perhaps you like to connect with locals and seek out an authentic slice of life. We recommend seeing as much of a city on foot as possible and many cities also offer a free local greeter service, which can be a great way to orient yourself while meeting some friendly locals. Handy apps like Citymapper, TripCase and Roadtrippers can also be useful for the digitally inclined. There are always countless different ways to explore any one city and different lenses through which to view them. The only limits are your budget and your imagination.

This is potentially something of a ‘how long is a piece of string?’ puzzler. So much depends on your personal travel style, whether you’re a first-timer or have visited before, how much time you have and of course your budget, but we would generally recommend staying for at least two nights. Why not make a long weekend of it and explore your chosen city at a more leisurely pace? Venture outside of the city centre and historic old town to discover happening neighbourhoods and closely guarded travel secrets. You might want time to simply wander and get lost down some dusty backstreets. You could even become a true explorer and turn it into a multi-city break, visiting two or more destinations on your trip. For long-haul city breaks we think you should be looking at four nights minimum to combat the effects of jet lag and make the long journey feel truly worthwhile.

City breaks can be eminently affordable, especially when you book them with BA Holidays, your trusted tour operator of choice. Book your flight and hotel combined and prepare to save on your city break budget, leaving you more money to spend in your chosen destination. You can’t go far wrong with eastern Europe, with famously affordable cities such as Krakow, Prague and Budapest, especially outside of the Euro zone where your money will likely stretch a tad further. Lisbon and Porto are equally good value, where you can rely on a Mediterranean climate and affordable eats aplenty.

You really are spoilt for choice when it comes to ideal city break destinations in Europe. Whether you want to wander the breezy boulevards of Paris, soak up the cafe culture of Amsterdam or score some Scandi swag in Stockholm, you should be able to find the perfect city break for you. Immerse yourself in ancient history in Rome or Athens, sample the freshest orange juice in Seville, or lounge around the Bavarian beer gardens of Munich – the possibilities are truly limitless.