Europe offers a multitude of possibilities when it comes to a weekend getaway and a well-deserved city break. But which destinations are ideal for a getaway that won't break the budget? Here's a closer look at some of the most affordable spots.
1. Prague
Prague, the city of a thousand spires, is the perfect destination for a two- or three-day getaway on a budget. The Czech capital seduces with its winding streets, colorful facades, picturesque squares and majestic churches, witness to centuries of history. Far from being frozen in time, Prague is a must-see. Its traditional taverns, imbued with the smell of beer, a true national pride, embody its festive soul. Literary cafés, havens of intellectuals such as Kafka and Havel, offer timeless charm. For lovers of contemporary culture, there's no shortage of daring art galleries. Last but not least, the city's nightlife welcomes young Europeans eager for freedom and escape.
Read more: Prague on a budget: our tips
2. Granada
A Unesco World Heritage Site, Spain's most easterly city - the last to be taken by Christians in 1492 during the Reconquista - still retains some of its magic today. Granada's historical heritage and must-see sights are breathtaking, including the marvellous, fortified Alhambra Palace, the eighth wonder of the world and one of the most visited sites in Europe, as well as the orchards and fountains of the Generalife. Another must-see is the Albaicín district, with its steep, narrow streets and numerous viewpoints, just like those of the Realejo district. It's enough to plan a two- or three-day itinerary before long nights of partying in the city's countless bars.
3. Split
With Split's many must-see sights, you'll discover a rich historical heritage, an old town designed in and around Diocletian's palace, an enclosed Roman city founded in the 4th century A.D. It was the first urban site in Croatia to be listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1979. Today, it's not just an archaeological zone, but the heart of today's bustling shopping district. Then there's the seafront (riva), a superb avenue planted with royal palms, the port with its huge ferries bound for the islands, the shady terraces, the beaches set into the hills, the museums. In short, Split is one of Croatia's unmissable sights and an ideal destination for a cheap weekend break in Europe.
Read more : The best destinations less than 2 hours' flight from France
4. Where to go for a cheap weekend break in Europe? In Sofia
Sofia, the pleasant Bulgarian capital, is curiously under-represented in tourist brochures and tours. Yet Sofia is well worth a two- or three-day visit before setting off to discover Bulgaria's must-sees. It's a city filled with a unique and pleasant atmosphere. Its human-scale physiognomy is characterized by a blend of European, Eastern and Mediterranean influences. With its wide avenues and tree-lined streets, the city is green and airy. The modern city is marked by the Communist era and the economic boom of the 2000s, while its center boasts some beautiful relics of the past, from the bourgeois architecture of the national revival to the Ottoman and Orthodox Christian legacies. Peaceful and lively, it cultivates a gentle way of life, with terraces of cafés and restaurants, and inhabitants who love to stroll in the evenings.
Read more: What to do and see in Sofia 11 must-sees
5. The Algarve
On the edge of Europe, close to Africa, the Algarve is another Portugal, one that seems to be rocked to the rhythm of the South Seas. In summer, English, Germans, Spaniards, Dutch, but also an increasing number of French and even some Portuguese, flock to this small territory in the south of the country. But if you get off the beaten tourist track, the Algarve still has a lot to offer: charming little villages, fabulous rocky beaches and unspoilt coves. From the wild coastline of the Costa Vicentina to the Serra de Monchique, from the Ria Formosa nature reserve to the steep hills of the Serra do Caldeirão, there's something for everyone.
6. Budapest
Budapest is an ideal spot for short breaks with a two- or three-day itinerary. You'll discover Turkish baths over five hundred years old, breathtaking Art Nouveau buildings, Europe's largest synagogue, one of the continent's oldest metro lines, a breathtaking parliament, cinemas worthy of Rajasthani palaces, and that aristocratic patina everywhere. Taste the specialties of the chefs of the new Magyar cuisine, accompanied by the finest Hungarian vintages, and step back in time in one of the famous cafés frequented by the great intellectuals. In short, the Pearl of the Danube surprises, disorients and disorientates!
Read more what to do in Budapest 20 must-sees
7. Where to go for a cheap weekend break in Europe? Athens
Athens is one of the best European capitals for a weekend away that won't break the family's annual budget! Once you're here, you'll have to dare to get lost in Athens to discover its must-see sights. Visit the Archaeological Museum, revisit history at the Benaki Museum, the world at Exarcheia, get lost in the flea market, drink an ouzo at the top of Lycabette, dine in the taverns of old Athens, in Plaka, or the trendy restaurants of Psiri. You can also swim in Athens, at Paleo Faliro not far from Piraeus or on the beaches of Kalamaki and Voula. Better still, treat yourself to an island getaway... without leaving the Saronic Gulf.
8. Bucharest
Bucharest is not a city that easily reveals its charms. At first glance, it appears chaotic, with no architectural homogeneity, concrete, noise and pollution... However, if you spend a little time here, you'll notice that the city is full of cultural, student, nightlife and economic life, with quiet streets lined with trees and palaces. And lovers of art, history, folklore and popular architecture will be delighted by its many museums. Bucharest, with its museums, theaters and numerous restaurants, is a disconcerting place that still lives between East and West, and where it's possible to have fun with a handful of euros. Before you set off on your assault on Romania's many must-see sights!
9. Malta
Crystal-clear waters, medieval citadels and megalithic temples: these are the jewels that make Malta a must-see destination in the heart of the Mediterranean, a sunny destination less than 3 hours' flight from Paris. The island offers an infinite number of themes: walk in the footsteps of the knights of the Order of Malta, admire Europe's oldest megalithic temples, wander along thyme-scented paths or contemplate salt flats, olive groves and sea caves. History and architecture buffs will delight in its palaces, churches and monuments, while epicureans will enjoy generous gastronomy in front of a sunset. Malta also appeals to night owls, with its lively party scene.
10. Where to go for a cheap weekend break in Europe? Ljubljana
Ljubljana is one of Europe's smallest capital cities. Yet it has all the makings of a large city. Beneath its provincial airs, Ljubljana has it all: a historic center along the Ljubljanica, a castle as a historical landmark, large green spaces, buildings from the Communist era. There are no world-famous attractions or the tourists that go with them. The soothing architecture of the old baroque quarters gives the capital a human dimension, the warm, lively atmosphere is due to the 40,000 students and the daily market gives rhythm to the days in the old center. It's easy to see why you immediately feel at home here, and why you've found an ideal, off-the-beaten-track spot to spend the weekend.
11. Bratislava
Where to spend a cheap weekend in Europe? Close to Vienna, Budapest and Prague, Bratislava, the Slovak capital, has old-world charm, sophisticated restaurants, traditional pubs and good music ranging from jazz to opera. All against the backdrop of Europe's largest river. In the city itself, there's plenty to see and do. Bratislava's long history has bequeathed real treasures in the fields of architecture, linguistics and gastronomy. The houses and palaces of Austro-Hungarian noble families dot the city, and many are now museums or galleries open to the public. The castle, with its long and tortuous history (it was destroyed more than once), offers superb views from its ramparts over the medieval old town and the Danube valley. Last but not least, Bratislava is close to a number of wine-growing villages where you can sample some fine vintages.
12. Cyprus, a dream destination for cheap weekend breaks in Europe
Where to go for a cheap weekend break in Europe? With 330 days of sunshine a year, 500 km of coastline bathed in sparkling seas and a well-established tourism policy, Cyprus is effortlessly seductive. Cyprus is a destination unlike any other in Europe. True, we're still on the mainland, but here, in the far south-east, we discover a place bathed in sunshine, where the West meets the East, where Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots each occupy a part of the island. Situated at the crossroads of the great Mediterranean civilizations, the island, though imbued with Eastern influences, remains firmly anchored in the Old Continent: independent since 1960, a former British colony, a member of the European Union since 2004, and a user of the euro since 2008.
13. Edinburgh
To discover Edinburgh, even in two or three days, is to fall in love at first sight. Some, fascinated by the cultural richness of Scotland's capital, will extol the thousand and one wonders to be admired in Edinburgh'smuseums, grand buildings and other must-sees. Others will see it as a hedonistic metropolis, with its pubs as richly decorated as its beer and whisky lists, its restaurants temples to Scottish terroir and its frenzied dancing late into the night. Still others will describe it as a bucolic capital, with its many gardens and parks. Not to mention those who visit it as a place of legend: a haunted city, where underground life had nothing to envy the depths of the underworld, a magical city, where Harry Potter was born. Edinburgh is also a city of art, history, nature and festivities, and a great place to spend a weekend.
Read more: Cheap travel to Edinburgh: our tips
14. Krakow
Few cities in Europe can claim to have remained intact despite the assaults of countless foreign troops who came to plunder its riches. And no other Polish city contains so many historic monuments: dozens of convents, medieval and Baroque churches, a cathedral and countless Renaissance palaces! Yet Krakow, listed as one of the world's twelve most important architectural ensembles by Unesco in 1978, is easily and inexpensively accessible to visitors. Who wouldn't be immediately seduced by its cobbled, pedestrian streets or its immense Market Square? Krakow, a thousand-year-old city, boasts a flamboyant past.
Read more: What to do and see in Krakow in 2 or 3 days? Itinerary tips
15. Where to go for a cheap weekend break in Europe? In the Bouches de Kotor
In Montenegro, it's great to spend a weekend in the Kotor Bays! With their telluric backdrop of mountains split by the sea, this is a northern landscape to which the multitude of Gothic and Venetian-influenced churches, chapels and palaces lend a typically Dalmatian touch. The high, steep-sloped mountains overlooking the slender coastline protect it from the northern climate. As a result, Boka is an oasis of Mediterranean vegetation, home to agaves, mimosas, oleanders, kiwis, pomegranates, medicinal herbs... Like jewels in the crown, small towns, treasures of history and art, dot the coastline.
Read also: Where to go for a cheap weekend break in France? 15 destination ideas
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