With so many budget airlines, train and bus companies, it’s easy to find affordable city breaks in Western Europe. Distances are short enough to enable you to take off for just a weekend and you can find amazing accommodation deals with Hundredrooms. Whether you’re looking for a winter market to cater to your Christmas shopping needs or a sunny summer break, the following five cities are some of the most attractive options.
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
You’ll rarely meet more friendly and hospitable people than the Dutch, and the city of Amsterdam is a fascinating contrast of culture, history and liberal morality. This is a place where you can learn about the struggle of the jews while exploring the house that hid Anne Frank and, in the same day, take in a live sex show, peruse the windows of the red light district or sample legal cannabis in a coffee shop. A network of canals and the characteristic tall, thin houses add charm and character. It’s a vibrant and exciting place to be at any time of the year, but if you can join the party on King’s Day you’ll have one of the world’s best national celebrations to write home about too!
BARCELONA, SPAIN
It’s very easy to see Barcelona on a budget. This city offers plenty of comfortable hostel accommodation, which often comes with a free city sightseeing tour. Whether you choose to follow a guide or explore by yourself, many of Gaudí’s famous buildings, as well as its cathedral, picturesque squares, churches, streets and markets are free to explore or – at the very least – admire from the outside. Blessed with a mild to scorching Mediterranean climate, visitors can enjoy its beaches and coastline all year-round.
LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND
Lucerne is one of the most stunning cities in Western Europe. Surrounded by mountains, and with castle turrets poking out above its skyline, it’s reminiscent of a fairytale setting. In the winter, it goes to town with Christmas decorations, carol singing and crowded markets. Warm your cockles with a mug of gluhwein and fried sausage, or indulge in a cheese fondue at one of its many world-class restaurants. While Switzerland is a notoriously expensive country to visit, there’s plenty to do here that doesn’t cost a penny. Wind back and forth across the Reuss on a network of charming wooden bridges, learn the touching story behing the famous Lion Monument or climb out of the city towards Hotel Gutsch for woodland walks and city scapes. This city is also the perfect starting point for those who are serious about exploring the Alps.
NICE, FRANCE
While Paris is the more obvious destination for a French city break, the country’s second-most-visited city, Nice, has arguably more understated charm. There are plenty of great reasons to visit Nice. Its location on the Mediterranean coast means it has more favourable weather, as well as both beach and mountain scenery on its doorstep. Narrow alleyways are lined with bakeries and quaint boutique stores; markets offer fresh produce daily; and its main square is a visually striking collection of clashing architectural styles, sculptures, art installations, fountains and bold patterns. Nice is also located close to the perfume region of Grasse, lavender-producing Provence, and the opulent Principality of Monaco.
ROME, ITALY
To explore every attraction in depth would take months, but a day in Rome is sufficient to catch a glimse of most of the main sights. This city is brimming with impressive art and architecture, but there’s so much more beyond this. The most unmissible structures include St Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum and the Pantheon. The Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain also draw tourists in their thousands. For a more unique experience, head below ground to the Capuchin Crypt where the bones of around 4000 deceased monks are arranged in creepy yet intricate decorative designs. Another lesser-known highlight is Aventine Hill, which has stunning panoramic views of the city, as well as a keyhole that lines up perfectly with the distant dome of St Peter’s Basilica.
Hey Arianwen! Nice post! I was reading also your post about Florianópolis, which is the city that I born. I agree with a lot of stuff that you wrote there, me and my brother are engineering students and we are thinking about opening a hiking business. We would guide people through the best hikings of Floripa, like Lagoinha do Leste for example. I would like to know if you think that tourists would be interested in this kinda of service. There are excursions by big companies, but they are mad expensive, me and my brother want to do something cheaper and focused on contact with nature. Thank you for reading until here, you will get a free hiking pass for Lagoinha do Leste because of your help hahaha
Thank you, tchau! :)
Hi Michel! It’s been a few years since I was there, but I think this would be of interest. I know that for a lot of people the main appeal is the beaches and nightlife, but I think there will be a lot of visitors who’d like to hike and learn about the local landscape too. I found it a bit hard to get around without a car, so if you can offer an affordable way for people to see a few different places I think it would be popular. My favourite tours have been those where the guides are well informed but also quite humorous. I’m no expert, but I’d recommend you try offering a variety of tours to different places and with different focuses/activities (with some kind of system to avoid double booking yourself!), so you can learn which is most popular. Advertising through hostels and other accommodation would be a good start to getting yourselves known. Good luck!
I especially like Nice, France. But other cities are astonishing as well!