Helena's Favourite European City Breaks

It’s very obvious to my friends that I adore travelling. I LOVE long-haul, whether it’s campervanning around New Zealand (I left my heart there and have no problem admitting that), snorkelling with a veritable rainbow of fish in Thailand, or hiking through Yosemite.

However, as Brits, we are blessed with all of Europe right on our doorstep. I have been lucky enough to visit a fair few of our neighbours and in this post I am going to run through 7 of my favourite European city breaks.

Here are a few of my all time favourite European city breaks

Helena's Favourite European City Breaks

Valencia

Some may say I am suggesting this one with rose-tinted glasses, as Valencia was the first holiday Sam and I went on together... however I had a raging bout of tonsillitis. Seriously, it was SO bad.

Anyway, Valencia! Huge thank you to our friend Lottie who suggested this as our first trip away together. She is a true expert on this city, gave us all the good recommendations on where to go and what to eat and she couldn't have been more right. The tapas scene in Valencia is fantastic, and I maintain the best Padron peppers I have ever had were here.

We went at the start of March 2020! Yeah! Great timing!

We went in March 2020. Yes, you read that right. We went right at the start of March, just as they were preparing for their annual festival. The Fallas Festival, held every March in Valencia, Spain, is a vibrant and fiery celebration that combines art, satire, and tradition. At the heart of the festival are the "fallas" giant, colourful sculptures made of papier-mâché, wood, and other materials, often depicting political or cultural figures with a humorous twist. These impressive creations are displayed throughout the city and then dramatically burned during the climactic night known as "La Cremà." We all know what happened a few days into March, Covid basically shut down Europe. We literally left Spain a few days before they locked down, and the festival never happened.

Valencia has a little something for everyone. The old town is stunning, the beach is extensive and if you are an F1 fan, you can walk or cycle over a portion of the old track. It's a fantastic option for anyone planning a Spanish city break with a mix of culture, sunshine and sea. Make sure to eat as much Paella as possible, you won’t regret it.

Porto

Porto, Porto, Porto. How we loved Porto. Personally, I preferred Porto over Lisbon. Sam preferred Lisbon over Porto... but as I am the one writing this post we will be talking about Porto!

Not without its drama... I left my phone in our taxi from the airport to the hotel, which was returned not an hour later thanks to the absolute angels at the hotel we stayed at. You can see that I am absolutely the problem in most travel related incidents!

We stayed at GA Palace Hotel, and not only was it just a gorgeous place to stay, the real winner here was the staff. Not to say that the hotel wasn’t amazing... as you will see from the photos it was luxe! But the staff were possibly some of the best we’ve ever experienced. Not only did they get my phone back within an hour, we also received the best restaurant recommendation from them, Raiz.

Porto is so scenic, with many different activities to do.

We won’t lie, Porto is full of hills. But the views are stunning along the river, especially at sunset. Don’t miss walking across the Dom Luís I Bridge or taking a boat tour down the Douro. Also, do make sure you do a tour of one of the many Port houses. We did the tour at Taylors and it was truly interesting. This Portuguese gem is perfect for wine lovers, photographers, and anyone craving a romantic European escape. 

‘s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch)

Otherwise known as Den Bosch, this small city in The Netherlands stole our hearts on our trip to Germany to see a band we love last summer. We decided to take a little detour and ended up falling completely in love with it. It’s charming, walkable, and full of that cosy Dutch atmosphere that makes you feel like you're living inside a storybook.

Take a boat trip through canals and even underneath some of the streets.

The medieval centre is beautifully preserved, and walking along the cobbled streets feels like stepping back in time. You have to try a Bossche Bol while you’re there. It’s basically a giant profiterole filled with whipped cream and coated in chocolate. Not something I could eat but Sam enjoyed the experience. I wish we had gone on a boat tour through the Binnendieze canals (which run underneath the city!) as I have since heard amazing things about this.

Den Bosch isn’t the first city people think of when planning a trip to the Netherlands, but maybe that’s why it felt so special. If you want a quiet, unique European break with great food and a side of fairytale charm, this is it.

Florence

Ah, sweet Firenze! I visited in early October with my parents back in 2018 and the entire city seemed to glow with golden light. Florence is one of those places that feels like an open-air museum, every corner revealing another architectural gem or piece of Renaissance art. 

Florence is one of the most charming cities, and even in October enjoys fantastic weather

The Duomo is a masterpiece, obviously, but honestly just wandering the streets was my favourite part with all the little side alleys, the quiet piazzas and the smell of espresso and taste of gelato in the air. A serious suggestion here, the best gelateria here is Vivoli, and their Stracciatella is divine! I also recommend, if you like wine, having as much Chianti Classico as possible as this is the region where this beautiful wine is from. If you like an oaked finish, go for a Reserva, and if you don’t stick with a Classico D.O.C.G. You will thank me later!

Don’t skip Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset – it’s a bit of a climb, but the view over the city is pure magic. Florence is a dream for foodies, art lovers, and hopeless romantics alike.

Edinburgh

I have lost count of how many times I have gone to my all-time favourite city. Scotland holds a very special place in my heart, as no doubt will become apparent as I write about it on here. Edinburgh, especially, is very important to me!

I can’t really explain why I feel so at home in this city, but every time I go my heart just feels incredibly full. I adore walking or running up Arthur’s Seat, and the views are just spectacular. The people are also just the best. There’s so much to do in this beautiful city, whether you stay in Old Town or New Town, everywhere is within walking distance.

Arthur's Seat on a sunny day cannot be beaten

Grab a coffee and explore the winding closes off the Royal Mile, pop into a cosy pub (The Devil’s Advocate does an amazing cocktail), or get your cultural fix at the National Museum of Scotland. I also highly recommend a ghost tour – even if you're a total sceptic, this city if full of the paranormal and you’ll learn a lot about the city’s (sometimes spooky) history.

Copenhagen

This is such a gem. A city that manages to be impossibly cool without trying too hard. We went in spring, the weather was glorious and we completely fell for Copenhagen’s blend of modern design, hygge vibes, and rich history.

Highlights for us included checking out the colourful houses in Nyhavn, and eating our body weight in food. Two restaurant suggestions for you. No, it isn’t NOMA, it’s their sister joint POPL Burger. It was fantastic. The other recommendation is Høst, which is the Danish word for harvest. They serve up amazing Nordic ingredients with big flavours. We splashed out a little and tried their tasting menu which included my favourite thing I have eaten to this day which was this thyme infused creamy broth. I cannot describe it well enough to do justice to this dish but essentially, it was a revelation. 

Nyhavn is a must see for the classic Copenhagen site

One of the best things we did was visit the Tivoli Gardens – yes, it's a theme park, but it's also like walking into a fairy tale, especially if you go when it’s lit up at night. Copenhagen isn’t the cheapest city break, but it’s so worth it – clean, safe, stylish, and full of personality. Plus, the pastries are on another level. 

Tivoli is a must see, and even I ended up enjoying the rollercoasters!

City Breaks are Great

Each of these cities holds their own charm and has their own highlights. Travelling around Europe never ceases to amaze me – the variety, the culture, the food, all just a short flight, or train journey away.

Let me know if you’ve been to any of these places or if you have recommendations for where we should go next! My suitcase is always half-packed, just in case...

Helena

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