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Βρετανική εφημερίδα “The Times”: Η Καλαμάτα στους 16 δημοφιλέστερους city break προορισμούς της Ευρώπης

16 of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026, according to Times travel editors

From an unsung Greek port town that’ll be easier to reach to a splendid sunny capital with new hotels, these are the hottest places to visit this year

Rovinj, Croatia, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
Rovinj, Croatia
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The Times

What makes the perfect European city break? I’ll go first — pretty hotels that won’t swallow up your budget, medieval architecture to swoon over, £4 wine and, an increasingly hard box to tick these days, a dearth of other tourists, writes Claudia Rowan. My colleagues on the travel desk have their own criteria: Huw Oliver likes anywhere he can eat great dumplings; Cathy Adams wants easy transport links and a walkable centre; Lizzie Frainier likes a place where she can stumble across excellent restaurants without needing a reservation; and Laura Jackson will always want to spend more time in Vienna.

That brings us to 2026. We’re already sketching out plans for weekenders, from the coastal city of Kalamata in Greece (soon to be served by new British Airways flights) to the Maltese capital, Valletta, where new luxury hotels are opening amid its 16th-century architecture and rich maritime history.

Below, we’ve rounded up the European cities that deserve your attention this year. Some are unsung places you may not have considered, others more familiar spots that are popular for good reason. Most of them can be reached in less than four hours from the UK, and many are easily accessible by train.

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1. Warsaw, Poland

Warsaw, Poland, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? Lovely old town, great museums, a growing fine-dining scene

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I need to meet somewhere new. Look Valencia, we had a great run, but all that paella gives me heartburn. And I’m sorry Stockholm, you’re really cool and everything, but the fact is I’ve always hated Abba. So here I am, back on the market and flicking through the city-break app, lingering on pictures of cute eastern European cobblestones and saucy plates of stodgy goodness. Hello Warsaw. You up?

The Polish capital certainly has the looks. Get a load of the old town! Almost completely rebuilt after the Second World War, it’s got lovely winding streets, a gorgeous market square (with a statue of a beguiling mermaid) and the kind of city walls that leave you weak at the knees. If there are any awkward silences then the Museum of Modern Art, which opened in 2024, is home to an excellent collection of contemporary and avant-garde works; while the PRL, the Life Under Communism Museum, is guaranteed to set the pulse racing.

Dinner won’t be a problem. Warsaw is undergoing a culinary boom, I’m told — there are three Michelin-starred restaurants, including Nuta with its Italian and Asian twists on traditional Polish cuisine. But I think I’d be just as happy popping into a milk bar for a cheap and cheerful plate of crispy potato pancakes and pierogi — near the PRL is Marszalkowski Bar Mleczny, an old-school classic with very affordable dishes. Afterwards, a stroll along the river, maybe to the Vistula Boulevards where new bars are always popping up, would provide a grand nightcap. Not bad, eh? I really think this could be the one. Get your coat Warsaw, you’ve pulled.

Mike Atkins

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H15 Boutique Hotel on Poznanska Street, just around the corner from the PRL, is one of the coolest pads in town, with a standout restaurant. Like many of Warsaw’s five-star hotels, it’s refreshingly affordable.

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If you have time to spare and want to see more of Poland, Leger Holidays’ two-week group tour offers a comprehensive introduction to the country and its history. As well as exploring Warsaw, Gdansk, Krakow and Poznan, you’ll visit Auschwitz and learn about the site’s harrowing past.

leger.co.uk

• Best places to visit in Poland

2. Lyon, France

Lyon, France, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? New flights and a third-city charm

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I’ve always had a thing for second (and in this case third) cities and Lyon in southeastern France is perhaps the ultimate example: walkable, decidedly unsnooty and with enough to keep you amused for a few days. Lyon sits at the confluence of two beautiful rivers, the Rhône and Saône, meaning lovely walks and views along their banks. This year the city will be easier to get to, thanks to a new Wizz Air route from Luton.

Food is the big draw in Lyon, although it’s not po-faced about it. The city is the home of the bouchon, a casual pub-style restaurant serving local specialities, plus there are numerous markets across town. My own weekend itinerary would start at the Paul Bocuse market for breakfast, before puffing up the hill to the basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière for gobsmacking views across the city. I’d wander down to duck into Lyon’s traboules and miraboules — passageways and hidden courtyards once used by silk workers, and sneak in a visit to the Musée des Beaux-Arts before a night out in the arty Croix-Rousse neighbourhood. It’s easy, fun stuff — exactly what a city break should be.

Cathy Adams

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One of the city’s finest stays is the InterContinental Lyon Hotel Dieu, right on the banks of the Rhône in a palatial building that dates back to the 18th century.

Take to the water on this seven-night Avalon Waterways journey from Lyon to Arles, a Provençal city synonymous with the life and work of Van Gogh. Days are spent on the Rhône gliding past southeastern France’s best scenery, with plenty of fun excursions included.

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• Best cities to visit in France
• Discover our full guide to France

3. Valletta, Malta

Valletta, Malta, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? Cool new hotels and reliable year-round sun

My last visit to Valletta was nearly a decade ago. It was a day trip tagged to the end of a fly-and-flop beach holiday on Malta’s northwestern coast, but I wished I’d left more time to explore the island’s fortified capital. Our evening flight meant we barely had time to take in its 16th-century history and baroque architecture, although I do remember the exceptionally good ice cream.

Malta is tipped to be one of this year’s trendiest destinations and I’ve come up with plenty of excuses to return, from new rooftop bars and innovative cuisine to boutique hotel openings in the capital. Among these is Romegas, a 23-room pad coming to the historic centre in spring. It’s one of the most stylish new arrivals in the city in recent years, occupying a 500-year-old palazzo that took five years to restore. If I have the time and the necessary funds, I’ll extend my Maltese holiday for a stay at Casa Bonavita, a gorgeous 17-room boutique hotel that will open its doors in Attard, a village in the centre of the island, in May.

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Claudia Rowan

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Hotel Phoenicia is a grand address dating back to the 1940s and was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. It’s just outside the city walls, and has an infinity pool and sweeping views of the Marsamxett harbour.

Travelling solo? Just You has an excellent, eight-day group tour for solo travellers that takes in Valletta as well as pretty surrounding towns, tiny fishing villages and the Blue Grotto. You’ll be staying in four-star accommodation, such as the AX Odycy Hotel in St Paul’s Bay.

• The world’s most exciting hotel openings for the year ahead

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Not sure where you want to go and need help to book your next trip? Call our dedicated advisers to help tailor-make your holiday on 0808 304 9757 or enquire here

4. Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen, Denmark, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? A new spa, exciting art exhibitions and a beachside retreat

I can always be persuaded to return to Copenhagen for a weekend of bakery visits (try Andersen & Maillard, which has three outposts in the city, and the chain Hart Bageri, co-founded by baker Richard Hart and Noma’s Rene Redzepi), waterside beers and marvelling at how the locals manage to look so stylish while cycling. The shopping helps with the latter. I’ve been several times in the depths of winter and it does cosy well (saunas, hygge, lights) but it’s gorgeous in spring when you are less likely to be battered by wind. The harbour is clean enough for swimming and you can take boat trips to get a fresh perspective on the city.

This year’s temptations include the Bamford Wellness Spa coming to recently opened 1 Hotel Copenhagen, and the trendy-sounding Hobo hotel arriving in Vesterbro. On the culture side, there’s an exhibition of Katsushika Hokusai’s woodblock prints in the Design Museum Denmark from February to August. And it’s the 10th anniversary of Copenhagen Contemporary, which has an installation by the architect Kengo Kuma from March 29. I’d also have an eye on extending my stay and checking out the new beachfront hotel Cori Hornbaek, about a 50-minute drive north of the city.

Jenny Coad

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The luxurious 1 Hotel Copenhagen combines light woods with a palette of cream and beige, and is just outside the Latin Quarter, walking distance from some of the best bakeries and restaurants.

• Best affordable hotels in Copenhagen
• Read our full guide to Denmark

5. Lecce, Italy

Lecce, Italy, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? A low-key city break near the coast (and a new palazzo stay)

Puglia holds a special place in my heart. It was the first place I travelled to once the first Covid lockdown was lifted, in September 2020, and where I got engaged. We picked it as it felt somewhat off the tourist trail and we were taken by the prospect of warm, late-season sun, the option to dip easily between the coast, countryside and cities, the scope to book a villa we could share with friends surrounded by olive groves and the region’s simple cucina povera cuisine.

A highlight of the trip was exploring the spectacular city of Lecce, within striking distance of glorious beaches. The architecture alone is enough to warrant a visit, rolling as it does from Roman ruins to intricate baroque wonders like the Basilica di Santa Croce. The ancient cobbled streets, laid-back atmosphere, local markets and vibrant café culture make it ideal for pootling — turn one way and you’ll spot a 16th-century city gate, head the other and you’ll find the castle. It’s all very romantic, less about box ticking and more the kind of place that begs you to linger longer and discover hidden spots the locals love. This year delivers another reason worthy of return — in April, hotel Tivoli Palazzo Risorgimento will open in a heritage building between Piazza Sant’Oronzo and Piazzetta Santa Chiara, the ideal location for joining in the passeggiata. The 48-room property features a wellness space with a Turkish hammam, treatment rooms and a panoramic rooftop bar overlooking the cathedral’s bell tower.

Blossom Green

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The interiors of La Fiermontina Palazzo Bozzi Corso feel more like the home of a stylish local than a hotel. Its ten suites are ideally set in an 18th-century building a short walk from the cathedral.

Jules Verne’s seven-night tour of Puglia features two nights in Lecce to explore its landmarks, alongside time in the region’s historic towns and seaside hubs.

• Best villas in Puglia for crowd-free autumn sun
• Discover our full guide to Italy

6. Girona, Spain

Girona, Spain, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? New flight routes and underrated charm

When I lived in Barcelona in my early twenties, Girona in northeastern Catalonia was an easy day trip — just over an hour by train — that ticked a lot of boxes. A wonderful old town with narrow medieval streets, intriguing museums and galleries, a reputation for world-class dining and, perhaps most importantly, far fewer tourists. That was ten years ago and somehow it’s stayed mostly under the radar for city breaks.

The most famous restaurant remains El Celler de Can Roca, which first opened 40 years ago and today holds three Michelin stars for its creative tasting menus. If price or availability puts paid to those plans, its owners the Roca brothers have other great spots in town such as Normal with its live fire kitchen and tapas bar Vii. Don’t miss the Jewish quarter, the Saturday flower market and the Museum of Cinema — oh, and it’s a great jumping off point for longer stays on the nearby Costa Brava. Not to mention that from spring 2026, Girona will be one of 29 European destinations Jet2 will begin to fly to from its new base at Gatwick.

Lizzie Frainier

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There are a few different options for laying your head when you book a package with Jet2, but the pick of the bunch is the DoubleTree by Hilton Girona for its rooftop pool on sweltering summer days.

Up the ante on a foodie weekend break by staying on one of Girona’s main squares at the Roca family’s boutique Hotel Casa Cacao. Breakfast is a superb four courses with the best hot chocolate in town.

hotelcasacacao.com

• Read our full guide to Spain

7. Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? Incredible food and pound-to-lira value

Many places can be said to have an up-and-coming food scene but in Istanbul this is especially true. It may be because in this city of almost 16 million people straddling Europe and Asia the diverse influences play out everywhere from büfe (food kiosks) to hotels such as the Peninsula. Or perhaps it’s just that people have stopped being snobbish about Turkish wine.

It’s also quite affordable for most visitors right now and you can get a slap-up dinner with wine for under £20 a head if you do a bit of research. As for standout meals, my two top picks are lunch at Pandeli, opened in 1901 in the Egyptian bazaar, where you can enjoy wonderful meatballs and a starter listed as a cheesy “pouf” in a dining room decked in bright blue tiles; and dinner at Efendy, Somer Sivrioglu’s modern Anatolian spot in the Besiktas district. Here they brought out a sword to carve my lamb pie and the showmanship wasn’t a distraction from the amazing cooking.

It’s not a relaxing city break — Istanbul is busy year-round. There are queues for all the big-hitting tourist things that you will want to do such as the Galata Tower and the Hagia Sophia, so book in advance if you can. And do get on the Busforus hop-on, hop-off tour bus — purely for the fact it has the best pun I’ve ever seen.

Laura Jackson

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At the Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus you can pick from city views or those over the strait but there’s also a spa, an excellent rooftop bar serving sushi and a cat called Conrad.

• Best hotels in Istanbul
• Best places to visit in Turkey

8. Rovinj, Croatia

Rovinj, Croatia, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? The same reasons you should visit every year: impossibly good food, impossibly good views and an alluring old town

Talking about Rovinj by asking “what’s new?” feels a bit like asking Diocletian’s Palace if it’s tried a Roman bath. This place has been nailing it for 1,500 years. Though one of Istria’s best-preserved coastal cities, it’s miraculously calm even at peak season. Wine, olive oil and truffles are close to a religion for Rovinj and it’s almost impossible to find a sub-par meal here.

I visited with my husband three years ago and the city was as close to perfection as it gets. Our hotel, the Grand Park, was a modernist masterpiece and I’m still thinking about the spaghetti with sea herbs I had at its fine-dining restaurant on the marina, Agli Amici. We spent our days wandering around Rovinj’s wonky medieval lanes, which collide joyfully with modern life. Italian influence hums everywhere and the harbour is a catwalk of fishing boats, yachts and the traditional wooden batana. Add people watching, shaded bars and nearby parklands to stroll or cycle around and, frankly, Rovinj remains an excellent life choice whenever you go. I can’t wait to return.

Claire Irvin

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Combine a visit to Rovinj with other lovely European port cities, including Dubrovnik, Catania and Valletta, on a cruise on board Oceania Allura. The ten-night itinerary takes you from Trieste to Rome, with a day in Rovinj. Staterooms are modern and luxurious and there’s a fantastic spa, ideal after a day of exploring.

• Best beaches in Croatia
• Discover our full guide to Croatia

9. Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi, Georgia, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? To explore one of the world’s most exciting (and underrated) food scenes

Last year not one but two airlines launched direct flights from the UK to Tbilisi, the Georgian capital (easyJet from Luton and British Airways from Heathrow). I was on the first easyJet flight out in April and spent a full week getting to know this young, relaxed city in the Caucasus, picking up regular hangouts I’m desperate to return to this year. The restaurant I visited a frankly embarrassing number of times was Cafe Daphna, for zingy pickles and the city’s juiciest khinkali dumplings (try the mushroom ones). My favourite bar was Dadi, just off Freedom Square, serving natural wines from across one of the world’s oldest wine-making countries alongside delicious cheese and salami. And the café I couldn’t keep away from was Shavi Coffee Roasters — breakfast each day was an enormous, tangy cherry pie, usually in the company of a friendly stray mongrel, who was allowed to come in and out as he pleased. One day, post-coffee, he followed us for half an hour through the city. What did we name him? Cherry Pie, of course.

Huw Oliver

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Swerve the old town and stay in the liveable Marjanishvili area on the eastern side of the Mtkvari river. Unfound Door has 13 stylish rooms in a restored 19th-century townhouse, all ornate wooden windows and designer art.

Combine your Tbilisi trip with an adventure that takes you to Yerevan, the capital of mountainous neighbour Armenia. Intrepid Travel’s 11-day tour includes hikes in national parks, great wines and swims in Lake Sevan at 1,900m.

10. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? A trendy new hotel and winning trinket shopping

I’m planning my first visit to Portugal’s hilly capital this year. The flaky pastel de nata, coastal views and bright yellow trams will be just as much a draw as ever, but I’ve also got my sights on a zany new 170-room property from the Standard hotel group, set to open in spring. A keen magpie for trinkets, I’m primed for a long weekend of treasure hunting in the Portuguese capital’s eclectic shopping streets. I’ll have to time my visit wisely in order to make the twice-monthly Belem antiques and crafts market — and I’m told that the three-storey Ler Devagar is unmissable for books. All that shopping will require strong coffee from one of Lisbon’s many independent cafés followed by a hearty prego steak sandwich for lunch at Rui dos Pregos.

Hannah Gravett

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Make Lisbon the starting point for a Portuguese journey with G Adventures’ Village Walks & the Douro Valley tour. The Geluxe collection group tour comprises eight days exploring country paths and villages winding through Medelim, Manteigas and Amarante, before finishing up in Porto. Accommodation and some meals are included.

• Best hotels in Lisbon
• Best restaurants in Lisbon

11. Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva, Switzerland, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? New affordable hotels that make summer days on the lake a breeze

I spent a lot of time in this swish Swiss city during my late twenties. I was a student at the time and happened to fall head over heels for a Frenchman working out there. My love of the city lasted longer than the relationship. But not having somewhere gratis to stay put the kibosh on regular return visits — this being one of Europe’s most expensive cities.

A flurry of new affordable lifestyle hotels could be about to change that — and the arrival of lakefront boutique hotel Auberge Port-Gitana has the city firmly back on my radar. The cool modern-Riviera design swerves the staid prissiness of many other (more expensive) places to stay near Lac Léman. It chimes perfectly with the laid-back lake lifestyle that this outwardly stuffy city is surprisingly good at.

So what to do there? I’ll be hitting up my old haunts: there’s the charm of the old town with its gorgeous architecture and artisan shops; green spaces like Parc des Bastions and the Botanical Gardens; Carouge’s farmers’ market, cafés and ice cream shops; cultural hubs like Mamco and the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire; and my favourite spot, Bains des Pâquis, for dips in the lake, sunbathing and local classics at its on-site restaurant (which, incidentally, does a superb fondue come the cooler months).

Blossom Green

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Head for a historic lakeside pad in Bellevue brought bang up to date for the modern traveller. Stylish Auberge Port-Gitana has 18 retro-chic rooms and suites, direct beach access and a brasserie that heroes local ingredients.

• Most beautiful places in Switzerland

12. Kalamata, Greece

Kalamata, Greece, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? Living out your own odyssey

I’ll be ditching the busy streets of Athens for the more laid-back charm of Kalamata, a criminally underrated coastal city in the southwestern Peloponnese. It’s a big year for this area of mainland Greece, as the peninsula was a key filming location for Christopher Nolan’s hotly anticipated The Odyssey (in cinemas from July). Fortunately for me, and any other Brits with their eye on Kalamata this year, it’ll be easy to reach thanks to new British Airways flights from Gatwick starting April 30.

Kalamata is ideal either as a starting point for your own Homeric odyssey or as a short and sweet weekend break. For the latter, there’s plenty to see, including a terracotta-roofed old town, a ruined medieval fortress, Byzantine churches and a lovely blue flag beach. Add to the above sleepy tavernas, modern wineries and world-beating olives — the city is surrounded by vast groves — and it sounds to me like a city break winner.

Claudia Rowan

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Stay at Grecotel Filoxenia Kalamata, a five-minute drive from the city centre and perfect as a relaxing base away from the hubbub. The hotel was refurbished in 2025 and has 162 luxurious rooms and suites, a private pebbly beach and three restaurants and bars.

If you’d like to visit Kalamata alongside other unmissable cities and islands, consider Globus’s 15-night Legendary Greece tour. The itinerary features a four-night Jewels of the Cyclades cruise that takes in Folegandros, Santorini, Mykonos and more.

• Most stylish Greek beach hotels

13. Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? Because it will never not delight

Here’s a riddle for you: where in Europe can you swim in a river in the morning, have lunch at a vineyard and then see one of the most important collections of impressionist art in the afternoon — all without leaving the city limits? Only in Vienna. I’m always being asked for city break recommendations and the Austrian capital is always in front of Paris or Berlin, mostly because this is a city that welcomes nerds with open arms.

The city is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in May, but I’d go any other time of the year for the museums alone — 2026 marks 20 years of me visiting Vienna regularly and I still haven’t come close to getting around them. That’s partly because I keep going back to the Monet to Picasso exhibition at the Albertina museum, getting distracted by negronis at Loos American Bar or finding just one more coffee house to sit in for a frothy Wiener Melange. If you get to the sewer system tour (May to October) with its filming locations from The Third Man or the WestLicht photography centre before me, let me know how it goes.

Laura Jackson

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Whether you’re travelling solo and after a snug room, or a couple looking for a roomy double, the Hoxton is one of the city’s smartest hotels — just outside the old town in the southeast.

Getting here on a river cruise is a superb introduction to the city if you’ve not been before. Try a seven-night Danube Waltz with Viking, with highlights including stops at Linz and Krems.

vikingrivercruises.co.uk

• Best hotels in Vienna
• Best Danube cruises

14. Venice, Italy

Venice, Italy, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? The Olympic-themed carnival, plus luxury hotel openings

Carnival is always a magical time to visit Venice, when the city fills with masquerade balls, floating parades and fantastic historical costumes. This year, it runs from January 31 to February 17 and you can expect an even more revved up atmosphere. The theme is “Olympus — the Origins of the Game”, a tribute to the fact the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics is taking place at the same time (February 6–22). And it’s not too late to book — I booked flights just a few days before a couple of years ago and it quickly became one of my favourite trips. Helped of course by the number of glorious cicchetti bars you can stumble upon: try the egg mayo topped with dried flowers at old-school Al Bottegon.

If you prefer warmer days, then spring and summer bring a spate of luxury hotel launches. Perhaps the relaunch of the Danieli as a Four Seasons hotel, set across three palazzos dating to the 15th-century with patinated frescos; or Rosewood’s reinvention of the Hotel Bauer featuring a rooftop garden and outdoor pool with a slick bar? Then there’s also Airelles Palladio, which will have eight bars and restaurants in the charming Giudecca district. Whichever you choose, toast your excellent decision with a Venetian classic: a Select spritz.

Lizzie Frainier

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If it’s luxury you’re after, Abercrombie & Kent can knock up a stellar trip to La Serenissima with palazzo stays and incredible art.

• Best affordable hotels in Venice

15. Antwerp, Belgium

Antwerp, Belgium, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? Contemporary art exhibitions throughout the year

Last time I drove to Wales from London it took eight hours; last time I went to Antwerp on the Eurostar I was there in four. When I want to go somewhere easy, fun and a bit cutting edge, Antwerp is the one: the railway station is in the centre of town, everywhere is walkable and there are some great restaurants and “brown cafés”. You could visit every weekend and see something new this year when it comes to 20th-century art exhibitions: Antony Gormley at KMSKA or Moroccan-French artist and performer Nicola L at the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp, for example.

Most of all, I adore the shopping. There are second-hand clothes by the kilo and some excellent outlet shops stuffed with designer togs if rummaging is your thing. Eating out isn’t always cheap, so at dinner I hit up Wolf food market for a bowl of ramen or the prawn croquettes from Fish A’Gogo near the cathedral, so big I always fail to finish them. Warning though: adding ketchup to your frites instantly marks you out as a tourist — it’s curry sauce or bust.

Laura Jackson

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Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp is the place to stay — a converted monastery with an excellent spa and two Michelin-starred restaurants.

• Best hotels in Antwerp
• Read our full guide to Belgium

16. Galway, Ireland

Galway, Ireland, is one of the best city breaks in Europe in 2026
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Why go in 2026? A dazzling new spa retreat on the coast

Galway on Ireland’s west coast has always been fun — wander down the winding streets of the Latin Quarter on any weekend and it’ll be stuffed full of hen and stag weekends — but perhaps not exactly luxurious. That’s changing this year with the spring opening of the Hawthorn by Galway Bay, a five-star escape along the coast with a spa that promises alfresco heated seaweed baths overlooking the Atlantic (naturally, this being Ireland there’s a golf course too).

Galway’s hedonistic nature means it’s a fun weekend break and an easy one for Brits — although Ireland West or Shannon are the nearest airports, it’s just as accessible on a two and a half-hour train from Dublin that zips you through the rural middle of Ireland. There’s the requisite city museum near the Spanish Arch and gorgeous day trips into nearby Connemara National Park; but by far the best thing to do here is to let your shoulders drop on a windy stroll out at Salthill Promenade, perhaps snapping colourful houses along the Long Walk before holing up in a pub with fresh oysters and a pint of Guinness. Just make sure you pack for all four seasons — Galway is Ireland at its most elemental.

Cathy Adams

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The spa is the standout at the new Hawthorn, which draws on traditional Irish treatments such as seaweed baths. Rooms are plushly designed and the best look out across the Atlantic.

See the best bits of Ireland on an eight-day G Adventures tour that also takes in Dublin, Cork and Killarney. There’s time spent exploring art and culture in Galway, as well as the dramatic Cliffs of Moher.

• Best places to visit in Ireland

This article has been updated with all-new entries and recommendations for 2026

Which cities are you planning to visit in 2026? Let us know in the comments

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