Cheap city breaks and weekend breaks

When is the best time to book a cheap last-minute city break? Well, according to TravelSupermarket data, it’s two weeks before your departure date.

Most people tend to look for deals between four and two weeks before the day of departure, while some leave it as late as one week before. Quick and easy, city breaks make for great late escapes – especially if you’re travelling to a European destination.

Generally speaking, the closer you get to the date, the cheaper it gets – taking a risk here can pay off. However, if you leave it to the absolute last minute (as in the week of), there’s likely to be a jump in price.

Cheap short breaks are easy to find, with many offering great-value accommodation, low-cost public transport and plenty to eat and drink without breaking the bank.

Generally, for breaks in Europe, central cities such as Prague, Krakow and Budapest, and the Baltics (Tallinn, Vilnius and Riga) are excellent budget destinations.

You can also find cheaper options in the likes of Italy, Spain and France. Head south in Italy to Naples and Palermo. In Spain, smaller cities, such as Toledo and Cordoba, tend to be much cheaper than big hitters Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia, while Toulouse, with its large student population, is a top budget choice for France. Outside of Europe, Marrakech, in Morocco, provides great value on a short break.

Of course, if you compare prices and are flexible on when you travel (and perhaps don't mind a cheaper hotel), you can book cheap city breaks almost anywhere.

Europe offers such a range of sights and experiences that choosing the “right” destination can be a challenge.

So where to pick? Keep these factors in mind – budget, distance, weather and interests – and you’ll be closer to finding the short break for you. Having a budget in mind will open up the right destinations.

Also think about how far you are prepared to travel. Amsterdam is less than 90 minutes away by air, as are Paris, Bruges and Dublin – perfect for a cheap short break. Do you want t-shirt weather and sunshine, or are the winter thermals coming out? Barcelona in July is quite the different experience to Reykjavik in January.

You know what you're spending, how far you want to go and what kind of weather you want, so what interests you? Compare the world's best city breaks on TravelSupermarket to find a trip to match your tastes.

Sneak away for a cheap weekend break, go big in New York, or plunge into the unfamiliar with your other half – whether it’s romance or adventure you’re after, a holiday in one of these exciting destinations will only bring you closer together.

Paris

Paris and romance go together like, well, bread and brie. Whisk away your other half to the City of Love for serious brownie points, taking in sights plucked straight from postcards. The Eiffel Tower and the dreamy Marais district are just the beginning.

New York

Get swept up in the bright lights and iconic sights of the Big Apple. Whether you’re after a whirlwind adventure or prefer to take it slow, walking hand-in-hand through Central Park or over Brooklyn Bridge, New York can make any city break dream come true.

Marrakech

Explore by day and relax by night in spellbinding Marrakech. Experience heady culture shocks with your other half, wandering through vibrant souks and extravagant palaces, then retreat to a romantic riad to escape the bustle. Pure bliss!

Edinburgh

Why travel far when a romantic break is right on your doorstep? All castles and cobblestones, Edinburgh’s pretty Old Town is plucked straight from a fantasy and is ideal for a last-minute staycation.

Family holidays don’t always have to be of the fly-and-flop variety – just think, on a whirlwind short break, the kids won’t even have a chance to cry boredom! So, wave goodbye to noisy days at the waterpark and say hello to one of these crowd-pleasing places for your next escape.

Rome

You don’t need amusement parks to entertain the kids in Rome when the city itself is a playground. Historical big hitters such as the Colosseum and Roman Forum encourage young imaginations to run wild – and if that doesn’t work, there’s always gelato!

Palma

Between easy-to-reach theme parks, animal encounters, natural wonders, and calm-water beaches, you’d be hard-pressed to find a city break more thrilling for the little ones than Palma. On a longer break, the old train to the charming town of Sóller is a winner with kids and adults alike.

Nice

Even the most active of kids will burn through their energy in Nice, with its sweep of pebbled beach and myriad parks. With a handful of excellent museums and a quaint old town, adults are well catered for too.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam might not be a traditional family holiday destination, but the Dutch capital is incredibly kid friendly. Take boat rides on the canals, cycle through the city’s parks and visit the interactive science museum. Visit in spring to see the tulip fields bloom against a spellbinding backdrop of windmills.

Got that must-do list ready? Good, you’ll need it in these cities. With museums and galleries, architecture and art, history tours and a packed cultural calendar, you might not get through all the sights in one short visit, but that’s all the more reason to return.

Barcelona

Whether your idea of a cultural break is museum-hopping, market-browsing or cuisine-based, beautiful Barcelona offers it all. Gaudí’s quirky architecture steals much of the spotlight, followed closely by the city’s museums. For culture of a different kind, catch a football match at Camp Nou.

Venice

The ‘Floating City’, Venice plays host to some of Italy’s biggest annual events – the Biennale and the Carnevale. If that’s not enough evidence of its cultural clout, a handful of impressive museums and its staggering art-filled churches should prove it.

Florence

The birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Florence boasts serious cultural cred. Between its treasure trove of artworks, iconic Renaissance, Gothic, and Baroque architecture, mouth-watering cuisine and a little la dolce vita, you’ll find many of Italy’s masterpieces here.

Vienna

Stately museums filled with rare art, jaw-dropping palaces with perfectly preserved interiors and nights at the opera… if you’re longing to learn, Vienna’s cultural institutions could keep you busy for days. First timers, start with the Hofburg and Schönbrunn palaces.

Night owl? These high-energy destinations are at their best when you are. Chill pints at a pub, dancing ‘til dawn, or something entirely different… whatever kind of night out you’re looking for, in these cracking cities the party only stops when you want it to.

Berlin

With nightlife as eclectic as it is enthralling, Berlin’s after-dark scene is irresistible for party people looking for a weekend away. Whatever type of music or crowd you’re after, you’ll likely find it in Berlin. There’s even daytime raves, if you want to squeeze in a boogie before your flight home.

Dublin

The rumours are true: Guinness does taste better in Ireland. But beyond the black stuff, there’s a lot to discover when the sun goes down. From trad bars to techno clubs, nights out in Dublin are always good craic.

Prague

It’s famed for cheap Czech beer and wild nights – and you’ll find both in spades – but laidback evenings at cool cocktail bars and riverside hangouts are just as satisfying in pretty, irresistibly hip Prague.

Budapest

Between grungy clubs that run until sunrise and chic multi-room ruin bars, Budapest is diverse to say the least. Add legendary ‘sparties’ (night-time raves in the city’s thermal spas) and late-night coffee shops, and you’ll soon realise why great nights out come easy here.

Sun, sea and sand or a weekend break in a city? Why not both? In these coastal cities, you can spend mornings ticking off top sights and afternoons stretched out on sandy urban beaches.

Barcelona

Split in two by a bustling marina, Barcelona’s sandy stretch of coast is divided into a whopping eight beaches. Take the postcard shot of Barcelona from little Barceloneta or head to low-key Platja de Llevant to escape the bustle of the city.

Lisbon

Day trippers flock to the beaches around Cascais, just outside of Lisbon. It’s not the Algarve, but it’s close: think golden sand, sun-loungers for hire, beach sports and a string of restaurants lining each promenade. Try Praia de Carcavelos when you’ve covered Lisbon’s main sights.

San Sebastian

Don’t be fooled by the pictures of San Sebastian. Yes, the sweeping curve of La Concha beach helped put the city on the map, but this beguiling town in Spain’s Basque Country is also famed for its Michelin-starred restaurants, hole-in-the-wall pintxos bars and upmarket shopping.

Dubai

Combine a cultural city break with a luxury beach getaway in over-the-top Dubai. Not one to do things by halves, in Dubai, you can be one taking in views from the world’s tallest building one moment, and the next, lounging in luxury on some of the most iconic city beaches in the world.

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