Getaway Breaks – European city break guides and short holiday ideas

Getaway breaks are an ideal way to relax, recharge and refresh. Take a look at these inspiring alternative European city break guides and short holidays to choose from.

European getaway breaks guide

Europe City Breaks

You'll be amazed at how much you can see and do during a short break or weekend getaway, especially if you use these travel guides!

Each one is designed to help you get the most from your vacation time. Whether you are looking for European getaway breaks in the city, or outdoor activities, there's something here for you!

The hugely popular European city breaks have been done to death. What I thought to do here, was mix in a few short break ideas in Europe you might not have thought of.

This guide to alternative European city breaks and short break destinations includes:

European Getaway Breaks

As most of my readers are from the UK and the rest of Europe, I thought I'd start with European getaway breaks.

I've visited each one of these destinations, and spent time exploring them all. The resulting travel guides include most of the major attractions in each place, as well as handy travel tips.

Simply click on the destination guide image to go through to the full blog post. If you are seeing this article on Facebook, you might not be able to click on the images, so I've included the links at the bottom of the post.

Greece

Obviously, I have to start with Greece! Having moved here in 2015, I've spent a considerable amount of time travelling around the country, and have written an extensive series of blog posts.  

With key destinations such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Santorini, and Mykonos being well connected with other European cities, Greece is a perfect country for getaway breaks. 

Here are 3 of my most popular guides to Greece. To dig deeper, take a look at my collection of Greek Travel Guides.

[one-third-first]A realistic guide on things to see and do in 2 days in Athens. This itinerary takes in all the main sites, at a relaxed pace. Visiting Athens with children? This 2 days in Athens itinerary is kid friendly too![/one-third-first]
[one-third]2 days in Santorini - A look at the best things to do in Santorini[/one-third]
[one-third]A guide to the best day trips from Athens you can try during your next Greek vacation.[/one-third]

 

 

Germany

I've visited Germany quite a few times now, mainly when bicycle touring. It's only been during the last year though that I've been able to spend some time exploring the cities. As far as getaway breaks go, Germany has something for everyone. Take your pick from cycling holidays, city breaks, and culture trips. Here's some of the guides I have written.
[one-third-first]A Guide to Cycling the Danube Cycle Path. The Danube Cycle Path is the most famous cycling route in Europe. This guide describes the most popular section between Passau and Vienna.[/one-third-first]
[one-third] The River Danube to Lake Constance Cycle Route[/one-third]
[one-third]Getaway Breaks in Germany - Visit the city of Ulm[/one-third]

Malta

If you are from the UK, you might at first associate Malta with a sun, sea and sand holiday. Whilst that is true, it is also a great destination for people looking for getaway breaks. The two main islands of Malta and Gozo are compact and easy to get around, and there are good flights  connecting to virtually every other European country. Here's a few guides to Malta written after my visit there in 2017.

[one-third-first]See The Main Highlights of Malta in 3 Days[/one-third-first]
[one-third]The Azure Window may be lost, but here's 10 reasons to visit Malta[/one-third]
[one-third]Who built the Megalithic Temples of Malta?[/one-third]

Slovakia

Slovakia is a country I need to see more of, especially if Bratislava is anything to go by! This pretty little town still retains its charm despite its rise in popularity over the years. I've passed through Bratislava twice now. Once when cycling from England to Cape Town, and once when cycling from Greece to England. Here's a couple of articles you might find useful for weekend getaway planning in Bratislava.

[one-half-first]Top things to see in Bratislava[/one-half-first]
[one-half]Where to stay in Bratislava. A guide to the best hotels and budget accommodation in Bratislava, Slovakia.[/one-half]

Albania

Now, I know what you're thinking. Albania – a relaxing short break destination?! What?!! Well, having spent some time in Albania, I can confirm that the country doesn't deserve its negative image. In fact, it's one of the friendliest countries to travel around in Europe! With connections into Tirana from most European countries, it is also more easily reached than ever before. Take a look at old communist style buildings, see bunkers, visit castles, or spend time at the beach. The choice is yours!

[one-third-first]2 Days in Tirana - A guide on what to see and do in Tirana, the capital of Albania.[/one-third-first]
[one-third]Berat in Albania might not be quite the hidden gem it once was, but surely it deserves more attention than it gets? Read more about this impressive fortress, and UNESCO world heritage historic centre in Albania.[/one-third]
[one-third]A travel guide to Albania - The most misunderstood country in the Balkans.[/one-third]

Kosovo

First Albania, and now Kosovo… what are you doing Dave?! Ok, I will admit that it's an unusual destination when it comes to getaway breaks even by my standards. It's also not terrifically easy to reach. However, if you are willing to make the journey, you stand to benefit from seeing with your own eyes how things are now. A travel destination for people that want to learn through first hand experience.

Pristina, the capital city of Kosovo, might not seem an obvious tourist destination at first. For anyone wanting to learn more about recent Balkans history though, visiting Pristina is an interesting, and essential experience. If you are planning a trip to Kosovo, this short Pristina tourism guide should help.

Macedonia (FYROM)

The Balkans is a fascinating area to explore, but complicated. Macedonia, or FYROM as it is more properly known, is a prime example of this. Since leaving the union of Yugoslavia, Macedonia has been entangled in a dispute with Greece over its name. Added on to that, is some very blatant appropriation of history in an attempt to forge a cultural identity. This has resulted in some quite weird statue and monument building in the capital Skopje. You can see my getaway breaks guide here.

Skopje really does live up to its name of the Kitsch capital of the Balkans. Read the full article to find out why I think it's like a weird Disneyland, and to see more photos.

Spain

I've visited Spain a number of times, but haven't put together much in the way of guides yet. After visiting Spain in September 2017 though, this will soon change, as I produce 2 or 3 more short break guides. In the mean time, here is a short piece of visiting Barcelona in December.

[one-third-first]Reasons to visit Barcelona in December. If you want to see this beautiful Spanish city without the tourist crowds, December is a great month to visit![/one-third-first]
[one-third]Cycling in Catalonia on a European getaway break[/one-third]
[one-third]Outdoor activities on the Ebre River[/one-third]

 

Holland

Holland is a country I definitely want to spend more time in. I'm sure that some sort of bicycle tour can be arranged! Here's an article about how couchsurfing in Amsterdam is a good way to see the city.

Couchsurfing in Amsterdam is a great way to see this amazing city.

Iceland

Whilst I am yet to visit Iceland, it is high on my bucket list! I've put these articles together after researching what I hope will be a future trip there. Ideally, I would like to spend a month cycling around Iceland. Can I make this trip happen? Only time will tell!

[one-half-first]2 Days in Reykjavik - What to see and do in Reykjevik, Iceland during a weekend break.[/one-half-first]
[one-half]Cycling around Iceland - how to plan a cycling trip in Iceland[/one-half]

As time goes on, I will be adding more guides to this European getaway breaks section, so please bookmark for future reference! I've also got a new website launching in January 2018 that is solely dedicated to city guides in Europe. More about that later though! In the mean time, please sign up for the newsletter using the red bar at the top of the page. Let's keep in touch!

Also read: Warm Destinations In Europe In December

Take a look at these great getway breaks in Europe and start planning your next vacation!

Getaway Breaks in Europe

Related: Getaway Instagram Captions

 

 

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