Being at home can be stressful – even when there is nothing stressing you out. Whether it’s the thought of going back to work, seeing family and friends- or just wanting a change. A lot of people really live for the weekends and take that time to destress. You might just have 2 duvet days watching films and eating takeout.. and we don’t blame you! Some may do local city breaks, or a trip towards a simple weekend away from the cities. We all have different preferences when it comes to getting away. For instance, Jack likes to be active, whether it’s swimming, hiking, exploring etc, but Aimee would be more than happy with a 2 day spa break with a massage ,and maybe a museum break or two. We all are different in what we enjoy but one common thing is we like to travel!
Life is so busy that we struggle to find the time to dedicate to travelling. We are limited to weekends and that really isn’t enough time to get on a plane or train to a new country. We even tried it and it is so crazy busy that it isn’t a time to relax. Put it this way, you are more tired than when you were before you left! Our Trip to Aarhus is here – it’s something we would totally recommend but it isn’t for the faint of hearts. You allocate such little time to a major city so you have to choose a location that has only 1/2 days worth of activities otherwise you will miss out on some of the best things to do there.
So you need to make the most of your time off and maximise your trip time. Give yourself long weekends (3/4 days) at new locations. As we are in England, we have done short trips to Paris, Aarhus, Stockholm and Budapest! Jack books off time from work to give us enough days to do short city breaks to explore somewhere new.
It’s a common feeling for young adults to feel stuck and lost in the busy life they become accustom to. To make things worse, we never really allow ourselves to stop as we book up our evenings and weekends with the things we want to do leaving us with no time to relax our bodies. That’s why you NEED to give yourself something to look forward to – even if it is a local break for a few days every few months to regenerate.
Here, we have highlighted some budget last minute holidays in Europe that are the perfect getaway to destress and recoup your energy. We recommend these places as they are some of the best for activities but you can also just enjoy the city and spend time not doing a whole lot!
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Poznan
A central location, this Polish City is a great place to visit! The streets are clean and colourful, with some beautiful spots to try out their local foods! Some popular polish foods include bigos and pierogi, and being a budget location means you can try even more! The city isn’t too popular for tourists, so it is a great place to explore and local cultures and learn more about the city, without the usual crowds.
A flight from England to Poznan starts from £40 which is affordable, and it is a cheap place to drink alcohol- roughly £2 for a pint! There is a lot to do and is a place we would recommend for that short trip you are really needing!
There is a local market square which includes a multicoloured stretch of houses. This is a perfect place to find a local café and soak up surrounding views. Also, there is a croissant museum… YES you read it right! At certain times, bakers will make fresh croissants in front of you, and you learn the history of the croissant. At the end of the session, you are given a taster of the freshly made croissant which is the perfect way to end the activity.
The city is also littered with castles, cathedrals and churches. The architecture and sculpture work is incredible and intricate, which can be seen across the Poznan skyline. We would recommend seeing the Imperial Castle, the Town Hall and The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help! For any history lovers out there, there is also an Archaeological museum and History Land.
History land is a cool unique experience where you the exhibits are depicted through Lego creations, whether it’s battles, buildings or more!! This is an experience that doesn’t exist in many other places so would definitely be worth checking out!
Accommodation Options
Luxury option : A hotel and wine bar, with the opportunity to have an in-room jacuzzi or hot tub, with being extremely spacious and clean. Find it here
Budget Hotel : Being in a close location, this hotel starts from around £34 a night which is SO good! It’s known to be a quieter hotel, boasting friendly staff and 24 hour facilities. Find it here
Hostel option : This cinema themed hostel is great for the budget traveler! This hostel offers private rooms starting from £22, in the centre of Poznan. Friendly hostel, with great facilities and location! Find it here
Bratislava
Another central European city that is full of life, this city boasts many impressive castles and historic buildings, and is an amazing place to just wander. A popular activity in the city is to rent a bike and cycle around to explore the whole city. The city is perfectly sized to travel around on a bike, and can be a cheaper alternative than other modes of transport!
Across the city are quirky statues, including a depiction of a man climbing out of the sewers. It is a city where you can wander; find local shops, activities and indulge in the culture of the city. The local foods include a selection of meats and layered cake (Prekmurska Gibanica).
One of the attractions to the area is wine tasting! This is a country known for it’s wine and there are many tours – one including wine tasting at a castle – which would be awesome to check out! This is located at Devin Castle, which is perfectly located on the bank of the well known river, The Danube. This is a great break to enjoy the suburban views, have a drink with your fellow holiday-goers and soak up the castles history!
This location would be great for a long weekend break to see new sights and escape reality for a short period before coming back to reality.
Accommodation Options
Luxury option : Stay in a 5 star luxury hotel along the river, with rooms offering panoramic views of the Danube River or Castle Hill. It has free gym access, the opportunity to book into their spa (some options do include this), breakfast, lunch and dinner facilities and more! Prices start from around £160+, and you can find it here
Budget Hotel : This hotel is such a great find, with one night (inclusive of breakfast), only costing roughly £60 a night! You can use their salt cave and fitness facilities free of charge, and the hotel boasts a good location, being in the old town. The interior is really pretty and is a very highly rated place right now! Find it here
Hostel option : This hostel is such a unique one! Being the first NFT hostel, full of NFT styles and artwork! With an unforgettable industrial style, it has capsule style dorms of 6-10 bunks, starting from around £22 a night! There is an option for private accommodation within the hostel for those who don’t like dorm style rooms. Find it here
Cologne
Cologne is a beautiful city in Germany that isn’t a massive hotspot for tourism. The city offers all types of reasons to visit: there are many castles to visit, popular brewhouse tours, and even an old town to visit! It is also a great spot to use as a ‘middle ground’ for travelling to other spots in Germany, such as Dusseldorf.
Many people may not know this, but Cologne have a chocolate museum! And you know we love food museums!! This is a great place to learn the history of Lindt… well let’s be honest. Everyone is there to eat as much chocolate as possible. But it is interesting to learn how the chocolate is made.
Also in Cologne, there is an Ice Bar. Now, if you haven’t experienced this before, then it is a rather strange but cool experience! Basically, you are in a typical bar but instead of being in normal decor.. The decor is all Ice. You are in an Ice room! You are provided with a snow coat to keep you from getting frostbite and can enjoy cocktails. Even the seats and tables are made from Ice. Legit everything is! This is a great place to enjoy with friends and family that is different!
This city offers some picturesque places for photos and is a perfect location to explore as a short break! Germany is always a great winter option, especially with the infamous Christmas markets yearly- this is a great travel option for anyone’s bucket list! As it’s known for it’s beer, there are opportunities to do a beer tour and during certain times of the year, you could enjoy some beer festivals!
Accommodation Options
Luxury option : This hotel is a beautiful option for visiting Cologne! Local to many attractions, this hotels offer breakfast, and focuses heavily on sustainable options! Find it here
Budget Hotel : This modern option is a great hotel for a lesser price! It’s part of the ibis chain, and offers buffet breakfast as part of their packages. The hotel can be found here.
Hostel option : We had to include this one! This hostel has rooms each decorated with their own unique theme! Choose themes such as Bollywood cinema, cabin in the woods, and a 60’s theme pod. It’s so cool and is a great budget option at roughly £24 a night! Find it here
Cordoba
A beautiful Spanish city that is full of culture. The sun is always shining here and has a beautiful old quarter to explore- it was an important Roman city, and a major Islamic centre during the Middle Ages, meaning it is full of culture and history to learn! The city is full of tight streets with quaint restaurants, cobble streets and traditional Spanish houses.
You are only going for a short break so you need to make the most of relaxing.. with an Arabian bath. This is with a traditional setting of pillars and an enclosed large bath perfect for sinking your toes in or relaxing by the baths. The rooms are lit up by candles and create an aroma that can cure the mind of any stress you are feeling.
As a Spanish City Cordoba is rich in architecture with many castles, Catherdral’s and Churches to explore. It is one of the oldest and most historic cities in Europe so it’s one of the best places to get lost in the history, learn about the people and culture, and immerse yourself in it’s beauty.
May is a month full of traditional fiestas, with the beautiful smell of jasmine and orange blossoms filling the spring air! You can go out for yummy tapas, enjoy a flamenco show and immerse yourself in the local atmosphere.
Accommodation Options
Luxury option : Stay in a converted 18th century mansion in the city centre, showcasing traditional and original structure! You can get breakfast included, with options to explore the two courtyards… it really is a beautiful option. Prices seem to start from roughly £170, but it is such an amazing luxury find! Find it here
Budget Hotel : Right in front of the Cordoba Mosque, this hotel is a great budget option! You can include breakfast at an additional cost, with great reviews praising the staff and customer service. Check it out here
Hostel option : This hostel is a vibrant option to stay within Cordoba! There is a pool, common areas, no curfew and online check in! They have dorms with 4, 8 or 10 bunks, starting from roughly £22 a night! There is also an option for private rooms within this hostel from £90. Check it out here
Riga
The capital of Latvia is a beautiful, historic and architectural city that is traditional in its setting. The city has many museums and sculptures to see- which are great to capture some memorable pictures! This city also boasts nice parks and scenic places to relax yourself and watch the world go by!
The city of Riga has a good spread of food markets throughout the city. A local dish to try is the Karbonade- this dish is pork that is pounded thin and fried for a crispy finish. This is usually served with flavours on top to maximise flavours. For the locals, this is washed down with a traditional Rye Bread pudding. Who would of thought that the Latvians are so big on Rye Bread? It is very popular in Riga and is a must try when in the city.
A perfect place to unwind is visiting the Art Nouveau district. This area is spread with museums showing off famous pieces for this time. We would recommend to take a stroll to the area as it is dotted with vibrant and structurally brilliant buildings which are elegantly designed. This is a great place to take a detour – wander – and see where the road ahead takes you.
Latvia isn’t necessarily a mainstream European location to visit, however we know many who LOVE this location. There is a pedestrian only old town, where you can find plenty of shops and restaurants, alongside the well known Livu Square, with a range of bars and nightclubs
Accommodation Options
Luxury option : Find a four star spa hotel from only £65! This is an amazing deal for a luxury hotel, which is also riverside with amazing views, and great spa facilities. It is so close to some major attractions that you can see them from the hotel. You can include spa access within your booking which seems very worth it! Find it here
Budget Hotel : This hotel is only from £25… with full private facilities. Rooms are somewhat basic, but some offer inner courtyard views. But for £25 who can complain! Find it here
Hostel option : An authentic hostel offering self catering cooking facilities, in a great location in the middle of the old town. They offer dorms of up to 14 beds, with the option of female only rooms too. Dorms start from £15 a night… what an amazing price! Find it here
These short breaks are the perfect way to regenerate the body and experience a little dose of some smaller/lesser known areas of Europe. A lot of these picks are cheap places to travel and stay in, making it realistic for people who are looking to travel on a budget.
These places are definitely on the top of our list for places to visit in Europe and would love to know more about people who have visited!
We hope you liked our picks and if you have any other suggestions, do let us know in the comments.
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