5 Best Cultural City Breaks for after Isolation
We’re talking easy to get to, reasonably cheap and packed full of sights, food and experiences!
There’s always places far and wide that you’d like to visit however right now everything is up in the air. If you’re already thinking about that next trip you make and are looking for a few days away which would only break the bank as much as a weekend away in the UK would then you’ve stopped in the right place…
1. Barcelona
I’d say this is one of the best places to visit for a chilled girls group weekend away. This is mainly because there’s lots of culture that you can easily stumble upon but also its a lively city with good nightlife and a beach. Such a variety - you may need about 4 days if you want to experience it all!
2. Rome
My favourite Italian city (so far) is Rome. Ash and I went in Oct19 and it was amazing. Again quite a compact city which meant we stumbled upon culture significance such as the Spanish Steps and The Pantheon.
I’ll be honest with you when it came to Rome we had everything revolving around some of the best food we could find! I’ll have to do a specific post about what we did and what I would recommend but essentially the only thing we really had to book was the Colosseum (obviously it is the landmarks Rome is best known for!).
Main point is to try get in as much of the local food as possible!
3. Venice
Okay, another Italian city I know, I know… But Italian culture is just on another level! Again the food is absolutely amazing and don’t be put off by how tiny the restaurant is (that more likely than not means its somewhere the locals are likely to go!)
But other than that Venice is a city like no other… The city of canals is made up of over 100 different islands connected by bridges or transfer via boat. But bare in mind that it is quite a confusing place and many people compare it to a maze.. this may be because people are thrown into the unknown of not being able to hop in an Uber to the next destination but I would say to wander around and take in the architecture wherever possible!
Venice can also be done as a day trip, I have done this myself a couple of times however you won’t experience everything. Main things to see are St. Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Rialto Bridge.. If you’re planning a short trip, by using these landmarks as a base I’m sure you’ll be able to experience a lot of the city.
4. Prague
I don’t think I have ever seen my step count so high! This is a big city to get around with lots tiny of winding streets with many street market sellers and boutique shops. As much as this side of the river has a lot of architectural sites in the main square there is also more tourist style bars and attractions e.g. the Sex Machine Museum. Whereas you cross the famous Charles Bridge and the St. Vitus Cathedral and Prague Castle tower over you. The sheer size of them is immense and the detail doesn’t disappoint architecture enthusiasts when you finally make it up there! Also eat pork knuckle (at ‘Pork’s’) and try the international award winning Kozel dark beer!
5. Paris
Obviously meant to be one of the most romantic cities.. Now you don’t have to spend a fortune on hotels here, we found ours through lastminute.com. To be honest with you this was another city where we walked everywhere! This meant we planned our time into different sections of the city and very rarely used their metro if we seriously just could not walk any further! Have a picnic in the Champs de Mars gardens and then climb the Eiffel Tower - It is worth it…
There are so many museums you can go to (if you’re into that) but the ones to note if you’re more into architecture than the works on display is definitely Le Centre Pompidou and Musée du Louvre - get there early and take full advantage of any student discount/under 25y/o discounts you can get. Finally walk along the river..see what you come across.
Now these are just some very brief ideas on some of my favourite cities that I have visited over the past few years! If you want to know more about the top things to see, eat or try whilst there I can do a more detailed post for each showing photos, itinerary and specific recommendations! Let me know in the comments or via email if you want to see more on somewhere you’re planning to go to in the future!