City Breaks
When you need a quick break from the norm, a city break can be that change of scene you need. Culture, food, amazing sights, it's all there ready to be enjoyed in a few short days.
Culture, food, amazing sights
It's a big wide world out there with lots of amazing cities, towns and locales to visit. Packing them all in can be hard, so a short break can be ideal to take in the best of what they have to offer.
Why A City Break
For many people city breaks have become the perfect way to escape the daily grind without using up too much time or money. With Europe right on the doorstep, there's great choice of iconic destinations just a short flight away. This makes a long weekend abroad feel doable awithout taking up too much precious annual leave from work.
Low-cost airlines fuelled the boom of city breaks, offering cheap, frequent routes that make these getaways more accessible than ever. Such short trips require limited luggage, so fares can be kept low with hand luggage only, making a city break a cost effective change of scene.
Another reason city breaks are so appealing is their year-round flexibility. Unlike beach holidays, which often rely on sunshine, cities offer culture, food, shopping, and nightlife whatever the season. A short break can be just as rewarding in winter as in summer.
Of course some people take the city break concept to new levels with the Extreme Day Trip (EDT) concept. Getting as far as possible, experiencing as much as possible and getting back within a 24 hour period... but that's just hardcore!
In the end, it’s the combination of convenience, affordability, and variety that keeps city breaks so popular with UK travellers – a quick change of scenery, a taste of a new culture, and a refreshing break, all packed neatly into a few days away.
Top Destinations
Shorter City breaks are those which come in at under 2 hours - they make for great 2 day trips perfect for when you are short on time.
Paris, France – A timeless favourite for romance, culture, and café-hopping along the Seine (~1h 15m).
Amsterdam, Netherlands – Charming canals, world-class museums, and a laid-back cycling culture (1h 15m).
Brussels, Belgium – Perfect for beer, chocolate, and grand architecture just across the Channel (1h).
Dublin, Ireland – A friendly capital with cosy pubs, live music, and rich literary history (1h 20m).
When you have a bit longer to pay with there are some fantastic places 3-4 hours away from London.
Barcelona, Spain – A vibrant mix of golden beaches, Gaudí architecture, and buzzing nightlife (2h 10m).
Rome, Italy – Ancient history meets gelato-fuelled strolls through lively piazzas (2h 30m).
Berlin, Germany – A cool, creative city where history, nightlife, and street art collide (1h 50m).
Lisbon, Portugal – A sunny hilltop capital with pastel streets, soulful fado, and ocean views (2h 40m).
Prague, Czech Republic – A fairy-tale city of spires, cobbles, and hearty Central European charm (2h).
Budapest, Hungary – Thermal baths, ruin bars, and stunning views over the Danube (2h 30m).
Vienna, Austria – Elegant palaces, coffeehouse culture, and a rich musical heritage (2h 15m).
Copenhagen, Denmark – A stylish Nordic hub of design, bikes, and cosy hygge vibes (1h 55m).
Christmas Markets
Christmas lights, festive spirit, quaint traditions - even if you're a bit of a Grinch, I dare you not to love a christmas market. If you are a shopper, a moocher or a foodie, the markets at this time of year have something to offer and are perfect for getting you in the spirit and getting you away from the madness of the UK christmas preparations.
Once In A Lifetime
The beauty of the Northern Lights, the solemn and horrific history of Auchwitz, the incredible sight of the bulb fields in bloom or viewing some of the most iconic art and culture, city breaks provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Nature, culture, education...city breaks have so much more to offer than just a holiday.
Long Haul, Short Stay
Of course, if you're prepared for a full-on experience and are happy to shell out a bit more money, you can go long haul over 3-4 days and pack in the sights of New York (7.5-8.5 hrs) or even the crazy of Las Vegas (10hrs 45m). Not for the faint-hearted but full of impact and excitement.
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I am a returning client to Alison. Her expertise and knowledge of destinations and all things holiday is so reassuring that we can put full trust in her, knowing that our holiday will be perfect. For this one, we just asked for greek islands, romantic, lively but without club vibe and not excessively 'high-end'!. Perissa in Santorini was the ideal place for us. The hotel choice could not be faulted, lots of fun with other guests, initiated by the lively barman. We could easily walk to everywhere we needed and we arranged transport one evening to experience a Santorini Sunset in Oia. We even climbed a mountain to an ancient site as our hotel was right at the foot which was an interesting feature. Overall we could not have asked for a more ideal location. Alison even managed to get us our preferred flight times and no hassle transfers which added to the relaxed vibe to our holiday. Thank you for assisting us with creating more beautiful travel memories!
Ali was fantastic all the way through booking right up until our holiday. She saved us money against anything we could find and took away the pain of doing all the booking stuff ourselves. The place she booked us was wonderful, exactly what was promised and her recommendations were great, Kefalonia is a beautiful island. We would absolutely use her again!
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We recently booked a holiday through Bags Are Packed Travel By Inspire for a group of nine, traveling from two different airports, and they made the entire process seamless. Our main requirements were a warm destination within a four-hour flight, an all-inclusive resort with a kids’ club, and a location close to bars, restaurants, and the beach—all to celebrate a 50th birthday. From the start, we were given options that matched our brief. After selecting a destination, Ali provided us with great choices, helping us find the perfect fit. She handled all the booking details, including online check-in, making everything stress-free. The hotel, location, and facilities were exactly as promised—absolutely spot on! The entire experience was smooth from start to finish, and we couldn’t have asked for better service. Highly recommended!
I asked Ali to find me a short 4 day break in Europe. After a few options, I settled on Pisa. She organised everything and made sur I had all the information at hand. In addition, she kept in contact up until departure just to make sure all went slowly. Highly recommend using her...less stress, less hassle but still all the fun 😊
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