Cheap city breaks in Europe from £139pp – including flights

When it comes to budget-friendly city breaks, Europe is filled with options.

We’ve rounded up the cheapest destinations, with deals from just £139pp including your flights.

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All the destinations included are filled with history, culture and local cuisines, as well as free attractions and walking tours.

That being said, city breaks don’t have to break the bank, and we scoured the internet to find the best flights, hotels, and even package deals.

Here are the best budget break destinations we’ve found:

Lisbon, Portugal

The coastal capital of Portugal is known for its history, architecture, fashionable bars, restaurants and shops.

The city is a walking adventure in itself, with its steep streets and more than 300 sunshine days every year.

Food-wise, you’ll have to try the ‘pastéis de nata’ and the seafood, including the Portuguese delicacy, bacalhau, which is salted cod.

If you’re visiting Lisbon for the first time and want to see as much as you can, you could get the Lisboa Card.

The card is available for 24, 48, or 72 hours, and gives you unlimited use of the public transit system. Plus, it also gives you free admission to a number of the city’s main attractions.

Hotel-only deals to Lisbon are available from £70 per room on Booking.com, while return flights to Lisbon cost from £28 next year

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Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is a super-stylish, ancient city located on the Mediterranean seafront; it is home to some of the most incredible architectural structures in the world.

You’ll be able to experience Gaudí designs in real life at the Sagrada Familía cathedral or Parc Güell.

Barcelona offers the perfect mix of history and partying, as it has one of the best nightlife in Europe, with delicious restaurants, tapas bars and clubs.

It is also heaven for football fans, as it’s the home to one of the world’s best football teams.

Hotel-only deals to Barcelona are available from £59 per room on Booking.com, while return flights to Barcelona cost from £21 next year

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Budapest, Hungary

Hungary’s capital city Budapest is the perfect destination for party lovers thanks to its nightlife, local food, and intriguing architecture and history.

The ruin bars in Budapest are a hidden local gem that must be seen; they have been set up in ancient, abandoned buildings in the old Jewish neighbourhood.

Budapest also boasts almost 100 museums; the Museum of Fine Arts, the Hungarian National Gallery, and the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art are just some of the many museums worth visiting during your stay.

Hotel-only deals to Budapest are available from £55 per room on Booking.com, while return flights to Budapest cost from £36 next year.

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Athens, Greece

As the epicentre of European history, Athens’ famous landmarks and ruins attract visitors from all over the world every year.

Not only one of the most historical places to visit, Athens is also a haven for shopping lovers, offering everything from luxury clothing and elaborate handmade gems.

On a sunny day, you could climb the Acropolis to see the Parthenon, the monumental temple of the goddess Athena.

To make your city break even better, you could get to The Athenian Riviera in about 40 minutes, where you’ll reach the beautiful sandy beaches and clear water.

Hotel-only deals to Athens are available from £65 per room on Booking.com, while return flights to Athens cost from £39 next year.

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Krakow, Poland

Krakow is the second-largest city in Poland and is ideal for a low-cost getaway loaded with attractions.

For instance, you could visit The Wawel Royal Castle, walk up Kanonicza Street, the oldest street in Krakow, or see St. Mary’s Basilica.

You can also stroll down the Main Market Square, which was Europe’s biggest market square before the 13th century – there, you’ll find souvenir shops and restaurants serving local delicacies.

To end the day, you could go on a craft beer-tasting experience from £27pp.

Hotel-only deals to Krakow are available from £45 per room on Booking.com, while flights to Krakow cost from £8 each way next year.

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Berlin, Germany

The German capital is packed with adventures, culture and cool attractions.

From the Soviet Memorial in Treptower Park, the Berlin Wall at East Side Gallery to the Holocaust Memorial and the Book Burning Square, Berlin has a lot to offer when it comes to history.

Berlin is also the best destination for beer lovers, as you’ll be able to taste hundreds of different craft beers.

After your pub crawl, you could enjoy Berlin’s nightlife, from the world-famous Berghain to underground parties with no closing time.

Hotel-only deals to Berlin are available from £70 per room on Booking.com, while flights to Krakow cost from £46 return next year.

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Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is one of the Brits’ favourite spots when it comes to city breaks.

You could visit the Astronomical Clock in Prague’s Old Town Square, which features the hourly dancing figurine show.

While the Old Town Hall Tower hosts the clock, and is climbable from the inside, if you’re after some great views, you should visit it at sunset time.

The Pilsner beer originated in Pilsen, and the Pilsner Urquell brewery has tours where you can sample the brews while touring the old brewhouse.

Hotel-only deals to Prague are available from £55 per room on Booking.com, while flights to Prague cost from £39 return next year.

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Paris, France

Paris is the city of love, art and shopping.

If you’re after a shopping trip, you’ll have to visit the Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. After browsing around, you can even head up to the eighth floor and enjoy gorgeous views of the city.

You can also visit the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris and La Galerie Dior display garments and historical work spaces. 

The Champs-Elysees is a great place to wander, with some of the most upscale hotels and shops all condensed together.

It goes without saying you can’t go to Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower and the Musée du Louvre too, even if you’re not an art-lover.

Hotel-only deals to Paris are available from £92 per room on Booking.com, while flights to Paris cost from £15 return next year.

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Venice, Italy

For a unique city break, Venice is your best bet. The ‘sinking city’ features no conventional roads.

To get around, you can opt for the popular gondola, or explore the city in the traditional water bus, the Vaporetto.

If you like architecture, Ca’ d’Oro is a must see thanks to its Venetian Gothic influence.

While you stroll around the local shops and museums, you can grab a bite and enjoy some of the best Italian cuisine.

Hotel-only deals to Venice are available from £68 per room on Booking.com, while flights to Venice cost from £25 return next year.

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For a beach holiday instead, we found cheap 2-week all-inclusive beach holidays over New Year fom £567pp, including flights.

You could even start planning your 2024 holidays, as TUI launched 2024 breaks from £299pp with free child places and £0 deposits.

Alternatively, for a staycation, Premier Inn has Christmas breaks in popular UK shopping destinations from £10.50pp.

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