Travellers ranked these European cities as hot favourites for city breaks, offering rich culture, outstanding food and diverse experiences.
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Europe offers some of the most diverse and historically rich city breaks in the world, from idyllic beach spots, to culture getaways and sophisticated capitals.
Consumer champion Which? conducted a survey across more than 1,676 of its members in April and May this year to find what they thought were the best European city breaks. Travellers needed to have visited a European city for leisure in the last 12 months and have stayed at least one night for their responses to be considered in the survey.
Destinations were ranked based on seven factors. This includes accommodation, food and drink, shopping, cultural sights, ease of getting around, value for money and lack of crowds.
A final traveller score was then calculated based on how likely they were to recommend the city and overall satisfaction.
These were the European cities that came out on top of the ranking.
Krakow claims top spot as the best city break
Krakow, Poland, took the top spot for the fifth time in the Which? annual survey, which featured almost 40 destinations, with an impressive 92 per cent overall score.
The city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, was rated the full five out of five stars for accommodation, food and drink and ease of getting around. It was also the only city in the survey rated five stars for value for money.
It also received four stars for its cultural attractions, which include potential day trips to historical locations such as the Wieliczka Salt Mine, another UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as Schindler’s Factory and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum.
“Beautiful, mainly unspoilt city. Superb food at a fair price. I’ve stayed many times and there are lots of good value hotels. Friendly and pretty safe,” one visitor said in the survey.
Wander around the medieval Main Market Square (Rynek Główny), or head to the Wawel Royal Castle and Cathedral for a beautiful dose of history. Visit the unique Kazimierz (Jewish Quarter) and tuck into traditional Polish cuisine like zurek, a sour rye soup and obwarzakek krakowski, a braided ring-shaped bread, before enjoying a stroll in Planty Park.
According to travel search website Kayak, a hotel in Krakow will set you back an average of €99 per night.
Venice misses out due to crowds and costs
Venice came in second place in the survey, with an overall score of 90 per cent, receiving five stars for cultural sights and attractions, as well as for accommodation. This was despite increasing concerns of overtourism, with tourists still willing to visit the beloved Italian city.
However, Venice was rated two stars for value for money and only one star for crowds.
Visit the iconic Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica) and Doge’s Palace, or head over to Rialto Bridge for stunning views of the Grand Canal. Travellers can also take a gondola ride on the Grand Canal for a more immersive city experience, before heading to Piazza San Marco for some relaxing people-watching.
Indulge in classic Venetian food like bigoli in salsa (pasta with anchovies), fritto misto (fried seafood) and sarde in saor (sweet and sour sardines).
“It is just an incredible place to visit. There is nothing like it on earth, so romantic and historic,” one survey respondent said.
One night in a hotel in Venice will cost you an average of €153.
Valencia emerges as an alternative to overcrowded cities
In joint third place was Valencia, with an overall score of 89 per cent in the Which? survey. The vibrant Spanish city is fast emerging as a viable alternative to other cities overwhelmed with tourists, such as Barcelona and Madrid.
With an outstanding food scene, Valencia boasts a number of Michelin-starred restaurants, along with paella specialists for a more casual vibe.
The city scored five stars for food and drink in the survey, with four stars for ease of getting around. It tied with Malaga as the joint-best value for money city in Spain.
Visit the City of Arts and Sciences, which includes a science museum, opera house and aquarium or stroll through the Jardines del Turia, created in the old Turia River riverbed. Head to the historic Valencia Cathedral, or La Marina and the Urban beaches to relax with a cocktail near the sea.
Don’t forget to try the iconic paella valenciana, made with rice, rabbit, chicken, beans, seafood and more, and esgarraet, made with cod, roasted peppers and olive oil.
“Valencia has it all. Medieval centre with associated architecture, narrow streets and old markets,” one traveller said in the survey.
The average hotel night costs €122.3 in Valencia.
Vienna described as ‘Disneyland for adults’
Vienna, also in third place, received an overall score of 89 per cent in the survey. Described as the “Disneyland for adults” by one traveller, the city received five stars for food and drink, ease of getting around, tourist attractions and cultural sights.
Visit the St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Hofburg Palace or head to the Prater amusement park for a fun day out, including a ride on the giant Ferris wheel, the Wiener Riesenrad. Enjoy a free opera in the evening on the Staatsoper’s outdoor big screen or soak in its art at the city’s many galleries.
Travellers can also head to Hundertwasser House for some unconventional architecture, or enjoy a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through Vienna.
Try the famous wiener schnitzel, a signature Viennese dish, as well as tafelspitz, a traditional boiled beef dish, or sachertorte, a rich chocolate cake with a layer of apricot jam.
However, it only scored three stars for value for money, with one night in Vienna costing arout €120 on average.
Istanbul enters the top five for the first time
Istanbul, a new entrant in the top five of the survey, took fifth place, with an overall score of 88 per cent. The city, positioned at the intersection of Asia and Europe across the Bosphorus Strait, received a full five stars for cultural sights and food and drink, along with four stars for accommodation.
Visit the famous Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, as well as the Topkapı Palace, to learn more about the city’s rich history. Head to the Grand Bazaar for souvenirs and handicrafts, including Turkish carpets, spices and ceramics.
Travellers can take a Bosphorus cruise for a different view of the city or indulge in a traditional Turkish bath or hamman at a historic bath house.
Tuck into mouthwatering baklava, Turkish coffee, and street foods such as midye dolma (stuffed mussels).
Istanbul was described as “the most interesting place I’ve ever visited on a city break” by one traveller.
“Teeming with history, visitor attractions and great restaurants- all in a stunning location,” they said.
The city also had one of the lowest average hotel costs per night in the survey, at only €78.
