Best value city break?

Voyager2002

Another vote for Bergamo: a perfect Italian hill city, just the right size for a weekend break.


I found plenty to like in Milan, but perhaps it requires more time and energy than you have available (it also has quite a lot that is not so pleasant, so time is needed to get to the good bits).

shapala

Nice thread this.....and lots of good recommendations, op ;-)

I'm fortunate to have been to all the places you've asked about. I also vote for Berlin and Bologna - much preferred it to Milan or Turin (did a central and northern Italian trip few years back by bus and train and we've since returned to Bologna a few times, along with incredible Florence which must be one of the most stunning cities in the world, and the Uffizi gallery is well worth going to, along with the Duomo which you can hike up and get incredible views of the city). You can easily do all by foot if in a city central hotel. Incredible standard of food too.

Cologne is a beautiful city (esp the cathedral, and nice restuarants). Don't recommend Stuttgart or Frankfurt.

Porto is also absolutely stunning and can be done in a few days, though it's VERY hilly with some steep streets. The walk across the river bridge is fantastic, esp if weather is good (great for pics at dawn or dusk).

I know Vienna well since used to live there and it's another option, though it's not the cheapest, esp for accommodation and eating out. Fantastic city though....one of my favs!

If after something cheaper, then Bratislava, Budapest, Warsaw, Tallinn, Riga or Gdansk....again, cities that can be seen and done within a few days thanks to their compactness. Budapest is quite large though, but full of incredible architecture and museums - thanks to having its own currency, it's still relatively affordable, both for accommodation and food. Would suggest you'd need atleast 4 days unlike the other cities, which can be done in 2-3 days.

Again, good standard of food and plenty of nice options for accommodation in such cities (we used AirBNB for those places. Off top of my head, don't think any place was over £40/night and some gorgeous apartments they were too!).

We just returned from a Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia trip which was great, esp Latvia where we did a few places, such as Riga. Didn't like Lithuania so much. Hope it helps and let us know what you decide to do. Enjoy your trip.