It’s so easy to fall into a rut when it comes to holidaying. We have an idea in our mind of what our annual summer vacation is meant to be, with sandy beaches and cocktails by the poolside tending to feature high on the list. And of course, there’s nothing wrong with this at all- but if you’ve found this is all you do, year in year out then it can start to get a little boring. If you’ve never given much thought to a city break then it’s time to think again- here are some that make particularly great places to visit.
New York
New York is one of the most popular tourist cities in the world. People flock from far and wide to enjoy the incredible food, architecture, art, music and shopping. Chances are you’ll spot numerous celebrities on your trip, and the entire city is vibrant, bustling and glamorous. You could visit the Statue of Liberty, a monumental slice of America’s history. Enjoy the bright lights and shows of Times Square, or take a walk in Central Park- an oasis of green space in the middle of the busy city. Here you can picnic, ride bikes and over Christmas the ice skating rink is set up. With temperatures dropping at the end of the year, New York is especially magical around Christmas and there’s a high chance you’ll experience snow!
London
Quirky London is chock a block with trendy rooftop bars, markets, boutiques and incredible shops and restaurants. Take an open top bus tour to visit landmarks like Big Ben and the stunning parliamentary and royal buildings. You could do something a little more unusual, like go on a Jack the Ripper guided history tour, or head straight for the main attractions like the London Eye and Madame Tussauds Waxwork Museum.
Barcelona
Barcelona is steeped in history and culture; it’s full of wonderful architecture, fascinating museums and historic landmarks. While cities in general can be expensive, there are plenty of free things to do in Barcelona so it’s great if you’re on a tighter budget. One of the great things about Barcelona is that you can still visit the beach during your trip- it has been hailed one of the top ten beach cities in the world (despite the fact that they’re man made!) Barcelona is on the coast but didn’t have any beaches until 1992, the year they hosted the Olympic games.
Amsterdam
An incredibly interesting place to visit, Amsterdam is home to more canals than anywhere in the world. This makes it fantastic for river and canal cruises as a way to see, and get around the city. Amsterdam is big on cycling and so you can hire a bike when you’re there which is great for getting in some exercise as well as making it easy to get from A to B! It’s charming and easy going atmosphere makes it a hit with tourists, and attractions include the Van Gogh museum, Anne Frank’s house and and Dam Square.