Where to go on city break?

Optimist

Hi all!

Am planning on going on a city break for 4 nights near the end of March with my mam and sister!
I've looked at a few places but want some advice. Would like somewhere that is about a 2 hr flight. Shopping and nightlife is important.
Have checked out Barcelona, Madrid, Vienna, Copenhagen and Prague. Any suggestions anyone?

Thanks a mil,

L.

Pascal14

Two words:

The Dam.

Optimist

Was just looking at it there!!!
Is there a lot to do there though?

Savman

Optimist wrote:

with my mam and sister

Pascal14 wrote: »

Two words:

The Dam.

:eek:

Countryripple

Dont go to Amsterdam unless you want to be surrounded by Brittish and Irish stag do's falling around the place!! Id reckon on Barcelona. Been there twice. Its great for shopping and siteseeing.

Pascal14

Countryripple wrote: »

Dont go to Amsterdam unless you want to be surrounded by Brittish and Irish stag do's falling around the place!! Id reckon on Barcelona. Been there twice. Its great for shopping and siteseeing.

Been there once got robbed, the place is a mecca of criminals.

watna

Was just in Prague. It's absolutely beautiful. Lovely restaurants and lots of shops. I'd imagine that's what you'd want if you're going with your mam and sister. It's not as cheap as you'd think though!

We went from a sat to a tues and stayed in a nice hotel that was really central. It's called Hotel Salvator. It was €207 for the two of us for three nights which is pretty good. We were within walking distance of Prague castle, Charles Bridge and the old town. We were also near a huge fancy shopping centre that was nicer than Dundrum.

Prague is very touristy but well worth a visit. Me and my OH are real sightseeres (walk around a lot looking at things and taking pictures!). Prague was perfect for this, it's so pretty and every building in the centre had little statues to look at. Had a great weekend. Fully reccommend it!

EDIT: I also love Salzburg which is also beautiful. Very quiet at night though!

Aura

Berlin, Budapest, Krakow, Prague.

Berlin really does rock!

Popsicle

Having been to Copenhagen, I wouldn't rave about it that much. Its expensive for starters!! Not to be visited in January due to the extreme cold!!!
Barcelona and Madrid I have been to numerous times and wouldn't hesitate to retun to either at the drop of a hat. Barcelona is great for shopping,there is plently to keep you there for 4 nights and the night-life is great!! A trip to Park Guell is an afternoon in itself, have lunch down by the beach one of the days. Infact you could spend a week there!

Lisbon is also a fantastic place to spend a few days - absolutely lots to do and see there. Another recommendation is Bilbao - smaller city though and maybe not enough for 4 nights but still worth a visit!!

Ouijaboard

Berlin definitely, extremely safe and has everything you require, try to stay in mitte area, great nightlife. Your mum and sis will love shopping in Kudam, dozens of museums and virtually every street corner is a place of historical interest. Great walking city. Will suit everybody

Miss Fluff

Amsterdam is good for shopping.

Featherl

Edinburgh- 3 days is enough!

BillyoftheBeast

Norwich, lovely city centre (recently pedestrianised) and nice surrounding countryside with bird sanctuaries etc.

Pinkchick03

I would recommend Barcelona, Prague or Budapest.

But if I had to recommend only one I'd recommend Barcelona. I was there in March 2 years ago and it was lovely. Loads of shopping, no shortage of things to do or see. Definitely do the Bus tour "Bus Touristique" and "La Ramblas" street is a must. I stayed on La Ramblas and I would recommend my hotel in a heartbeat.... I've to double check the name.... so will edit my post in a few minutes...

I went to Barcelona in 2006 and stayed in this hotel: http://www.hlloret.com/
It was basic but cheap accomodation, breakfast wasn't included, but its easy to find breakfast nearby. It's on La Rambla which is the main street.
When are you going? I loved Barcelona!

Make sure you go to La Rambla- it is really good - people dressed up as statues etc.
If you get the metro get a 10 trip ticket - it works out really cheap.
Placa de Catyluna is the where you get the Bus from - Bus Touristique it is called.
There are 3 lines of the Bus Tour, Blue, Red and one other colour I can't remember
The hot spots are Park Guell (well worth a visit), Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Cathedral and so much more.
You should try to see the Metro - it is really cool - white on the outside and black interior.
You can get a cable car trip over the city from the Port.
There is a strip of disco bars if you get the Metro to Port D'Olympic - really worth going to at night time.

Sundy

Whats nightlife like in Berlin?

Optimist

Thanks Pinkchick...Barc was actually my first choice but flight and acc were very pricey whereas for Prague the flights are expensive but a 4* apartment isn't.
Were u ever in Prague?

DublinWriter

London. Great shopping, great nightlife and tons of things to do.

Jurys in Kensington normally put on a few weekend break offers this time of year.

Pinkchick03

Optimist wrote: »

Thanks Pinkchick...Barc was actually my first choice but flight and acc were very pricey whereas for Prague the flights are expensive but a 4* apartment isn't.
Were u ever in Prague?

Yea I was in Prague and I would definitely recommend it. My friend and I got a great deal on a hotel because it was undergoing redecoration. It was right in the middle of Prague on the corner of 2 pedestrian streets. It was really cheap then, not sure about now. But maybe take a look - it was called Joe Hotel, but I think the new name is Floor hotel. If you want to ask me any questions about Prague let me know, I can recommend some places to go

In fact now that I mention it my friend and I wrote a review about it : http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g274707-d559545-r4023543-Floor_Hotel-Prague_Bohemia.html
We have a lot of information about the hotel and Prague in our review! Enjoy!

Let us know what you decide to do

Tabnabs

DublinWriter wrote: »

London. Great shopping, great nightlife and tons of things to do.

Jurys in Kensington normally put on a few weekend break offers this time of year.

+1 for London, recently spent a long weekend there and we had a great time and saw only a small amount of what we wanted to see. Not cheap as it's a capital city, but we'll definitely go back soon. Fly cityjet, it makes a huge difference.

SarahSassy

Pascal14 wrote: »

Been there once got robbed, the place is a mecca of criminals.

Not its not...

OP, try Valencia. Its a lovely city, you fly into the main city airport with Ryanair. The Americas Cup yacht racing was there last year so there is a whole new port built, plenty of restaurants and great shopping. Its the 3rd biggest city in Spain but doesnt feel like that. Lots to see and not many tourists... Good value and nice weather too.

SarahSassy

Miss Fluff wrote: »

Amsterdam is good for shopping.

I agree but have been there a few times and find it getting increasingly scummy and rough. I wouldnt bring Mammy Sassy there .....