Recommend a 4-night European break in Spring

JohnCleary

Hi all,
Sometime in Spring (end March - mid April), the GF and I hop off to a European destination. We just can't decide where to go this year.

We are both 30. During the day we love sight-seeing and at night like to party a little... so we're a mixed bunch really!

Here where we've been so far, and what we liked:
Berlin - History / Places to see during the day. Serious craic at night. The GF hasn't been there before so would consider a return, but I was there only in October.

Krakow - Same as above... loads to see and good party atmosphere at night. Again the GF hasn't been there so would consider, but I was there only last year.

Lisbon - Walking about the city, and just finding random little spots to eat and drink wine, cobbled streets to walk about. Great nightlife. Short train side to sea-side to just relax at.

Barcelona - Again, the GF never been there but I was there last year.

Budapest - Same as others above, both been there before though, so not sure if we'd return.


We were thinking Rome, but wondering is 4 nights enough?

We want to find direct flights, and would like to have to travel no more than 90 mins from airport to destination.

We want to be somewhere that'll be warmer than Ireland, sun is a huge bonus! Doesn't need to be too warm, but would be nice to wander in a t-shirt during the day.

We're just back from a month in SE Asia, so we do need to be budget conscious. Ideally accom. no more than €100 per night. We love private rooms in hostels for the atmosphere, but as happy in a cosy hotel also.

Apart from Rome, wondering about Croatia? Direct flights an option in Spring?


Not asking for much, right?

odyssey06

Nice would tick a lot of those boxes, but even in the south of France you'd be optimistic to be wearing just a T-shirt in mid April.

mel.b

What about Madrid? I went at easter a few years ago and it was lovely and warm with a great vibe around the city, plenty of sightseeing and day trips that can be done.

JohnCleary

odyssey06 wrote: »

Nice would tick a lot of those boxes, but even in the south of France you'd be optimistic to be wearing just a T-shirt in mid April.

Forgot that i've already been to Nice, although didn't see it extensively (was just killing time before heading to Antibes to spend a week on a boat)

mel.b wrote: »

What about Madrid? I went at easter a few years ago and it was lovely and warm with a great vibe around the city, plenty of sightseeing and day trips that can be done.

Excellent - will add this to the list

thegills

Vienna and Bratislava perhaps. Only 1 hour apart by train. Vienna pricey but Bratislava the opposite.

Caranica

mel.b wrote: »

What about Madrid? I went at easter a few years ago and it was lovely and warm with a great vibe around the city, plenty of sightseeing and day trips that can be done.

I was there this time last year and we sat outside bars in tshirts in January! We stayed in one of the Eurostar hotels, 4* for about €80 a night and really central. Great sights, bars and restaurants within minutes walk too. Really loved it

JohnCleary

Caranica wrote: »

I was there this time last year and we sat outside bars in tshirts in January! We stayed in one of the Eurostar hotels, 4* for about €80 a night and really central. Great sights, bars and restaurants within minutes walk too. Really loved it

Sounds like Madrid could be a potential, so. Flights currently about €190 return before adding Row 1 seats.

munchkin_utd

thegills wrote: »

Vienna and Bratislava perhaps. Only 1 hour apart by train. Vienna pricey but Bratislava the opposite.

Vienna isn't bad, cheaper than Ireland for accommodation and food and drink, ubahn is a euro per journey or something small, so not sure what you were paying for that was so dear!

For cheap flights, now that Ryanair is on the scene and theres up to 6 flights each way per day, have a look at Munich too. The weather can go either way, but being 1000km inland its normally much more settled than Ireland so even if its 15degrees and sunny its still more pleasant than Ireland with 10 degrees and slanty rain driven into your face by a gale force wind.

JohnCleary

munchkin_utd wrote: »

For cheap flights, now that Ryanair is on the scene and theres up to 6 flights each way per day, have a look at Munich too. The weather can go either way, but being 1000km inland its normally much more settled than Ireland so even if its 15degrees and sunny its still more pleasant than Ireland with 10 degrees and slanty rain driven into your face by a gale force wind.

Forgot that i've already been to Munich

While I really liked the place, not sure i'd be in a rush to return. Granted, we were on a stag so lots of beer, but we saw the place extensively. I'm not sure the GF would be too impressed with the place.

We were looking at accom. in Barcelona and for €100 per night, you're not getting much (basic hotels) - I know they're having a tourism crisis at the moment but it just doesn't feel like value for money.

We also looked at Rome but i'm not sure I want a 'hustle and bustle' holiday - I know there's lots to see, but regardless of time of year, the place sounds like it would be packed. We're more interested in a lazy, relaxed holiday where we wander around a historic, cobbled-lined city / town, drinking wine and eating tapas with a nice view, given that we're just back from Thailand / Vietnam.

The more I think about it, Lisbon was probably my favourite out of all the places we've been. Cheap accom, cheap wine and food, amazing place to just 'hang out' and people watch, or walk to the top of a hill and look out over the bay. :oWe could also spend a day visiting Sintra as we didn't visit last time. Spent a day in Cascais which was a wonderful chill-out place (would happily spend another day there again). I just fear that it wouldn't be the same on the 2nd visit.

Deep down I feel like we'd like to be somewhere coastal. We love the ocean / water in general. Not for swimming that time of year, but just to be near. Lisbon really ticked all the boxes. Maybe it's time to Google 'Alternatives to Lisbon' :pac:

munchkin_utd

(on my honeymoon) I was in Malta in early April and found it to be a perfect temperature and very very chilled. We stayed in the hilton which is admittedly not the cheapest (not all that dear out of season at the same time) .
Ive a work colleague who stayed at the SAS down the road which is cheaper, and found it to be grand, but theres heaps of hotels there which will be half empty and offering deals at that time of the year if you look around.

For the party bit, theres Paceville which is full of bars, restaurants and clubs, but once you arent right in the middle of it you wouldnt know its there

Rumpy Pumpy

San Sebastián is a lovely place to spend a few days. Mainly known as a foodie destination, but plenty to see and do.

missmatty

Santiago de Compostela is lovely and I enjoyed Santander as well. Plenty tapas & wine!

Porto is really pretty as well.

JohnCleary

We caved and booked flights back to Lisbon. It just ticks all the boxes and last time we didn't get a chance to visit Sintra so that will be something new.

Thanks for your suggestions - I have made a note of them for future breaks

nailer54321

Wouls second Nice, love the place, plenty of sight seeing to do, foodis lovely beaches very clean.