Is two nights, three days enough for a city break? Or three nights and four days preferable?

Okay okay, last question on the topic.

Just curious about others experiences and thoughts on this?

Two nights = I'll get the first evening there, then a full day, then a half day the last day before departure.

Three nights = I'll get the first evening there, then two full days, then a half day before departure.

I'm trying to envisage though, after walking about a city for a day and half, I might be glad to bounce on day three?

Conversely, I'm might be miffed I've only had one full day, where the cost of the flights would be the same, and I'd only be paying for one extra night (45 euro) in a youth hostel, plus a little extra for one additional day of incidentals, eating etc.

What are your experiences with city breaks?

Is two nights enough?

Or would you recommend three?

stargazer 68

We always try for 3 if we are going for a city break. You get 2 full days at your destination. But weigh up with the cost of a 3rd hotel night.

suvigirl

Depends on the city.

dennyk

I prefer at least three nights in a city myself, sometimes four. Two really just gives you a single full day to enjoy the place, as you're dealing with traveling and checking into your accommodations and such on the first day, and then worrying about where to store your luggage and keeping a schedule and making your flight on the third (if you can even book an afternoon flight in the first place, otherwise you're off to the airport at the crack of dawn).

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122369325#Comment_122369325

A popular European destination.

What impact would that have?

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122369331#Comment_122369331

What impact would the destination have on how long you stay for? I would have thought that obvious!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122369326#Comment_122369326

You don't find yourself getting a little fatigued of all the walking and sight seeing by day three?

Other thing is I'm just taking one single light bag (that I can store under the seat in front of me on the plane).

So just the bare essentials, won't have too much in the way of luggage.

delboy85

It really depends on the city you are going to and how big it is and how much there is to do and see there.

When I was younger I always went for three nights on a city break.

But in recent years I've done some two night city breaks and really enjoyed them. But you do have to plan more carefully in order to make the best of your time.

Murt10

A couple of years ago I stayed an extra night (Sunday) in London.

Biggest travel mistake I ever made. Hotel was quite expensive, but the whole of the West End closes down on Sunday. It was like a morgue.

monkeybutter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058359250/is-two-nights-three-days-enough-for-a-city-break-or-three-nights-and-four-days-preferable

Have you gone on a holiday before

Purple Mountain

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122369335#Comment_122369335

Absolutely! I was in Helsinki for 3 nights before and 1 night with 2 full days would have been enough as the city is quite compact.

So yea it really depends on the city.

monkeybutter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122374008#Comment_122374008

Is that Helsinki Sweden?

In fairness the top tourist thing to do there is the ferry to talin

delboy85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122374008#Comment_122374008

Helsinki is my least favourite city that I have ever visited.

apache

Are you going by yourself? Two nights might be enough.

A City rising

3 nights for me personally depending on how far it is away

A City rising

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122374028#Comment_122374028

Helsinki is in Finland.

monkeybutter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122374153#Comment_122374153

It's a running joke

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122374129#Comment_122374129

Well don't go to Stockholm or Oslo! tbf, they are all nice cities, just quite boring. And I love Finland

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122369331#Comment_122369331

Well I'd plan to stay a bit longer if flying to Paris than driving down the road to Limerick

callaway92

Your last 4 threads are about flights/holidays all in the space of a week.

Like a lot of your other threads, this is down to personal preference

Rome you might want 3 nights. Tallinn maybe just 2 nights, Helsinki 1 night, Munich 3 nights etc.

Just make your decision on something

If you want to sample food, the nightlife, the full extent of a city and its outskirts, its lifestyle on a weekday compared to a weekend, then weigh it up with the costs and make your choice

Is this the first time you’re going away? (Just judging by the threads you’ve created). Exciting if so, but don’t cut yourself short is my opinion.

Brian?

3 nights is always bette in my opinion.

But 2 nights can be fine if you fly very early the first day and late the last day. Otherwise you’re only really getting one day. The only city I can think of I’d be done with after one day is Brugge.

3 nights is actually too short for Paris, London, Barcelona, Berlin or Rome. Probably more cities I can’t think of right now.

3 nights is perfect for Prague, Budapest, Amsterdam etc.

Some good responses.

Maybe the typical style of city break differs from mine but, I'll be looking primarily to eat some street food, stroll around, wear my gym vest, flex, terrorize some chicks (which I'm quite adept at) etc.

I certainly won't be attending any museums.

First holiday?

Nah I've been some places before, I've actually travelled a lot, but typically I go somewhere I live there for a year, which I guess isn't really a holiday.

In fact I'm just going back to a city I used to live in, where I spent most of my time getting pumped, wearing my gym vest, flexing, terrorizing chicks etc.

I'd arrive at about 6 pm the first day (for a two night stay), so I'd have that night.

Then the full next day.

Then depart at 6 pm the last day (so I'd be leaving the city about 3 pm). I'd basically have that morning.

Maybe that will be enough?

Conversely I could have two full days with much the same schedule, but maybe that would be enough?

Who knows, might be a case of "try it and find out". It's super budget anyways. Flights and accommodation come in at less that 150 for the two nights.

suvigirl

I cannot imagine visiting a city I used to live in and not have any idea of how long I would like to stay.

Although I would imagine after one night 'terrorising chicks ' You may have to leave.

callaway92

A) You used to live there and yet you’re asking others how long to stay there?

B) Will you name the **** city?

Are you taking the mick here?

Hamachi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122374613#Comment_122374613

I’d suggest asking on Instagram. Your audience here is primarily sedate, middle aged people who wouldn’t exactly be hitting the nightlife hard. Enjoy your trip. Sounds like a blast 😊

Purple Mountain

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122374028#Comment_122374028

Yeah I wanted to but the person I was travelling with wasn't up for that because she'd already had a full few days before I met her in Helsinki.

delboy85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122374392#Comment_122374392

I've been to Stockholm and absolutely loved it. I just found Helsinki really dull (although in fairness it was freezing cold and the weather was awful for the entire weekend). It's probably a nicer place to visit in summer.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122375434#Comment_122375434

Instagram?

Whom would I ask there?

I can say where I'm going is by far the best city for that lifestyle.

delboy85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122376507#Comment_122376507

Why won't you tell us where you're travelling to? Is it a state secret? Jesus, the D-Day landings were shrouded in less mystery!

tayto lover

I usually take City Breaks for 4/5 nights. Research what you want to see and plan accordingly. A city bus tour is always well worth it for the first or second day to get to know what to visit on a follow-up.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122377076#Comment_122377076

Sure he used to live there! Why he would need input from anyone else is a mystery..........

Cork Lass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122374613#Comment_122374613

Are you even old enough to travel unaccompanied?

Trampas

Depends on the type of person you are also. Are you relaxing and see what you see or rushing around trying to get everything in. Will you be returning in the future or not. Do you like flying stops or taking things in

miamee

If you are only there to flex your muscles and eat street food, I'm sure 2 nights is more than enough. If you used to live there, will you be meeting up with old friends/connections? Their availability might dictate whether to stay an extra night or not.

Ohmeha

From experience I think any major/large European city you need a minimum of 3 nights to have a trip that you can properly experience without feeling like it is a frantic in/out type of trip. Definitely 3 nights for the likes of London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona

The likes of Amsterdam and Lisbon if you plan your itinerary really well you could possibly see enough in 2 nights

The only major cities I recall spending 2 nights which I felt was adequate time was Milan and Brussels, both city centres are compact walkable with accessible public transport if you needed it. Even with 2 nights in Brussels on the final day with a late flight home I had enough time to take a one hour train journey each way to spend 3-4 hours in Bruges

realdanbreen

Was in Barcelona recently and had a whale of a time, great craic. Now I see the locals in Barcelona and other holiday destinations are getting angry with tourists ,spraying water etc. Now while these places and the Canarries etc are nice places to visit they would want to realise what side they're bread is buttered on. If tourists stop going there it won't be long before the locals are back mending fishing nets and are reduced to pickpocketing one another for a change!

RebelButtMunch

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122373994#Comment_122373994

Interesting! It could be city dependent and of course what's wanted. I stayed in Berlin on a Sunday night and got to experience some lovely daytime beers in the open markets. Just saying that the Sunday could be good or bad, depending…

WishUWereHere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122376507#Comment_122376507

why the secrecy?
Name the city for goodness sake!!!

mickmmc

It depends on the destination.

For example, I was in Krakow in March this year for 3 nights. The Guided Tour and trip to Auschwitz took most of a day and the Salt Mines took half a day.

I enjoyed the trip but looking back on the trip I would have liked another night to explore Krakow more (4nights).

That being said, I spent 2 Nights in London last July. It did a bit of planning in advance, studied google maps and I picked 3 attractions: Natural History Museum, British National Gallery and Kensington Palace. I arrived early Friday morning and left London on Sunday at 6pm (in effect 3 days). No pressure but a relaxed trip. I really enjoyed that trip even though the trip was short.

I was in Costa Brava and Barcelona for 7 nights in June ( 3 days in Barcelona City). There is so much to see in Barcelona I will go back and spend another 7 nights in Costa Brava and Barcelona with day trips in the next few years.