Once Christmas and New Year are behind us it is only natural to feel a touch of the January blues. The nights are long, the days are cold and grey and the summer holiday seems a very long way away. A change of scenery could be just the ticket for beating those winter blues. There are usually hundreds of incredibly cheap flights to cities in Europe if you search the web, and a weekend break will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to face the rest of winter.
Paris
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The capital city of romance is beautiful in the late winter and early spring-time, and what better time to visit than Valentine’s weekend? Take a stroll hand in hand down the Champs Élysée, enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city at night from the top of the EiffelTower followed by dinner in the thriving Latin Quarter. Then spend a day wandering the hallowed halls of the Louvre, taking in some of the most famous pieces of artwork of the past thousand years and finish with a dinner cruise on the Seine.
Venice
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With palazzos, piazzas and basilicas at every corner Venice is a city steeped in history and the beautiful architecture tells a thousand stories. Of course no trip to Venice would be complete without a gondola ride down the Grand Canal, the busy main thoroughfare of the city on water. The Piazza san Marco is the main public square and is certainly worth a look, although you would be well advised to eat elsewhere as tourist prices are in full force around the central area.
Barcelona
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If a touch of winter sunshine is more your cup of tea then Barcelona starts to heat up around the beginning of February. The fairytale architecture of Gaudí is definitely worth a viewing, especially the impressive Sagrada Familia. Las Ramblas is one of the most famous boulevards in the world and at all times of year is swarming with street performers, market traders and artists.
Prague
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The Czech capital is famous for many things, not least of which is the range of beers on offer. Pilsner Urquell, Gambrinus and Kozel’s Medium are among the most popular and all are widely available. For sightseeing, check out the Astronomical Clock and the museum of Kafka, both off the Old Town Square (Starom?stské nám?stí), then soak up some history with a walking tour of the old Jewish Quarter.
Amsterdam
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If what you are after is more of a party atmosphere then Amsterdam is the city for you. The city has hundreds of hotel beds on offer ranging from budget rooms to five star palace-like affairs. The infamous red light district is always worth checking out, after a stop off in one of the coffee houses of course! After, take a wander down the Damrak to the town centre where there are numerous bars, restaurants and nightclubs waiting for you.
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