Europe is full of beautiful cities perfect for a weekend getaway, or even a week-long holiday, and one city has been crowned the best of the best. According to a study conducted by Which? Travel, Krakow has been named the best city break in Europe for the fifth year in a row.
Which?’s survey considered seven criteria, including food and drink, accommodation, cultural sights and attractions, shopping, ease of getting around, lack of crowds and value for money. An overall score was then calculated based on overall satisfaction and likeliness to recommend the city. Krakow came in at the top with an impressive score of 92%.
The city received five stars for food and drink, accommodation, and ease of getting around. It was also the only destination that received five stars for value for money, and data from Kayak reveals that, on average, accommodation in the city is just £86 a night.
Krakow also received four stars for its cultural attractions. One visitor who responded to Which?’s annual survey said: “Beautiful, mainly unspoilt city. Superb food at a fair price. I’ve stayed many times, and there are lots of good-value hotels. Friendly and pretty safe.”
Krakow is also noted for the possibility of daytrips to locations of historical significance, such as Auschwitz and the Wieliczka Salt Mine, making it a rather poignant destination.
Taking to TripAdvisor, another visitor to Krakow wrote: “We visited over Easter weekend so it was extremely busy but the atmosphere was buzzing. The markets were on, a sun was blazing and the horse and carriages were clattering around the streets.
“Whilst there the area was clean and tidy, there was no trouble at all and it was great to see people carrying their Easter baskets. The buildings and churches were beautiful and we really enjoyed the park.”
Another added: “Beautiful city what I can highly recommend as a place to discover a little Poland. Lots of attractions around and legends.”
Sharing the findings of their survey, Naomi Leach, Deputy Editor of Which? Travel said: “Whether you are looking for culture, art, history or top gastronomy, there are several European cities that deliver. Book ahead and choose to visit off season to secure the best prices.
“British holidaymakers who look beyond the most famous destinations, can find great value for money in foodie escapes, such as Krakow and Valencia. Despite the crowds, classic city breaks Venice and Vienna scored highly with visitors due to their unparalleled cultural attractions.”
Europe’s five best city breaks:
- Krakow, Poland
- Venice, Italy
- Valencia, Spain
- Vienna, Austria
- Istanbul, Turkey