Picture the summer holidays, and it’s likely gold, sandy beaches and calm blue waters spring to mind. However, it seems that as temperatures soar, city breaks are becoming a summer go-to, for adventure and, dare we say it, air-con.
According to data collected by online booking agent Thomas Cook, these are the destinations getting the most city bookings, and the top contenders are a little surprising.
Coming in first? That’d be Poland, where 17 percent of bookings were made. The capital city, Krakow, with varieties of Romanesque, Modernist and Gothic architecture, its UNESCO-listed Old Town and historical significance during WWII, offers all the things a good city should, while remaining charmingly down-to-earth.
To get your summertime waterside fix, wander along the Vistula River where you’ll find Wawel Castle (which once housed Polish royals) and has now been transformed into one of Poland’s top art museums. After the riverwalk, stay cool indoors with a visit the Museum of Contemporary Art, Krakow (MOCAK), which is home to work by talented Polish and international artists. For a lesson on Krakow’s history, History buffs can visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, as well as the Rynek Underground museum beneath the Main Market Square (Europe’s largest medieval square), for a lesson on Krakow’s history.
Hungary comes at a close second with 13 percent, with cities like Budapest blooming with contemporary hotels, rooftop bars and thermal baths that make the perfect alternative to beachy breaks. And the city has no shortage in culture either: Budapest boasts a shedload of museums that range from art and photography, to history and horror.
The most predictable on the list might be Italy, ranking in third place with 11 percent. When it comes to cities in this ever-popular summer destination, travellers can take their pick. Feel the ancient history of gladiators course through the Colosseum in Rome, feast in the best restaurants in Florence or float along the Venetian Lagoon waters in Venice.
Here’s Thomas Cook’s full list of Europe’s top city break destinations.
These are the most popular destinations for summer holidays, according to Thomas Cook
- Poland
- Hungary
- Italy
- Spain
- Ireland
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