[Closed] European "city break" destinations in March

Istanbul? (not Constantinople...)

Next on my list.

Rome is stunning, I liked it a lot. I'd be nice in March too.
Munich is also bloody brilliant and surprised me a lot and I intend to take my wife there later this year. It'll be cold though!

Salzburg or Munich? Edit: Beaten to it!

Rome isn't that expensive, and is packed full of stuff to do.

Not a Paris fan, personally.

PS She'll be expecting you to propose wherever you visit.

I went to Rome with Wife a few years back and was really impressed. So many levels of history. Food and wine was okay too. Pack comfortable shoes as you will walk a lot.

Istanbul

Bruges.
Old buildings and other such sh*t, art, chocolate, chips, beer, dwarves, cocaine.

Rome and Paris are ace in their own ways, Rome edges it for me, but you'd find it hard to have a rubbish time at either.

Reykjavik is also great but in a very a different way.

Copenhagen? It's got bikes, but what else is there?

I went to Rome with Wife a few years back and was really impressed. So many levels of history. Food and wine was okay too. Pack comfortable shoes as you will walk a lot.

Walking is fine, we walked about 15 miles per day in Barcelona. Just meant we could eat more! 😀

edit: And Italy is her favourite country. And we'll have hopefully picked up a bit of the lingo in Venice.
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Last couple we've been to: Satzburg, quite small might be a bit limited for 4 days but very pretty. Quiet in the evening, to the point of being empty, but maybe it was the time of year. Krakov, really nice. So much history and interesting architecture. Obviously a bit of war stuff in the history but I actually found that quite an eye opener despite feeling reasonably knowledgeable on the subject. Great to walk around and bustling. Quite keen on Ljubljana next.

I'm going to Lille in early April with my gf. I've handily arranged it so that we can watch Paris-Roubaix on the Sunday!

I'd agree that Salzburg is quite small for four days, but one advantage is that you can take a day trip out to very pretty places like Berchtesgarden, which is only about 30mins by road.

And go on the Sound of Music tour dressed as a nun.

This is what it looked like in 2011 : https://photos.google.com/u/0/album/AF1QipOIOYKZzKpbsGXdkdFL39KWUDp2Ldv8Btd8o0dN

Hopefully you can follow the link. Google Pictures hates me and gives me great long URLS when I try to post pictures which I have to convert and I can't be arsed

I would also go for Rome, especially in March. But maybe also consider Siena or Florence as a bit more manageable for a short break.

Just back from Budapest. Not the poshest place, but I thought it was a nice city to spend some time in. The thermal baths are amazing, and well worth a visit. Lots of restaurants and bars all over the place. Lots of interesting history. Plenty of easy tourist sites to visit. Really cheap as well.

I spent a few days in Parma last year. Really enjoyed it there, not too touristy, probably the best restaurants of any city I have been to. Not too far to get to Ferrari for a look around their museum. Only downside is no direct flight, so it involves a train from Bologna.

I was also in Vienna earlier this year. If she likes Gaudi and Picasso, then the work of Hundertwasser is of a similar vein. Personally I wasn't that taken with Vienna as a holiday city. Maybe fine to work there but I wasn't inspired to go back in my own time.

+1 for Rome.

If you do a city break, search for 'free walking tours'. Have done them in Venice and Rome. You have a local take you around, show you the hidden sights, and also shows you some of the best places to eat.

You pay what you think the tour is worth at the end, usually everyone gives 20 euros.

We found an all you can eat buffet in Venice, tucked away. 10 euros for the two of us along with a glass of local red each! bargain.

+1 for Florence. In March, provided you are before Easter, the crowds won't have arrived. So much to see, both inside and out.

Coffee is good in Rome too

Lucca is a fantastic base, then spend the days in Florence (1 hour train) Empoli, Siena etc.

Lucca is more low key but so much nicer to stay in, lovely food and great local wines.

Valetta. Plenty of history , weather should be good ,nice food and you don't get hassled by people trying to flog you crap like you do in Rome.

Berlin.

I love Berlin. Good food, good beer, stunning architecture, nice people.

I am just back from Malta and it was brilliant. Loads of history, beautiful architecture, if you like boats you will go crazy.

Only 3 hours on the plane from London.

It is reasonably cheap, good food, friendly people and English widely spoken. Highly recommend it, in fact I can suggest a nice place to stay, we were in the Sliema district and had a brilliant sea view across to the Valetta (the gorgeous old walled town).

It reminded me of Italy but without all the rudeness and arrogance.

Have a look at Zagreb.

Ljubliana is nice. Old style bits combined with soviet concrete.

We did Berlin last year for my wife's big birthday, was really good but quite expensive as we did just about everything you could in 5 days!

In March Rome for sure.Save the Berlin's and Amsterdam's for a warmer time of year. Salzburg is indeed beautiful but again I'd rather go in summer. Prague suits cold weather though if you fancy that.

Top tip for Rome. If you want to cross the road without getting killed by the mental Italian drivers then wait for a nun and slipstream her across the road.

There are nuns along every 30 seconds and they're the only people the Romans will brake for.

Other than that Rome is totally worth it. Take comfy shoes.

I love Rome and have visited many times - you will have a good time there. However Lisbon would be as high on my list for a march visit. I was there 3 times last year and it didn't disappoint any time.

Munich with a day trip to Salzburg (did this just before xmas). [url= http://www.bahn.com/i/view/USA/en/prices/germany-regional/bavaria-ticket.shtml ]Bavaria ticket[/url] gets the two of you there and back for just 28e.

[quote=bails spake unto the masses, saying]

I've heard Paris is overrated, is it?

Nope.

and Rome is expensive, but worth it?

Copenhagen? It's got bikes, but what else is there?

Stacks to see and do, as per previous topics, but still a bit nasty weather.

[quote=FuzzyWuzzy spake unto the masses, saying]Copenhagen? It's got bikes, but what else is there?
Noma - if you have deep pockets

If you haven't, and/or you prefer beer and meat to a bit of seaweed and a live ant, then Warpigs is the place to go.
http://warpigs.dk/

Rome. Always Rome. It's eternal, apparently.

Nobody mentioned Birmingham?

Nobody mentioned Birmingham?

Sod it, I'll play. The OP said he was after "beer, red wine, good food and wandering round seeing the sights."
Beer - Loads of great pubs and 1 bar that has over 400 beers available.
Red wine - Great bars, serving some brilliant wine. There's also a truly brilliant wine merchant that has some serious wine to taste.
Food - 4 Michelin stars and a wonderful selection of other options from great burgers to sushi to whatever else you fancy
Sights - Hell yes, great art, old building, modern stuff, all catered for.

So yes, as Binners says, Brum, it's the way forward.

Nice cities what I have been to-

Lisbon (similar to Barcelona)
Bratislava (different but also really good fun, and very cheap- you'd think it'd be a bit naff but it was a highlight of our trip)
Paris
Geneva

Not nice cities what I have been to-

Munich (people are rude, it's grey and not especially interesting)
Vienna (perhaps the worst European city I've been to. Rude people, dirty, expensive. Some people love it but about as many hate it. The only place we've left early on a holiday).
Dublin
Bordeaux

Nobody mentioned Birmingham?

I've been to most of the places recommended so far and a lot more besides through work and to this day the place that exceeded expectations above all others was actually Birmingham. It did have the advantage of starting from a very low expectation however. 🙂

Gothenburg, exceptional beers. Loved it.
Porto, exceptional wines. Loved it.
Bergan, rainy. Haven't been yet but expect I'll love it when I eventually do.

NOT Naples. Just don't OK?

Porto, exceptional wines. Loved it

And my favourite bridge 🙂

Birmingham

Rome is looking like the winner, although good call on Porto, not thought of that.

Thanks everyone!

San Sebastian.
Bilbao.
Valencia.
Toulouse.
Bordeaux.

If you liked the arty bits of barca then Madrid is worth a look - reine Sofia museum for lots of modern stuff, then plenty of Goya for your fix of more classical stuff. Bilbao is great for the guggenheim and a nice callatrava bridge, but otherwise is a bit crap.

Bergan, rainy. Haven't been yet but expect I'll love it when I eventually do.

Lovely little town. But not in March b

If you liked the arty bits of barca then Madrid is worth a look - reine Sofia museum for lots of modern stuff, then plenty of Goya for your fix of more classical stuff. Bilbao is great for the guggenheim and a nice callatrava bridge, but otherwise is a bit crap.

I'd recommend Malaga actually. Spent 5 days there after a mates wedding this summer. Great Picasso museum, obviously 😀

How about Seville or Granada? I agree with Not Naples.

Go east young man
Prague
Krakow
St petersberg

All cold though....

Verona with a trip to Mantua by train.

Prague. Cheap food and beer, loads of things to see, fascinating history.we went last Easter, and realised we had really screwed up because the Jewish museum was shut for Passover. Otherwise awesome.

Florence, went with the missus and my parents last year. It gets a bit busy but its a stunning city to wander around, tons of art and museums, the foods amazing etc etc. And I believe there is some top notch road riding in the hills.

If you go sleazy jet i think they fly into Pisa so could maybe combine a day to see the tower then 3 days in Florence.

I'd recommend Malaga actually. Spent 5 days there after a mates wedding this summer. Great Picasso museum, obviously

This

I was surprised by Malaga (The actual city, not the place drunken Brits think is called Malaga that they never even go near)

Very nice little city with a fair bit to see.

So, where's good for about 4 days in Europe?

Unless you posted your OP from North America, or somewhere else that isn't Europe, you already are in Europe. I assume you mean the Continent.

Now that that's out of the way, I really think it's helpful to determine if your and partner's interest's are more northern European or southern, in the sense that visiting a city south of the mountains (Lisbon/Barcelona/Malaga/Rome) is going to give you a different experience to one to the north (Bruges/Paris/Berlin/Copenhagen/Prague). And not just because of temperature.

In any case, my vote would be for Berlin. It's fantastic: vibrant, historic, modern, full of beer, sausages, schnitzel, museums...

If you liked the arty bits of barca then Madrid is worth a look - reine Sofia museum for lots of modern stuff, then plenty of Goya for your fix of more classical stuff. Bilbao is great for the guggenheim and a nice callatrava bridge, but otherwise is a bit crap.

Madrid will be cold in March. Bilbao will probably be raining. Same with Porto. All great places to visit (and I live in Madrid), but not in March. I'd probably go for Malaga, Seville or Cordoba if travelling to the Iberian peninsular.

Rome isn't that expensive if you avoid the tourist hot spots. I went a few years back. Wasn't really sure that it would be for me, but I loved it.

If you go, book things like the Vatican Museum and Colosseum in advance. Particularly the Vatican Museum (and it's really worth going) as you'll be able to walk straight past the queue of people that didn't.