Best city breaks in Europe: eight cities and where to stay

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It is Saturday morning in the Marais in Paris and the corner bakery has a queue out the door. Under the arcades of the Place des Vosges someone is playing the cello, and you have nothing planned before lunch. That is the best part of a city break: the time between the sights, when you are simply in the city.

We picked eight European cities that work well for a long weekend, with enough to fill three or four days. For each one we say what we would spend our time on, the best time of year to go and the hotel we would book. If you prefer lesser-known cities, see our guide to Europe's best second cities.

Short answer: which European cities are best for a city break?

Paris, London and Rome are the classics and reward a first visit most. Berlin and Madrid are excellent for art, food and nightlife, while Amsterdam, Prague and Istanbul pack a lot into a long weekend. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for most of them.

• Best for romance: Paris

• Best for theatre and museums: London

• Best for history: Rome

• Best for art and nightlife: Berlin

• Best for food: Madrid

Paris: the Marais and the small squares

Paris rewards walking. Spend the morning in the Marais with the Place des Vosges and the Picasso Museum, the afternoon along the Seine and the evening in Saint-Germain or around the Canal Saint-Martin.

Choose one big museum a day, the Louvre or the Musée d'Orsay, and book a time slot in advance. The rest of the day works best unplanned.

The catch: Paris is expensive, and the famous sights are busy all year. May, June and September bring the best weather and slightly shorter queues. Read our Paris guide.

Pavillon de la Reine: the courtyard behind the Place des Vosges

Pavillon de la Reine sits behind the arcades of the Place des Vosges, the city's oldest square, in an old townhouse with beamed ceilings and fireplaces in the lounges. From the courtyard with its climbing plants you cannot hear the traffic. Room sizes vary a lot, so ask for one facing the courtyard if you want quiet.

Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Pavillon de la Reine

London: the Thames, theatre and free museums

London has some of the world's best museums, and many are free, including the British Museum, the National Gallery and Tate Modern. Use your days for museums and markets and your evenings for theatre in the West End.

Walk the South Bank from Westminster to Tower Bridge, eat at Borough Market and take a boat on the Thames when your feet need a rest.

The catch: London is expensive, especially for hotels. Staying central saves you a lot of time in return. Read our London guide.

Corinthia London: between Whitehall and the Thames

Corinthia London occupies a Victorian building on Whitehall Place, a couple of minutes from Trafalgar Square and the river. Rooms are generous and the spa is large. From the roof terrace you see the London Eye. It is expensive, but the location puts most of central London within walking distance.

Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Corinthia London

Rome: the Spanish Steps before breakfast

Rome is a city where you walk through two thousand years in an afternoon. See the Colosseum and the Forum early in the morning, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona in the afternoon and Trastevere at night.

Book the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum in advance, and leave time to sit on a piazza with a coffee.

The catch: summer is hot and crowded. Go in April, May, October or November, and start early. Read our Rome guide.

Hassler Roma: at the top of the Spanish Steps

Hassler Roma stands at the top of the Spanish Steps beside the church of Trinità dei Monti, with views across Rome's rooftops and domes. Before breakfast you have the steps almost to yourself. The restaurant on the top floor is a reason to stay in itself. A classic, expensive hotel for a special trip.

Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hassler Roma

Berlin: museums, history and long nights

Berlin is a city for art, history and nightlife. Spend a day on Museum Island, one at the Mauerpark and Bernauer Strasse, where the Wall stood, and your evenings in Kreuzberg and Prenzlauer Berg.

The city is large, but public transport is excellent. Buy a day ticket and use the S-Bahn and U-Bahn.

The catch: Berlin is spread out and it takes time to move between districts. Pick one or two areas a day. Read our Berlin guide.

Hotel de Rome: a bank vault turned pool

Hotel de Rome stands on Bebelplatz beside the State Opera, in the former headquarters of the Dresdner Bank, and the old vault in the basement is now a spa with a pool. Museum Island is a five-minute walk. Rooms are high-ceilinged and calm, and the roof terrace looks out over Mitte.

Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel de Rome

Madrid: art by day, tapas by night

Madrid has three of Europe's finest art museums within walking distance of each other: the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza. Spend your mornings there and your evenings in the tapas bars of La Latina and Las Letras.

Walk through Retiro Park, see the Royal Palace and eat churros with chocolate late at night. Madrileños dine late, and the city stays lively into the small hours.

The catch: July and August are very hot, and many restaurants close in August. Spring and autumn are best. Read our Madrid guide.

Rosewood Villa Magna: calm on the Castellana

Rosewood Villa Magna stands on the Paseo de la Castellana, set back from the road behind trees, with some of the largest rooms in the city. It is a quiet choice close to the shops of Salamanca. For the tapas bars of the centre, take a taxi.

Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Rosewood Villa Magna

Amsterdam: canals and the Jordaan

Amsterdam is small enough to walk, but it is best seen by bike. Hire one and follow the canals through the Jordaan and De Negen Straatjes, the Nine Streets of shops and cafés.

Book the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum ahead, and the Anne Frank House several weeks before you travel.

The catch: the centre is crowded at weekends. Stay somewhere quieter, and watch out for cyclists. Read our Amsterdam guide.

Pulitzer: canal houses joined into one hotel

Pulitzer Amsterdam is made up of old canal houses along the Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht, joined around a quiet garden. From the door, the Jordaan is two minutes away. No two rooms are alike, and some of the houses have steep stairs.

Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Pulitzer Amsterdam

Prague: Charles Bridge before the crowds

Prague has one of Europe's best-preserved old towns. Cross Charles Bridge early in the morning, climb to the castle district of Hradčany and walk back down through Malá Strana.

In the evening there are classical concerts in the churches and Czech beer in the brewery pubs. The city is cheaper than most of western Europe.

The catch: the old town is packed in summer and during Advent. Go early and eat away from the busiest streets. Read our Prague guide.

Augustine: a monastery in Malá Strana

Augustine occupies old monastery buildings in Malá Strana, on the castle side of the river, and monks still live next door. Charles Bridge is a few minutes away. It is a calm hotel in the quietest part of the centre.

Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Augustine

Istanbul: the Bosphorus and the bazaars

Istanbul is where Europe meets Asia. See Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in Sultanahmet, wander the Grand Bazaar and take the ferry across the Bosphorus to Kadıköy on the Asian side.

In the evening there is meze and fish by the water in Karaköy or Ortaköy. The city is huge, and trams and ferries are the fastest ways around.

The catch: traffic is heavy and it takes time to cross the city. Stay near the water or close to the tram. Read our Istanbul guide.

Four Seasons at the Bosphorus: ships past the breakfast table

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus occupies a restored Ottoman palace in Beşiktaş, on the European side, with a terrace and pool right on the water. From breakfast you watch ships sailing between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Sultanahmet is a boat or taxi ride away.

Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Four Seasons at the Bosphorus

Good to know before you book

• Spring and autumn are best: April, May, September and October bring pleasant weather and fewer visitors than summer.

• Book museums ahead: the Louvre, the Vatican Museums, the Anne Frank House and the Colosseum all use timed tickets.

• Stay central: on a short trip, a central hotel saves hours, even if it costs more.

• A long weekend is enough: three or four nights suits most of these cities.

European city breaks: frequently asked questions

What is the best city for a city break in Europe?

Paris, London and Rome are the classics for a first visit. Berlin and Madrid are excellent for art and food, and Prague and Amsterdam are easy to cover on a long weekend.

When is the best time for a European city break?

Spring and autumn suit most cities best, with pleasant weather and fewer visitors than in July and August.

How many days do you need for a city break?

Three or four nights is enough for a first visit to most cities here. Rome, London and Paris deserve an extra day if you can.

Which European city is cheapest for a city break?

Of the cities here, Prague and Istanbul are the cheapest for food and drink, and hotels cost less than in Paris or London.

Is Istanbul in Europe?

Partly. The city spans both sides of the Bosphorus, and the historic core around Sultanahmet is on the European side.

Read next

• Europe's best second cities

• Best places to visit in spring

• Best places to visit in autumn

• Solo city breaks in Europe