Five Recommended Value Destinations In Europe

City breaks in Europe are a popular type of holiday for those on a tight budget and many cities off the beaten track have lots to offer travelers.

Eastern Europe is particularly affordable and a long weekend in countries such as Bulgaria, Poland and Croatia definitely does not have to break the bank.

Here are five of the best for an affordable city break:

Budapest

Historic Hungarian capital Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities in the whole of Europe. Famous for its thermal spas and gourmet pastries, Budapest is a city that is definitely on the up.

Condé Nast Traveler has named Budapest the world's second best city and it boasts an extensive World Heritage Site, which takes in locations such as the banks of the River Danube and Heroes' Square.

Budapest is also renowned for its unique cuisine and strong café culture, while visitors should visit some of the Danube's seven islands, the best of which is perhaps Margaret Island, with its lovely park.

Prague

Prague may well be the cheapest city in Europe for food and drink, so a long weekend in the capital of the Czech Republic can be easily done on a small budget.

The city has countless top cultural attractions to explore too - there is too much to fit into one trip - but must-see sights include Old Town Square and the Prague astronomical clock, Prague Castle and Charles Bridge.

With very diverse nightlife options, city breaks in Prague are particularly suited to younger travellers but there are lots of museums, galleries and theatres to enjoy for the older crowd too. Czech beer is famous around the world and Prague is undoubtedly the best place to sample it.

Sofia

Sofia is the second oldest city in all of Europe but is enjoying a sudden boost in popularity. The National Literature Museum and the Museum of Socialist Art are two of the most important cultural locations in the city, which also hosts the National Opera and Ballet of Bulgaria.

Among Sofia's UNESCO World Heritage sites are the Boyana Church, while those interested in religious buildings should also take time to visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which can hold as many as 10,000 people.

Sofia also has a completely unique atmosphere and its location at the foot of the Vitosha mountain gives the city a very special feel.

Zagreb

Croatia's capital city has a rich history and its museums are the envy of the whole of Europe. Zagreb is also famous for its INmusic festival, which takes place in the middle of the summer and attracts some of the biggest names in music each year.

Among the best tourist attractions the city has to offer is the Maksimir Park & Zoo, which is just a ten-minute tram ride out of the centre. Seals, sea lions and otters are among the zoo's many animals, while this part of the city is also home to Croatia's national football stadium, where Dinamo Zagreb play their home matches.

Warsaw

Warsaw has long been one of the most popular affordable city breaks in Europe.

The Polish city is known around the world for its unique nightlife, with countless pubs and bars to choose from. Revellers are advised to head to the courtyard in Listopada, which is where the amazing alternative club Hydrozagadka can be found.

Warsaw has lots to offer during the day too, with royal art collections and a series of fascinating museums to explore. A walking tour through Warsaw's historic Old Town is also a great way to get a feel for the city and learn about its past.

Travelore Tips: 5 Top Places to Visit in Croatia

Croatia looks like it may be the next big thing in European travel – the beautiful country has history, recreational facilities and plenty of nature but has not yet been overrun by tourists – here are the top Croatian locations to visit.

1. Dubrovnik

“The Pearl of the Adriatic” and one of the country’s most famous cities, Dubrovnik is a fortified city with winding narrow cobbled lanes perched on a cliff top overlooking the sea. The city is rich with Baroque and Renaissance architecture in its pedestrian-only Old City.

There are sidewalk cafes, elegant restaurants, all the tourist amenities you could ask for and the city is framed by the green mountains (Dinaric Alps) behind the city and the white sand beaches below.

2. Hvar

Take a ferry ride out to the UNESCO island of Hvar, one of 1,000 Croatian islands. It is considered the Mediterranean’s best preserved ancient Greek landscape with rural beauty in the islands olive groves, fruit orchards, vineyards and farms.

Hvar town is a quaint town on the edge of a bay, the rest of the island has a number of small villages like Starigrad and Jelsa.

3. Split

The Roman remains in Split have put it on the map but it also has the longest coastline of any Croatian city with the Riva promenade running along the water front. The magnificent Roman UNESCO Diocletian’s Palace is a unique and well preserved architectural masterpiece used for shops, restaurants and luxury apartments.

The pine forest in the Peninsula Park adds green to the city. Visit the underground caverns, the St. Domnius Cathedral and see the Grugr Ninski Statue – the historic harbor town of Trogir is a popular day trip from Split with Venetian buildings and palaces and a 13th century island fortress.

4. Zagreb

This city looks like many of the beautiful Western European cities with many medieval buildings but with an Eastern twist. Zagreb is the country’s largest city it is located on the slopes of the Medvednica Mountains and the Sava River snakes through the city.

The city has a rich cultural life with historic theatres, a cathedral and impressive museums.  The city has urban parks, pedestrian streets and a deep and interesting history.

5. Plitvice Lakes National Park

For natural beauty visit this untouched paradise which has 16 lakes and lush forests, it is located near the Bosnia Herzegovina border in the mountain karst area. The cacophony of colors, green trees, bright blue lakes and the many colored leaves make this a nature lover’s dream.

There are a number of animals like the brown bear, lynx and wolf as well as a variety of birds including owls and eagles.  See the many waterfalls, prehistoric caves and flora and fauna as you follow the marked paths through the park.

Contributed by Sofia

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