City break getaways guarantee memorable holidays, with diverse destinations full of unique local character, history, culture and gastronomy. The only limits are your time, energy and appetite for discovery.
Even the most time-poor travellers are packing lots in with short trips away. Caroline Quigley, general manager (leisure) at Keith Prowse Travel, says: “We are seeing an increase in guests just looking to stay one night. They are taking an early flight out and late flight back giving them two days to explore the city.”
On a tight schedule, Quigley says good flight times can be an influential factor in where clients choose to travel.
Once you have decided where you are going, content creator Nadia El Ferdaoussi recommends turning to social media to find out the latest cool spots, from restaurants to beaches. It served her well this year, as she returned once again to Palma, the capital of the Spanish island of Mallorca with her online exploring done in advance. “I’ve been a few times before but this time we actually did a decent bit of research and had a bit of a plan of where to go; TikTok has become one of my favourite ways to find cool spots,” she says.
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Whether you are time-poor and want to pack it all into a one-night trip or want to spend a bit longer combining hobbies with holidays, read on for inspiring recommendations for the urban hubs we are excited about for 2024.
Taking in a show in London
From the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (May), the FA Cup Final (June) and Wimbledon (July), to the Proms (July-September), and Notting Hill Carnival (August), there is plenty happening in London all year round.
A perennial favourite of clients who travel with Keith Prowse are theatre trips, which the travel company specialises in. Quigley says this year will see some exciting new shows opening. “We have the highly anticipated Plaza Suite staring Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick running from January 15th to March 31st, 2024; MJ The Musical opening in the Prince Edward Theatre in March 2024; Mrs Doubtfire coming to the Shaftsbury Theatre in May 2024; Mean Girls opening in the Savoy Theatre in June 2024; and Hello Dolly opening in July 2024 in the Palladium,” Quigley says
For fashion fans, the first UK exhibition dedicated to the work of Coco Chanel runs at the V&A Museum until February 25th, 2024 – perfect for a girls’ trip or a mum and daughter getaway. Meanwhile, at the Young V&A in Bethnal Green, an exhibition that will appeal to lots of teens, Japan: Myths to Manga, is on show until September 8th.
“London is a fantastic choice for families,” says Quigley. “There are plenty of free activities such as the Imperial War Museum and the Natural History Museum and of course for those interested in Harry Potter, a visit to Warner Bros Studio Tour is a must.”
Art viewing and people watching in Nice
The seaside city of Nice has something for everyone. “For older groups, Nice is a fabulous city, easy to walk around with some fabulous restaurants along the Promenade des Anglais, and if you are looking to prolong a stay, you can add in Monaco or Cannes,” suggests Quigley.
The buzzing city is also a great spot for digital nomads wanting to soak up that enviable south of France lifestyle. From people watching at the sceney Babel Babel bar and restaurant on the promenade (which promises Mediterranean cooking on the plates and New York funk on the sound system), or fun dining at Lavomatique where the sharing plates are too good to share, there is plenty to attract younger visitors too. A day trip to the Fondation Maeght contemporary art museum and the nearby mountain fort village of St Paul de Vence is a must – stop by at the celebrity haunt La Colombe d’Or hotel to ogle its impressive art collection too.
La Dolce Vita in Italy
Topflight specialise in Italian city breaks. “The tried and tested cities of Rome and Venice consistently come out on top,” Sandra Hughes, senior travel consultant at Topflight, says.
“There is a huge affiliation among Irish people with Rome and of course Venice enjoys its own unique mystique. Year in, year out the option of combining a few nights in Rome followed by a break in Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast is always popular, whilst the combination of Venice and Lake Garda is another sure hit.”
However, according to Topflight marketing manager Michelle Anderson, some of the other Italian cities are set to trend among Irish holidaymakers too. “Looking at the booking trends for 2024 the cities of Rome, Venice, Florence, Pisa and Milan are all featuring heavily,” Anderson says.
She also expects plenty of travellers to take advantage of direct flight options from Cork, noting Pisa, Rome, Milan and Venice as options for those wishing to fly from the south of Ireland. If you want to hit a few cities in one trip, Topflight’s Crafted For You team can take the hassle out of organisation, and create a bespoke itinerary to suit your budget. “The Crafted for You team will be able to co-ordinate trains, internal flights, private transfers or car hire to ensure that you make the most of your holiday time,” Anderson says.
Discover pretty Porto
El Ferdaoussi is a fan of combining a city getaway with one of her other passions, be it wine tasting or Formula One racing. Wine lovers should look beyond Bordeaux – El Ferdaoussi recommends the Portuguese city of Porto, famed for its fortified wine. “There’s such good value to be had in Portugal and the wine is seriously underrated,” El Ferdaoussi says.
“Lisbon has exploded in popularity with Irish tourists over the last five or 10 years but don’t overlook Porto, it’s so pretty and the port houses are really cool to visit. You could head out to the Douro Valley if you want to visit the vineyards or do a food and wine tasting tour in the city and take a cruise along the river, it’s fab.”