Where would you go for a city break?

Florence is one of my most favourite places in all the world. Only drawback at this time of year would be that it might be getting crowded. You can rent self catering apartments for just a few days, and there are lovely places to eat out and markets to buy food. Everything is within walking distance - perfect for just wandering and looking. But we do always go in the winter (Feb/March), so not sure about tourist pressure in the summer.

In the UK, we've done a two night break in Oxford - lots to see and good food and shops! (I live a long way from good shops, so this is a treat for me).

Thanks MrsJamJam. I wasn't necessarily meaning to go now so we could line up Florence for next year! I am finding that now we've retired we don't always want to go on lazy beach holidays. We enjoy having a few days away sightseeing and your suggestions are both ideal for us. I'd like to see as much as possible while we are still able to travel.

Vienna is lovely - a huge amount to see and do, especially if you love art and music.

Hi Magsie. We've just had 2 nights in York staying in a hotel right next to the Minster. Had a wonderful time just wandering. Amazing places to eat, lovely shops (!) and one evening attended Evensong in the Minster - a must. Travelled by train which beats driving 250 miles. Would thoroughly recommend it. (don't tell me you live in Yorkshire!!)

Thank you both. I am getting a good list together!

How about getting the Eurostar to Paris or Brussels, travel fast in comfort.

Or Eurostar to Bruges, I've always wanted to go but never managed it so far. Still hoping though!

EDINBURGH is wonderful. A lovely hotel in Leith with a bridge over to a quaint old fashioned pub...

Can anyone recommend breaks for the solo traveller whose not too confident?

Uk liverpool or edinburgh. If abroad florence, barcelona, tallin, geneva, munich, cologne or bruges.

If Europe, then Munich, lovely city, loads to see and do, very high standards of cleanliness in all public areas, zero tolerance to anti social behaviour!

If Europe, then Munich, lovely city, loads to see and do, very high standards of cleanliness in all public areas, zero tolerance to anti social behaviour!

Thanks again, loads of ideas there- would never have thought of Munich.

York for a weekend is really good.. Barcelona, or Berlin?

I'd love to go back to Prague; spent a couple of days there but could have done with another day. Agree about Barcelona, as well.

Porto, a wonderful mix of port houses and river trips, reasonalby priced restaurants and hotels and even beach if you want it!

Yes Phoenix, Munich is a lovely city. I'm biased as my husband is from Munich I have known it since 1966. Apart from an extensive pedestrian area, the river Isar runs through it, down from the Alps. It has wonderful riverbanks to walk along should you get tired of Art and Culture.
We don't live there anymore but have a weekend break at least once a year. If anyone needs more tips send me a message.

Venice is in a class of its own. Best in spring or autumn.

Can recommend Seville, the Alacazar is amazing, we went in April and the gardens were beautiful and of course the tapas were fantastic. Going back in November to celebrate our 43rd anniversary.

Malaga is surprisingly nice. Most people go to the airport and straight to the Costa.
Malaga has a large almost traffic free centre , within the walls of the old Arab town. The Picasso Museum. A cracking modern art museum (both are of moderate size). A castle. A great market. Little backstreets. Nice people. Shops. A lovely sea front promenade. Loads of churches and a cathedral. Interesting English cemetary (everyone who wasnt a Spanish catholic was buried there) Very un-touristy. Nice cheap taxis. Proper Spanish food. My sister had a flat there for a while but alas, credit crunch forced a sale. Miss it. Liked watching the Spanish people walking too and fro to weddings on a Saturday. And probably cheap flights.

For a UK break try Bath, a beautiful city with lots of fascinating things to see and do. Someone has already mentioned York (where I live). For a smaller UK destination there is Rye in Sussex, very picturesque and full of history, and the surrounding counryside is very flat, so is ideal for walking! Abroad, Paris of course, Nice if you want to go further and warmer, Bruges for something smaller but with plenty to see and do ...

I am going to also fly in the face of convention and suggest Milton Keynes!
A great shopping centre, all under one, clean roof with lots of restaurants and coffee shops. Indoor skiing/snowboarding and skydiving - for the active amongst us. A very successful theatre. And still in town, lovely canal walks, cycle paths and Bletchley Park.
Within half an hour's drive we have a number of NT treasures - Stowe, Waddeson Manor, Ascott House, Claydon House and Canon's Ashby. The first two are huge sparkly jewels in the NT crown and the others minor gems. Not forgetting Woburn just down the road, with safari park, deer park and the Abbey. Be astounded by the fact that they have hung onto the property and paintings etc since Tudor times. Only the queen has more Canalettos.

York; Edinburgh - both fab.

Abroad - Paris, easy to get to, loads to see.

Try Pitlochry - beautiful scenery, excellent choice of restaurants and pubs,great walks and a fantastic theatre which in summer has a superb repertoire of the classics.