FANCY jetting off for a budget-friendly weekend away this autumn?
You’re in luck – we’ve done all the research for you and hunted down 10 brilliant European city breaks that all come in at £99pp or less.
These deals include your return flights and hotel, plus we’ve even found the best free and cheap things to do in each area – from free true crime walking tours to cheap thermal baths.
From soaking up last-minute 28°C sunshine to spooky lantern-lit bridges and impressive Gothic castles, here’s 10 of our favourite city breaks from as little as £59pp.
Rome – £69pp
Few cities pack in the wow factor quite like Rome, and an autumn visit means you can stroll its streets without breaking a major sweat.
You could tick off the Colosseum, boutique shopping, tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain and enjoying some of the best pasta of your life, all in one day.
The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel make for an easy excursion to top off your experience (€20 entry), but honestly half the fun of Rome is getting lost in its backstreets and stumbling upon tiny trattorias and pretty cafes.
One of the best affordable activities is sitting with a cappuccino e cornetto (coffee and a croissant) for as little as €2, and simply watching the world go by.
Just make sure you do this before midday to avoid strange looks from locals – it’s tradition to only drink your cappuccino in the afternoon!
This Wowcher deal gets you flights from London, Manchester, Bristol or Edinburgh plus two nights at a four-star hotel from £69pp.
Krakow – £89pp
If you like exploring classical architecture during the day and partying hard by night, Krakow’s the break for you.
Spend your morning wandering the cobbled Main Market Square and stopping for an obwarzanek krakowski (3.50 Polish Zloty, or around 75p) which is a delicious, ring-shaped braided bread.
After your snack, take a slow climb up to Wawel Castle for sweeping city views, and make sure not to miss a trip to St Mary’s Basilica, a burnt orange building hiding an intricate interior of vibrant blue and gold walls.
When it gets dark, head on a group bar crawl to tick off even more of the city and make some new friends along the way.
This pub crawl with GetYourGuide costs £24 and includes a full hour of unlimited drinks.
We found a Krakow break from £89pp, which puts you up in a central hotel that’s under 15 minutes’ walk from the Old Town, Main Market Square and St Mary’s Basilica.
Lisbon – £69pp
Sunshine pouring through narrow streets, vintage yellow trams gliding effortlessly uphill, creamy pastel de natas for breakfast at a trendy cafe – it’s hard to beat a Lisbon break.
For some free sightseeing, head to the Baixa and Mouraria districts to wander through colourful, tiled buildings and find tiny, lively bars that spill out onto the streets.
One of the best ways to see this city is to hop on the Tram 28 route at sunset and take a ride through the winding Alfama district, where you can hop off at Graca to catch the sun sink behind the city skyline.
This under £70 deal includes a two-night stay in the picturesque Old Town, plus return flights from Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester or London.
Budapest – £79pp
Defined by its beautiful domed architecture and thermal spas, a break to Budapest feels a lot more expensive than it actually is.
When the chill of autumn starts to kick in, there’s nothing better than chomping on a hot chimney cake (around 900 HUF, or £2.15) to enjoy with a warming cup off coffee.
Better yet, go for a soak in one of the city’s many thermal baths, which start at only 3,000 Hungarian Forint (£6.84) at the Dandar baths.
In the evenings, treat yourself to a cocktail with a view in a crumbling ruin bar, or opt for a river cruise along the Danube.
There you can soak up the signature golden glow of the Hungarian Parliament Building from the water at night.
This £79 deal includes a stay at the Marmara Hotel Budapest, a four-star spot that’s only a 15-minute walk from the riverfront and the fairytale Buda Castle.
Prague – £59pp
For an affordable city break with all the spooky vibes this autumn, head to Prague.
Here you can soak up the views of the Old Town Square, with its astronomical clock and Gothic spires, while Prague Castle looms over the entire city.
Cross the lantern-lit Charles Bridge at night and admire its 30 sculptures on each side, then warm up in one of the city’s countless cosy beer halls or pubs. At Restaurace U Mlynare you can grab a local pint for 39 Czech Koruna (£1.37).
The deal we found gets you flights plus a stay at the Royal Court Hotel, which has its own swanky bar, restaurant and spa services. For £59pp, you really can’t complain.
Dublin – £99pp
Autumn might just be the best time to visit Dublin, with the city’s abundance of cosy pubs appearing all the more inviting when you’re ducking in from the rain on a chilly night.
Temple Bar may get all the attention, but the real fun is had in the pubs of Camden Street, where you’re bound to get chatting to locals within minutes.
On a clear day, pick up a bag of oats from supermarket Dunnes for around €1 and head to St Stephen’s Green to feed the friendly ducks and stroll the gardens.
Finish your visit by perching on a park bench to enjoy an oozy, jammy sourdough doughnut from The Rolling Donut (which sits just opposite the park entrance), or gun for a table in busy Beanhive to enjoy a colourful cappuccino that looks more like a work of art.
If the weather‘s not on your side, the Museum of Literature Ireland sits just on the outskirts of the park, and contains the first copy of Ulysses as well as some juicy handwritten letters from famous writer James Joyce.
This £99 city break includes a stay at the Ruby Molly Hotel Dublin, a city centre hotel with a gorgeous black-walled bar lined with mirrors and dotted with plush velvet seating.
Vienna – £79pp
Vienna is all about grand and elegant architecture that looks all the more impressive in moody autumn weather.
This city is all imperial palaces, art galleries, gilded concert halls and quaint coffee houses that feel like stepping back a century or two.
One of these architectural marvels is Schonbrunn Palace, a huge, Baroque masterpiece of a building that boasts 1,441 rooms. Visiting the grounds and gardens is completely free, but if you want to step inside tickets start from €42 (£36).
The Belvedere is another must-visit, where you can see famous Gustav Klimt painting The Kiss glittering in all its glory (entrance €23, or £19.70).
The gift shop here actually has super affordable souvenirs, which is a rarity for fancy museums and galleries. Plus the on-site cafe feels more like an attraction itself, with classical paintings, a giant crystal chandelier and pastries that could rival those found in a French patisserie.
This Vienna break includes a stay at the 4* Hotel Exe Vienna in the Museum District, putting you within walking distance of Vienna Volksoper, Volksgarten, and the Historical Museum.
Porto – £99
Colourful riverside houses, pretty cobbled streets, and more wine cellars than you can visit in one trip – Porto is built for cosy autumn strolls.
Wander down to the Ribeira district for the postcard views of the Douro river, and to snap pictures of the impressive, industrial Dom Luis I Bridge.
The Livraria Lello bookshop is a famous must-visit spot, with a winding wooden staircase and an impressive stained glass ceiling.
If you’re visiting in spooky season, you may want to take the Dark Porto Free Tour, where you’ll learn about the mysteries, legends and gripping true crime stories.
This £99 Porto break puts you up in the Porto Domus Hotel, which is a short walk from Santa Catarina Street, the city’s main shopping street.
The hotel is also a five-minute walk from the waterfront and its wine bars, so you’re never far from a good view or a good glass of port.
Valetta – £99pp
Malta might be best known as a summer holiday spot, but autumn still offers sunshine with temperatures hitting 28°C in September, plus fewer crowds and very low prices.
The capital city of Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage city, with honey-coloured limestone building, baroque churches and an impressive Grand Harbour which makes for a fantastic free day of sightseeing.
Take a boat trip to the ancient Ggantija Temples of Gozo (which are older than Stonehenge and the pyramids!) or simply spend an afternoon strolling St Paul’s Bay’s seaside promenade.
Malta also has some of the clearest diving and snorkelling water in the Mediterranean if you fancy giving it a go before the cold weather properly sets in.
And to see more of that sparkling water, head out on a day trip to Comino’s Blue Lagoon, a shallow bay with water that is almost glowingly blue.
This Malta holiday deal includes a stay at your pick of the 4* Canifor or Paradise Bay Hotel, plus breakfast and your return flights.
Venice – £69pp
A Venice city break may be the epitome of romance, but it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Get lost in a maze of canals and pretty stone bridges, before popping into a cosy bar to grab an Aperol spritz and watch the gondolas glide by.
Autumn is a fantastic time of year to visit, with St Mark’s Basilica (€10/£8.56) and the Rialto Bridge (free) far less rammed than they are in peak summer.
For an experience where you’ll truly get some bang for your buck, go for a pasta cooking class – as you can tick off a fun activity and your dinner both in one.
This pasta, tiramisu and wine class costs £34pp and is rated 4.9/5 stars by happy holidaymakers – and packs in dinner, dessert and a drink.
This deal gets you flights plus a stay at your pick of the Elite Hotel Mestre Venice or the Hotel Plaza Venice, both of which are stylish, four-star options.