Since getting back from the sunny shores of Kos at the beginning of the month, I have found myself in a slightly unfamiliar situation: I have no future travel plans. I have some ideas, sure, and Iāve spent many a night on Skyscanner seeking out miraculously cheap tickets, but I have no flights booked ā not even a train.
Iām not complaining in the least – the world is my oyster. (Provided it fits into the four days of holiday I have left until January.)
So for that reason, Iām going to do something a little bit different for this post.
Here are the main contenders for my next getaway. Now, Iām not going to do anything silly and ask you to vote for where I should go, IĀ just want to showcase why it is Iām ādrawnā to these cities, and if youāve been and have any tips for me ā great; if not ā no worries.
(*Please note that – for the first time – none of these photos are mine.)
Copenhagen
The Danish capital is a strong contender for a number of reasons. Firstly, and somewhat bizarrely, one of the reasons I want to go is because Iāve never really wanted to go before. That sounds odd, but Iāve spent a number of years planning and waiting to visit cities, sometimes even studying them in depth at uni, to the point where I already know a lot about them ā thereās something refreshing about a city thatās still unfamiliar, which is the same way I felt when visiting Oslo last year.
Secondly, Denmark won this yearās Eurovision, and Iāve always wanted to start a tradition of visiting the victor of Eurovision every year, if only because it might take me to countries I might not ordinarily visit. Like France. Or Azerbaijan. (Just kidding ā Iād love to visit Azerbaijan.)
Also, Copenhagen looks really, really beautiful.
Pros:Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Regular, cheap weekend flights from Manchester with easyjet. Never been to Denmark before.
Cons:Ā Ā Ā Ā Hugely expensive accommodation.
Budapest
Budapest has been high on my list ever since Malev Airlines went bust and Ryanair began offering amazing deals. I studied the city quite a bit in my final year of uni, and being a big Eastern European buff, its history definitely appeals to me, but itās the beauty, size and grandeur of the place that everyone I know whoās been raves about.Ā The photos look amazing, but I need to see it for myself.
When I finally go, Szobor Park will be high up on my list to visit first.
Pros:Ā Ā Ā Ā Regular, cheap flights from Manchester with Ryanair. Never been to Hungary before. Affordable.
Cons:Ā Ā Ā Ā Flights fall on slightly inconvenient days.
Bratislava
Years ago, a friend and I decided that we would one day go to Bratislava (or āBrattyā as we have come to call it). I canāt really remember why or when exactly that was, but ever since, good olā Bratty has been in the back of my mind. Five(-ish) years later and we still havenāt been. And I canāt think of a single reason why.
Iāve seen beautiful photo after beautiful photo, heard unending praise with the lone criticism being that the city was āa bit small.ā For a while there was a plan to see Bratislava and Budapest in one fell swoopĀ this Autumn, but budget restrictions may put an end to that, and Bratty may have to wait another year.
Pros:Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Itās Bratty. And Iāve never been to Slovakia.Ā Easy distance from other cities, namely Budapest.
Cons:Ā Ā Ā Ā Would have to fly from Liverpool.
Belfast
There seems to be a bit of a buzz about Belfast at the minute. I read quite a few good blog posts about Northern Irelandās capital at the beginning of the year and have continued to hear good things since. Whilst there might be pockets of unrest now and again, Belfast has done a lot recently to open itself up to tourism, including the renovation of the Titanic Quarter.
Belfast is another city Iāve never been that interested in and thus know little about, but Iām keen to learn more. I really do need to see more of the UK and I think Belfast must be one of the most interesting cities in the country – itĀ definitely offers a history and culture you canāt find anywhere else.
Pros:Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Cheap andĀ regular flights from Manchester with easyjet and Flybe.
Cons:Ā Ā Ā Ā The āitās-so-close-I-could-go-wheneverā attitude.
Porto
Porto looks ridiculously amazing. I have seen nothing but good photos of the place. The city only really appeared on my radar earlier this year when I realised I hadnāt been to Portugal before, but after a bit of digging and reading some persuasive blog posts, I canāt believe Iād never considered it. The city strikes me as incredibly beautiful, but still a bit off the usual tourist trail, particularly in comparison to Iberian cities like Madrid or Barcelona.
Thereās also the Lello bookshop, said to be J.K. Rowlingās inspiration for Hogwarts and just generally beautiful in every way.
Pros:Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā First foray into Portugal. Chance to work on photography skills.
Cons: Ā Ā Ā No direct flights from Manchester, and very hard to find cheap flights from Liverpool.
So thereās what you might call my āwishlist for now.ā Of course, thereās every chance I may end up going somewhere completely different (or, depressingly, nowhere at all), but these are the handful of cities Iāve been eager to visit all year and if I donāt make it this year, at least thereās another 25 days of holiday waiting in 2014…
Some great choices here ā I visited both Porto and Belfast in the last year and really enjoyed both. Titanic Belfast was great and it was interesting to visit places like the Falls Road that I grew up hearing about on the news. Then Porto was sunny and laid back and really good value. Good luck with the decision making!
Must admit your post about Belfast was one of the reasons I become interested and your photos from Porto were stunning!
Have you been to Prague…bet you could pop over in a weekend!
I’m ashamed to say Prague is yet another classic Eastern European city I’ve yet to see. Very much want to go but can never seem to find a good deal – still too popular with British tourists it seems. I planned to go when I was living in Leipzig but plans fell through unfortunately.
Recommend Leipzig?
Go Porto! You won’t regret it š
I did find some cheap flights the other day – fingers crossed they are still available on pay day!
Do the free walking tour if you make it! Main square at 11am. Guy/girl in orange t-shirt. š
Great list — Budapest is also high on my travel wish-list.
It looks beautiful and I’ve heard it’s so cheap – win, win!
Try Zaragoza, you will be surprised. Not sure of cheap flight availability but stunning city.