Top 5 historical city break destinations

There are some fantastic destinations to visit for those interested in history and culture. Cities are often the best place to look for anybody with a passion for history, as they will usually have a long, tumultuous past as well as being one of the original settlements of a culture. Historical city breaks can be informative, educational and exhilarating, and make a great short holiday away with plenty to see and do. We’ve put together a list of our top 5 historical city break destinations below.

 

Rome is probably the most famous historical city break destination. Some of the most celebrated architecture and historical sites in the world can be found here, the majority of which dates back to Ancient Rome or the Holy Roman Empire. With a past stretching back over 2,800 years, it’s not surprising that the city has a wealth of attractions for history buffs. A few of the fantastic sites to be visited here include the Colosseum, the Trivi Fountain, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Roman & Imperial Forums, The Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, Castel Sant'Angelo and Piazza Navona, to name just a few.

 

For anybody interested in modern European history, and particularly WWII, Berlin is a must-see city. This is where Hitler made his last stand, where the divide between East and West could tangibly be seen in the shape of Berlin Wall during the Cold War era, and where a vibrant alternative counter-culture now blossoms. Razed to the grown during the Second World War, Berlin was rebuilt in Soviet-style concrete. It has a somewhat sad past, with notable historic tourist attractions including Checkpoint Charlie, Hohenschoenhausen Prison, Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. There are also a number of great museums here, five of which can be found on Museum Island.

 

One of the oldest cities in the world, dating back over 7000 years, Athens has a wealth of history and makes a great educational trip for anyone on looking for a historical family city break. What’s more, the weather in Greece is sublime so you can catch a tan in the process! The most popular historical sites in Greece for tourists to visit date back to the Ancient Greek civilisation, often credited as being the birth of modern European civilisation itself. Some of the fantastic ancient sites to see here include the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Odeon of Herod Atticus, the Keramikos Cemetery and Dionysos.

 

For an exotic city break and a taste of Near Eastern history, take a city break in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is another almost mind-numbingly ancient city, with a past that stretches back into the depths of time over 2500 years. Architecture and ancient sites of the Byzantium and Ottoman Empires can be found all around the city, including Topkapi Palace, Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia), Sultanahmet (Blue) Mosque, Byzantine Hippodrome and the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici). There are also some great museums here, such as the Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum. 

 

With more than a thousand years’ worth of history, Prague is another grand European city that makes a great historical break away. The city is incredibly picturesque and pleasant to walk around, with medieval architecture and cobbled streets. Prices around the city are also relatively affordable compared to some of the other European capitals like Rome or Paris, making for a fantastically cheap city break. Historical sites of interest here include Wenceslas Square, the Old Jewish Quarter, Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, St. Mikulas Church and the Old Town.