{"id":9881,"date":"2023-01-26T18:41:49","date_gmt":"2023-01-26T16:41:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/travel\/?p=9881"},"modified":"2023-01-26T18:41:49","modified_gmt":"2023-01-26T16:41:49","slug":"five-captivating-european-city-breaks-you-need-to-add-to-your-travel-bucket-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/travel\/destinations\/france\/five-captivating-european-city-breaks-you-need-to-add-to-your-travel-bucket-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Captivating European City Breaks You Need To Add To Your Travel Bucket List"},"content":{"rendered":"

White sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, delicious drinks and scorching\u00a0hot days\u00a0is usually what comes to mind\u00a0when someone mentions the word\u00a0\u2018vacation\u2019. However, there is so much more of the\u00a0world to explore than simply\u00a0embarking on island getaways.\u00a0For many, visiting one of the major cities in the\u00a0world is an\u00a0ideal holiday destination and something tourists should consider on\u00a0their next visit abroad.
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Sure \u2013 a city break may not be as relaxing as lazing around on stunning\u00a0blue beaches, but it offers an exciting way to\u00a0see the world and take in a\u00a0variety of different cultures, cuisines, scenery and experiences.
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Europe\u2019s cities are incredible for a short\u00a0break with each offering something unique. The continent famously has a\u00a0history\u00a0that\u00a0spans more than two\u00a0millennia and offers tourists visiting a deep dive\u00a0into the history books and so much\u00a0more.\u00a0Air\u00a0France<\/a>\u00a0shares five European city breaks you need to\u00a0add to\u00a0your travel bucket list.
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Paris<\/b>
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The city of love. There is a good reason why Paris is one of the most\u00a0visited cities in the world. Paris is a picturesque\u00a0wonderland full of romance,\u00a0delicious food and incredible places to visit. It has something for everyone.\u00a0Whether you\u2019re\u00a0strolling along the Sienne, taking in the wonder of the\u00a0Eiffel\u00a0Tower or enjoying some delicious French food at the many\u00a0sidewalks caf\u00e9s in the\u00a0city, Paris is the ultimate romantic destination. However, the\u00a0city offers so\u00a0much more. Culturally,\u00a0the city is home to some of the most incredible museums\u00a0in the world, including the famous Louvre which\u00a0houses\u00a0iconic pieces like\u00a0Leonardo Da Vinci\u2019s Mona Lisa. The city is also home to iconic places of\u00a0worship like the famous\u00a0Notre Dame or the\u00a0Sacr\u00e9-Coeur Basilica. Paris\u2019 Charles\u00a0De Gaulle airport is a major connection hub, making Air\u00a0France the easiest way\u00a0to travel around Europe from\u00a0South Africa with a quick connection in Paris.
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London<\/b>
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A trip to London is always a good idea\u00a0because it ticks all the boxes. The city is the financial capital of Europe and\u00a0has\u00a0a rich history making it the\u00a0perfect destination for a city break. London\u2019s\u00a0attractions are world-class. See the city from\u00a0above on the London Eye; meet a\u00a0celebrity at Madame\u00a0Tussauds; examine some of the world’s most precious\u00a0treasures at the British Museum or come face-to-face with the dinosaurs at the\u00a0Natural\u00a0History Museum. The city is\u00a0also a premiere shopping destination home\u00a0to iconic department stores like Harrods and Selfridges. Buckingham\u00a0Palace,\u00a0Shakespeare\u2019s Globe, Big Ben, Tower Bridge and Oxford Circus are more exciting\u00a0hotspots the bustling city\u00a0has to offer. With so much to\u00a0see and do, London is\u00a0the perfect city break to explore.
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Rome<\/b>
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For a culinary, historical and visual\u00a0adventure, Rome is certainly a city worth visiting. The Italian capital has\u00a0been the\u00a0setting for some of the most\u00a0revolutionary events in history and\u00a0today, it\u2019s an exciting city that has so much to offer \u2013\u00a0especially for\u00a0tourists looking to explore it. Rome\u2019s most\u00a0iconic landmark is certainly the\u00a0Colosseum and it\u2019s quite\u00a0something to take in. Standing in the heart of Rome,\u00a0this incredible amphitheatre was the\u00a0exact spot where thousands\u00a0of people\u00a0gathered to watch gladiatorial battles and live hunting of exotic animals.\u00a0Right next door is the phenomenal\u00a0Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Here, visitors can walk around the\u00a0ruins of\u00a0what was the residential district of the\u00a0Roman\u00a0aristocracy (Palatine Hill)\u00a0and the original piazza (Roman Forum) of Rome. The\u00a0iconic Trevi Fountain is also a\u00a0must-visit when walking down the iconic\u00a0cobblestones of the\u00a0city where gelato and fresh pizza and pasta is available in\u00a0abundance. A visit to Rome isn\u2019t complete without a quick visit to the Vatican\u00a0City, home to\u00a0the head of the Catholic\u00a0Church, where visitors are free to walk\u00a0around the incredible gardens, visit the mesmerising Sistine Chapel and learn\u00a0more\u00a0at the Vatican\u2019s official museum. Other must-visit hotspots include the\u00a0Pantheon and the Spanish Steps making a\u00a0visit to Rome an exciting city\u00a0break.
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Madrid<\/b>
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The Spanish capital of Madrid is home\u00a0to the country\u2019s finest fiestas and this incredible city is certainly an\u00a0exciting city\u00a0break for tourists to explore.\u00a0Madrid, affectionately known as\u00a0the ‘soul of Spain’, is the perfect place to immerse oneself\u00a0in Spanish\u00a0culture. The city\u2019s iconic Plaza Mayor Square\u00a0is the heart of the city and has several\u00a0incredible buildings\u00a0surrounding it filled with charming tapas bars. It is\u00a0close to the city\u2019s iconic golden mile\u00a0which is home to some of the\u00a0world\u2019s\u00a0most luxurious brands \u2013 a treat for anyone looking to indulge in a little\u00a0shopping. A visit to Madrid is not\u00a0complete without visiting The Royal Palace \u2013\u00a0now the largest functioning royal palace in Western Europe. It is the\u00a0official\u00a0residence of the royal\u00a0family, although today, it is mainly used for state\u00a0functions. Finally, soccer fans should try\u00a0and watch the city\u2019s iconic team\u00a0Real Madrid play a game\u00a0at their home stadium, the Santiago Bernab\u00e9u, which has\u00a0just undergone a massive refurbishment.
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Amsterdam<\/b>
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The Dutch capital, and home of Air France\u2019s sister brand KLM Royal Dutch\u00a0Airlines, offers visitors a city break like no\u00a0other. With direct flights from\u00a0SA on KLM, pretty canal streets, magnificent architecture and quaint\u00a0restaurants, walking\u00a0in the city is a dream. While Amsterdam is the perfect\u00a0city\u00a0to take in breath-taking architecture and natural beauty, the\u00a0city has so\u00a0much more to offer. The Rijksmuseum has an impressive collection of Dutch\u00a0art\u00a0spanning over 800 years\u00a0and features works from iconic artists like Van Gogh,\u00a0Vermeer and Rembrandt. The city is also home to Anne Frank\u2019s\u00a0house. The\u00a0teenager famously hid in The Secret Annex and documented her time in hiding in\u00a0her now famous diary.\u00a0Visitors can explore the room\u00a0she and her family hid in\u00a0until they were eventually found by the Nazi Gestapo. For\u00a0foodies, the city\u00a0offers delectable delights like fresh stroopwafels,\u00a0bitterballen, poffertjes\u00a0and so much more. The city is\u00a0also ranked as one of the safest cities in the\u00a0world, making it the perfect destination for a city\u00a0break.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

White sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, delicious drinks and scorching\u00a0hot days\u00a0is usually what comes to mind\u00a0when someone mentions the word\u00a0\u2018vacation\u2019. However, there is so much more of the\u00a0world to explore than simply\u00a0embarking on island getaways.\u00a0For many, visiting one of the major cities in the\u00a0world is an\u00a0ideal holiday destination and something tourists should consider on\u00a0their next […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9884,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3322],"tags":[5101],"class_list":["post-9881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-france","tag-air-france"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9881"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9881\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9884"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}