Thinking about booking a last-minute trip abroad this Easter? We’ve picked out some of the best European breaks, whatever your budget. We've had a quick look at accommodation prices for you to give you an idea of the cost for each location
Get your bags packed, load your Caxton Card, and hop across to the continent for that well-deserved break. And if you’re looking for something a bit further afield, we’ve highlighted our top 5 destinations where you’ll get more bang for your buck. While all of our research has been done looking at hotels, there is always the option of renting apartments through companies such as Airbnb. This gives tourists more flexibility, a more authentic holiday and has the potential to save you money.
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Santorini, Greece
Spring is the perfect time to visit Santorini. The landscape is green and the climate warm, but the crowds haven’t descended just yet.
Santorini is Greece at its traditional best. It is best approached by catamaran in order to appreciate the true beauty of the whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches perched on the volcanic rock.
If you decide to fly direct though, make sure to enjoy a sea excursion during your stay. Thira, the capital, is a popular place to stay – it’s perched on top of the caldera rim overlooking the Aegan. And the northern town of Oia, which also has a spot on the caldera, is the best place to see the island’s famous sunsets.
In the daytime, hike along the rocks or enjoy a tour of the islands never-ending vineyards and wineries. In the evening, relax and enjoy some fine dining, whilst you peer over the cliffs and watch the sunset. Find out more about taking money to Greece on our Travel Money in Greece article.
- A 3-night stay based on 2 adults sharing this Easter, starts from around £150-£700.
- A 7-night stay based on 2 adults and 2 children sharing, starts from around £600-£3000.
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Sofia, Bulgaria
It might not be as well-known as the Greek Islands or the Spanish Costas, but Bulgaria is fast becoming a popular tourist destination for those looking for something a little different. If its a weekend of culture you’re after, the country’s laid-back capital Sofia has it all.
Situated below the Vitosha Mountain, Sofia is steeped in history with the city’s landmarks reflecting more than 2,000 years of history, including Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Soviet occupation.
Sofia is no grand metropolis, but it’s a modern, youthful city that’s home to some of Bulgaria’s finest art galleries, mosques, churches and museums. The city has a fantastic food and drink scene, with restaurants, bistros, cafes and eating establishments for all tastes and budgets.
There’s plenty to do in Sofia – from visiting the Ancient Serdica Complex – a treasure trove of Roman ruins from nearly 2000 years ago, to hiking along the mighty Mount Vitosha (a short bus ride away from the city). In the evening the cities bustling boulevards provide the perfect backdrop for sampling the local Bulgarian cusine – MoMa Bulgarian Food and Wine is a popular choice.
- A 3-night stay based on 2 adults sharing this Easter, starts from around £100-£400
- A 7-night stay based on 2 adults and 2 children sharing this Easter, starts from around £400-£2000 , with a lot of the options toward the lower end of that range.
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Florence, Italy
Florence, the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region is where the Renaissance began and it remains as utterly irresistible, romantic and charming as it did in the 15th century.
Few cities are so compact in size or so packed with extraordinary art and architecture masterpieces at every turn.
The urban fabric of this small city, on the banks of the Arno river in north-eastern Tuscany, has hardly changed since the Renaissance and its narrow cobbled streets are a cinematic feast of elegant 15th and 16th-century palazzi (palaces), medieval candle-lit chapels, fresco-decorated churches, marble basilicas and world-class art museums brimming with paintings and sculptures by Botticcelli, Michelangelo et al. Unsurprisingly, the entire city centre is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
There really is so much to see and do in Florence, it would be impossible to fit it all into one weekend. From shopping in the haute-couture boutiques, to visiting the world-famous fifteenth-century dome of Santa Maria del Fiore (Il Duomo di Firenze). Florence really is a gourmet paradise, where eating and drinking exceedingly well is mandatory – indulge by candle-light at one of the cities many beautiful eateries.
Florence has definitely become more expensive in recent years, especially since Covid. While our research has looked at hotels, booking an Airbnb could be a much cheaper option, especially in larger groups.
- A 3-night stay based on 2 adults sharing this Easter, starts from around £300-£1000
- A 7-night stay based on 2 adults and 2 children sharing this Easter, starts from around £1500-£4500.
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Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona combines everything that is most charming about Mediterranean cities – a relaxed pace, months of endless sunshine, unbeatable food plus an abundance of history and culture.
It’s architectural treasures span 2000-plus years. Towering temple columns, ancient city walls and subterranean stone corridors provide a window into Roman-era Barcino.
It’s a patchwork of architectural styles, and a day spent admiring them can be topped off with a sundowner on one of the city’s seven beaches, before dinner at any number of Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurants or humble, family-run tapas bars.
Barcelona is also home to no fewer than 39 food markets. The best-known of these is the huge Boqueria market situated along the famous La Rambla – Barcelona’s most famous street. It is full of shops, cafes, flower stands and street performers. And don’t forget to book a guided tour around Camp Nou – home to FC Barcelona (Barça) since 1957 – it is Europe’s biggest stadium.
- A 3-night stay based on 2 adults sharing this Easter, starts from around £300-£900
- A 7-night stay based on 2 adults and 2 children sharing this Easter, starts from around £1,400-£2200.
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Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam is a city that has it all. It has the buzz of a metropolis, with few big-city drawbacks.
It's small enough to walk or cycle almost anywhere you want, yet is rarely dull. Dinky gabled buildings, pretty bridges and golden age canals give it village-like charm, yet you'll also find top-ranking art museums and one of the best orchestras in the world.
Most of all, Amsterdam combines its glittering past with a rebellious contemporary edginess with hyper-creative design, drinking and dining scenes.
You can't walk a kilometre without bumping into a masterpiece in the city.
The Van Gogh Museum hangs the world's largest collection by tortured native son Vincent. A few blocks away, Vermeers, Rembrandts and other Golden Age treasures fill the glorious Rijksmuseum. And when it comes to cuisine whether you’re looking for Michelin standard or a cosy local eatery, you’ll find plenty to please your palate in Amsterdam. Make sure you check out the thriving bar scene too – watch the world go by from a canal side terrace, or head to a stylish cocktail bar if you’re after something a little more shaken and stirred.
Two-wheeling is a way of life here. It's how Amsterdammers commute to work, go to the shop, and meet a date for dinner. Abundant bike-rental shops make it easy to gear up and take a spin. With its canals and massive harbour, this city reclaimed from the sea offers countless opportunities to drift. Hop aboard a canal boat (preferably an open-air one) or one of the free ferries behind Central Station, or why not rent your own.
- A 3-night stay based on 2 adults sharing this Easter, starts from around £500-£1100.
- A 7-night stay based on 2 adults and 2 children sharing this Easter, starts from around £2800-£5000.
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Looking for something a little further afield?
Why not plan a holiday where the pound is strong? Right now, Turkey, Sweden, South Korea, Switzerland, Albania and Japan are all destinations where your British pound will go the furthest. To put things into context the cost of a pint of beer in Turkey will cost you just £2 and if you’re a family of 4 a three course meal in a mid-range restaurant will cost a mere £25.
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Don’t forget to load your Caxton Card before you jet off!
Spending abroad has never been easier, and here’s a little reminder why:
- Great real time exchange rates
- Instant card load
- No transaction charges
- Free ATM withdrawals
- Block you card in an instant.