Thursday 31 October 2013

Brief 3 // Iconic Cities // City Research

Cheapest City Breaks
10 cheapest city break destinations - two-night trip with flights
1. Budapest £139
2. Madrid £148
3. Barcelona £150
4. Nice £162
5. Brussels £162
6. Berlin £163
7. Paris £165
8. Amsterdam £185
9. Lisbon £187
10. Prague £194

Five cheapest cities for accommodation
1. Budapest £28 a night
2. Lisbon £37 a night
3. Istanbul £38 a night
4. Barcelona £39 a night
5. Madrid £39 a night

Five cheapest flights
1. Brussels £69
2. Amsterdam £69
3. Paris £75
4. Madrid £80
5. Nice £83

Five cheapest cities for supermarket groceries
1. Budapest £5.63
2. Prague £6.31
3. Lisbon £6.63
4. Barcelona £6.66
5. Split £7.48

Five cheapest popular museum tickets
1. The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, Istanbul, £3.29
2. The National Museum, Prague, 3.30
3. The Meštrovic Gallery, Split, £3.39
4. The National Museum of Ancient Art, Lisbon, £4.26
5. The Hungarian National Museum, Budapest, £4.54

Five cheapest cities to travel around: single trip on local transport
1. Istanbul £0.63
2. Budapest £0.95
3. Nice £1.05
4. Prague £1.05
5. Venice £1.18

Five cheapest cities for eating out: basic restaurant meal
1. Prague £3.27
2. Istanbul £3.77
3. Budapest £3.93
4. Berlin £5.05
5. Lisbon £5.89

Five cheapest Valentine's destinations
1. Budapest £125
2. Lisbon £126
3. Barcelona £128
4. Prague £138
5. Madrid £138

Five cheapest New Year destinations
1. Barcelona £164
2. Berlin £165
3. Nice £167
4. Budapest £175
5. Lisbon £176

Budget city breaks and info
Prague, Czech Republic
Prague has recently developed a reputation for being the choice for the stag do weekend crowd – but that should not put you off. Notably, stag weekenders are attracted by the exceptionally low costs of drink here – which is certainly one of most travellers' considerations.
Prague is not just cheap and cheerful in terms of drinks, though, and has plenty more to offer. It is compact enough to explore on foot – so you can save money there – plus its extremely efficient transportation system is cheap in any case.

For those in search of culture, there are plenty of museums, art galleries and historic monuments to be explored, including the opulent Prague Castle and the famous landmark that is Charles Bridge .

Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is a beautiful city whose appeal is multiplied by its good value. It is divided into two halves by the River Danube, which can easily be explored using the city's relatively cheap transport system.
The Pest area – which covers two thirds of the city – is on the flat east bank, and is home to the famous swimming/spa baths. The other third of the city is the Buda area, which can be found on the more hilly west bank, and is the place to head for if you wish to visit cost-free cultural locations such as the royal palace and the walled castle hill area.
A night on the town can be done here even on a tight budget, with both food and drink having exceptionally low-cost prices (with a pint costing in the region of £1). And if you want to indulge in a spot of shopping, prices for most goods will probably be lower than those back home.

Rome, Italy
Although budget airlines will generally take you to an airport located far from the city centre, it need not cost you the earth to get to Rome , as reasonably priced transfers are usually laid on by airlines.
Rome is one of the most enthralling cities in Europe , and has attractions to suit even the tightest of budgets. Effectively a living museum, there are more than enough awe-inspiring locations to view – and many need not cost you a single euro!
Must-sees in Rome include Vatican City , the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain – the latter of which will only cost you the coin you decide to throw over your shoulder for luck!

Bratislava, Slovakia
The capital city of Slovakia is divided by the River Danube, and gives you everything you need – particularly as the food, drink and antiquity-packed museums here are all available to you for the most modest of prices.
By day, the city is a living museum to the twentieth century's institutions, where vestiges of an unstable monarchy, the Iron Curtain and the Velvet Revolution collide in one easygoing city. Bratislava Castle is also a must-see location to visit during your stay.
The city centre is an excellent shopping area, and many specialist boutiques here have very competitive prices. Also, the streets of the Old Town have many restaurants, bars, and cafes that offer all kinds of food – which will fill your stomach without you having to empty your pockets!

Riga, Latvia
With exceptionally cheap accommodation, free museums and unbelievably good value meals, it is hard to find a more affordable spot in Europe than Riga .
Despite joining the European Union, the prices in Riga remain of the kind that always please shoppers. Also, getting around on the frequent trolleybuses that ply the streets from dawn until midnight is very affordable and easy to do.
Of the free museums in the city, the best to visit is arguably the Occupation Museum , which details the years of Soviet occupation. You could also walk around Dome Square and its cathedral – which houses the largest organ in Europe (the organ contains 6,768 pipes!). The Central Market also offers a cheap way of spending a few hours of browsing.

Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is one of those places that are easy and very cheap to get around. Journeys on the Metro trains here cost very little, while regular open-top bus tours allow you to hop on and off at leisure around the city.
Visiting the local beach – which is only ten minutes away from the city centre – will give you the ideal opportunity to sit back, relax, and save a lot of your hard-earned cash. Even eating out near the beach can be possible on a budget, as there a number of low-cost old-fashioned tapas bars around the harbour.
The La Rambla area – with its cobbled streets, entertainers and traditional bars and restaurants – is an inexpensive way to see the real Barcelona . Also, seeing the varied Spanish architecture – including the famous Sagrada Familia, the still-unfinished cathedral by Antoni Gaudi – is an enjoyable, cheap way to occupy yourself during a visit.

Ljubljana, Slovenia
An antidote to many of Europe's high-priced destinations, Ljubljana is characterised by charming, narrow, cobbled streets and a vibrant atmosphere – and virtually no stag parties! It has enough highlights – including the castle, bridges and squares – for you to be able to spend your days just walking around the old town and taking in the sights.
There is a lively cafe scene in Ljubljana , as well as many excellent restaurants – all of which offer very reasonable prices. You need not worry too much about overdoing it on the shopping, either, although the wooden local crafts and antiques shops are definitely worth a look.
The quality of accommodation here is lower than standards in other European cities, but if it is budget that you are most concerned about, then you are unlikely to mind staying in one of the city's hotels or hostels for a relatively cheap price.

Tallinn, Estonia
The low cost of living in Estonia has lead to rock-bottom prices in Tallinn for virtually anything – from a simple snack to a good hotel room. This makes Estonia 's ‘fairytale capital' one of the best spots to head for a budget break.
While there are plenty of remnants of the Soviet era in Tallinn , they are really part of the appeal, as you'll be able to see the legacy of six decades of Soviet occupation in the city's buildings. Also, the medieval quarter of Tallinn is one of the best preserved in Europe , and contains well-preserved old city walls, bustling shopping streets, and the picture-perfect Town Hall Square .
Many of the prime tourist spots here charge a minimal amount for admission, and there are several beautiful beaches nearby which you can also visit. While you're in the city, though, you'll probably want to stay as close to the Old Town area as possible, as this is where most of the action takes place.

Bucharest, Romania
Once dubbed ‘the Paris of the East', Bucharest has more than its fair share of fine buildings and wide boulevards surrounded by parks provides a good, cheap – and even hip – option for travellers on a budget.
Seeing the sights of Bucharest can be done on the cheap, as there are many museums, palaces and churches to visit. While you're here, check out the National Art Museum , the National History Museum and the Palace of Parliament – the world's second-largest building after the Pentagon.
Getting about is easy and very affordable, as bus tickets, all-day Metro tickets and even Metro-plus-bus tickets cost just a small charge. Also, to get rock-bottom prices for accommodation, the best options to go for are around the train station area.

Vilnius, Lithuania
The fact that Vilnius is a lot smaller than most capital cities means that it has a more intimate feel to it than most places. Also, the fact that almost everywhere is within easy walking distance of the main central area will save you a lot of money on transport!
The narrow cobblestone streets in Vilnius house an appealing series of pubs, bars, and nightclubs – and while you may not primarily come here for the shopping, it is nonetheless easy to buy affordable gifts and souvenirs here.
Vilnius is a city of great culture, and there are lots of museums and over 20 galleries in the Old Town – all of which feature interesting, original and quality displays to go and see. A visit to the opera or ballet can also be experienced here without breaking the bank – or you could check out the traditional organ concerts and drama performances that seem to spring up all over the city.

Popular Destinations in Europe
London, England

Noisy, vibrant and truly multicultural, London is a megalopolis of people, ideas and energy. The capital and largest city of both the United Kingdom and of England, it is also the largest city in Western Europe and the European Union.

Paris, France
Located in the north of the country on the river Seine, Paris has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic of all cities, brimming with historic associations and remaining vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design.

Rome, Italy
Rome, the ‘Eternal City’, is the capital of Italy and of the Lazio (Latium) region. It’s the famed city of the Seven Hills, La Dolce Vita, the Vatican City and Three Coins in the Fountain. The Historic Center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city, with a population of 1.5 million people, and the capital of Catalonia. The city is on the Mediterranean coast, and has a wealth of unique historic architecture. Barcelona emerged as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe during the 1990s.

Dublin, Ireland
Dublin is the capital city of the Republic of Ireland, with more than a quarter of the Irish population living in the greater Dublin metropolitan area. The city center however is relatively small and can be navigated by foot, with most of the population living in nearby suburbs.

Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul is Turkey’s most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. Located on both sides of the Bosphorus, the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul bridges Asia and Europe both physically and culturally.

Madrid, Spain
Madrid is the capital of Spain, as well as the capital of the autonomous community of the same name. It is best known for its great cultural and artistic heritage, a good example of which is the El Prado museum. Madrid also boasts some of the liveliest nightlife in the world.

Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands with impressive architecture, lovely canals that criss cross the city, great shopping, and friendly people who nearly all speak English well. There is something for every traveller’s taste here, whether you prefer culture and history, serious partying, or just the relaxing charm of an old European city.

Prague, Czech Republic
Almost undamaged by WWII, Prague’s compact medieval centre remains a wonderful mixture of cobbled lanes, walled courtyards, cathedrals and countless church spires all in the shadow of her majestic 9th century castle that looks eastward as the sun sets behind her.

Vienna, Austria
Vienna is by far the most populated city in Austria. As the former home of the Habsburg court and its various empires, the city still has the trappings of the imperial capital it once was, and the historic city centre is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.


From these lists of city breaks I can see that there is an overlap in cities falling into different categories. This should make it easy for me to decide on which cities to focus on. I am going to look at doing around 5 cities.

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