Fancy a city break next year? Whether you’d like Munich or Miami, Thomas Cook is helping you choose where to go with a monthly guide of the best cities to visit.
JANUARY: Where: Reykjavik; Why: Aurora Borealis (Average Age Range 30-38)
Hauntingly beautiful, visit Iceland’s capital city in January and you are most likely to see the Northern Lights. According to those in the know, this winter is going to be the best time on record to go and see this unique event. While you’re there make sure you visit the Hallgrimskirkja Church, Iceland’s tallest and most spectacular building or spend a relaxing afternoon at the Blue Lagoon.
Visitors can also take in the Reykjavik International Games, which sees athletes competing in various sports such as alpine skiing, athletics, cycling and gymnastics.
Getting There: Three nights B&B at the three-star Hotel Bjork, Reykjavik, from Gatwick on January 22, from £335 per person. See www.crestaholidays.co.uk
FEBRUARY: Where: Miami; Why: Mardi Gras (Average Age Range 23-30)
Brimming with art, food & drink and music festivals, Miami is a haven of activity during February. With average highs of 24C, fabulous beaches and beautifully-maintained Art Deco buildings, Miami lives up to its reputation as the ‘Magic City’.
Go during Mardi Gras and experience Shrove Tuesday Miami style! The Rock Boat festival takes place on a ship and it lives up to its name as one of the biggest parties of the year, featuring headline acts and a carnival atmosphere.
Getting There: Three nights B&B at the three-star Courtyard Miami Beach Oceanfront in Miami (above), from Heathrow for departures during February, from £1,015 per person. See www.crestaholidays.co.uk
MARCH: Where: Boston; Why: St Patrick’s Day Parade (Average Age Range 30-38)
March officially rings in Spring and Massachusetts state capital celebrates the end of Winter in true Bostonian style with plenty of food and fun – especially during restaurant week and the New England Real Ale festival, both taking place this month.
With a large population that lay claims to Irish roots, it’s no wonder that St. Patrick’s Day is a huge annual event in Boston – make sure you book early though if you want to spend Ireland’s most important day in the Brainy City. Boston is always busy but as it’s not peak tourist season, attractions will be less crowded and hotel prices slightly cheaper (except during St Patrick’s Day).
Getting There: Five nights room-only at the four-star Boston Park Plaza (above) in Boston, from Heathrow on March 12, from £1,347 per person. See www.thomascooksignature.com
APRIL: Where: Lille; Why: Spring Break (Average Age Range 38-46)
Without a doubt, the best time of year to visit the beautiful French city of Lille is in the spring. All of the flowers are in bloom and the smells and sights are magnificent. With its easy accessibility via the Eurostar, it’s the perfect city for a short break. Lille also has some great outdoor activities during the spring – many of the museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, have outdoor exhibits at this time of year. A large amount of the exhibits are rotated between different museums in Europe, and many of the pieces can only be seen at this time of year.
Getting There: Three nights B&B at the four-star Chateau De Tilques in Lille, by Eurostar from St Pancras on April 9, from £237 per person. See www.crestaholidays.co.uk
MAY: Where: Riga; Why: Independence Day Celebrations (Average Age Range 38-46)
This year’s European Capital of Culture, Riga comes to life in Spring. With the Spring Marathon, Hockey World Cup and International Folk Dance Competition, this month is teeming with events and festivals to keep even the most energetic traveller happy. May is a great time of year to visit, the weather is often warmer and sunnier than June and flowers bloom all over the city. Although the beer gardens are usually up and running by this time, hotel prices remain at off-peak rates and with Latvian Independence day falling on the 4th – May is the month to visit.
Getting There: Three nights B&B at the three-star Tomo Hotel in Riga, from Gatwick on May 11, from £224 per person. See www.crestaholidays.co.uk
JUNE: Where: London; Why: Strawberries and Cream (Average Age Range 35-52)
Every month is a good month to visit London – there’s always something to do in England’s capital city. June in particular is a great time to visit ‘The Big Smoke’ with the hope of hot weather, festivals, carnivals and music flooding the city from top to bottom – and with the start of Wimbledon, London’s Summer just gets better and better. Thomas Cook Sport arranges tickets and accommodation for a selection of Grand Slam tennis tournaments, including Wimbledon and the French Open. Wimbledon hospitality packages, including Debenture centre court tickets from £575, are available now.
Getting There: Three nights B&B at the four-star Hotels4u, Ealing, on June 23, from £680 per couple. See www.hotels4u.com
JULY: Where: Amsterdam; Why: Gay Pride (Average Age Range 23-30)
July is chock full of some of the year’s most anticipated summer festivals and events, and is one of Amsterdam’s most looked forward to months of the year. The weather is fine and there’s a real party atmosphere throughout the city. Music festivals are plentiful in July from Jazz and Reggae to Rock and Dance, with the month ending with one of the world’s most famous Gay Pride weekends.
Getting There: Three nights B&B at the two-star The Nadia, Amsterdam, from Gatwick on July 15, from £259 per person. See www.crestaholidays.co.uk
AUGUST: Where: Dublin; Why: Summer Festivals (Average Age Range 18-30)
In the month of August, you can expect daily sunshine to last for up to five hours in Dublin and it hardly ever rains. Events are widespread including the Guinness Storehouse Summer festival, the Celtic Music Festival, National Heritage Week and the Dublin Horse Show to name just a few. Take a stroll over Ha’penny bridge on your way to the Winding Stair Book Shop or explore the art galleries, pubs and restaurants of the vibrant Temple Bar.
Getting There: Three nights room-only at the three-star Jury’s Inn Parnell Street Hotel in Dublin, from August 18, from £211 per couple. See www.hotels4u.com
SEPTEMBER: Where: Florence; Why: Rassegna del Chianti Classico (Average Age Range 30-38)
Tuscany’s Renaissance City is bathed in sunshine and the smell of ripe grapes during September, with less crowds and a relaxed atmosphere. Florence is a pleasure to visit during the Autumn months. The Tuscan celebration of local wines – Rassegna del Chianti Classico – takes place in Chanti in the second week of September, and is a must for all red wine lovers. As well as wine, the magical ‘Festa della Rificolona’ also takes place in Florence, a festival of candlelit lanterns in honour of the birth of the Virgin Mary.
Getting There: Three nights B&B at the three-star Hotel Rosso 23 in Florence, from Luton on September 10, from £354 per person. See www.crestaholidays.co.uk
OCTOBER: Where: Munich; Why: Oktoberfest (Average Age Range 23-30)
Germany third largest city, Munich is home to festivals, beer and culture in the month of October. The weather is starting to cool down but it’s still pleasant enough to walk around the city without a winter coat and enjoy all the sights and sounds it has to offer – make sure you visit the Deutsches Museum, the largest and oldest science museum in the world. The world famous Oktoberfest takes place in Munich, closing on the 5th October. It’s best to book early and make sure you have somewhere to stay as the world’s premier beer fest gets busier every year. It’s not all about beer though: the Auer Dult fair, the four day Science Fair, and the long night of museums all take place during October.
Getting There: Three nights B&B at the four-star NH Munchen Neue Messe in Munich, from Stansted on October 1, from £294 per person. See www.thomascook.com
NOVEMBER: Where: Berlin; Why: Fall of the Berlin Wall Anniversary (Average Age Range 23-30)
In November, Berlin marks the 25th anniversary of the fall of its notorious Berlin Wall. The city will be filled with events and exhibitions to attract visitors and the anniversary year will culminate on November 9 when the entire 7.5 mile length of the Berlin Wall will be marked by illuminated helium-filled balloons. The city is expecting hundreds of thousands of visitors to walk the path in commemoration. One of Thomas Cook’s top five cities to visit in 2013, Berlin is famous for its huge Christmas Markets and holiday atmosphere. Opening towards the end of November, the city’s Christmas Markets are world-renowned and they range from the big hitters such as Gendarmenmarkt and the Schloss Charlottenburg markets to smaller, more local versions such as Lucia in Prenzlauer Berg. They usually run until at least Boxing Day, but some run into the New Year.
Getting There: Three nights room-only at the three-star Econtel Berlin Hotel, Charlottenburg in Berlin, from Heathrow on November 12, from £212 per person. See www.thomascook.com
DECEMBER: Where: Paris; Why: Noel, Noel (Average Age Range 30-38)
December is one of the most magical times of the year to visit Paris. The holiday season arrives with twinkling lights up and down the grand boulevards, shop windows decked out with festive displays and the arrival of the popular Christmas markets. While many of the cobbled streets will be decorated for the holiday season, make sure you head to the Champs-Elysées for the most spectacular and popular Christmas light display in Paris.
Getting There: Three nights B&B at the three-star Balmoral in Paris, on Eurostar from St Pancras during December, from £248 per person. See www.crestaholidays.co.uk
Thomas Cook’s Top 5 City Breaks 2014
- Paris
- Berlin
- Riga
- Ypres, Antwerp and Ghent
- Reykjavik
