The best view of the stunning city of Rome is proclaimed to be that from Gianicolo.  Take your loved one to view the Trastevere neighbourhood, the Pantheon and the monument to Vittorio Emanuele in Piazza Venezia.  Stroll a little further from the viewpoint where you will reach the amphitheatre Quercia del Tasso where you can enjoy the peace, serenity and a bit of romance with your partner.

Watch the sun set from Pincio Gardens

Visit the Pincio Gardens, which is located on the western edge of the Villa Borghese, and features 228 busts of famous Italians and Europeans along with a unique water clock.  Take a picnic and whisper sweet nothings in the quiet corners and flowery hideaways of the gardens with your loved one.  A beautiful panoramic view of the city can also be seen from the gardens.  Snuggle together and watch the sun set over the city.

Smell the roses at Roseto

During summer, make sure you visit the Roseto, Rome’s public rose garden, with your loved one for a romantic evening.  Treat yourself and your partner to dinner, some drinks and a stroll through the roses as well as views over the ruined Palatine.  Otherwise, during the day, take a walk in the gardens and pose for some romantic photos alongside the beautiful roses or by the heart-shaped topiary.

Visit the Fontana de Trevi

The world famous Fontana de Trevi is regarded as the most romantic and beautiful place in Rome and a monument that people cannot resist visiting time and time again.  Make a visit to the fountain and admire the statues, white marble and the sound of the water with your beloved.  Throw a coin into the fountain together, make a wish for ever-lasting happiness and a return to Rome.

An evening cruise along the Tiber River

Spend your final romantic evening together in Rome on an evening dinner cruise along the Tiber River.  Be welcomed with a drink and canapés before setting off from Castel Sant’Angelo, sailing down the River Tiber towards Tiberina Island then back up to Ponte del Risorgimento, north of the Borghese Gardens, before returning to Sant’Angelo.  Share a bottle of wine, an Italian three course meal, a bit of jazzy music and a view of the wonderful city lights from the water.  Share a kiss and saviour the romantic weekend away that you and your loved one had in Rome.

Paris is a truly beautiful city so the best way to get oriented with this sprawling city is to do a walking tour.  Many of the walking tours offered in Paris are of two hours duration with the Classic Walk, the Montmartre walk, the French Revolution walk, the World War II walk, the Latin Quarter walk and the Da Vinci Code walks available to visitors to the city.

Afternoon – visit one of the world’s largest museums

The Louvre Museum is the most visited museum in the world and is a must do for anyone visiting Paris.  Many visitors to the Louvre come to view its outstanding permanent collection, including Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.  Collections at the museum also include Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Islamic antiquities, sculptures, paintings and prints.  It is easy to spend days at the museum if you are a big lover of art however if you are short of time, enjoy a taste of what the museum has to offer.

Evening – dine and see the Moulin Rouge

Dress up and dine at one of the local Parisian restaurants before seeing a cabaret show at the famous Moulin Rouge.   The adult show features more than 100 performers who entertain visitors in elaborate costumes made of feathers, rhinestones, and sequins. Marvel at the spectacular sets and be amazed by the can-can dancers.

Morning – watch the sunrise at the Eiffel Tower

See the sunrise over the well recognised icon of Paris, the Eiffel Tower.  For the energetic, take the stairs to the first or second platform and the rest by elevator or just take the elevator straight up to the top.  Enjoy lunch at the restaurant at the top of the Eiffel Tower and admire the bird’s eye view of the city below.

Afternoon – take a stroll along the Champs-Elysées

Take a leisurely stroll along the world’s most beautiful avenues, the Champs-Elysées and admire thecinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops located along the tree lined strip that is almost 2km in length.  Walk towards the Arc de Triomphe monument and pay your respects to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Evening – dining along the Seine River

For an experience of a lifetime, cruise along the Seine River on a dinner cruise which combines sightseeing of Paris, French cuisine and evening entertainment.  Enjoy a three course meal as the band entertains you as the boat cruises along the Seine River.  Dinner cruises typically last two and half to three hours and is a perfect end to 48 hours in Paris!

A popular and well visited museum in Barcelona, the museum holds a large collection of works by the 20^th century artist, Pablo Picasso.  The location of the museum is unique as it is situated inside five adjacent medieval palaces.  Many of Picasso’s prints, drawings and paintings are housed within the museum.

Afternoon – La Rambla

La Rambla is a world famous tree-lined boulevard that attracts tourists and locals alike.  The mile-long road comes alive with artists, human statues, fortune-tellers, dancers and musicians.  Shops, restaurants, cafes, flower stalls and newspaper kiosks and cafés are located along the stretch of the street.  Have an al fresco lunch at a cafe on La Rambla and enjoy the outdoor ambience.

Late afternoon – Sagrada Familia

The construction of the distinctive and awe-inspiring Roman Catholic church commenced in 1882 and was designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi who passed away in 1926.  Since then, the building of the church has progressed slowly due to disruptions and limited funding.   Visitors can access certain areas of the church including the crypt, towers and museum.  Take a lift to the top of the towers and get a bird eye’s view of the city!

Evening – Dine at Barceloneta

Barcelonta, also known as Little Barcelona, is a popular area for locals to eat out.  Seafood is regularly eaten in Barcelona so sample a seafood dish or if you are not a big fan of seafood, enjoy a paella which is a delicious rice based dish or even some of the famous Spanish tapas.

Morning – Park Guell

Designed by Gaudi, Par Guell is an impressive garden complex filled with wonderful and interesting architectural elements.  Marvel at the gatehouses, based on designs for the opera Hansel and Gretel, and take a walk up the splendid staircase to the highest point of the park to take in the breath-taking sights of the park.

Afternoon – Shopping

Shoppers will love Barcelona with a large variety of shops available catering for all different budgets.  Be it clothes, shoes, jewellery, apparel and accessories with chic European style, there will be something that will take your fancy.  Many big names such as Versace, Giorgio Armani, Burberry, Bally, Cartier and Calvin Klein have shops in Barcelona along with Spanish labels including Mango, Zara and Camper.

Evening – Sample the nightlife
Barcelona offers a great nightlife with a variety of after dark venues ranging from tasces (taverns), pubs, cafes, old-fashioned dance halls, vaudeville theatres, movie houses, bars, concerts, live shows and discotheques.  The Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village) on Montjuic (Sants-Montjuïc), the Olympic Village in Poble Nou and a number of the beaches in Barcelona are great places to party the night away and to finish your 48 hours in Barcelona!

The many historical and varied attractions in Rome make it an ideal city to take the family.  Visit the Spanish steps, wonder through the impressive Colosseum, enter the Pantheon to view the stunning interior, toss a coin at the Trevi fountain and climb to the top of St Peter’s Basilica to share the view of the stunning city of Rome with the family.

Florence

Many museums and historic buildings exist in Florence.  One that will appeal to the family is The Children’s Museum, located next to the world famous Uffizi Gallery. The museum is an ideal place to visit as it brings the Renaissance city to life through appealing exhibits and demonstrates how the Medici lived and ruled.  An English educational program for children also exists to guide them through its current exhibit.  The Boboli Gardens, at Palazzo Pitti in the Oltrarno district, has wide open spaces for children to explore, climb trees, people watch, and play games.  Horse drawn carts that depart from the centre of Florence are a fun way for the whole family to enjoy the sights of the city.

Venice

The ‘Floating City’ is a great destination for anyone visiting Italy.  Walk across the Piazza San Marco or the St. Mark’s Square and scare the pigeons away with your family.  Ride an elevator to the top of the Bell Tower and get a picturesque view of the city.  Take a water bus ride or a gondola ride with the family and admire the buildings as you make your way around the canals.

Sicily

The large sunny island has a combination of historic buildings and sandy beaches that will make it fun for the family.  Visit Palermo, the capital, and explore the beautifully designed buildings and take the family to a puppet theatre for some animated fun.  Let the children run loose at Bioparco di Sicilia which consists of a zoo, playground and dinosaur park.  Make a trip to Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, and take the cable-car or a 4X4 adventure through the volcanic landscape for a unique experience.

Tuscany
The rural region of Tuscany offers a variety of entertainment for the family.  Visit one of the zoos in the region such as the Pistoia Zoological Garden which holds exotic animals and has a playground for the children.  For summer fun, take the family to one of the two Tuscany water parks, Acqua Village in Follonica (province of Grosseto) and Cecina (province of Livorno).  The water parks feature waterslides, whirlpools with fountains and waterfalls, lagoons and a number of swimming pools.  If you’re in Livorno, ride the classic double-decker, hop-on, hop-off guided bus tour either on the open top or inside where it is air-conditioned as your knowledgeable guide provides a commentary of the landmarks and shares the interesting history of this beautiful region with you.

Fiji

A great family destination is Fiji with the constant year round tropical weather makes the country a paradise for adults and children alike.  Stay at one of the islands such as Castaway Island and enjoy swimming at the beach, playing Frisbee and snorkelling in the pristine waters.  Many of the resorts in Fiji have kid’s club so you can put your feet up and relax by the pool.  There are many great holiday deals that include flights and accommodation to Fiji which appeal to families that are budget conscious.

Hawaii

A well renowned tropical island that is great for the family and good for those on a budget is Hawaii.  Fly into Honolulu and partake in the many activities that the O’ahu island has to offer.  Take family surfing lessons on Waikiki beach, splash around at the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, learn how to hula with the family and immerse yourself at the Polynesian Culture Center.  If you can stretch your budget, make a trip to another island such as Maui or the Big Island to explore the volcanoes and the unique flora and fauna.

Thailand

Asian destinations are great for families on a budget.  A popular destination is Thailand which offers family friendly resorts in locations such as Phuket where there are numerous three to five star resorts to chose from.  There are many activities for the family to do in and around Phuket including visiting the impressive limestone scenery of Phang Nga Bay, taking a ferry to beautiful Phi Phi Island where The Beach movie was filmed and riding on an elephant.

NZ

The weak New Zealand dollar makes New Zealand a great family budget destination.  Rent a motor home and drive around the North or South Island of New Zealand.  If you’re in the North Island, visit the Bay of Islands and take the family on a short hike to enjoy the sandy coves.  Go kayaking and swimming to cool down after the hike.  If you’re in the South Island, explore the Akaroa harbour and its wildlife, the mountains and glacier lake of Mt Cook National Park before driving to the resort town of Queenstown where you can take the family on a jet boat ride.  Visit the Franz Josef Glacier or Fox Glacier which the whole family will enjoy.

Indonesia

Holiday in Bali which is one of the islands located in Indonesia.  There are many Bali holiday packages on offer which is great for the budget conscious family.  The Balinese adore children and thus there are many hotels and resorts that cater especially for children. Free kids’ club activity programs, large family rooms with toys, free or discounted children’s meals and babysitters are all available for a minimal cost. Visit the beaches and temples with the family and enjoy the cultural aspects of the island.

Some of the cool German cities that are great for tourists include Bonn, Cologne, Dortmund, Hamburg and Munich. These cities make a great alternative destination for people wanting to experience more of Germany without returning to Berlin.

Bonn, Cologne and Dortmund

These three cool cities are close together in North-Rhine Westphalia, and visitors can easily explore all three of them on a short break.

The former capital of West Germany until the government officially moved back to Berlin in 1999, Bonn is still the home of many government departments. Many parts of the city date back hundreds of years, with Beethoven’s birthplace a popular attraction in Bonngasse. Close by is the Old Town Hall, which is now an office of the mayor and used for official receptions. Other attractions in the city include Poppelsdorfer Allee, which was the site of the first horsecar in the town, and the ruins of Godesburg fortress.

Cologne sits on the banks of the River Rhine. The University in the city is one of the oldest and largest in Europe, and the cathedral is one of the most famous religious buildings in the world. In December, Cologne comes to life with eight great Christmas markets in the city. The one nearest to the cathedral is one of the best in this city and is great to stroll around and soak in the atmosphere.

With a skyline characterized by churches, some over 1,000 years old, Dortmund offers visitors some gems of medieval architecture. Nearly half of the city consists of waterways, woodland and green spaces, leading to the nickname of Westphalia’s green metropolis.

Hamburg

Situated in north Germany on the banks of the Elbe, Hamburg is the second city of Germany. It has a network of rivers and canals and more bridges than either Amsterdam or Venice. By day it is a thriving city with some architecture dating back hundreds of years, but by night it changes. The Reeperbahn is the largest red light district in Europe and a popular place at night with numerous bars and nightclubs.

Munich

Munich is the largest city in Bavaria and home of Oktoberfest, the largest fair in the world with over five million annual visitors. This 200 year old festival involves copious quantities of German beer and traditional food. This is another medieval city with history dating back to 1158, and plenty of ancient buildings to admire. Sports fans can enjoy exploring the venues for the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Germany is a large country and offers many great cities that make a great alternative destination to Berlin. All of these cities are easy to get to from the UK with low-cost airlines offering several flights a day.

Copenhagen

The Danish capital, Copenhagen lies to the east of the country directly on the Oresund, the strait of water separating Denmark from Sweden. One of the reasons for its success is the natural harbor and many visitors to the city enjoy a stroll along the waterfront to the Little Mermaid statue.

The city centre Tivoli Gardens is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world, and visitors and locals can alike enjoy the beautiful pathways and gardens, while the brave can enjoy the rides. Other attractions in the city include the Old Carlsberg Brewery and landmark buildings like the Marble Church and Round Tower, the oldest observatory in Europe.

Oslo

The capital city of Norway is located at the northern end of Oslofjord and surrounded by green hills and mountains, Oslo covers a large area of protected land giving the city many great parks. One of the most famous of these parks is the Vigeland Sculpture Park in the borough of Frogner. This is the largest park in the city and has 32 hectares with bridges, fountains and a popular picnic area.

Visitors will love to explore the old medieval town in Grenland and the historical area of Ekeberg, where evidence of human life dating back 10,000 years has been found and Edvard Munch painted his masterpiece “The Scream.” For an alternative view of the city, visitors can go to the top of Holmenkollen ski jump.

Stockholm

The largest city in Sweden and Scandinavia, Stockholm is spread across 14 islands at the mouth of Lake Malaren. This picturesque city is a pleasure to walk around, with over 50 bridges linking the islands together. Visitors can explore one of the best medieval city centers in the world at Gamla Stan. Nearby are the Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral and the green island of Djurgarden.

One of the best attractions in Stockholm is the Vasa museum, containing a 69 meter long warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. Experts salvaged the ship in 1981 and have spent the time since restoring it to its original glory.

Whichever Scandinavian capital you choose to visit, you can be certain of a great time. These historic cities offer great views, stunning scenery and plenty of activities that will entertain visitors of all ages. All three cities are great destinations for short breaks and are only a short flight away.

Many airports have flights to Tunisia, and although most go to the airport at Sousse, this is only a comfortable two-hour train journey from the capital. It is close enough for people to stay near to the airport on a short break and use the train to explore the country.

Carthage

The capital of the Punic Empire was Carthage, which sits just to the east of the modern-day capital city of Tunis. This charming UNESCO World Heritage site contains the ruins of a city that rose to prominence twice before being destroyed in the ancient past. In 202 BC, the famous general Hannibal led an invasion of Italy that threatened the Roman Empire itself. The Romans defeated Hannibal and eventually destroyed the city in 146 BC before they rebuilt it and made it into their fourth most important city. It remained an important city until it was destroyed by the Muslim conquest in 609.

El Djem

Further south in the country lies El Djem, the site of the largest Roman amphitheatre in Africa and some of the most complete Roman remains. This spectacular building is visible for miles around in the desert, and it held 30,000 people. These spectacular ruins have found fame recently as a set for “Monty Pythons Life of Brian” and “Gladiator”.

Other Empires

Since the time of the Punic and Roman Empires, Tunisia has been a Muslim country and most towns have ancient mosques and towers that are hundreds of years old. The best of these are in Kairouan, which many Muslims consider to be the fourth holiest city in Islam.

No mention of Tunisia is complete without thinking about Star Wars, with several scenes from “Star Wars” and “Phantom Menace” filmed near to the town of Matmata in the desert. Visitors can enter the caves used as the Skywalker homestead.

Tunisia is a popular destination for longer summer holidays, but it also makes a great destination for a short break. Visitors can relax on the beach or tour this small country and see some amazing historic sites that span over 2,500 years of civilization.

Coastal Scenery

Many areas of the coast offer stunning scenery, with many places have spectacular cliffs. The most famous of these are the White Cliffs of Dover, which at 100 meters high are visible from France. These stunning chalk cliffs with streaks of black flint are crumbling, so visitors should not get too close to the edge.

Other areas of the country, particular North Yorkshire, North Wales and the South West have also got stunning seaside cliffs. These areas are popular with walkers, cyclists and photographers.

Great Beaches

Other areas of the coast have some great beaches that are great for kids to play or just to relax and soak up the sun. The Victorians made many of the best beaches into the seaside resorts that have been popular for generations. Many of these towns are now faded from their glory days, but offer plenty of small hotels which often do not need booking in advance.

Resorts such as Blackpool, Scarborough, Bournemouth and Brighton have been attracting visitors for years and are fantastic destinations for short breaks. With great beaches and plenty of other activities for rainy days, these resorts are popular for short breaks and longer holiday alike.

Historic Sites

Like many island nations, Britain has a history of naval adventure and the coastlines are dotted with historic ruins. Great castles are scattered around the coastline, along with historic ports and other old ruins. History buffs will really enjoy spending time exploring places that step straight out of the pages of the history books.

Whitby on the Yorkshire coast has an historic Abbey and harbor and is also the setting for part of the famous Dracula story. Other great historic sites include Conway on the coast of North Wales. Even cities like Bristol and Liverpool offer sites from the golden age of the British Empire and newer attractions within easy reach of the seaside.

Whatever you enjoy, the 5,000 miles of British coastline can be a great place to take a short break. With plenty of activities and places to see, even in the depths of the British winter the coast is a great destination.