There’s a unique kind of thrill to zipping off to the airport or train station after work one day, and waking up in a new city the next. Welcome to the modern city break: a few days stuffed full of culture, great food and drink, interesting people and, most importantly, a brilliant time.

Budget airlines have made European city breaks far easier for much of the UK, so the prospect of a long weekend in lively cities such as Lisbon, Rome or Krakow is an intoxicating one. Or, closer to home, swap London for Leicester, Bristol for Belfast or Cambridge for Cardiff — there’s nothing like a few days spent learning another city’s rhythms to make you appreciate home turf.

Scroll down to see a selection of guides to our favourite cities and destinations.

Main photo: A Primavera do Jeronimo restaurant in Lisbon, Portugal (Alamy)