This hidden gem city just two hours from Scotland with £2 pints is ideal for a winter break
If you're thinking of taking a wee winter break to a charming, quaint and Christmassy location, then look no further than beautiful Poznań in Poland.
The small but beautifully formed city used to be Poland's capital, now, it's a quiet but vibrant destination popular with tourists keen to take a selfie in front of Poznań's famous row of colourful old town houses, or it's ancient city hall.
It also boasts a truly lovely Christmas market that transforms the centre of town into a winter wonderland each year.
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It's located in the centre of Poznań, opposite Dworzec Zachodni Railway Station, on the historic square Plac Powszechnej Wystawy Krajowej and features a wide range of charming stalls, selling everything from Polish gifts and crafts to local foods like honey and smoked meat.
Speaking of local foods, no visit to Poznań is complete without a visit to a bakery for one of the city's famous St. Martin's croissants. They're so unique, in fact, that they're actually protected by law. Only bakers in Poznań and Greater Poland can make them, and they must follow a specific traditional recipe.
Each one must be folded precisely 81 times, and in between each fold you'll find a paste made with poppy seeds, nuts, sugar, almonds, raisins and butter. After they're baked, they're glazed and sprinkled with yet more nuts for an exceedingly indulgent treat.
The best way to burn off the calories from one of these hefty pastries is to pop your walking shoes on and go for a stroll round Poznań's iconic Old Town.
This medieval enclave at the centre of the city was almost completely destroyed during World War II, but has been carefully and lovingly restored to its former glory.
One of the must-see highlights is the city hall, which dates back to the mid-1500s. Its clock tower is famous for its pair of mechanical goats, who come out and butt their heads together every day at noon. You can go inside, too: the building has been converted into the Museum of the History of the City of Poznań.
Obviously all of that walking is likely to work up a thirst, and the good news is that bar prices in Poznań are a major bargain. Pints of beer start at just 10zl, which is just £1.94. The average price of a pint is 14zl, according to cost of living website Numbeo, which is still only £2.74.
One of the city's most popular bars is the cosy Piwna Stopa Craft Beer Pub, which has over 150 types of bottled beers from around the world, plus 16 beers on tap - a big beer and music garden and an open fire to sit beside while you enjoy your drink.
Food lovers are equally well-catered for in Poznań, with a whole host of top-rated restaurants. Restauracja Vis A Vis Koziołków is a particular favourite with visitors, as its situated right beside the famous city hall building. It serves lovingly-made local cuisine in a restaurant dripping with character and old world charm.
One recent visitor gave it a five-star review on TripAdvisor, writing: "We had a really excellent dinner at Vis à Vis - which is a bit surprising given that the restaurant is on the main city square.
"Nonetheless, every single dish was packed with flavour, and I in particular enjoyed my cottage cheese & potato purée starter as well as my pulled goose burger (what a great idea!)."
It won't break the bank, either. The average price of a main course there is around 50zl - just under £10. You'd pay more than that for a sandwich in some Edinburgh cafes.
Speaking of Edinburgh, Ryanair operate direct flights from the Scottish capital to Poznań, and it only takes two and a half hours to get there. So you could be enjoying your £2 pint of local beer and pulled goose burger sooner than you think.
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