Revealed: the 10 city breaks where flight prices have fallen the most
With all of Europe on its doorstep, the UK is spoilt for choice when it comes to weekend getaways.
Board a plane and in less than three hours you could be sunning on a Spanish beach, gazing upon French architecture or spilling Polish street food down yourself.
A mini break has also never been better priced, according to a flight comparison website, with this year seeing huge price reductions to a number of destinations a mere hop, skip and a jump away.
Skyscanner has revealed to which of these destinations fares have fallen the most in 2019.
Read on to find out the best value escapes to plan for 2020.
1. Bratislava, Slovakia
When Slovakia gained its independence during the Velvet Divorce - or Dissolution of Czechoslovakia - in 1993, Bratislava became its elegant capital. Though separated from Prague by some distance, Bratislava has long stood in its shadow, despite sharing much of the same charms. The 'Beauty on the Danube' may not have a thousand spires, but it does have grand architecture, a thrumming (brilliantly priced) nightlife and the vineyard draped Malé Karpaty (Small Carpathians) on its doorstep.
Price drop: 71 per cent
Most affordable time to visit: January
Stay:Roset Boutique Hotel is an opulent turn-of-the-century mansion
2. Eindhoven, Netherlands
Though leafy Eindhoven is the fifth biggest city in the Netherlands, it somehow seems to have been forgotten by international tourists. All the better for those in the know, who can wander Stadswandelpark, a luscious park criss-crossed with walking trails, and De Bergen, a lively cafe district, in relative peace. The design capital of the Netherlands, the city hosts Dutch Design Week, the largest design event in Northern Europe, yearly and has striking architectural sights like the Evoluon, a UFO-esque landmark which, though built in 1966, still talks of the future as a conference centre.
Price drop: 62 per cent
Most affordable time to visit: January
Stay:Hotel Lumiere is a boutique property with understated design
3. Jersey, United Kingdom
Victor Hugo described the Channel Islands as "pieces of France fallen into the sea and picked up by England". The largest of these French pieces is Jersey, its nine by five mile expanse awash with country lanes and winding coastline on which to get lost. Golden sand and emerald waters make up much of the island's appeal, but so too does the culture of the capital, St Helier and the Second World War fortifications along the north and east coasts. Those looking to get away from it all can hole up in the pastel-hued fishing village of Gorey, to feast on oysters plucked from the surrounding seabeds.
Price drop:48 per cent
Most affordable time to visit: January, April, May, September and October
Stay: The Royal Yacht in St Helier keeps in cosmopolitan style near the marina
4. Tenerife, Spain
Britons have long had a love-hate relationship with this sub-tropical archipelago. Derided by many as just a fly and flop destination, that hasn't stopped great swathes of holidaymakers from the UK returning year after year. The truth of Tenerife is there's much to draw visitors across the entire spectrum. Home to five Michelin starred restaurants, stylish boutique hotels and a cornucopia of art and architecture, the island is full of easy sophistication. Thrill-seekers will be pleased with the water adventure parks, while the ancient, pine-scented forests, high-definition starry skies and the soothing view of Mount Teide are balm for nature-loving souls.
Price drop: 44 per cent
Most affordable time to visit: January
Stay: Bahía Del Duque, Tenerife's original luxury resort
5. Malaga, Spain
Is this Spain's best city break? The cultural gateway to Andalucía is certainly a strong contender, having firmly shaken off its previous rep as nothing more than the entry point for the Costa Del Sol. The recently revitalised city is now a fulcrum of culinary exploits and artistic sensibility. The Museu de Picasso pays homage to Malaga's most famous son, the Soho district is swathed in street art, and in the restaurants gastronomic takes on Malagan cuisine are served alongside steaming espeto. A mountainside Roman Amphitheatre and the Moorish citadels of the Alcazaba and Gilfarbaro provide a contrasting ancient backdrop.
Price drop: 44 per cent
Most affordable month: January, April and October
Stay:Hotel Molina Lario, a four-star stay topped with a rooftop pool
6. Düsseldorf, Germany
The fashion capital of Germany, Düsseldorf is pleasingly aesthetic in every sense. Beyond the swish shops and their expertly cut creations, there's an enormous amount of art housed in more than 100 galleries and 26 museums. The architecture follows suit, with the renowned Opera House a gem in the crown of the city's beautiful lines. It's not all looks here either. Residents are surprisingly down to earth, with its beer-loving culture best seen in the bars and pubs lining the banks of the Rhine.
Price drop: 43 per cent
Most affordable month: February
Stay: Hotel Indigo Düsseldorf, a colourful fashion-themed hotel in Victoriaplatz
7. Wroclaw, Poland
This former European Capital of Culture is situated in the west of Poland. Founded in the 10th century, the influences of a history that's touched Polish, Czech, Habsburg, Prussian and German hands are all waiting to be discovered amid the candy-coloured townhouses. The Market Square, complete with Gothic town hall, is the old town's pride, while the city's war-damaged streets drew the attention of director Steven Spielberg, who filmed a large chunk of Bridge of Spies on them. Running through it all is the River Odra, whose watery presence means more than 100 bridges stripe the city.
Price drop: 42 per cent
Most affordable month: January
Stay:Platinum Palace, a grand fin-de-siecle residence
8. Split, Croatia
Croatia's second city has frequently been a mere pitstop for those heading to the many islands lying off its shores. The vertigo-inducing transparency of the waters surrounding Hvar, Brač and Vis are a potent call for beach worshippers, but the view of Split from the departing ferry, tinged in terracotta and flanked by lavender-hued mountains, nearly always sparks a pang of regret. For those that stay? Rewards include a cosmopolitan “Riva” waterfront, an ancient old town and the olive grove-framed beaches of the nearby wooded peninsula (the “Marjan”). You'll also count a Roman emperor among your numbers - Diocletian loved Split so much, he build a palace right in the centre.
Price drop: 42 per cent
Most affordable month: October
Stay:Vestibul Palace, a chic boutique hotel in Diocletian's Palace
9. Shannon, Ireland
The recent price drop in flights to Shannon could not have come at a better time. Newly signed 128-mile (207km) looped drive, the Shannon Estuary Way now rolls out from the airport, offering a glorious look into Ireland's West coast. Shannon itself sits among scenic big hitters like Co Kerry, the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher. Its own scenery is more than able to compete. Roam the Franciscan Friary in Askeaton, a town dating back to 2,500 BC, taste the healing waters of St David’s Well - now the source for Ballygowan - and see if you can spot dolphins as you take ferries out to the myriad islands peppering the shoreline.
Price drop: 40 per cent
Most affordable month: January
Stay:Adare Manor, a newly renovated 13th century castle
10. Frankfurt, Germany
Arguably Germany's most cosmopolitan city, Frankfurt is a master at blending the old with the new. High-rise architecture fits seamlessly with the medieval main square and red sandstone buildings. The birthplace of Goethe, the city continues its creative heritage by spending more per head on the arts than anywhere else in Europe. Enjoy the bounty of this in Städel Museum, Germany's oldest, and the contemporary Museum Für Moderne Kunst.
Price drop: 40 per cent
Most affordable month: January
Stay:Roomers, a hotel as seductively dark as superbly located
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