British travellers have named Krakow in Poland as their favourite European city break, according to a new Which? study.
The consumer watchdog surveyed more than 1,600 of its members and asked them to rate their experiences of cities across Europe.
Cities were ranked based on seven criteria: food and drink, accommodation, cultural sights and attractions, shopping, ease of getting around, lack of crowds and value for money.
A customer score was then calculated based on overall satisfaction and the likelihood to recommend the city.
Krakow in southern Poland topped the list of 40 destinations, with an index score of 92%.
The Polish city was awarded five stars for value for money, food and drink, accommodation and ease of getting around. Krakow also scored four stars for its cultural attractions.
Venice, Italy, took second place, with five stars awarded for its accommodation and cultural sights and attractions; however, it was awarded just two stars for its value for money.
Valencia, Spain, and Vienna, Austria, were tied in third place, with Istanbul and Seville also joint in fourth place.
At the other end of the list, Cologne and Dublin were the lowest-scoring city destinations.
Which? Travel Deputy Editor Naomi Leach said: “Whether you are looking for culture, art, history or top gastronomy, there are several European cities that deliver. Book ahead and choose to visit off season to secure the best prices.
“British holidaymakers who look beyond the most famous destinations, can find great value for money in foodie escapes, such as Krakow and Valencia. Despite the crowds, classic city breaks Venice and Vienna scored highly with visitors due to their unparalleled cultural attractions.”
Here are the top 20:
- Krakow
- Venice
- Valencia and Vienna
- Istanbul and Seville
- Bordeaux
- Prague
- Berlin
- Budapest
- Florence
- Funchal
- Rome
- Nice
- Verona
- Hamburg
- Madrid
- Paris
- Porto
- Stockholm
- Bergen
- Malaga
