Nothing quite beats a good city break. You get to enjoy discovering a whole new culture, explore historic sites, try authentic food, and generally take a break from your home life. But it can be difficult to decide on a destination, especially with so many amazing places to visit in Europe alone.

Recent research from Wizz Air has ranked Brits’ most popular city break destinations, and at number one is a country I recently visited. Not only has the city I stayed in been voted the cleanest in Europe, it also regularly ranks among the cheapest, and short flight times from the UK make it perfect for short breaks.

Poland topped the list for the most popular destination, and according to Wizz Air it accounts for more than a fifth of its bookings last year. It’s also the fifth year in a row that the Eastern European destination topped the list for the budget airline, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

Kraków is Poland’s second-largest city, just behind the capital of Warsaw, although it saw its population grow in 2025. It’s also one of Poland’s oldest cities, and during World War 2 it was occupied by Nazis, meaning unlike its neighbours in Warsaw or Gdańsk, it avoided widespread carpet bombing. This means a lot of its beautiful historic architecture survived the conflict.

But unlike a lot of London’s historic buildings that can look a little grimy and worn, even Kraków’s oldest structures looked clean and well-looked after. Even its Cloth Hall market that dates back to the 13th century had stonework that looked like it had been freshly pressure washed.

One reason for this could be that Kraków’s air quality is improving. The city has really great public transport that’s inexpensive, you can get a 24-hour tram pass for just over £3.50, and it’s also compact and walkable, so the roads aren’t clogged up with taxis and cars.

Despite some buildings having ugly graffiti tags, most of the city looked well-looked after and well-maintained, with hardly any litter and grass verges neatly trimmed. As a tourist, it felt like a pleasant place to be, and I can see why visitors come back to Poland over and over.

I was only in the city for a short break, but still felt like I fit a lot into my itinerary. From the pretty Rynek Główny, the medieval town square where I enjoyed a £3 pint of Polish beer, to the Kazimierz District, a Jewish neighbourhood with historic synagogues, authentic restaurants, and small cafés where you can sit outside and people watch.

Autumn was a great time to visit, warmer than I would have expected with September still bringing sunny 25C days. If you’re someone who prefers mild weather for your city break, then the shoulder season could be the perfect time to book.

Is it the best country in Europe for a city break? It’s certainly high on my list and I’d love to go back and see more of Poland’s cities. While I went as a solo traveller, it definitely ticked all the boxes for a romantic break or a girls’ weekend. Short flights, easy to use transport, and perhaps most importantly, cheap. What’s not to love?

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