13 European City Breaks 30-Something Friends Will Love

Spain's third city is an intriguing mix of old and new. The amazing City of Arts and Sciences has enough to keep you occupied all weekend: the futuristic buildings house a 3D cinema, a science museum, an aquarium, and plenty more. But you can also soak up more traditional Spanish culture by visiting the older parts of the city, including the incredible cathedral, Barrio del Carmen and its palaces, and the amazing central market. Oh, and did we mention there are beaches, too? Visit during the famous Fallas Festival in March if you want to see the city at its absolute best, the streets lined with incredible statues that are dramatically burnt down at the end of the fiesta.

If you loved visiting Amsterdam in your 20s, add Bruges to the list for your 30s. The canal city is small enough to walk around on foot, but do make sure you take a boat ride to enjoy it properly. You can also eat and drink to your heart's content, whether you choose to buy chips and mayo from one of the many stalls lining the town square, or sit down in a laid-back bistro to indulge in mussels and a glass of kriek (cherry) beer. Even if you're not a beer drinker, the brewery tour is worth it for the view from the roof of the building, and there's also a chocolate museum that goes some way to explain why Bruges has a chocolate shop on every corner. Needless to say, you're going to need to bring a few boxes home with you.

The joy of a trip to Cannes (which is a town, not a city, but let's not get technical) is that, thanks to great transport options along the coast, it opens up the entire French Rivera to you and your friends. Though Cannes itself boasts plenty to keep you occupied (including beaches, a marina, and half a dozen museums including one dedicated to perfume), it's also a great starting point for visiting other places along the coast like Monte Carlo, Villefranche, Eze, Nice, and even the island of Corsica. Pack plenty of bikinis! Don't forget to travel inland too; the villages on the hillsides around Cannes and Nice are stunning, and many boast their own artistic communities.

Boasting some of the best museums and galleries in the world, Florence is a must for anyone who loves a bit of culture, but it has plenty to offer those who don't, too. Aside from being one of the most visually stunning cities you'll ever set foot in, Florence is home to some of the best shopping in Europe and is a city that you can completely lose yourself in, just by strolling around. All this, and we haven't even gotten started on the food yet. Don't pack anything with a tight waistband, that's all we'll say.

Not only is Budapest absolutely beautiful, it's also affordable. The architecture will satisfy even the pickiest traveller, with a little something for everyone, particularly when it comes to baroque and art nouveau. Those who enjoy a pampering session will be happy here too: there are 100-plus hot springs found in the city, meaning there's also an abundance of thermal spas, and they're all absolutely stunning. For refreshments, head to the city's "ruin bars", which have breathed new life into dilapidated buildings and courtyards. Yep, Budapest is hipster central and proud!

Greece's second city offers the same history, food, and beautiful weather as Athens with far fewer crowds. Old buildings like the White Tower blend with newer developments, including the new waterfront, completed in 2013 and home to a beautiful piece of public art, George Zongolopoulos's "Umbrellas". Discover ancient structures like the intricately carved Arch of Galerius as you tour the city, then settle down at a taverna for some of the best food you'll ever eat. Just one thing: that friend who hates olives? Best leave her at home for this one!

The major thing Riga has going for it is value for money. This is one of the reasons it has become a popular destination for stag dos, but don't let that put you off. While those gangs of guys are filling up the cheap hotels and hostels, you can book a night in a luxurious five-star hotel for under €100. And while they're drinking the day away, you can view the incredible architecture on Alberta Iela, explore the art museum, and marvel at the cathedral. Visit in Summer, and you can also travel the 16 miles to nearby Jūrmala, a posh holiday resort on the Baltic coast, for some rest and relaxation.

The city of Bergen is a Unesco World Heritage Site, and it's easy to see why. It puts the "picture" into "picture postcard". The best photo ops come if you take boat tour out into the harbour, or ride the funicular railway up into the hills. There's a lot of musical heritage in Bergen, and you can visit the homes of two of the city's most famous exports: Grieg's home at Troldhaugen and Ole Bull's Summer paradise at Lysøen. If you can drag yourself away from Bergen itself, it's also the perfect gateway to discovering the Norwegian fjords.

Forget Berlin or Munich: next time you visit Germany, make Hamburg your city of choice. It's perfect for foodies, with a wide range of cuisines on offer, and also has a flourishing music scene. The Sunday Fischmarkt markets sell a lot more than fish and are definitely worth setting your alarm for. Known as "The gateway to the world", the city also opens up multiple possibilities for two-centre trips. Our top tip is the island of Sylt, nestled in the North Sea and full of sandy beaches that are perfect for long walks. A three-hour train journey will offer a complete change of pace.

If you love old architecture, Kraków's Wawel Castle should be enough of a draw to get you to the city. With elements that represent the medieval, renaissance, and baroque periods, it was once the home of Poland's kings, before becoming an art gallery in the 1930s. Kraków also boasts Europe's largest market square, the vast Rynek Główny, where you can shop for flowers, sit down for a drink, or take a horse-drawn carriage ride. At night, the city really comes alive: Kraków is home to hundreds of bars, restaurants, and clubs, if you're the kind to burn the candle at both ends.