10 city breaks to take in 2024 - from New York to new horizons

European city escapes, the hustle and bustle of New York and Manchester, and trips to Dubai and Istanbul

Cloth Hall Sukiennice and Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the Main Market Square, Krakow

Underrated Vilnius

With its cobbled Old Town and thriving cultural scene, Lithuania’s capital is a cool and charming city with architectural riches and underrated museums. Come now before it peaks in popularity.

• €217 + €78 return, 3-nights B&B at 4-star Best Western, from Dublin, October 10-13 with ryanair.com

St Patrick’s Day in New York

An unforgettable experience, St Patrick’s Day in the Big Apple is one big party on the city’s streets. Explore the city that never sleeps on one of its liveliest weekends, sightseeing, shopping or soaking up the atmosphere.

• €1,899 in 4-star Hotel Riu Plaza New York Times Square including hotel transfers and a guided city tour, March 15-19 from Dublin with traveldepartment.com

Upbeat Naples

The home of pizza but there is so much more to Naples, with its frenetic energy, captivating architecture, museums and intoxicating Mediterranean temperament. The food is sublime too.

• €424, B&B at 4-star Montespina Park Hotel, May 1-4 from Dublin with budgettravel.ie

Cracking Krakow

Poland’s former royal capital is a modern city with a medieval heritage. This fully guided break includes exploring the cobbled Old Town with a guided tour and a day trip to the Tatras Mountains.

• €779.43 B&B with tours at 3-star Vienna House Easy Chopin, September 8-12 from Shannon with traveldepartment.com

Hip Manchester

Cool, laid-back yet high energy, Manchester is the UK’s Capital of the North with excellent food, bars and nightlife. From football and music to galleries and shopping it’s a welcoming, more relaxing alternative to London.

• €196, 4-star Ibis Manchester Centre Princess Hotel Manchester, room only, March 1-3, from Cork with budgettravel.ie

Multi-cultural Brussels

A lively city packed with enthusiastic European citizens, Brussels’ masterpiece is the Grand Place a magnificent urban square that sets the town for a city break of superlatives. Expect exciting discoveries at every turn while enjoying superb food.

• €339, 3-star Hotel Central room only, May 3-5 from Dublin with lastminute.com

Intrigue in Istanbul

Exotic and vast Istanbul’s startling location straddling two continents makes it a heady, high-octane city to explore. Pack your walking shoes, come hungry and don’t miss a boat cruise down the mighty Bosphorus.

• €681, 3 nights B&B in 3-star+ hotel accommodation, private return transfers from Istanbul airport, Istanbul tour, river cruise, various dates from Dublin with trailfinders.ie

The Carmo Church, Porto

Edgy Porto

Cool, charming and dreamlike, Porto is magical to visit. Regal and raw, it’s a dreamy confection of twisting streets, riverside port houses, incredible restaurants and laid-back vibes.

• €431, 4-star Santana Hotel & Spa, B&B, May 9-12 from Dublin with abbeytravel.ie

Glitzy Dubai

High, shiny, sleek and glossy, this modern Emirates metropolis is a high-energy playground for hedonism, sun-seeking, shopping and holidaying in opulence.

• €752, 7 nights at 4-star Avani Deira Dubai Hotel, room only, May 1-8, from Cork with sunway.ie

Christmas Markets in Berlin

With 70 Christmas markets, Berlin is a winter wonderland each December. Get swept up in the festivities at the Christmas Market at Charlottenburg Palace, a spectacular experience. Wrap up well as temperatures can creep sub-zero.

• €328, at 4-star Riu Plaza Berlin Hotel, with flights from Dublin, Dec 3-6 with clickandgo.com