From the ancient ruins of Rome to the street food of Iceland or the canals of Amsterdam, here are five ways to spend a memorable mini break this autumn
A canal cruise of Amsterdam is among the top-rated tours in Europe(Image: Pexels/Viator)
Summer holiday season may be drawing to a close, but that doesn’t have to spell the end of travels until the same time next year. In fact, when temperatures have cooled, crowds have thinned and prices have dropped, autumn is often the perfect time of year to book a city break.
There are plenty of destinations to choose from across Europe, whether it’s history and culture holidaymakers are after, delicious food and drink, or breathtaking natural wonders. And for those squeezing in a quick weekend away this autumn while keeping their annual leave for the festive period, a well-planned trip can make all the difference.
That’s why our travel experts have taken a look at the top-rated tours across Europe on Viator to offer some inspiration to jet-setters already dreaming of their next getaway. Here are five of the most popular choices across the continent that are ideal for mini breaks and are a way to ensure no highlights of a destination are missed.
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Canal cruise in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
With its world-class museums and art galleries, delicious food and drink scene, and vibrant nightlife, Amsterdam is always a popular choice for a mini-break among British holidaymakers. And the number one top-rated tour on Viator offers visitors the chance to explore it in style.
The Amsterdam Classic Saloon Boat Cruise will see travellers board a 19th century wooden saloon boat to cruise along the city’s canals, journeying past iconic landmarks such as the Anne Frank House and the Rijksmuseum while hearing more about them from the onboard guide. Priced from £14.38 per person, this hour-long tour is ideal for those with a busy itinerary or only stopping in Amsterdam for a few hours – and there’s the option to upgrade to a drinks and cheese package too.
With an average rating of 4.8 out of five based on more than 30,000 reviews, fans of this tour have praised it as “a great way to see the city and learn about its history” with guides that were “knowledgeable and entertaining”. However, one person did remark that they “wish it was longer”, while someone else commented that their boat was “a bit crowded”.
Several airlines offer regular flights from UK airports to Amsterdam, including easyJet and KLM. Or for those who want to travel a little differently, the DFDS Amsterdam Mini Cruise is a popular choice that sets sail from Newcastle on a daily basis and is priced from £56 per person, offering the chance to spend the day in Amsterdam without having to worry about accommodation.
More canal cruises are available to book via Amsterdam Boat Trips, which offers both shared and private tours as well as food and drink themes from craft beer to Dutch pancakes.
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Viator offers tours across Europe visiting everything from iconic landmarks to hidden gem spots.
City walking tour of Porto, Portugal
The coastal city of Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, is a popular destination among sun-seekers, enjoying Mediterranean warmth well into the autumn – the average temperature here in October last year was 18°C, compared to the UK’s 10.4°C. A lesser-visited alternative to the Algarve or the capital of Lisbon, Porto is ideally suited to a long weekend away with its walkable historic centre.
The Unvanquished Tour in Porto City Centre comes in at number two on the Viator list of the top-rated tours of Europe, and takes visitors on a two-and-a-half hour walking tour of the city that delves into 2,000 years of history via famous landmarks and hidden gems. Learning all the secrets of Porto from a knowledgeable tour guide, this tour has no set price and simply asks participants to pay what they think it’s worth at the end.
Earning a stellar five-star rating based on more than 32,000 reviews, this tour has been dubbed “a wonderful introduction to Porto” with plenty of “interesting and informative” highlights to look forward to. Although more than 96% of participants have awarded it the full five stars, one reviewer did comment that they felt the tour had “not as much walking to various sites as I would have liked”.
Ryanair offers flights to Porto from £18.99 per person from multiple UK airports including London Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool, with the likes of easyJet and British Airways offering direct flights too. More tours of Porto are available via the likes of GetYourGuide and Living Tours.
Exploring ancient ruins of Rome, Italy
On the travel bucket list of every ancient history lover in the world, Rome is a truly unique place to visit where there are iconic ancient ruins to be found at every turn alongside some of the most spectacular Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Such is the Italian capital’s reputation for being a must-visit that a short trip can feel overwhelming, so booking a walking tour is a top recommendation to make sure none of the landmarks are missed.
Although there are thousands to choose from, the Rome Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour is the top-rated option on Viator. Priced from £29.64 per person, this tour combines three of the most iconic sights in Rome into one trip led by an expert guide, learning about life in Ancient Rome along the way.
With more than 25,000 reviews on Viator and an overall rating of 4.6 out of five stars, those impressed by this tour praised it as a “fantastic experience” with the “amazing” guides that were “very attentive” and knowledgeable about the sites. Despite this, one reviewer felt that their trip to the Colosseum “was a little rushed”, while another complained that it was “overcrowded” at the site.
Several airlines offer direct flights from the UK to Rome’s airports, including British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair. Meanwhile, if holidaymakers want to make their trip to Rome part of a luxury cruise holiday, Fred. Olsen is offering trips sailing from UK shores that include the opportunity to visit the Italian capital, such as the 18-night Culture & Coastline of Italy journey from Southampton next April which is priced from £2,599 per person.
Dublin to Galway via Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
UK holidaymakers don’t have to travel too far for spectacular sights – over in Ireland there are breathtaking natural wonders to see, and a top-rated tour gives travellers the chance to witness them all in a single day. Ideal for anyone planning a few days in Dublin, the Dublin to Cliffs of Moher, including Wild Atlantic Way and Galway is priced from £65.38 per person and ventures from the capital out to the rugged west coast.
Swapping out the walking for an air-conditioned vehicle, passengers on board will learn about Irish history and culture on this 13-hour tour that offers the opportunity to explore the clifftop paths of the Cliffs of Moher before continuing along part of the Wild Atlantic Way. The final stop before heading back to Dublin is Galway, where visitors can choose to embark on a guided walking tour or explore the vibrant harbour city at their own pace.
Racking up an average rating of 4.9 out of five stars based on more than 20,000 reviews, impressed participants said their tour guide went “above and beyond” and that the stops were “a perfect amount of time to enjoy and explore the beautiful places”. Although one person fed back that it was “hard to find a restaurant and enjoy the city in the time provided” in Galway, while someone else echoed that they “wish we had more time to explore Galway”.
It’s possible to travel to Dublin from the UK via flight or a combination of a car, coach or train and ferry, with Stena Line, P&O Ferries and DFDS among those operating crossings. When it comes to exploring Dublin itself, the hop-on, hop-off Do Dublin bus tours are one of the most popular options, with 24, 48 and 72-hour tickets available.
Authentic food tasting in Reykjavik, Iceland
And finally, Iceland rounds off the top-rated tours of Europe as a destination that is at its most spectacular when the weather turns colder. The aptly nicknamed ‘land of fire and ice’ is home to awe-inspiring dramatic landscapes, from giant glaciers and cascading waterfalls to active volcanoes and rugged mountains – and there’s yet more to discover its capital Reykjavik.
The Reykjavik Food Walk offers holidaymakers the opportunity to sample some of the city’s best eateries, sampling local favourites from Icelandic cheeses to Arctic char. Priced from £108.94 per person with food included, this three-hour small group tour also passes by many of Reykjavik’s landmarks from the Hallgrimskirkja church to the Harpa concert hall, offering a unique way to see the city.
Earning a five-star rating from more than 20,000 reviews, this tour has been described as ‘such a fun way to experience Icelandic dishes’ with an ‘amazing’ choice of restaurants and foods on offer. Although one person commented: “I think the hot dog followed by the fish was a bit much.”
Seasonal flights to Iceland are available from selected UK airports, operated by the likes of Jet2, easyJet and IcelandAir. There are a number of cruise options available from UK ports too, including from Ambassador Cruise Line with the Iceland’s Land of Ice & Fire holiday sailing from London Tilbury on September 10 from £1,399 per person and up to £200 onboard credit available in a last-minute deal.
