5 best city breaks for Easter

April 09, 2014 - 15:56 BST hellomagazine.com

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Athens, Greece

Jet off to the Greek capital for the perfect spring break. Warm weather, world-famous ruins such as Pericles' Parthenon, the adjacent Temple of Athena Nike and the colossal Theatre of Dionysusand as well as iconic architecture, mouthwatering Greek food and charming strolls wait just a 3 ½ hour flight away from London.

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Budapest, Hungary

For an exotic and colourful Easter adventure, head to trendy and budget-friendly Budapest. The buzzing Hungarian capital offers everything from medicinal thermal baths and edgy pubs to opera, theatre, ramblings around the historic Jewish quarter and, of course, traditional Hungarian foods at the Easter Market on Vörösmarty tér.

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Dubrovnik, Croatia

Easter in Dubrovnik combines ancient traditions with the birth of new life as this superb city livens up for a warm spring. Fringed by bold blue sea and outlined by rugged peaks, Croatia's dramatic Dalmatian Coast is spectacular at Dubrovnik. That, with the two-kilometre historical city wall overlooking ancient monasteries, aristocratic palaces and baroque churches, makes for a magical stroll on a wonderful city break.

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Istanbul, Turkey

Head to where East meets West in the Turkish capital of Istanbul. Enjoy the mix of old and new as you visit landmarks such as the Blue Mosque by day and astonishing harbour views from rooftop bars at night. Don't worry about not finding a church, because there are over 200 in the city. With all the shopping to be done in the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market, though, you mightn't make it to one...

5/5

Seville, Spain

Seville takes Easter seriously and is one of the most vibrant, folkloric cities to spend the religious holiday in. As everyone takes to the streets during Holy Week (Semana Santa) to watch the colourful processions go by, the delicious scent of orange blossoms hangs in the air of the Andalucian capital. Tour the historic Moorish palaces, tuck into the delicious tapas that come complimentary with a beer, and celebrate Easter the Spanish way in one of the country's most beautiful cities.