Travel Smart looks at the city breaks that are surprisingly affordable to have an amazing time in.Ben Parker visits Lisbon, the portugese capital with stunning views and plenty of cheap food and drink options amidst good weather and relaxed vibes.Meanwhile, Simon Calder takes a look at the German city of Hamburg, steeped in history and strong in cultural curiosities. The duo also look at Valencia and for those looking for something off the less-travelled route, Ben shows us round Tirana, Albania. Follow Travel Smart to make the most of your holiday with Independent TV.
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00:00Welcome to Travel Smart Weekly, the new insider's guide to travel from
00:05Independent TV. This is the series in which we give our opinions and thoughts
00:11on the best destinations to visit, plus how to make the most of your trips
00:17worldwide. In this episode we're talking about the city breaks that are
00:21surprisingly affordable. Sometimes you want to spend and push the boat out but
00:25these are the unexpected destinations where you won't need to break the bank
00:28to have a memorable travel experience.
00:40Portugal might not be your first thought when you think cheap city break
00:44in Europe, but its capital Lisbon has other ideas. It's a soulful city where
00:52you'll encounter colourful buildings and neighbourhoods of winding cobblestone
00:55streets, plus free attractions are plentiful. This is especially true if
01:00you want to snap a picture of the fantastic views. I recommend heading up
01:05to the summit of São Jorge Hill to its castle, which dates back 1,000 years and
01:09checking out the incredible view over the old town and beyond. Budget
01:15accommodation can easily be found throughout Lisbon, as can cheap food.
01:18A pastel de nata will set you back about a pound and beer won't be much more, and
01:22even better, many of the low-cost airlines out of the UK will fly you to Lisbon.
01:27The three biggest German cities are Berlin, Munich and Hamburg, which I think
01:34deserves more visitors. It's a fascinating maritime metropolis with
01:39spectacular modern architecture in the shape of Elphi, the new concert hall, as
01:46well as the Beatles trail, where the Fab Four cut their musical teeth.
01:54The historic Speicherstadt district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a place of
02:01red brick warehouses and picturesque canals in the city's port area. For a
02:07taste of Hamburg's seafaring past, tuck into Alsuppe, or eel soup, traditional
02:14comfort food from the city. If the weather's fine, there are lots of green
02:20spaces in which to spend time without paying a euro cent. For affordable places
02:26to stay, have a look in the Saint Georg neighborhood, which is also close to the
02:31Hauptbahnhof, the main train station. Valencia, Spain's third largest city, is
02:38growing in popularity and makes for a budget-friendly urban stay. Spend time
02:45simply wandering, whether through the charming Old Town, the hipster El Carmen
02:49neighborhood, which is home to colourful street art and on-trend bars, or along
02:53the winding Turria Gardens. Miles of golden beaches can be enjoyed for free,
02:59and when you're hungry, remember, Valencia is the home of paella, so visit now
03:03before everyone else does. Not that long ago, Albania didn't feature prominently
03:09in most travel plans, but now Tirana, its energetic capital, is earning itself a
03:14place among the big hitters of European city breaks. The vast Skanderbeg Square
03:21is the centre of the city, but we'd recommend heading over to the tiny yet
03:25buzzing Bloku area. You can walk through in just ten minutes or so, and you'll
03:30find dozens of cafes, bars, restaurants and shops lining each street and alleyway.
03:35Low-cost airlines now fly direct to Tirana, and you can find yourself a very
03:40comfortable hotel for around £30 a night, while a decent three-course meal
03:45for two with some local wine might hit £10, but you'll likely have some change.
03:50Let's head south to Africa, and the most exotic place you can get to within three
03:56hours of the UK is the Moroccan city of Marrakech. It also has some of the most
04:02fabulous hotels in the world, and it's well worth calling in to gawp at the opulent
04:09interiors and maybe have a cocktail on the roof, but there's plenty of Riyadh.
04:16These are beautiful mansions based around a courtyard, which are hidden away and offer
04:23some surprisingly good prices.
04:29Rooms might be small, but even the more basic Riyadhs often have enchanting courtyards with
04:35water features and traditional African details. In the maze of souks at the heart of Marrakech,
04:42you'll find hidden gardens where you can dip in for a mint tea or an inexpensive meal.
04:49Even the most popular tourist attractions, like the Bahia Palace,
04:53come in at under £15 for a ticket.
04:59That's all for this episode of Travel Smart Weekly. You'll find our next one out soon on
05:03independent.co.uk forward slash tv, on the Independa's mobile app, or on your smart TV.
05:09And for all the latest travel news, reviews and advice, be sure to check out
05:14independent.co.uk forward slash travel and do listen to my daily travel podcast.