Beautiful European cityscapes & travel photographs from Robert Harding

The UK’s Office for National Statistics has published a report revealing that Britons are taking more holidays than ever before, but that they tend to be shorter than they used to be, with a turn away from the traditional two-week beach trip. Brits are now enjoying more city breaks, according to the Association of British Travel Agents’ report from October 2016. This is thought to be partially due to the EU’s Europe-wide ‘open skies’ regulation.

Stock photo of Sunset on Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral — Sunset on Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral (Duomo), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Their research shows that city breaks are in fact the UK’s favourite holiday type, with over half the population having taken one in the year prior to the ABTA study, and almost as many planning to take one in the 12 months following. Cheaper flights and greater flexibility by travel companies are thought to have driven the shift away from the standard longer break in the sun.

Stock photo of the view from Bunker at El Carmel to Tibidabo Mountain, Sierra de Collserola, Barcelona — View from Bunker at El Carmel to Tibidabo Mountain, Sierra de Collserola, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, Europe

Stock photo nof of Riddarholmen Town Hall Tower, Stockholm — View of Riddarholmen Town Hall Tower, Stockholm, Sweden, Scandinavia

Stock photo of Paris skyline at sunset — Paris skyline at sunset with the Eiffel Tower and La Defense, Paris, France

Stock photo of Reichstag Parliament Building, Berlin — The Dome by Norman Foster, Reichstag Parliament Building, Berlin, Germany

Stock photo of Old Town, Dubrovnik — Historic Old Town, Cathedral, St Blaise Church, Clock Tower and Rector’s Palace, Dubrovnik, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Croatia

Stock photo of St Mary's Church, Krakow — St Mary’s Church (St Marys Basilica) and main square illuminated at dawn, Krakow, Poland

Stock photo of Old Town,. Prague — View of the historical buildings of the old town from Vltava River, Prague, Czech Republic

Stock photo of Piazza Bra, Verona — Piazza Bra, Verona, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Veneto, Italy, Europe

See more travel stock photos of city breaks