Young girl and mother admire Rome’s skyline at sunset

 

Thursday 14 August 2025

Thomas Cook unveils top city break destinations for the school summer holidays

Poland leads the way, while France surprisingly misses out on the top spots

More than half (53%) are choosing city break escapes longer than three nights

Two thirds (66%) of city break bookings during the holidays are across 4 and 5 star hotels

While school summer holidays are often synonymous with sun-soaked beach holidays, new data from online travel agency Thomas Cook reveals a growing appetite for city breaks this year - with just under one in five citygoers (17%) choosing a Poland city break.

Poland takes the top spot as the most popular city break destination for the school summer holidays, with customers drawn to the UNESCO-listed Krakow Old Town - from exploring Wawel Castle to visiting the poignant Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and wandering through the lively Kazimierz Jewish Quarter.

Surprisingly, France - typically considered a family favourite among others thanks to the allure of Disneyland Paris holidays, hasn’t made the list. Instead, Brits are turning their attention to new cultural hotspots across Europe.

Another notable absentee from this year’s list is Amsterdam - a city traditionally regarded as a year-round favourite for city breakers. However, recent steep increases in city taxes appear to have influenced travellers to look elsewhere this summer.

Top Summer City Breaks 2025

Thomas Cook’s most-booked city spots for the summer holidays 2025 are (percentages are based on total city break bookings during this period):

  1. 1. Poland - 17%
  2. 2. Hungary - 13%
  3. 3. Italy - 11%
  4. 4. Spain - 9%
  5. 5. Republic of Ireland - 8%

City escapes aren’t just about short getaways either; more than half of all city goers (56%) are choosing to stay longer than three nights during school holidays - proving that they’re becoming a serious alternative to the traditional beach holiday.

Two-thirds (66%) of Thomas Cook’s city break bookings during this period are for 4-star and above hotels, with many customers opting for a quality rest.
 

“Beach breaks will always be popular, but city escapes offer something different – rich culture, historic architecture, and an incredible opportunity to explore new places. Poland and Hungary, in particular, are topping the charts for British holidaymakers this year, and we’re delighted to see families embracing these destinations together during the school holidays”, comments Nicholas Smith, Holidays Digital Director at Thomas Cook and eSky online travel agency.
 

These findings follow the launch of Thomas Cook’s mobile app, giving customers a simple way to book their next ATOL-protected package holiday in just a few taps, with access to thousands of hotels worldwide and hundreds of airlines.

Last Minute Summer City Breaks

There’s still time for travellers to snap up a last-minute deal to one of Thomas Cook’s top city destinations during the school break:

  1. ● Take seven nights with Thomas Cook at the 3 star Hotel Daisy Superior in Krakow on a Room Only basis for £354 per person including flights from London Stansted on 21 August 2025
  1. ● Take seven nights with Thomas Cook at the 4 star Leonardo Hotel Budapest in Budapest on a Room Only basis for £333 per person including flights from London Gatwick on 18 August 2025
  1. ● Take seven nights with Thomas Cook at the 4 star B&B Hotel Borgaro Torinese in Turin on a Room Only basis for £226 per person including flights from London Stansted on 26 August 2025
  1. ● Take seven nights with Thomas Cook at the 4 star NH Sants Barcelona on a Room Only basis for £457 per person including flights from Glasgow International on 19 August 2025
  1. ● Take three nights with Thomas Cook at the 4 star Clayton Hotel Burlington Road in Dublin on a Room Only basis for £232 per person including flights from Birmingham International on 24 August 2025

-ENDS-

Notes to editors 
For media enquiries please contact the Thomas Cook press office on +447457413467 or email pressoffice@thomascook.com. 
 
About Thomas Cook UK 
In September 2020, Thomas Cook, one of the most recognisable names in travel, returned as an online-only travel business. It is now part of the Polish-based travel company eSky Group, which owns and operates brands like eSky and eDestinos in 50 markets across the globe.

With ATOL-protected holidays and city breaks, the new Thomas Cook allows customers to design their own trip according to their budget, needs, and specifications. Customers can fly from all major UK airports with direct flights from all major carriers, thousands of hotels to choose from, and add-ons including car hire, insurance, and attractions.