The weather in the UK during the winter is known for its icy temperatures, torrential rain and strong winds, which is why, many Brits are obsessing over their next getaway with ‘city breaks Europe’ and ‘best European city breaks’ on a breakout rising more than +5,000% over the last month.
So, for those struggling to choose a destination on this continent, new research has revealed that Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Paris are the most Googled cities in Europe.
The study, conducted by clothing retailer FatFace, has uncovered the European cities the nation searches for the most and their average temperatures for early spring. Jo Collins, head of womenswear design at the brand has also compiled her top 10 city break clothing staples and packing tips to help the nation save on luggage space.
The most Googled European cities and their temperatures revealed:
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Average Spring Temperatures for Europe’s Top 10 Googled Cities |
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|
Rank |
City |
Monthly UK Google Searches (Jan 24 – Dec 24) |
Average Temperatures for Early Spring (March and April) |
|
1 |
Barcelona |
7,753,000 |
13.9°C |
|
2 |
Amsterdam |
2,972,000 |
9.7°C |
|
3 |
Paris |
2,173,000 |
11.1°C |
|
4 |
Prague |
2,124,000 |
10°C |
|
5 |
Valencia |
2,112,000 |
15.3°C |
|
6 |
Budapest |
2,052,000 |
12.2°C |
|
7 |
Copenhagen |
1,830,000 |
6.4°C |
|
8 |
Lisbon |
1,626,000 |
15.7°C |
|
9 |
Milan |
1,511,000 |
12.9°C |
|
10 |
Vienna |
1,431,000 |
12.7°C |
Barcelona takes the top spot for the most searched for city break with 7.7 million UK searches. During early springtime in March and April temperatures in this Spanish city are quite warm compared to the UK averaging at 13.9°C.
Amsterdam is in second place with 2.9 million UK searches and averages slightly cooler than Barcelona with temperatures of 9.7°C during March and April.
Paris completes the top three with 2.1 million UK searches and is slightly warmer than Amsterdam during March and April at 11.1°C.
After over half (51%) of Brits stated they are unsure about what to wear on a city break, resulting in 44% finding it difficult to pack for one, head of womenswear design, Jo Collins at FatFace shares her capsule wardrobe holiday essentials.
She says: “As exciting and needed a winter break is for many, it can be particularly hard to pack for one, especially a short-haul holiday when luggage space is limited. Often for these trips it’s hand luggage only which is limited to a small bag or backpack to fit a week’s worth of outfits inside unless you pay extra which can defeat the purpose of an inexpensive getaway.
“So, when situations like this arise, it’s important to focus on capsule pieces that can be mixed and matched for multiple occasions, for example throwing a chunky jumper on over a spring dress to warm it up.”
Opt for wool coats and a light hooded waterproof jacket to add warmth and protection from the weather elements:
“For a city break in Europe, there’s bound to be spells of rain, so always pack a light waterproof jacket with a hood that won’t take up much space but will ensure you are dry throughout the trip. Or if the jacket ruins the look – opt for an umbrella for those rainy days without much wind.
“A wool coat is the perfect day-to-night transition piece as it will keep you warm during the day and will match your evening look. Wool material is the ideal choice for the colder months as it traps air between the fibres allowing heat to stay close to the body.
Choose trainers or comfortable shoes for long city walks:
“During trips such as city breaks that involve a great deal of walking, it’s important to pack the correct shoes that provide comfort throughout the trip. For trainers, keep it simple and pack a white pair or white with black accents that will match multiple outfits.
“If trainers don’t match the overall feel, choose a pair of black Chelsea boots that compliment jeans, dresses and long skirts. Make sure these are comfortable before packing to avoid blisters.”
Keep it simple with a pair of jeans and smart trousers to save on luggage space:
“Jeans are great transition pieces that can tone down outfits for a more casual feel or elevate them when paired with a belt or accessories. Opt for one pair that is in a darker colour such as blue or black to create your capsule trip wardrobe.
“For evening looks, choose smart trousers in dark grey or black and pair with white trainers for a casual look or boots for a dressier feel. One pair of jeans and trousers will get you through a week-long break.”
Opt for dresses and long skirts for cooler days and evenings:
“Dresses are a perfect layering piece as they can sit underneath knitted jumpers, sweater vests and t-shirts. Opt for a smock dress with a v-neck to show off jewellery pieces for warmer days and a midi dress to add warmth during the evenings. Go bold with a floral pattern or keep it simple with a neutral black shade.”
Create a base layer using long sleeve tops and t-shirts:
“The key when packing for a break where luggage is limited is to layer outfits. Layering pieces such as long-sleeved tops and t-shirts are perfect basics that keep you comfortable and warm. You can even pack a thermal top or leggings to provide extra insulation and comfort.
“When choosing layering items, opt for neutral shades such as black, white, greys and creams as these colours will match the rest of your trip wardrobe – allowing you to mix and match items without clashing too much.”
Accessorize outfits using scarves, hats, sunglasses and jewellery:
“When you are packing a small number of items that you need to mix and match – accessories are a great way to change up an outfit and create the illusion you are wearing different clothing pieces. Opt for a scarf, hat and gloves for warmth and a small set of jewellery pieces such as a watch, rings, earrings and a necklace to dress an outfit up. Or choose sunglasses to elevate your outfit and help create a more put-together look.”
Add knitted jumpers and cardigans to layer on top of t-shirts:
“Chunky oversized knitted jumpers are the perfect option for adding warmth and layering over the long-sleeve t-shirts. Opt for lighter shades for the day and darker shades for the night and experiment with different shapes such as roll neck and asymmetrical to change the silhouette.
“Like knitted jumpers, cardigans can be worn in various ways. Button them up to provide the same effect as a knitted jumper or leave them open to add more dimension. Opt for a v-neck to show off the layer underneath or a crew neck for a more closed-off look.”
Choose a crossbody bag, tote bag or backpack for daytime trips:
“Crossbody bags are perfect for day trips when you don’t need to carry much and can easily fit inside a backpack. If you don’t fancy a crossbody, keep it casual with a tote bag that will hold everything you need for a day trip.
After over two-fifths (45%) admitted they struggle with luggage space for this type of holiday, she also shares her top packing hacks.
Lay out all the clothes before packing and remove any that don’t match:
“After you’ve made a list of what clothing items you would like to take, lay these out on the bed so you have an idea of how they coordinate. This method will help you be strict with your items and keep to the luggage limit as you can remove the items that don’t match before packing. Try to refrain from packing items ‘just in case’ – you can purchase anything you’ve forgotten when you get to your destination.”
Roll clothes instead of folding them to prevent creasing and stuff shoes with socks to save space:
“Instead of folding, roll clothes to maximise space and prevent creases. Rolled clothes can also be neatly stacked so you can easily spot all the items in your case rather than taking everything out and making a mess. You can also use packing cubes to categorise items.
“Another way to save space is to stuff your shoes with socks which will free up room in your case whilst making use of dead space and thread your necklaces through a straw and close it to avoid any tangling.”
Wear the bulkiest items to travel in and pop shower caps over shoes to prevent dirt from covering other clothing:
“When luggage space is limited, make sure to wear the heaviest items that will take up the most space in your bag rather than packing them.
“Another tip is to pop a shower cap over shoes to prevent the dirt from covering clothing and items in the bag. This will help keep everything neat in one bag.
“To prevent spillage for your shampoo bottles, pop some clingfilm under the caps of the bottles to avoid any leaking disasters and if you’re only going for a weekend, pack travel sized bottles to save space.”
For those looking to stock up on city break essentials, check out FatFace’s wide range of women’s jeans, women’s tops, fleeces, coats and women’s dresses.