Combine a leading act with a visit to one of the world’s most exciting cities and you have a recipe for a thrilling break.

If you’re thinking about planning a short break to Paris, consider taking in a top concert or opera at the same time. This summer, for example, AC/DC, Aerosmith and Green Day will all be playing live in the French capital. At the same time, Michael Buble brings his unique singing style to the city in the autumn, and in October you could also enjoy the operatic drama of Verdi’s Aida at the Grand Opera.

On these kinds of weekend breaks to Paris, you can take in the sights by day and top entertainment by night. This is one place where you’ll never be bored, whether you’re planning a romantic getaway or a break with a gaggle of mates.

Whether you want first-class galleries and museums, designer boutiques, or some of the world’s finest cuisine, Paris has the lot – you can pack so much into weekend breaks to Paris.

At Golf Weekend Breaks, we’ve got some fantastic deals on weekend breaks to Paris throughout the summer, however you want to spend your well-earned holiday there.

If you prefer to sort out your own flights or train travel, let us just arrange accommodation for your. Our Paris breaks are based in well-located three and four star hotels. We can help give you a magical stay in France’s capital – find out more from our website.

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The Irish capital is one of the great literary cities of the world, producing geniuses such as Oscar Wilde, YB Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and plenty more. Those who have read James Joyce will also be familiar with the streets of the old town, even if they’ve never set foot on the cobblestones. For anyone who has read Ulysses or The Dubliners, weekend breaks in Dublin are equal parts delightful and thought-provoking.

Short breaks in Dublin are also interesting for lovers of a different kind of literature. The famous Book of Kells is on public display at Trinity College. This superbly decorated book is perhaps the best surviving example of an illuminated text to be found anywhere. It’s more than 1000 years old and a thing of great beauty- a must see on city breaks to Dublin.

On short breaks in Dublin you can also visit the National Library of Ireland and the National Print Museum (which hosts many other outstanding pieces of incalculable historical value). And of course, you can follow in the footsteps of Yeats, Wilde, and their contemporaries along the city streets.

The literary scene is still very much alive, and it is not restricted to museums. Dublin has produced a host of modern writers of the highest calibre - Maeve Binchy and Roddy Doyle are just two of the many well-known novelists from the region. There are plenty of pubs that are host to regular poetry evenings and larger festivals of literature and poetry are held frequently across the city and elsewhere in Ireland.

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If you’re looking for a break which provides a huge experience without costing a fortune, short breaks in Prague could well be the answer.

One recent survey found the Czech capital to be one of Europe’s best-value destinations. In a poll of 15 world-class cities, Prague beat its eastern European counterparts as the cheapest city – with prices for British tourists falling by over a third in a year, despite the weakening of the pound against the koruna.

The average price of a typical three-star hotel in Prague has fallen markedly already this year – sparked by the opening of many of new hotels combined with a dip in visitor numbers.

With a coffee typically costing less than £1.50, a beer under £1.75 and a decent meal around £20, a 48-hour travel card and a sightseeing bus tour on weekend breaks to Prague costs under £25, making this city great value.

Equally, if you’re able to head off on weekend breaks to Prague at short notice, you can often save money at the last minute as well.

At Golf Weekend Breaks, we have some fantastic value trips to ‘the city of 100 spires’, whether you just book your hotel through us or your flight as well. We offer some of the very best hotel prices on weekend breaks to Prague you’re likely to find anywhere online, staying in comfortable, high-standard accommodation.

The amazing architecture and culture of this dazzling city are just a few clicks away.

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For short breaks, Athens is one of the finest destinations to choose. Here, history isn’t something you need to go into a museum to see. It’s right out on the streets and part of the everyday life of the city. For the citizens of this great and ancient metropolis, the Parthenon is just as commonplace a sight as the houses of Westminster and Big Ben are to Londoners. On city breaks in Athens, you’ll see history everywhere you go.

Much of Classical Athens remains standing, albeit in ruins. The Parthenon is just one example that is well known all over the globe, and attracts visitors from many different countries. The temple of Hephaestus is another must see attraction for anyone considering city breaks in Athens, and there are many more ruins and partial remains from the same period scattered around the area. They are complemented by many fine neo-classical buildings that do much to lend Athens a sense of history and an elegance of architecture.

Of course, architecture is just the start. As you would expect, Athens has a huge number of fine classical statues dotted about the city, and many more in museums and collections. Interested visitors will not have a moment with nothing to see.

For those interested in a period even further back in time, the Cave of Schist can be included on weekend breaks in Athens. It was occupied at least 9000 years ago, if not more. Few sites in the world can boast such ancient signs of human occupation, especially in large cities.

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The city of New York has a rich culture and history. Originally the territory of the Algonquin, Iroquois, and Lenape tribes, the area was settled by the Dutch at the beginning of the 17th Century - not long ago in terms of European history, but the American story packs a lot of great events into that brief 400 years. On short breaks in New York you can see living and breathing evidence of world-shaking happenings all around you.

After passing into British hands for a little over a century, the city was fundamental to the American Revolution. On short breaks in New York you can find out much about this fascinating period of history, often neglected by British and European writers and reporters. There is plenty to learn and a great deal to see whatever time period interests you the most.

More recent history is also unmissable even on the briefest of city breaks in New York City. Among other attractions are Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. While the latter is far better known and weekend breaks in New York aren’t complete without a visit to it, Ellis Island may have an even more significant story. As the main entry point for European immigrants from 1892 to 1954, the great waves of immigration that made America and especially New York so vibrant and so richly multicultural all passed through Ellis Island. It is especially poignant as a reminder of those dispossessed by the Second World War, who went on to seek and find sanctuary so far from home.

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One of the leading reasons to take short breaks in Dubai is to enjoy some quality time on one or more of the region’s many outstanding golf courses. The golfing in Dubai is often acknowledged as the best in the Middle East and without doubt among the best in the world. To make it even better, you can be virtually certain that short breaks in Dubai will be characterised by warm weather and unsullied by rain. Your golf need not be spoiled by wet weather - or at least, not in the United Arab Emirates!

However, we understand that golf is not everyone’s favourite pastime. There is plenty more to do on weekend breaks in Dubai, either to fit around your time on the golf courses or to keep other members of the party amused while you enjoy some time on the green. If your partner doesn’t love golf as much as you do, city breaks in Dubai will provide a level of excitement and interest that will more than make up for a little time spent apart.

The beautiful city of Dubai is the jewel of the United Arab Emirates and one of the most splendid and decadent places in the world. The carefully preserved and authentic historical district, the fine shopping (especially for gold items and jewellery), and the exotic surroundings are all superb. In particular, the beaches and swimming pools are incredible, especially for those visitors coming from the damp, cold UK. Dubai basks in year-round sunshine and balmy subtropical temperatures.

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City breaks in Madrid are a great option for anyone interested in history and architecture. Add to this the great food, wonderful culture and exuberant people and you will see that weekend breaks in Madrid offer something for everyone.

The area around Madrid has been populated since prehistoric times, but first came to prominence when the Romans annexed the Iberian Peninsula in the second century BC. After the Roman Empire collapsed, advancing Arab armies conquered and settled the area in the 7th century. In the 9th century, the resident Arabs began to lay the foundations for the Madrid that we recognise today. However, in the 11th century, Alfonso VI of Castile defeated and expelled the Arabs from the Spanish mainland and from then on Madrid’s importance began to increase. Being situated in the centre of the country helped Madrid become the centre of Spanish political life during medieval times, although it was not until the 16th century that it became the official capital. The city flourished as the mighty Spanish Empire of the 17th and 18th centuries drew in huge wealth to Spain. The spoils of this ‘Golden Age’ can be seen in Madrid’s stunning Renaissance architecture, chief among them being the spectacular residence of the King of Spain, the Palacio Real.

Short breaks in Madrid are a great option for culture loving Brits as the Spanish capital is less than three hours flight away. With many cheap flights available, weekend breaks in Madrid are accessible to all.

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Germany’s capital has drawn travellers for hundreds of years. It may have once symbolised a divided Europe, but now Berlin is an emblem of a reunited nation, and city breaks to Berlin are hugely popular.

You can get a glimpse of what this city may have been like 300 years ago by strolling around the The Schloss Charlottenburg palace, and its extensive gardens. If you are looking for something with a more modern feel, go to funky areas such as Prenzlauer Berg or the Potsdamer Platz, where westerners used to look over the wall to the east. Twenty years after the wall fell, this vibrant centre is now full of shops, restaurants and entertainment.

You can see all these sites on more on any short breaks to Berlin. And if you make city breaks to Berlin during the week, you can save money on air fares into the bargain. But for city breaks in Berlin over a weekend, pick up a metro pass for unlimited travel across the German capital.

At Golf Weekend Breaks, we can offer you city breaks to Berlin staying in a variety of three or four-star hotels. Save money and get us to take care of your flight at the same time. We bring together the best tailor-made weekend breaks at the best prices, and offer discounted fares on over 450 airlines. And we’re ATOL-protected to give you extra peace of mind. See our website for more information.

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While weekend breaks to Rome with a partner are undeniably romantic, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t also enjoy short breaks to Rome with the whole family.

The Italian capital is extremely child-friendly, with warm welcomes extended to youngsters in hotels and restaurants. Italians are naturally quite vibrant people, so you won’t have to worry about how much noise your little ones make.

You may find fewer nappy changing stations than in the UK, and certainly not all the museums and historic sights have videos or interactive displays aimed at kids. But these things are easy to work round, and there’s so much in Rome the whole family will love.

Gianicolo hill, for example, behind Trastevere, has fantastic views, and there are puppet shows here at weekends. Or check out San Clemente church near the Colosseum, or Castel Sant’Angelo. At the Macchine di Leonardo museum, there is an interactive exhibition, with models of some of da Vinci’s greatest designs. This is in the cellars of the Palazzo della Cancelleria – nice and cool on a hot day, as are the various Roman catacombs.

If you’re looking into short breaks to Rome, make us at Golf Weekend Breaks your first port of call. We’ll be delighted to help give your family a truly memorable holiday – we’re ATOL-protected, giving you extra peace of mind.

Book your hotel with or without flights. We stay in well-located, comfortable three and four star accommodation. Our website has lots more information about our city breaks to Rome and elsewhere.

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Summer 2010 is set to be an outstanding one for sports fans, with the football World Cup, Henley Regatta and Wimbledon tennis tournament all coming up. What better way of enjoying them than on a short break in London?

London makes an excellent base for enjoying any of these events. Henley and Wimbledon are not far out of town, and there are plenty of large-screen showings of World Cup games. If polo’s your thing, watch the world’s top polo stars in action at London’s Hurlingham Park, the traditional home of the sport. Or travel at the right time of year and catch some world-class rugby at Twickenham, or cricket at Lord’s or the Oval. With city breaks to London, you won’t miss any of the action.

And, of course, interest in sport in the UK’s capital is only going to increase as the city gears up for the Olympic Games in 2012.

As well as sports, you may want to come to London for the August beer festival at Olympia, among other special events from Picasso exhibitions to a chance to see inside Buckingham Palace.

If you’re looking into short breaks to London, see what we at Golf Weekend Breaks have to offer before you do anything else. Our short breaks to London are hotel-only deals, staying in four star comfort. We make booking short stays in the capital really easy – and we’re also ATOL-protected for extra peace of mind.

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