After Paris, Venice may be considered the most romantic city in Europe with its sterotypical image of romantic gondola rides and is the perfect destination for a cheap city weekend break.

Venice is a ‘floating city’ built on wooden piles on mud islets so it appears to float on the water. The Grand Canal makes an S shape through the centre of Venice with more than 300 palaces on either side.

Must-see places include the Doge’s Palace, home to the government for over 700 years, the Basilica of St Mark and La Fenice Opera House.

Of course you must take a water taxi (a vaporetto) down the Grand Canal to get the overall effect of the city, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a gondola round the canal network, made up of more than 170 canals with around 450 bridges linking its six districts.

Despite being steeped in legend and myths, there are designer shops and posh hotels hidden amongst its narrow streets.

A good time to visit is the two weeks before Lent when the city celebrates Carnevale, a wonderful atmospheric carnical that takes over the streets for fourteen whole days. If the arts and culture are more your style, the city is awash with museums and galleries, the best of which are the Accademia and the Galleria Giorgio Franchetti.