I flew to a city no one has heard of for £22 from Liverpool and had a ball

After everything we’ve been through the past few years, I think everyone needs a vacation right now.

But amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, money is tight and research has shown that traveling abroad is only getting more expensive. City breaks are always popular, but they can prove expensive, especially if you’re visiting a country’s capital.

With flights, hotels, transfers and expenses, it can add up quickly. But we’ve found a cheaper alternative to many European city break destinations – and you can fly direct from Liverpool John Lennon Airport in just two hours.

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I spent a long weekend in Szczecin in northwestern Poland near the German border earlier this month. Flights to the Polish city start from £22 one-way and you can get a decent hotel room for around £30 a night.

After telling almost everyone I knew where I was going and none of them hearing about it, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

It’s a small city with a population of just over 400,000, but its combination of pretty little corners, museums and historical monuments means there’s plenty to do if you’re here for a few days. Not to mention there are some microbreweries to suit anyone who enjoys a pint.

Fortunately, the weather was also on our side and we started the first day enjoying a delicious and affordable breakfast before exploring Stare Miasto – the old town of Szczecin, parts of which reminded me of Bruges, Kiev and Budapest.

Szczecin is often called the “green city” because of its lush vegetation, and while we were there we enjoyed a picnic in Kasprowicz Park, a sprawling green space with lakes and lots of wildlife.

The rest of the vacation, which I would describe as chill, was spent walking along the river, visiting a tiny island with its own “beach” and feasting on incredible food.

If you’re after a more affordable city break and want somewhere a little more relaxed, Szczecin could be the place for you.

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