If you’re only in Bratislava for a day or two then spend most of it in and around the Old Town, where you can enjoy a glorious panorama of the Slovakian capital and discover its main sights, including the Church of St Elizabeth, Michael’s Gate (the only remaining gate of the city’s medieval fortification) and Bratislava Castle, which dates back to the stone age.

During the summer months you can do the journey between the two cities by river cruise, on a high-speed catamaran along the famous Danube River and past the Donau-Auen National Park.

ROME AND COSTA SMERELDA

An hour’s flight or around an eight hour scenic ferry ride links the ancient ruins of Rome to the golden beaches and turquoise waters of Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda.

Get the most out of the Italian capital by staying somewhere central such as Hotel Barocco, a stylish boutique hotel overlooking Piazza Barberini. It’s worth investing in a Roma Pass – €28 each for a two-day discount card (available online or from tourist information offices) that gives free entry to two museums of your choice, reductions for others and unlimited use of citywide public transport. It also means you’ll avoid the large queues which tend to build up around the biggest tourist attractions, which is especially handy if you have kids with you. If travelling with children, you can rent four-seater family bikes at Villa Borghese gardens. After a couple of busy days exploring the Colosseum, Pantheon and the Vatican, climbing the Spanish Steps and throwing coins in the Trevi Fountain, you’ll look forward to relaxing on Sardinia’s most dazzling coastline.

Two cities, one weekend