If you’d like to spend Easter in a cultural destination, look no further than Budapest. Húsvét (Easter) is a big deal here, with celebrations taking place throughout the city. Your first stop should be the Easter market at Vörösmarty Square, where handcrafted souvenirs are displayed for sale in wooden huts. Hand-woven baskets, colourful painted eggs and artisan pottery are a speciality at this time of year. You can also try Hungarian street food like lángos – a garlicky pastry stuffed with sour cream and cheese. There are also often musical performances at Buda Castle, which hosts its own Easter festivals. When you’re not taking part in Easter celebrations, you can simply stroll the city’s romantic cobbled streets. Soak in the famous thermal baths, stroll across the Chain Bridge, and enjoy a night out in the trendy Jewish Quarter.

What better place to spend your Easter holiday than in Belgium – the land of chocolate? Master chocolatiers put together elaborate window displays across the Belgian capital for the holiday. Treat yourself to artisan bunnies from Pierre Marcolini or fill your hand luggage with luxurious miniature eggs from Neuhaus. Treat it as a seriously educational experience with a visit to the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate, or join one of the city’s many guided chocolate-tasting tours. When you’re not indulging your sweet tooth, Brussels is a wonderfully walkable city. Download a comic book map of the city to find all of the colourful Tintin-inspired murals, or while away an afternoon exploring the UNESCO-listed square, the Grand Place. Don’t miss the cheeky Manneken Pis statue, tucked away just off the square.

It’s hard to beat Portugal for a warm Easter, where average temperatures at this time of year are 14–20°C. Because it’s not scorching hot, it’s the perfect time to discover more about this region beyond its beaches and nightlife. Take the opportunity to stay inland – the medieval town of Silves makes the perfect base for discovering the coast and mountains. In the spring, orange blossom fills the countryside with its delicate scent. The easiest way to see the Algarve is to hire a car. Drive inland to Monchique and climb to the top of Fóia – the region’s highest mountain – or go west to Aljezur for surf lessons.

Just a short hop across the Irish Sea, Cork is one of the best places for an Easter city break in Europe – particularly for those who don’t want to travel far from the UK. There are often fun, family-friendly events happening around the city. In past years, Cork Gaol has held Easter Egg Hunts, and Fota Wildlife Park has hosted interactive events. Keep an eye on their websites for the latest updates. See a little more of the county by hiring a car at Cork Airport and driving to nearby Cobh. This pretty seaside town is home to bars where you can catch live traditional music. It’s also where the Titanic made the last stop on its fateful voyage and it has a small museum telling the story of the doomed ship.

If you want to spend Easter by the sea, one of the best places to do it is Valencia on Spain’s Costa Blanca. As well as having pleasant daytime temperatures of 21°C, the city has its own unique Holy Week tradition surrounding the sea. Head to the long, golden stretch of Malvarrosa Beach on Good Friday and watch processions carrying statues of Jesus to the water. There are fireworks at midnight on Easter Sunday, but you might want to stay indoors for that bit – it’s traditional to throw old pots, crockery and water from balconies to mark the beginning of the festivities. When you’re not enjoying the traditional celebrations in the Cabanyal, Canyamelar and Grao neighbourhoods, explore the city’s unique attractions. Take a walk through the lush Turia Gardens, munch on tapas in the trendy Mercat de Colón or admire the futuristic architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences.

Sun-seekers looking for a spiritual experience will adore Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, at Easter. The city is known for its stunning beaches, rich cultural heritage and warm climate, with temperatures around 20°C in April. Throughout Easter, the city is renowned for its religious parades and processions. These take place in the oldest quarters of the city for the full week up to the big day. If you arrive on Good Friday, you’ll be in time for the most touching of these rituals – including the S’Iscravamentu, representing Jesus’s deposition from the cross. If the religious aspect isn’t for you, there’s plenty of atmosphere away from the city’s parades. Take a stroll through the historic Castello district and admire the stunning views from the ramparts. Or, hire a car and spend your Easter holiday rubbing shoulders with celebrities on the glitzy beaches of Costa Smerelda.

Ah, Easter in Vienna: the weather is warm, and the city’s parks and gardens are alive with spring blooms. Visit the city’s traditional Easter markets at am Hof, Schloss Schönbrunn and Freyung for a unique shopping experience. Wooden stalls are laden with pastel-hued handicrafts, and the smell of grilling sausage fills the air as live music wafts through the lanes. Vienna is world-famous for its operas and Easter is an excellent time to catch a performance by renowned composers (like Vienna’s own Mozart) at the famous Wiener Staatsoper. You can pick up cheap standing tickets on the day. In warmer weather, some performances are shown on the big screen outside for free.

With its rich cultural heritage, beautiful buildings and budget-friendly prices, Poznań is a great under-the-radar destination for an Easter city break. Traditional festivals and markets make it easy to immerse yourself in the local culture. Head to the city’s main square, Stary Rynek, for a lively seasonal market filled with local food, crafts, and live music. Feeling contemplative? Pay a visit to Poznań Cathedral with its stunning stained-glass windows and intricate frescoes. Then, for a quirky look into the city’s history, head to the Poznań Croissant Museum and Experience (yes, it is exactly how it sounds). Or, squeeze in some retail therapy at The Stary Browar (Old Brewery). This industrial building once produced beer and mineral water, but is now home to a shopping mall, art gallery and cinema.

Valletta is a fantastic option for an Easter city break getaway. Malta is famous for its festivals (there's practically one every week during the summer) and Easter is the biggest of all (including Christmas). Parades abound during Holy Week, with one of the largest seeing life-sized statues carried in processions through the capital's picturesque limestone streets. Expect constant bell-tolling, oodles of flags and bunting and 'Passion plays' performed at local theatres. One of the most popular is hosted at Basilica of Saint Dominic in Valletta. Thankfully, April is also one of the quieter months for Malta's shores, and the weather circles a reasonable 17 degrees, so it's a great time to explore the modest-sized islands. Take the kids on a boat trip through the Inland Sea in Gozo, see some of the world's oldest man-made structures at the multiple megalithic temples and tuck into rabbit pie, pea pastizzi and flavourful Ġbejna cheese.