Five off the beaten track European short breaks to France, Italy, Spain and more - suitable for everyone, whatever your budget.

Taxing air travel has never been higher on the political agenda, with headlines about the state of the environment - and how planes are to blame - appearing on a daily basis. With the days of flying to Europe for less than a quid likely to be numbered, we took a look at the route map of Europe’s largest budget carrier, Ryanair.com, and found five out-of-the-way short break destinations everyone should visit while the price is still right.

Perugia, Italy: While neighbouring Tuscany may have more art and architectural gems, it also has far more tourists, with an authentic slice of Italy becoming increasingly harder to find. Umbria still retains much of its quintessential Italian charm however, and is the ideal spot for a long summer getaway or short break. Perugia, the regional capital, is a quaint medieval town, with a strong artistic tradition to rival Florence dating back centuries. Attractions in the city include Piazza IV Novembre, the old city’s main square; the thirteenth century Palazzo dei Priori, home to the municipal government and Arco d’ Augusto, one of the city’s ancient gates. Due to the hilltop location of Perugia there are numerous vantage points from which to look out at the rolling hills of the Umbrian countryside and there are also numerous restaurants, shops and hotels in Perugia from which to choose, whatever your budget. Visitors should look out for baci, too: delicious chocolate coated hazelnuts that originate from Perugia.

La Rochelle, France: Anyone who studied French at school will be familiar with La Rochelle from their old text books. But if you thought La Rochelle was nothing more than the endless market French text books would you believe - where Jean-Pierre goes to buy jambon for what seems like eternity - think again. With a prominent harbour setting, dominated by two foreboding medieval harbour gates, a delightful beach and history dating back nearly a thousand years, La Rochelle is considered by many to be the most beautiful seaside town in France. The city’s main street, Rue du Palais, leading up to the old centre of the city from the harbour is excellent for shopping and is lined by elegant eighteenth century houses. Popular sights in La Rochelle include the superb renaissance era Hotel De Ville and the imposing Tour Saint Nicolas. There are also some excellent museums in La Rochelle, including a brilliant aquarium and an impressive maritime museum. France at its finest without a GCSE text book in sight!

Saragossa, Spain: The fifth largest city in Spain, with a history dating back to Roman times and heavily influenced by the Moors, Catholicism and, latterly, the Napoleonic French, Saragossa is a must-do for anyone hoping to experience the real Spain. Central attractions include the stunning basilica, the Nuestra Senora del Pilar, one of the most sacred sites in all of Catholicism; the Aljaferia, an eleventh century Moorish palace now home to the Aragonese parliament, and the renaissance exchange house, La Lonja. Saragossa is also the birthplace of the surrealist artist Goya, and there is a permanent display of his early art work in the Museo de Zaragoza. The city also has a number of Roman ruins, including an amphitheatre, and is famed in Spain for serving superb tapas. But don’t expect any of the bars to be open much before 10pm, as there is no pandering to tourist tastes in Saragossa! If you are looking for a spot of Spanish café culture, fine food and drink, historic sights, shopping and more, all without a sunburned Brit in sight, then Saragossa is the place for you.

Szczecin, Poland: The seventh largest city in Poland and a Baltic seaport, Szczecin has a colourful history dating back over a thousand years. Part of Germany until 1939, Szczecin today is a bustling city and a great short break destination. Popular sights include the Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes and the Old Town, which was completely renovated in the 1990s and is home to numerous eating and drinking establishments. In recent years the city has gained a reputation as a shopping centre, with a number of good shopping malls springing up, offering visitors cut-price bargains. The surrounding Baltic coast is widely regarded as the most beautiful in Poland, with the towns of Szczecin Bay: Nowe Warpno, Trzebiez and Stepnica, popular places to visit. If you have been to Riga or Tallinn and liked what you saw, and are looking to explore more Baltic beauty-spots then Szczecin could be the place for you.

Lake Balaton, Hungary: The largest fresh water lake in Europe, Lake Balaton was a popular spot with the elite of Hungarian Communism back in the day: now visitors from Western Europe are discovering this gem for themselves. With the entire lake to explore, Balaton is an excellent getaway location. The ancient village of Tihany, occupying a peninsula jutting into the ‘Hungarian Sea,’ as the lake is often referred by Hungarians, is a picturesque town and a great base for catching a ferry to other lakeside towns. The city of Heviz, the town Ryanair flies nearest to (the airport is 15km away and there are regular buses), is famed for its natural thermal spas and the health giving properties of the waters. There are a number of specialist spa hotels to be found here. The entire region is also well known for its local wines, too, and lovers of outdoor pursuits are well catered for, with lakeside watersports, as well as cycling and hiking trails in abundance. In short then, Lake Balaton is a great destination for an out-of-the-way budget break away from the crowds.

All flights available from London Standsted with Ryanair.com. For route maps, Click Here