How long should one allow for a satisfactory city break?

Simon Calder answers your questions on short trips, flight cancellations, and passport damage

Why settle for one city, says Simon who suggests using the Rhine as a base to explore Dusseldorf, Cologne, pictured, and Bonn (Supplied)

Q What is the ideal duration for a city break?

Caroline M

A Goodness, it is 35 years since The Independent launched the first in our city break series with 48 Hours in Istanbul (yes, I was very young at the time, thanks). In 1989 short trips to great cities were beginning to become popular, London, Paris, Barcelona and dozens of other destinations followed Istanbul, with regular revisions. I returned to Turkey’s largest city last year to research the latest edition.