With a cleverly planned city break, you can really make the most of your weekend. There are so many amazing European destinations within just a couple of hours’ flight time from the UK, with more than enough sights and attractions to fill two, three, or even four days. Choosing the right flight times is key to maximising your European city break, leaving as early as you can on the first day and catching the last flight home on your final day. Here are some of our tried and trusted favourites.
Oslo
Highly recommended by some of our team, Norway’s capital is a brilliant blend of old and new. Its newly developed docks have lovely canals, colourfully painted houses, a seawater fjord pool with diving boards, a city beach outside the Opera House, and the distinctive MUNCH Museum, one of the world’s largest collections by a single artist. Oslo is also packed with venues in which to learn about local culture, especially the Norwegian Maritime Museum, Norsk Folkemuseum, and Akershus Fortress.
Berlin
The German capital is big, bold, and beautifully compelling. There’s more here than you can fit into a weekend, even a long one, so take your time and enjoying strolling around. One of the top sights is the Berlin Wall Memorial at Bernauer Straße, where the lives of those who lived in border buildings is vividly documented. Other historic must-sees are the East Side Gallery – a section of the Berlin Wall with murals by artists from around the world – Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gate, and the Tiergarten park, while for those who love exploring after dark, the nightlife here is legendary.
Budapest
Named one of Conde Nast Traveller’s top places to visit in 2024 after celebrating its 150th anniversary in late 2023, the Hungarian capital is a brilliant city break destination, especially if you like pampering – not only in hotel spas (there are some palatial places to stay here), but in its naturally thermal springs, where you can join locals soaking in blissfully warm water. There is also fabulous shopping, great restaurants for all tastes, and some excellent nightlife – especially in the city’s famed ‘ruin bars’ in abandoned warehouses and historic buildings in the Jewish Quarter.
Venice
Great for couples but also for friends, families, and solo travellers, this road-traffic-free city is one of the loveliest in the world for simply ambling around – perhaps with a gelato in hand – admiring its splendid palaces and churches, especially the iconic Doges Palace. The Guggenheim Museum of modern art is also a must-see. When you’re not walking, there are gondolas, vaporetti, and traghetti to be ridden to nearby beaches and islands, where you might watch mask-makers, glassblowers, and lace-creators in action.
Palma
The Majorcan capital delivers blissful sunshine less than two and a half hours’ flight time from London, but this resort city is much more than just a beach destination – despite having some great ones, some with hip beach clubs. It also has a beautiful Old Town, home to a vast cathedral with bay views, the Moorish-style Royal Palace of La Almudaina, an Arab fortress converted to a royal residence, and the impressive Plaça Major square.
To book your European weekend break, call your Travel Counsellor today.
All-inclusive resorts come in many forms, but AVA Resort Cancun sets out to do things a little differently. This newly opened property focuses on space, flexibility, and experiences that work just as well for couples as they do for families or groups. With a prime location just ten minutes from Cancún International Airport, it’s an easy arrival and an even easier place to settle into holiday mode.
Stretching along one of Dubai’s longest private beaches, JA The Resort offers a refreshingly flexible way to holiday. Instead of a one-size-fits-all experience, you’ll find three distinct hotels sharing the same shoreline, dining scene, and activity offerings. Guests can move freely between restaurants, bars, and experiences, choosing days that are as full or as slow as you like. Whether you’re travelling with children, craving space and privacy, or want a modern resort with plenty to do, each hotel brings its own personality to the stay.
If sunshine is non-negotiable when you travel, choosing the right destination at the right time makes all the difference. Some places are at their best when others are off-season, giving you warmer days, clearer skies, and a better overall experience. From southern-hemisphere summers to autumn escapes that keep the heat going, here’s where to plan your trip for sunshine throughout the year.