Recommendations abroad
Long weekends, a short flight away
City breaks that make sense in three or four days from Dublin, Cork or Shannon.
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Italy · About 2 hours 40 minutes flightTriesteItaly's most unexpected city: a grand Habsburg port on the Adriatic, with the biggest seafront square in Europe, James Joyce's old haunts and the best coffee culture in Italy.
Poland · About 2 hours 15 minutes flightWrocławA city of islands and bridges, a market square to rival any in Europe and hundreds of tiny bronze gnomes to hunt down. Wrocław is the Polish city nobody tells you about.
Poland · About 2 hours 20 minutes flightGdańskA rebuilt medieval port on the Baltic, where the Second World War began and Solidarity changed Europe, with beaches and a huge castle nearby. Gdańsk will surprise you.
Italy · About 2 hours 30 minutes flightBolognaThe food capital of Italy, with miles of arcaded streets, medieval towers and real tagliatelle al ragù. Bologna is the Italian city break most people haven't tried yet.
France · About 2 hours flightBordeauxA golden city of grand squares and wine bars, vineyards half an hour away and Europe's tallest sand dune by the sea. Bordeaux is France without the Paris prices.
Denmark · About 2 hours flightCopenhagenColourful harbours, a funfair from 1843, swimming in the city centre and the best pastries you'll ever eat. Copenhagen costs more, and it's worth every krone.
Poland · About 2 hours 40 minutes flightKrakówA grand medieval square, a castle on a hill, pierogi for pocket change and a Christmas market straight out of a snow globe. Kraków is the best-value long weekend in Europe.
Spain · About 2 hours 45 minutes flightSevilleOrange trees, Moorish palaces, tapas until midnight and sunshine when Ireland's still in a raincoat. Seville is the long weekend that feels like a proper holiday.
Portugal · About 2 hours 20 minutes flightPortoTiled churches, a double-decker iron bridge and port wine tastings across the river. Porto is Lisbon's smaller, moodier, better-value cousin.
Scotland · About 1 hour 10 minutes flightEdinburghAn hour in the air and you're in a city with a castle on a volcano. Edinburgh might be the easiest great long weekend you can take from Ireland.
Portugal · About 2 hours 45 minutes flightLisbonSun on your face, a custard tart in your hand and seven hills to walk it off. Lisbon might be the best long weekend you can get from Ireland. City breaks from Ireland for a long weekend
A bank holiday Monday plus one day of annual leave gives you three or four nights away, which is enough for a proper city break without rushing. Every city here is about three hours or less from Dublin, so you lose as little of the weekend as possible to travel. Flights from Cork and Shannon change with the seasons, so check before you plan around them.
Which city for which weekend
Edinburgh is the shortest hop, about an hour in the air, and works at any time of year. Lisbon and Porto are good value, with mild weather well into autumn. Seville is at its best in spring and autumn, as the summer heat is fierce. Kraków is one of the better-value city breaks in Europe and lovely when the Christmas market is on, while Copenhagen costs more but is made for long summer evenings.
Booking tips
Fares for bank holiday weekends climb fastest, so book early and compare a Saturday morning departure with the usual Friday evening one. Each guide lists the flight time, the best months to go and the areas we would stay in, and the flights page compares live prices from Irish airports. Not sure which weekend to use? See every Irish bank holiday for this year and next.