Before the “madness” of the Christmas period kicks into full gear, let’s look at four great spots for a weekend break that are only a short flight away, destinations that will see you pack a lot into a weekend without breaking the bank.
And we promise there won’t be mention of a Christmas market in sight.
Glasgow
Average Flight time from Dublin Airport: 1h 10min
Reason to go: more culture than you can shake a stick at
Edinburgh might be the Scottish capital, but Glasgow is undoubtedly where all the fun stuff happens. And while you might think Edinburgh is the place to go and feel cultured, Glasgow has a devious number of museums, galleries, and cultural hotspots to check out; it’s arguably one of the reasons why Banksy chose the city for his most recent exhibition.
You have spots such as the Gallery of Modern Art, Kelvingrove Museum, People’s Palace & The Burrell Collection and The Lighthouse; all places you can find yourself spending hours in without noticing.
Glasgow is also a serious foodie city that specialises in fancy versions of all your favourite grub. The likes of Babs on West Nile St (fancy kebabs) or Kimchi Cult (trendy Korean food) in the West End are just two examples.
And for those who want an authentic city history, Tennent’s Wellpark Brewery has a guided tour of how Scotland’s national beer was formed in the heart of the city.
Gothenburg
Average flight time from Dublin Airport: 2h 15min
Reason to go: see the quaint side of Sweden
Served by flights to Göteborg Landvetter Airport, which is only 20 minutes into town by bus, Sweden’s second city is an absolute gem of a city break, as it is somewhere you wouldn’t immediately think of going to.
It has a very tight-knit city centre like Dublin, but it can feel like you’re walking through a Nordic postcard at times, especially when you find yourself walking around the Haga district on a crisp Saturday afternoon.
It’s also THE place for coffee lovers, as you will soon discover the tradition of FIKA, which is literally an excuse to go to any of the many cosy cafes, get a decent cup of coffee & pastry, and watch the world go by.
Milan
Average flight time from Dublin Airport: 2h 30min
Reason to go: peak tourist season is over
If you don’t mind packing a scarf and getting your good coat out, you can have a better time than you think in Milan. With it being a coastal town when the humid months are over, you get crisp mornings in November.
Milan is a great city for getting your steps in to see the sights. The metro system will see you zip around town without hassle, getting to see the Duomo Cathedral one minute before nipping for a canal-side meal in the Navigli district. The queues also won’t be as bad to see da Vinci’s The Last Supper at the Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Manchester
Average flight time from Dublin Airport: 1h
Reason to go: ideal chilled-out weekend
Sometimes, a weekend getaway is something that you can breeze through. Manchester is a city where you are spoilt for things to do at the weekend and can tailor it to fit the kind of mini-break away you like, especially if you don’t want to feel like you’re missing out on anything.
See a few sights and learn something at the likes of the Science and Industry Museum, have a drink or two mid-afternoon in the Northern Quarter, and then maybe go to a gig that evening at the AO Arena or o2 Apollo. Then, you have a lie-in on Sunday morning before getting a fancy brunch and making your way back to the airport.
And, of course, even though it’s home to England’s National Football Museum and has two of the most popular teams, you could spend days there and not even hear a whisper of football.
A weekend away sound ideal?
Make sure you’re covered with AA Single Trip Insurance; ideal for weekend breaks and last-minute trips.
