Bank Holiday been a washout? Cheer yourself up on the cheap: book a budget break for the autumn. Check out these nine cool city break ideas, all with return flights under £30. Yes, all under £30!
1. Warsaw, Poland from £19
Yes, it’s true – a return flight for just £19. Looks like it’s the Polish capital for this week’s bargain basement city break, then. Lose yourself with the locals for a weekend in Warsaw’s buzzing bars and clubs. You could say it’s Iike Krakow without the stag parties (but definitely with the vodka!).
2. Budapest, Hungary from £27
Looking for a cheap weekend away with the lads? In Budapest a pint comes in at a pocket-pleasing average of 80p which means more of your budget left for… more beer. Summer in Budapest carries on well into our autumn, so you can quaff in the sun in one the city’s massive beer gardens.
3. Oslo, Norway from £27
A cheap flight to Rygge Airport and a 50-minute hop on the train through Norwegian scenery takes you to the ice-cool capital where you can swim in a fjord in the sunset, sample seafood at its freshest and finest, and get arty at the National Gallery – it’s a Scream!
4. Brussels, Belgium from £29
Ok, we better be honest: the cheapest flights go to Brussels Charleroi, 29 miles from the Belgian capital of Christmas markets, mussels and beer – you can fly to Brussels International for only £43. Either way, that’s a pretty good combo for a festive city break – what you doing in December?
5. Aarhus, Denmark from £29
Where? Impress your colleagues by nipping off for a short break in the up-and-coming Danish destination Aarhus. See what they mean by the somewhat meaningless slogan of ‘the world’s smallest big city’, and chase a rainbow – how cool? Barcelona? Berlin? Boring!
6. Nimes, France from £29
As the poet Keats kinda once said, oh for a beaker full of the warm South. He wasn’t talking about Sussex. Still basking in le soleil in September and beyond, the small southern French city of Nimes is spot on for a short autumn break of good food and good weather, and wine is pure poetry.
7. Knock, Ireland from £29
Don’t Knock it! County Mayo in Ireland may not be the sunniest autumn destination, but it’s got more to offer than the weather. And hey, if you like windswept walks and wide open spaces, you’ll be in your element. Zip up and get down to Belmullet for big beaches and pubs for post-walk pints.
8. Eindhoven, Netherlands from £29
The futuristic Dutch city of Eindhoven holds the little-known claim to fame of the street with the most bars in the Netherlands. A crawl along the Stratumseind with its 40-plus pubs could take all weekend, so stamina is required. Don’t forget about your flight home!
9. Get lucky!, from £19
If you’ve got the freedom to go away when you want, and you’re happy to try somewhere new, get inspired and find a really cheap flight by searching for ‘Everywhere’ on Skyscanner, with flights starting from as low as £19 return.
