It’s great to unwind on a long weekend or holiday. However, if time and money are limited, you don’t have to miss out. With a bit of planning, you can head off on an overseas adventure for 24 hours or less. No luggage required.
Just set your alarm clock for the early hours, grab your passport and come with us to explore some of Europe’s best locations – and be home in time for work the next day.
Click through to discover a selection of surprising destinations you can do in a day from the UK…
Characterful, historic and walkable, Ireland’s capital is one of the easier UK day trips, offering a few hours of culture and craic. Highlights include Trinity College, Dublin Castle, St Patrick's Cathedral and the Guinness Storehouse. You can also wander the vibrant Temple Bar district and enjoy a stroll by the River Liffey.
Flight time is around 85 minutes from London and several regional UK airports, with a 15-minute transfer on the Dublin Express bus into the city centre.
Lille has a shorter travel time on the Eurostar than Paris and features an attractive and compact centre, making it a great day trip from London. Stroll the old town, explore the bookshops of La Vieille Bourse and visit the Palais des Beaux-Arts museum. Also, be sure to sample the famous waffles at Méert on Rue Esquermoise.
Travel time from London St Pancras to the international station of Lille Europe is 80 minutes. A 10-minute walk from the station takes you to the heart of the city.
Another doable day trip is Amsterdam. Highlights include the boutiques and cafés of the Jordaan district, a cruise along one of the many charming canals and visits to the Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank House.
Direct flights from London or regional UK airports (including Edinburgh and Manchester) take around 80-90 minutes, with early departures available. The transfer time from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Central Station is just 15 minutes by train.
Germany is another destination which – perhaps surprisingly – is a feasible day trip. Head to the city of Cologne to marvel at its Gothic cathedral (Kölner Dom), visit the Ludwig Museum and enjoy the views from the Hohenzollern Bridge in the old town. There’s even time for a Kölsch beer and a currywurst.
The flight time from London to Cologne Bonn Airport is one hour and 20 minutes, with a 15 to 20-minute transfer by train to the city centre.
Brussels is another straightforward day trip from London. Explore the Grand Place (pictured), view the exhibits at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts and head to the famous Delirium Café for a local brew.
The easiest travel option is Eurostar. From London St Pancras, travel time is two hours to Brussels city centre, with the earliest departure getting you there by 9.15am. Flights take around 70 minutes, with a 20-minute transfer to the city by taxi or bus.
Mallorca in a day? Much of the island might be a stretch, but Palma’s proximity to the airport makes it feasible. Wander the old town, enjoy some sangria and tapas and relax on Platja de Can Pere Antoni beach. Cultural highlights include Castell de Bellver, Palma Cathedral and the Es Baluard Museum.
Take an early direct flight from London, Bristol or Manchester with an evening return. Flight time is around two hours and 20 minutes, with a 20-minute taxi or bus transfer to the city centre.
This often-overlooked European country deserves more than a day, but you can get a taste of its stylish and compact capital city in 24 hours. Discover the Grund riverside neighbourhood, take in the views from Chemin de la Corniche (an elevated pedestrian promenade) and enjoy lunch at a café in the Ville Haute quarter.
Flights take around one hour and 20 minutes from London City Airport, with the earliest departure arriving before 10am. City transfers take 20 minutes by bus or tram.
Scandinavia in a day is just about feasible if you choose your destination wisely. Walkable and with decent travel connections, Copenhagen is a good option. Highlights include the Tivoli Gardens, the colourful harbour of Nyhavn (pictured) and the Latin Quarter.
The earliest UK flights to Copenhagen leave at around 6.30am, with return departures up to around 8.30pm. Travel time is one hour and 50 minutes, with a 15-minute city transfer. Given the harsh winters, a day trip here is best planned for the warmer months.
Home to some notable international organisations, Geneva is geared towards people jetting in for short visits. For day-trippers, attractions include the medieval old town, the Patek Philippe Museum (showcasing the city’s watchmaking heritage) and Lake Geneva.
Regular direct flights run from the UK to Geneva, with early departures available. The flight time is one hour and 40 minutes, with a mere seven-minute transfer time by train into the centre. Buy a 24-hour city pass to enjoy free (or discounted) access to the city’s highlights.
For the ultimate shopaholics day out, head to the fashion capital of Europe – Milan. The focus is Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (pictured), an elegant 19th-century arcade featuring Prada and Gucci. But there’s more to enjoy than designer labels. Marvel at the Duomo (cathedral), tour La Scala opera house and stroll the Brera district.
Travel time is two hours, with the earliest flights arriving at 9.30am. Milan Linate airport is just five miles (8km) from the city, so better for a day trip than Milan Malpensa.
This destination falls at the ‘just about doable’ end of the scale. However, day-tripping on the Algarve from the UK is possible. Faro is a good option, as the city is compact and easy to navigate, with great beaches and a charming old town. Be sure to indulge in a pastel de nata (Portuguese custard tart) while you're here.
Flights take two hours and 45 minutes, with a 15-minute taxi transfer to the city or Praia de Faro beach. There’s no time difference between Portugal and the UK, which is a bonus.
Oslo is another accessible and easily walkable Scandinavian city, which lends itself to a well-planned day trip from the UK. Stroll the Aker Brygge waterfront, explore the Vigeland Sculpture Park or visit the Munch Museum – home of the artist's The Scream. Head to the Mathallen indoor food market for lunch.
Flight time is around one hour and 50 minutes. Transfers from Oslo Gardermoen Airport to the city take 20 minutes by train.
Frankfurt offers something for everyone – a historic old town, cultural sites and a modern city centre. It’s also a highly walkable destination, which makes it great for a few hours of sightseeing. Climb Frankfurt Cathedral to enjoy the lofty views, stroll by the Main River, view the exhibits at Städel Museum, or indulge in the local cuisine at Kleinmarkthalle market.
Flights from London to Frankfurt take around 90 minutes, with an easy 15-minute train transfer to the central Hauptbahnhof station.
Enjoy a few hours soaking up the refined ambience of this city on the French Riviera. Combining an attractive old town with a beautiful, pebbly beach and the iconic Promenade des Anglais, this is the perfect place for a stroll and a salad niçoise at one of the terrace cafés.
Early flights to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport are available from regional airports, including Leeds Bradford. Travel time is around two hours and 20 minutes. Bus transfers from the airport to the centre take around 15-20 minutes.
If you’re happy to invest a bit more travel time and want to explore Belgium, Ghent is just about feasible in a day from the UK. The port city features a photogenic old town, with attractions including Gravensteen Castle, St Bavo's Cathedral and the Belfry of Ghent.
Unlike the other destinations on this list, this one requires a connection. Travel via Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then pick up the Ghent train. The total journey time is about two hours and 45 minutes.
If you’re ready for a challenge, Barcelona is doable as a day trip from the UK, with an early start. Focus on the area around La Rambla (pictured), which runs from Plaça de Catalunya square all the way to the port. Guadí’s Basílica de la Sagrada Família and the beach at La Barceloneta are also walkable.
Flight time is two hours, with early/late departures available on select days. From El Prat Airport, it’s about a 25-minute transfer by train or metro to Plaça de Catalunya.
Another ambitious (but doable) day trip, rainy Bergen offers intrepid travellers the chance to enjoy a few hours of Nordic charm. Highlights include the colourful Bryggen wharf, the cobbled streets of Nøstet and Nordnes and the Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen. Or simply relax over a kanelsnurrer (cinnamon bun) at Det Lille Kaffekompaniet, the city’s oldest coffee shop.
Flight time is two hours 15 minutes from London, with early departures available on select days, and a 30-minute transfer time to the heart of the city.
This Swiss city is an underrated destination for short trips. Even a few hours here offers the opportunity to explore the old town (Altstadt) with the magnificent Basel Minster and characterful Spalenberg district. There might also be time to visit Kunstmuseum Basel art gallery and enjoy a walk by the Rhine.
Flights take one hour and 40 minutes, with a 20-minute bus or taxi transfer. EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg borders three countries – make sure you leave via the Switzerland exit!
Ambitious but just about feasible, Stockholm is certainly worth the early start and late night. It has a walkable city centre, with a great old town and plenty of cultural highlights, such as the Royal Palace and Stockholm Cathedral. Also worth a visit is the Vasa Museum, which houses a restored 17th-century warship.
The flight is one of the longest on our list, at two hours 30 minutes. However, from Arlanda Airport, it’s just a 20-minute transfer to the city centre.
Believe it or not, it's possible to jet off for a day of fun and sun on the Spanish island of Ibiza. You'll miss the nightlife but can explore lovely Ibiza Town and its stunning beaches. Or, with plenty of cafés and bars to explore, simply chill out until the late flight home.
Prepare for an early start, with a two-and-a-half-hour flight. From Ibiza Airport, it’s about a 20-minute taxi ride to the town or to the beaches of Playa d’en Bossa and Talamanca.
We end with Paris – one of the easier day trips from the UK. Get the most from your time here by focusing on one area. For example, you’ll arrive close to charming Montmartre, home to the Sacré Cœur. Or take the metro to the bohemian St Germain des Prés (pictured) on the left bank of the Seine.
Travel from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord station in two hours and 25 minutes. Early and late departures mean it’s possible to enjoy nearly 10 hours in the iconic French capital before you head home.