Much to my delight, the May Bank Holiday is fast approaching, and with a glorious long weekend ahead, it marks the perfect opportunity to escape London for a few nights. With so many must-visit European cities being but a two-hour flight away, there’s little excuse not to book a quick getaway. From coastal retreats to city breaks, we’ve rounded up the best last-minute escapes that maximise your downtime without draining your annual leave.

Embark on the ultimate city break in Copenhagen

Largely put on the map by the likes of Dua Lipa and other Instagram ‘it-girls,’ Copenhagen has become the ultimate Scandi city break spot in recent years, and for good reason.

The logistics are a dream, direct flights from London take less than two hours, and once you touch down, the super-efficient Metro whisks you into the heart of the city in just 13 minutes, meaning you can go from the arrivals hall to a waterfront lunch in record time.

While the Danish capital has a reputation for being pricey, it’s surprisingly affordable if you play it smart. The city is so compact and flat that you can save a fortune on transport by simply renting a bike or exploring on foot. Plus, with plenty of free street food markets and world-class public parks, you can soak up that famous hygge atmosphere without blowing your entire bank holiday budget.

Dine at the Dua-approved Poulette, get your culture fix at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, and unwind at the Islands Brygge Harbour Bath.

Unwind on a coastal retreat in Palma

If you’re craving a sun-drenched hit of Vitamin D without the commitment of a week-long trek, Palma is your bank holiday hero.

Just a two-hour hop from London, Palma packs a serious punch for such a short flight, effectively functioning as a best of both worlds hybrid where city culture meets coastal calm. You can spend your morning getting lost in the Gothic Quarter’s winding alleys and your afternoon on a sandy beach, all without ever needing a rental car.

Skip the tourist traps and head straight to the Santa Catalina neighbourhood to rub shoulders with locals at the food market, then grab a menú del día at Aromata for a Michelin-standard lunch that won’t break the bank.

Soak up the Portuguese sun in Lisbon

Lisbon is the ultimate bank holiday cheat code for anyone who wants high-impact travel with zero timezone fatigue. Since it shares the same clock as London and sits just two-and-a-half hours flight away, you won’t lose a second of your long weekend to jet lag.

Lisbon is the ultimate bank holiday cheat code for anyone who wants high-impact travel with zero timezone fatigue.

If a weekend browsing vintage shops, sipping on 3 euro glasses of wine, and eating copious amounts of Pastel De Natas sounds up your street, this is the getaway for you.

Explore the vibrant streets of Seville

One of my personal favourite European cities, I firmly believe few trips can trump a long weekend in Seville. One of the city’s best perks is its walkability. Due to it being so compact, you can tackle the whole city on foot, with all attractions being but a stone’s throw away from each other.

I’d advise you to skip the pricey guided tours and head to the Plaza de España at golden hour for a free spectacle, then wander over to the Triana district across the river for authentic flamenco. Other must-visit spots include Real Alcázar, a historic palace with sprawling gardens, and Las Setas for panoramic views of the city.

Get the best of both worlds in Valencia

For an alterantive option to Palma, that hits the sweet spot between city break and a lazy beach retreat, Valencia is a worthy contender.

While its bigger Spanish siblings are hiking up prices, Valencia remains refreshingly affordable, offering ‘menus del día’ that feel like a steal and an integrated transport system that costs mere pennies. Skip the overstuffed guidebooks and cycle through the Turia Gardens, a lush park reclaimed from a riverbed, before cooling off with an authentic horchata at the Art Nouveau Central Market.

Whether you’re marveling at architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences or catching the sunset at Patacona beach, it’s a high-reward getaway that refuses to stress your schedule or your savings.

For an Italian escape, head to Florence

No list of mine would be complete without an honourable mention of one of my all-time favourite European cities. Putting my bias to one side, this is also an ideal destination for a quick weekend away, with its direct flights to Pisa and the compact size of the city, meaning you can cover a lot of ground in just a few days.

My perfect itinerary would consist of a trip to the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michael Angelo’s Il David in the flesh, before heading to the riverfront to soak up Florence’s unmatched atmosphere and to grab a bite to eat. I would end my day with a hike up to San Miniato al Monte for a free, panoramic view of the skyline that puts every postcard to shame.

Tick a capital city of the bucket list

If you want to tick a European capital city off your bucket list this bank holiday, I highly recommend paying Prague a visit. This  Czech Republic destination will make you feel as if you have just landed in a town straight out of a fairytale from the second you leave the airport.

Just a two-hour flight from London, you can then be in the heart of the city in less than 30 minutes. Skip the midday crowds in Old Town and head instead to Letná Park for a hilltop beer garden with the city’s best views, or wander over to Karlín, a former industrial district turned coffee-lover’s paradise that’s blissfully free of tour groups. For an authentic local evening, grab a glass of Moravian wine in the trendy Vinohrady neighbourhood, it’s the perfect way to soak up the City of a Hundred Spires while avoiding any unwanted tourist traps.

Europe, Travel, Weekend Breaks

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