Essential to remember
To plan a weekend in Europe (2-3 days): choose a city accessible within 2-3 hours of flight, book flight + hotel together (-15%), list 5 must-see places (no more), plan one activity per half-day, leave free time. The key: do not over-plan.
Organizing a 2 or 3 day weekend in Europe
  ;   ;Weekend in Europe: Choosing the destination
Logically, you need to look at and choose the destination according to the climate. For example, I know that in Copenhagen and Stockholm, the weather is good starting in May, so avoid going somewhere where you will regret going because of the climate! I was even told that two weeks before it was raining and the weather was bad!
Check if there are any events during the weekend, when I went to Stockholm, for example, there was a martial arts festival; I might have gone if I had more time! Going to the Netherlands or London during the Queen’s birthday is also an experience to have in May or June!
During my 3-day stay in Vienna, it was 30 degrees because in continental countries, it gets warm starting in April! It was a good choice.
Did you know?
According to ESTRA (European Travel Commission), the French take an average of 4 city breaks in Europe per year, making them the top in Europe in this segment. Lisbon, Barcelona, and Berlin are the favorite destinations.
Weekend in Europe: Buying a plane ticket
Generally, when I buy a plane ticket, I buy it 2 months in advance, but ideally, it should be done 3 to 4 months ahead. I check various flight comparison sites such as Jetcost.com or Edreams.fr. When the price and schedules suit me! I check if the ticket is cheaper on the airline’s own website; this was the case for Copenhagen, where I bought the ticket on the Norwegian.com website and saved 7 euros! That’s already something!
For example, I recommend checking prices on the Bravofly and Lufthansa websites before buying! Usually, it’s more expensive, but it’s better to check!
My experience
My most memorable weekend: Porto in 2 nights. Arrival Friday 6pm, departure Sunday 6pm. Flight 60€ round trip, hotel 80€, restaurants 80€. 220€ all included for a trip as memorable as a 10-day trip.
| Destination | Flight time | 2-day budget |
|---|---|---|
| London | 1h15 | ~300€ |
| Barcelona | 2h | ~250€ |
| Porto | 2h30 | ~200€ |
| Berlin | 2h | ~250€ |
| Prague | 2h | ~200€ |
Weekend in Europe: Booking a youth hostel
After booking the plane, we move on to booking a hotel. I usually choose a youth hostel for several reasons: there are people the same age as me, it allows you to make new acquaintances, and also the prices are lower than traditional hotels! That’s normal because you share your room!
I mainly look on the website hostelworld.com because on this site, you can also find reviews from other travelers! I generally choose one of the 3 youth hostels with the best ratings out of 5. I prefer places where there is a bar or a common room (kitchen, large lounge, etc.) because in these places, it allows you to start a conversation more quickly and you don’t feel overwhelmed!
Advantages
- Ideal for unwinding
- Low-cost flights from Paris (Ryanair, Easyjet)
- Lots of cities 2 hours from Paris
- No need to take many days off
- Contained budget (200-400€)
Weak points
- Cumulative fatigue if too frequent
- Carbon footprint of short-haul flights
- Costs rise quickly
- Sometimes too packed schedule
- Stress of return flight
So choose according to your budgets and the reviews, I also look at the rating on the location of the hotel, so there are no surprises! I also observe the negative comments to judge the weak points of the hotel while keeping a neutral opinion!
In this particular case, the first hotel has twice as many reviews as the second and also has a better rating, I chose to stay in the first youth hostel!
The classic trap to avoid
Never arrive late Friday night with an early Sunday morning return. You tire yourself out for two working days and only enjoy one full day. Aim for arrival Friday noon or a Saturday-Monday trip.
Weekend in Europe: Gathering information about the city
Several options are available to you: get information at the airport or at the hotel, or plan what you will do quickly by sending a letter to the city’s tourist office to receive free brochures: I explain in a more detailed article how I do to obtain information about the cities we visit! However, you have to wait 2 or 3 weeks.
Find other general advice on general travel tips
If you are preparing for your departure, take a look at our guide on cheap destinations which complements the topic well. The feedback on travel budget in also provides useful benchmarks to avoid unpleasant surprises. And to go further for inspiration, the article on getting around in is worth a detour.
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What is the best destination for a weekend in Europe?
Lisbon, Porto, Prague, Budapest: beautiful cities, accessible within 2-3 hours from Paris, budget-friendly.
How to save on a city break?
Low-cost flights (Ryanair, Easyjet), hotels via Booking, dinner in local neighborhoods (not the tourist center).
How many days for a city break?
2 nights / 3 days is ideal. 4 days for very dense capitals (London, Paris, Rome).
