Weekend idea in Europe
📋 Key points to remember: The ideal European weekend fits into 3-4 days with a low-cost flight. My favorite destinations: Lisbon, Prague, Budapest, Berlin, Krakow, Edinburgh, Seville. Average price from Paris in May/September: €60-150 round trip. Format: departure Thursday evening / Friday morning, return Sunday evening. All-inclusive budget: €250-450 per person excluding premium hotels.
I will give you 5 possible different weekend choices. When living in Paris, you can reach Iceland in 3 hours, Vienna, Lisbon, and Barcelona in 2 hours. I will tell you why you should go to these cities for a few days.
3-day weekend in Iceland for the diversity of landscapes
Going for 2 or 3 days to Iceland is a bit short but you can get a taste of the richness of the landscapes during these few days and enjoy the change of scenery.
If you go during winter, you might be able to observe the northern lights which are favorable at this time of year and explore the ice caves because it is the right season.
During summer, there are other activities, it is possible to take a cruise in an ice lagoon or explore Iceland by doing hikes. You can also swim in a tectonic fissure with a breathtaking underwater landscape.
There are activities you can do all year round, such as bathing in the Blue Lagoon (light blue lagoon), or taking an excursion in the Golden Circle to see geysers, waterfalls, a national park with beautiful landscapes.
You understood, Iceland is made for nature and beautiful landscape lovers and it is only 3 hours from Paris.
Budget: $$$ For more information: Here is my review of Iceland See the northern lights What to do in Iceland
On the way to Vienna for 2 days, Culture and tranquility
🌍 Did you know?
Tuesday is statistically the cheapest day to buy a short-haul flight ticket in Europe. Conversely, Friday evening is the most expensive. Optimal: buy on Tuesday to fly from Tuesday to Thursday (10-25% savings).
If I talk to you about Vienna, you immediately think of the Viennese coffee. Vienna is an ideal place to enjoy the outdoors and drink a good coffee.
There are several places in the city that are nice to visit, the museum quarter (Museumsquartier), some beautiful parks (Volksgarten, Burggarten, Stadtpark).
You can take a tour of the old town which has beautiful architecture all along.
Vienna is the former capital of the empire, you can visit the Schönbrunn castle and its park.
Don’t forget to also visit the Vienna Opera House which is world-famous.
It is a calm and peaceful city, where there are things to see all around. It is definitely a place to visit during a weekend. For more information: Here is my opinion on Vienna Budget: $$
On the way to Budapest for 2 days, and relaxation
Most of the tourist attractions are located along the Danube, which is the river that runs through Budapest; it is also the second longest river in Europe.
For me, Budapest has several assets but I will only talk about two major different ones.
| Destination | Round-trip flight Paris | Budget /person (3 days) | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | 60-120 € | 300-450 € | Charm + affordable |
| Prague | 60-130 € | 250-400 € | UNESCO heritage |
| Budapest | 70-130 € | 250-400 € | Thermal baths |
| Berlin | 70-140 € | 280-480 € | History + nightlife |
| Krakow | 60-130 € | 230-380 € | Jewish quarter, atmosphere |
| Edinburgh | 100-180 € | 400-600 € | Castle + Royal Mile |
| Seville | 80-160 € | 320-480 € | Guaranteed sunshine |
On one hand, there is the architectural side with buildings like the parliament, the Fishermen’s Bastion which is a nice area for a walk, St. Stephen’s Basilica.
It is possible to take small cruises on the Danube.
On the other hand, there is the relaxing and lounging side; Budapest has many thermal baths such as the famous Széchenyi bath, in summer it is even possible to have a pool party once a week. There are more than a hundred of these thermal baths in Budapest.
🗣️ My experience: The format that suits me: Friday 6 pm departure → Sunday 10 pm return. 2.5 days on site but Thursday evening remains cool because no stress, no all-nighter. Wizz Air flight Paris-Krakow at 78 € round trip, Airbnb at 38 €/night for 2, Polish restaurants at 8-12 € per dish. Total weekend: 280 € per person, meals/visits included. Unbeatable format to unwind without affecting the annual budget.
Budapest has the “ruined bar”, bars with decoration from another era, it is definitely a place to have a drink in the evening.
Hungarian gastronomy is also something to try, especially goulash, etc.
For more information:
On the Budapest tourist center
Budget: $
3-day weekend in Barcelona, beach and relaxation
I hesitated to include this destination in this selection because I don’t know if I will teach you anything since Barcelona is a very popular destination for the French, but I will describe it to you anyway.
🍀 Europe Weekend
- Short format, no jet lag
- Very affordable low-cost flights
- Rich heritage and culture
- Renewable several times a year
🔻 Limitations
- Short: 2.5 actual days on site
- Low-cost flights = extreme schedules
- No time to dig deep
- Cabin luggage only
The different things to visit: the Sagrada Familia (which is a basilica built by Gaudi since the 19th century), the Park Guell where you can see some of Gaudi’s buildings), the Mont Juic district where you can enjoy a beautiful view and the magical fountain show every evening, the Boqueria market for your shopping, La Rambla a fairly touristy shopping street.
Barcelona also has a beach side with Barceloneta beach. In the evening, you can go there to party. I haven’t told you about the gastronomy but it is amazing!!For more information:
On the Barcelona tourist center
Budget: $$
2 – 3 day stay in Lisbon for the beauty of the city
Most people who have been to Lisbon come away with a positive opinion, this city has many aspects like the capitals of Europe. There are several choices:
Go to the Belem district to stroll and taste a pastel de Nata. There are several things to visit such as the largest Pastel de Nata factory, there is always an incredible queue but it’s worth it, it’s in my top 3 pastries. There is also the Jerónimos Monastery, the botanical garden, the garden and the Belem tower.
⚠️ Classic trap
Book a Ryanair or Wizz flight at 50 € and arrive at the secondary airport 80 km from the city. The transfer adds 30-50 € + 1h30 travel time each way. Result: your flight was more expensive in the end than on Air France at the main airport. ALWAYS check the airport (e.g., Beauvais vs Paris CDG, Bergamo vs Milan Linate).
Go to Sintra which is 25 km from Lisbon, in this area you will find castles and palaces. You can see the garden and the Pena Palace. I did a day trip from Lisbon and we also went to the westernmost point of Europe. It’s a beautiful place to watch the sunset.
One of the things to do is also to go to the 100 bars district all in small alleys, you can find a bar for every taste, beware of pickpockets :D.
There are viewpoints in Lisbon where you can be high up and have beautiful views of the city. The city is worth walking around.
To optimize your budget, cheap destinations in Europe lists the least expensive cities. The most beautiful cities in Europe gives my favorites. And how to get around Europe helps compare flights, buses, and trains.
To learn more: Here is my review of Lisbon Budget: $
Comments on the budget are subjective and depend on your way of traveling.
Weekend gift idea in France
Going abroad is very refreshing but France can also surprise you. If the destinations I told you about in Europe do not please you, you also have unusual night gift options in France.
Surprise yourself in different situations by sleeping in a tree, in a cabin, in an igloo, on a sailboat, in a yurt, and many other choices in France.
