Explore a list of 7 Microtrips from London that can make you week! Quick breaks to get you out of your routine and help you feel free.
Microtrips are a growing trend in world tourism with people looking to get away for a day or two, break their routine and explore a new country without spending a small fortune.
I first got introduced to microtrips by finding some “Extreme Day Trip” groups on Facebook and I immediately liked the idea. I didn’t, however, think that soon enough I was going to be doing a few of them in a single month.
Saving your annual leave
Microtrips are a great way to see a new place without committing to a week of your annual leave. You can also use it as sampling destinations – you go for a day and see what the place feels like – if you fall in love with it, you can come back for your summer break.
Saving you money
You can explore a city or a town in a day and go to sleep in your own bed that same evening. With budget airlines operating across Europe and considering you don’t need to pay for accommodation, you can quickly grow the list of countries you have visited without breaking the bank. I have done some of my microtrips for less than £100.
Giving you novelty
If you feel stuck in your day-to-day, a day in a different country can help you reset and have the break you need. You can try new foods, see landmarks that the whole world is talking about, learn a few words in a new language – all great stimuli for your curious brain.
Perfect for solo travellers
As a solo female traveller, I can testify that this is one of my favourite ways to travel. You can spend the day exploring at your own terms and setting up an agenda based on your interests. On the plane, you can read your favourite book or write in your diary while sipping coffee and getting excited about the new adventure that awaits.
Great for visits with a purpose
Have you ever wanted to visit a museum or a show in a different country, but you didn’t want to spend a whole week in the place? You could go there for just a day. I am a big fan of chocolate, so in 2025, I went to Zurich for a day to visit the Lindt Factory and Museum. I ate all the chocolate I could while I was there and then took a stroll through the town, enjoying the views.
Easy way to increase your “country counter”
I love numbers and I love to count all the countries and territories I am visiting! If you are like me, you will find microtrips extremely useful. Europe is a small continent and travelling around is easier than ever. If you are looking to increase the numbers fast, you also visit country meeting points like Basel (and visit 3 countries in one day – I did it and it was super fun!) or go to Vienna and take a bus to Bratislava, which is about an hour away.
Optimise you trip:
Bookmark all places you want to see on Google maps and change the icon as you go along and visit them. In this way you can keep track of everything you want to see and prioritise landmarks based on the time you have and your interests.
Here is a list of places I would recommend you try in 2026
Dublin
Flight time: 1 hour 20 minutes
This is what people usually start with, and this is the city I started with – my first day trip to another country. Thanks to Dublin Airport being a RyanAir hub, there are plenty of cheap flights to and from the city. The airport transfer is easy with an Airport Express bus running at regular intervals.
If you are a fan of beer, the Guinness Museum might be a great day trip for you.
Rome
Flight time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Yes, Rome is very hard to visit only for a day, but I have been there and done that. A day was just enough to see the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Vatican City and even to wander around the small streets of this magical place. I had pizza, coffee and gelato; tossed a coin in Fontana di Trevi; and facetimed my auntie from St. Peter’s Square. I did all this and still managed to get to sleep in my own bed that same night.
Prague
Flight time: 2 hours
There are so many places you need to see in Prague, but the good news is that they are mostly close to each other, within a walkable distance. If you are into fascinating architecture, delicious food and culture, you will love this place.
Budapest
Flight time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Budapest looks like a fairytale city – castles, bridges and churches – all built with great attention to detail. The city is very walkable and offers plenty of places to sit and have a delicious traditional meal between sightseeing.
Zurich
Flight time: 1 hour 50 minutes
As I mentioned, this is the home of the Lindt Museum and Factory in Switzerland, but there is much more to it than just chocolate! Take for example the Zurich lake with all the birds living around it or the Grossmünster.
Brussels
Eurostar train trip time: 2 hours
While you can fly to Brussels in just over an hour, you could also take the train and enjoy having more space and different views during your trip. Besides being the capital of the European Union, Brussels also has a charming old town with beautiful architecture.
Basel
Flight time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
What about visiting 3 countries in one day? You will land in France, take the tram to the city, which is in Switzerland, but if you go to Dreiländergarten you can walk into Germany seamlessly. When you need a break, do yourself a favour and have some traditional fondue – it’s worth the hype, trust me!
