Let me guess, you live in London, and you are loving it… but you had enough of grey skies, muddy shoes and freezing Monday mornings? You are dreaming of a European getaway, but you are short on time. Aren’t we all? Let me help you out and inspire your next adventure.
The destinations in this list are just a short flight away from you and you can see them all without going over your budget.
Something I know from experience: Actual travel times are slightly shorter than what the airlines are advertising, but below are the official travel times you will see when you buy your tickets from Gatwick Airport.
1. Brussels, Belgium – 1 hour 10 minutes
Head over for some waffles and explore the Belgium landmarks. If you are not a fan of flying, you can get the Eurostar train from London St. Pancras International – at least once a year Eurostar has a massive sale and I grabbed my ticket for only £35 one way. If you prefer the train, it will take you only 1 hour and 57 minutes.
2. Dublin, Ireland – 1 hour 20 minutes
This is often the first destination for people flying from the UK. And it’s just perfect – no language barrier, lots of beautiful places to see, the biggest city park in Europe and Guinness, of course.
3. Paris, France – 1 hour 20 minutes
Do I even need to introduce this city? I am still to go there and see the Eifel tower myself, but it’s good to know I can do so in less than 90 minutes. If you decide to go with the Eurostar train, travel time is merely 2 hours and 16 minutes.
4. Basel, Switzerland – 1 hour 40 minutes
Why visit one country, when you can visit three? You will land in France, get the bus to Switzerland and you can take a short walk in the park to get to Germany. Or you can simply go to the point where the three countries meet and run around it just like I did!
5. Zurich, Switzerland – 1 hours 45 minutes
Zurich is beautiful and the lake is … You have to go and see it for yourself! Zurich has the most delicious water I have ever tries (yes, water can be delicious and if you don’t believe me – go to Zurich!) Zurich is also home to the Lindt factory and if you go there, you can have as much chocolate as you can. Go and challenge yourself!
6. Copenhagen, Denmark – 1 hour 50 minutes
I bet you have seen the photos of colourful houses around the canal. I can tell you it’s a buzzing place and it’s even better when you see it in real life. Trust me – you must get a selfie from Nyhavn! The good news is, it’s less tan 2 hours away.
+ Bonus tip: Add 20 minutes on the train and visit Malmo in Sweden!
7. Oslo, Norway – 1 hour 50 minutes
Feeling up for a Viking adventure? Oslo awaits just under 2 hours away.
8. Prague, Czechia – 2 hours
Quite a popular destination lately and absolutely deserved so. Beautiful places (the City centre will amaze you!), delicious food, and even a dancing building!
9. Nice, France – 2 hours 5 minutes
I fell in love with the French Riviera! There is some sort of magic in the air. The waves produce a unique sound when they go back in the ocean. And you can walk for miles and miles along the beach. FYI, if you walk for long enough, you will get to the airport. Can you imagine? No public transport needed!
+ Bonus tip: Add 30 minutes on the train and visit Monaco!
10. Vienna, Austria – 2 hours 15 minutes
So far, I can say this is one of the most beautiful capitals in the world! I have never seen a city or a town with more landmarks! It’s worth spending 15 extra minutes on the plane to see all this beautiful city has to offer! (I will be back there for a long holiday, because one day is simply not enough.)
Verdict:
We may live on an island, but we are not isolated from the world. Planes, trains, even coaches and ferries can take us to magical places in the time it would take you to watch 2 episodes of your favourite Netflix show.
If you are planning on a budget, check this article that will give you ideas where to go for less than £150.
Have you been to any of the places on the list? Do you know of other places that you can get to for less than 2 hours? Let me know below. Also, I will appreciate tips for Brussels and Oslo, as I haven’t been there yet.