The desire to take micro-trips is an emerging and growing travel trend which looks set to continue into 2019, as time-poor travellers look to take achievable breaks away - perhaps by adding an extra night or two onto a business trip.
With the wide availability of short-haul flights and cross-Channel options, hundreds of European destinations are reachable within just a few hours, perfect for a weekend escape. The variety of accommodation on sites like Airbnb now makes for an adventure in its own right, with boats, cabins, yurts, and city centre apartments all available to meet your particular wishes.
Here are a few places you might like to consider for your next weekend get-away:
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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With regular flights and now a direct Eurostar service from London St Pancras, Amsterdam is a highly attractive option for a weekend away. Why not try staying on a houseboat while you’re there - or perhaps a converted crane? Amsterdam offers more than enough to explore and to cater to everyone’s tastes for a micro-trip, from its unusual museums, picture-perfect streets, and historical sights, to its range of art galleries, tulips, and windmills.
Edinburgh, Scotland
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Just a quick flight from London will have you in the heart of Scotland’s capital in no time at all, where you could be staying in an art-filled loft apartment, an opulent boutique hotel, or maybe a contemporary hotel on the Royal Mile. Visit the spectacular old fortress with views over the city, the 16th century Holyrood Palace, or Edinburgh’s medieval Old Town. A UNESCO World Heritage Site with a varied arts scene, buzzing nightlife, top class restaurants, open green spaces, and a fantastic bar and café culture - not one to miss!
Ibiza, Balearic Islands
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Ibiza may be known for its bars and clubs, but it has been gaining in popularity over recent years for other cultural aspects: it has no less than four UNESCO-designated wonders; the Dalt Vila Acropolis and the historic centre of Ibiza Town, the meadows of posidonia seagrass, the necropolis of Puig des Molins, and the Phoenician settlement of Sa Caleta. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s also a great island for outdoor sports such as cycling, climbing, and scuba diving. Stay in a luxury penthouse, or escape from it all in a 15th century farmhouse hotel.
Munich, Germany
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This Bavarian city, with its carefully restored architecture on the banks of the River Isar, has a great reputation for its beer and sausages! Of course, for the best of their offerings in this regard, it’s best to come for Oktoberfest when the town comes alive. Throughout the rest of the year, the 900-acre Englischer Garten offers hiking and cycling as well as a Greek temple, Chinese pagoda, and a Japanese tea house; Marienplatz is home to to cafés and street performers; the Nymphenburg Palace is full of ornate interiors; and petrol heads will love the BMW Museum. For a luxurious trip, stay at the Mandarin Oriental for its rooftop pool and cocktail bar.
Bucharest, Romania
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From the Palace of Parliament - the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon - to the Athenaeum - the home to classical music in Bucharest - the capital of Romania is certainly not lacking in phenomenal architecture. It has beautiful summer parks for boating on a hot day, or take shelter in one of its many hipster coffee shops. Don’t forget to explore the painted vaults of Caru’ cu Bere, the famous beer hall serving a version of the Romanian national dish. The city even has its own Arc de Triomphe. History lovers might like to stay in the 19th century Grand Boutique Hotel.
Title Image Credit: Polybert49 (Image Cropped)