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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

24 hours (ish) in Europe - inspiration

20 replies

FruitBadger · 04/04/2023 17:32

I've got a few free weekends coming up over the next few months and fancied some solo trips away so I'm looking for inspiration, please.

I live within easy travelling distance of Gatwick & Southampton airports, Eurotunnel is also accessible and I'd be able to catch a train or flight by 6:00 on Friday evening. I need to be back in the UK by 3:00 on Sunday afternoon.

What European cities would you travel to for a very short trip and what would you see / do whilst there?

Thank you!

OP posts:
Fran919 · 04/04/2023 17:40

I’ve done just over 24 hours in Milan and was plenty of time, if selective with what to do. Also Pisa, you would get all that done in 24 hours.

Carcasscone you could do in 24 hours too.

I think the trick is flights no longer than 2/2.5 hours and fairly quick transfer times. Milan, even on a bus / public transport was only an hour (flew in to one and out the other) was easy enough. I’ve never been but Bergamo itself looks really good for a quick break in my opinion.

Also hoping for other suggestions, I’ve no idea on Germany etc.

LawksaMercyMissus · 04/04/2023 18:05

Bologna....just spend 24 hours eating.

LawksaMercyMissus · 04/04/2023 18:06

And Antibes or Nice

deplorabelle · 04/04/2023 20:41

Cologne - arrive by train and see the cathedral and Roman mosaics.

Prague, Dresden and Leipzig are all wonderful

Madrid (my favourite was the ghost metro station Anden zero I think it's called)

Antwerp - again very compact and walkable

reluctantbrit · 04/04/2023 21:32

Hamburg and Munich are around 1 1/2 hour flight and have easy public transfer to the city
Cologne, Bruges, Antwerp or Ghent - train to Brussels and change
Amsterdam, Eurostar direct or flight and then train(1/2 hr I think) to the city center

Xiaoxiong · 04/04/2023 22:12

I've just done 48 hours in Brussels and it was absolutely fab - so much to do and see, brilliant food and the beer is to die for and I don't even really like beer. I had to go for work and stayed on an extra day having never been there before, and even with the worst weather the whole time, we had a great stay.

Cherrybl0ssm · 04/04/2023 22:29

Zurich, it’s a 12 minute trip by train from the airport to the city center. The train station is attached to the airport shopping center.
I would walk around the compact city center. Particularly the old town - either side of the Limmat river.
Walk up to the lake at the top of Bahnhofstrasse and take in the view of the mountains. On the way stopping for hot chocolate and people watching at the Sprungli Cafe at Paradeplatz.
Take a boat trip on Lake Zurich.
Look round the Landesmuseum - which is a museums about Switzerland, it’s history and culture. Easily half a day.
Go to the Lindt chocolate factory tour - it’s just along the lake and reachable by bus. Bus stops outside.
If it was summer I would swim in the lake at one of the lakeside swimming spots. Eg Mythenquai or Tiefenbrunnen.
Take the train to the top of the Uetliberg - Climb the tower and look over the city and the lake towards the mountains.
Go to The Hurliman Spa in the Enge district - there is a rooftop pool and it looks over the city.

MikeWozniaksMohawk · 04/04/2023 22:33

Copenhagen! Short flight, compact city, nice to walk around, quick in from the airport.

Original poster
FruitBadger · 05/04/2023 13:07

Great ideas, thank you all! Now to get my passport renewed....

OP posts:
RandomExpletive · 05/04/2023 18:53

Malaga
Lisbon
Dublin
Edinburgh / Glasgow
Valencia
Barcelona

ScribblingPixie · 06/04/2023 16:59

I did 24 hours in Berlin and saw loads, it was fantastic.

midsomermurderess · 06/04/2023 17:49

I’d second Antwerp, really worth visiting. I have also enjoyed a few days in Lyon. The public transport is good so it’s easy to get around, the food is excellent, you could even take in an opera.

Silkierabbit · 06/04/2023 18:31

Porto might work. We stayed in hotel in Gaia at the end of the Ponte de Ferro bridge and had views over it, dined there with views over it. Cable car nearby, wine places and boat trips down river as well as walking over bridge and round historical town.

Silkierabbit · 06/04/2023 22:00

Also would do Venice and take vaporetto around to Burano, Murano and walk round. Candlelit concert in evening at a church.

skilikeagirl · 07/04/2023 21:24

Stockholm would be perfect for that.
Not enough time to do Porto justice!

NotThisWeekSatan · 07/04/2023 21:32

We did Bruges in 24 hours. Also Boulogne/le Touquet - very doable by ferry or tunnel.

tribpot · 07/04/2023 21:36

What do people recommend in Antwerp? This is definitely on my list for a little solo travel this year.

HollyGolightly4 · 08/04/2023 03:34

Bilbao, visit The Guggenheim

TreesAtSea · 08/04/2023 09:18

tribpot · 07/04/2023 21:36

What do people recommend in Antwerp? This is definitely on my list for a little solo travel this year.

Boat trip around the port.

MAS (Museum aan der Stroom): even if you're not interested in the museum, you can go on to the roof terrace free and get great views.

Cathedral

Botanic gardens

Ornate interior of the Centraal Station

Use the pedestrian Sint-Annatunnel to get to the other side of the River Scheldt, the Linkeroever (left bank), from where there's the best view of the Antwerp skyline.

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