Where can I go on a day trip abroad?

[AngelicaSchuylerAndHerSisters]

I want to surprise DP with flying abroad for a day trip for his 50th in the autumn. Has anyone done this? I don’t fancy Paris since we’ve each been there a few times. He has been to Amsterdam several times too. But is there anywhere else with enough flights to make this possible? We could possibly do one night there if there’s no other way to do it, but we each have kids to consider. Years ago I did a day trip to Salzburg which was lovely.

Geneva, EasyJet from Edinburgh is doable in a day

I did Barcelona for a day trip quite a few years ago. My cousin lived there at the time so I got a flight at 6am to spend the day with him, then flew back at 10pm. A weekend is better, but I still have fond memories of that lovely day eating seafood and drinking wine near the port, shopping, art gallery, more wine, then flying back in the same day.

Oh @Wtafis , what have you done to me?! But thanks, I love it 😁

Would you consider Barra? You fly from Glasgow and land on the beach. It's incredible. Looking at the flight times, you could spend a few hours there, but might be better to stay over if you could.

But not Norway? Why not?

Copenhagen. Short flight. Easy to get around.

Regardless of environmental concerns the italy trips I have done were 6.30am flight out, 9pm flight back, up at 3…yes we had about 10 hours actually there so just about worthwhile considering the negligible cost (not relevant these days) but omg it was knackering and I was in my early 20s at the time. No way would I do that aged 45!

Belfast could be a reasonable option. But I think a weekend is a much better idea.

There's a fab FB group called Extreme Day Trips UK. The trips people do are fantastic!

Dublin or Belfast maybe? I know there are multiple flights a day there and back from Birmingham so I guess similar from Scotland? Otherwise, unless I was staying overnight I wouldn't consider it - with the queuing and waiting times at the airport, transfer time when you get there and allowing for delays. Even just one night there and it would be much more worth your while and you could have your pick of so many European cities .

If it has to be a day trip, travelling from Scotland, then Ireland is your best bet.

The airline industry has not fully bounced back yet after covid, there just aren't as many flights operating as there used to be in pre-covid years.
You might find an outward and return flight on the same day to visit a European city but will it leave you with enough meaningful time to enjoy being abroad? After you factor in check-in time, flight time, travel from airport to city, travel back to airport, check in time, flight time, you'll spend the majority of your day travelling, is that enjoyable? And that's before you consider that you'll have got up in the early hours to get to the airport, you'll be tired.

If kids are the restricting factor - surely if you need to find a babysitter for a very long day out then you should be able to stretch it further to a babysitter overnight? Then you can enjoy a more relaxing and meaningful weekend trip and your destination options are much wider.

Nice airport would be amazing. The taxi to Monaco is only about 25 mins (however, costs probably €100), you can tour the casino (fab for Bond fans), follow a bit of the Grand Prix route, botanical gardens, look at the super yachts, a lovely lunch harbour side.
The light down there is just different, a lovely pick-me-up.

Budapest is doable if you are able to stay for a night.
Ryanair direct flights out from Edinburgh Saturday5.45 in at 9.35am, return flight 10.25-12.30 Sunday morning. It's a short taxi ride to the centre and you could fit in a fair amount of sight seeing and a spa visit in a full day.

Although a day trip flying is ‘doable’, I never would!

At least four hours will be in the airport.

Add travel too and from at each end - there isn't anything joyful.

And any delays are going to make it all really stressful.

I would pick best airport and then look at airlines that have early morning departures and late evening arrivals to & from a destination on the say of the week i want to fly and then choose my destination making sure airport is close to city centre.
Amsterdam & Dublin would definitely be feasible

OP they are supposed to be relaunchingbthe ferry service from Rosyth later this year. You could look into that.

Porto is a good compact city, and there's a metro from the airport to the city centre. Seville is also lovely and has a train direct from the airport.

You just need to look at the timetables for the airport you want to fly from and go from there (not the airline, the airport own website). Barcelona maybe?

Or use skyscanner and you can even put filters on for the flight departure times.

I was coming on to say you could manage Venice and a lunch in a day however that would be from Gatwick. I wouldn't do it, given potential delays and the anxiety of clock watching the whole day. You have to also factor in the fact you need to get to the airport 2-3hrs early for return flight wherever you are.
can you just try and work out the destinations with the earliest abd latest flight times from your local airport. I think google flights or skyscanner will help you

Following for ideas!

Dublin, no contest. I can supply an itinerary for say 8-10 hours, hidden gems and a quick bus that takes the Liffey tunnel and speeds into the centre for €8 each way.

Screw the environment...... Do you say this to yourself when you get in your car, or a bus / taxi?? I'd like to think you do.
Hypocrisy isn't a good look....