The trips below require zero annual leave days — perfect weekends or to add onto bank holidays, or if you’re lucky enough to live within a short hop of a great destination. Book a flight that lands Friday evening and returns late Sunday and you’ve got a proper adventure without spending a single day of leave.
Europe
If you’re looking for a European getaway that’s affordable, stunning, and still off the beaten path, look no further than Lake Skadar in Montenegro
🎯 Activities: 🏔️ Mountains | 🏖️ Beach | 🍷 Food & Wine
💰 Budget: £ — Very good value
Looking for a quick and quirky weekend adventure? Pack your bags and head to Vilnius, Lithuania’s charming capital city, where history meets bohemian charm and vibrant nightlife
🎯 Activities:🍷 Food & Wine | 🏛️ Culture | 🎭 Nightlife
💰 Budget: £ — one of Western Europe’s most affordable capitals
This is an easy and unforgettable walking adventure from Weymouth to Lulworth Cove
🎯 Activities: 🏔️ Hiking | 🌿 Nature | 🏖️ Beach
💰 Budget: ££ — mid-range, England prices but nothing to pay whilst you are walking
Riga, the capital of Latvia, is a hidden gem in the Baltic region. Known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and vibrant culture
🎯 Activities: 🍷 Food & Wine | 🏛️ Culture | 🎭 Nightlife
💰 Budget: £ — Great value for a easy weekend away
Bologna, the vibrant heart of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, is perfect for a weekend getaway. If you like Food this is the place for you.
🎯 Activities:🍷 Food & Wine | 🏛️ Culture | 🛍️ Shopping
💰 Budget: £ — Very affordable
This is an itinerary for a city and country Italian escape. Naples, a city renowned for its vibrant street life, rich history, and of course, its pizza, offers an exciting weekend getaway.
🎯 Activities: 🍷 Food & Wine | 🏛️ Culture | 🏔️ Hiking
💰 Budget: ££ — Food and drink is very cheap, more expensive when you head along the coast but worth it
If you’re looking for the perfect weekend getaway, Valencia should be at the top of your list. This Spanish gem is packed with sunny beaches, tantalizing tapas, and charming squares that beg you to explore every corner
🎯 Activities: 🚣 Water Sports |🍷 Food & Wine | 🏛️ Culture | 🏖️ Beach
💰 Budget: ££ — Affordable once you are there
If you’re dreaming of a hidden gem weekend away in Europe that blends medieval architecture, lively bars, peaceful canals, and one unforgettable adventure.
🎯 Activities: 🍷 Food & Wine | 🏛️ Culture | 🎭 Nightlife
💰 Budget: ££ — Affordable to get there and once you are there
Discover the best walking weekends, a perfect escape from city life. Whether you’re an avid hiker or a casual stroller, these curated walking routes offer something for everyone.
🎯 Activities: 🏔️ Hiking | 🌿 Nature | 🏖️ Beach
💰 Budget: ££ — mid-range, England prices but nothing to pay whilst you are walking
North America
Weekend ideas if you are that side of the Atlantic
Looking for the perfect outdoorsy weekend getaway from Toronto, Ottawa, or Montreal? Algonquin Provincial Park is your answer!
🎯 Activities: 🌿 Nature | 🏔️ Hiking
💰 Budget: ££ — Activities are cheap as you are out in nature
One of the best places for an extended ski weekend is Jay Peak, a large ski resort in Vermont known for its excellent glade skiing, impressive vertical drop, and consistently good snow conditions.
🎯 Activities: 🌿 Skiing | 🏔️ Hiking
💰 Budget: ££ — Activities are cheap as you are out in nature
North Africa
Marrakech is a full sensory experience that takes maybe two hours to reach from the UK. Lose yourself in the souks, eat incredible food, and end the day at a rooftop terrace watching the medina come to life at dusk.
🎯 Activities: 🏛️ Culture | 🛍️ Shopping | 🌿 Nature | 🍷 Food & Wine | 🏔️ Mountains
💰 Budget: £ — excellent value, one of the world’s great budget destinations
This page is designed to provide you with a detailed, day-by-day itinerary for an unforgettable 5-day adventure in St. John’s, Newfoundland. From whale watching and puffin colonies to scenic hikes and charming local villages.
🎯 Activities: 🌿 Nature | 🏔️ Mountains
💰 Budget: ££ — More expensive but worth every page
Challenges
If you are looking for an adventure like nothing else, if you love running and love wine or if you just want an unforgettable weekend then the Marathon Du Medoc is for you.
Known as the wine marathon it is a 26 mile run through the beautiful vineyards of Pauillac, near Bordeaux, with at least 22 wine stops in Chateaux’s along the way. Yes that’s right at least 22 glasses of wine, plus cheese, meat, oysters, steak it’s the marathon with everything.
Can be done if you include a bank holiday
💡 Tip: All these destinations work best when you book flights that land Friday evening or late at night, and depart Sunday evening. That way you’ve had a full two days away without using a single day of annual leave.