From booking affordable Airbnb accomodation to buying cheap holiday essentials, there are plenty of ways to travel to beautiful places in Europe when you’re on a budget. However, things can be difficult if you can’t book time off work.
Luckily, it’s possible to visit dozens of cities abroad without paying for an overnight stay at all.
We’ve listed iconic cities all over the continent where flight times from London are less than two and a half hours.
Prices relate to the next available direct flights leaving for each city on a weekend.
From watching perfectly executed equestrian stunts in Vienna to sampling Guinness in Dublin, here are 21 European cities you can see in a day, ranked by the time it will take you to get there:
21. Vienna, Austria — It takes just two hours and 20 minutes to reach the Austrian capital, one of Europe's most visited cities. Make sure to see a performance at the Spanish Riding School, which sells tickets to shows throughout the year.
Duration of journey: Two hours, 20 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £93
For more information, click here
20. Barcelona, Spain — Architecture fans should spend the day in Barcelona to see Antoni Gaudi's (still unfinished) cathedral — the Sagrada Familia.
Duration of journey: Two hours, 15 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £74
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19. Venice, Italy — Flights to Venice from London are cheap at £71. Gondola rides are slightly more expensive, averaging at around £70 (€80) but visiting for the day means saving money on hotels.
Duration of journey: Two hours, 10 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £71
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18. Florence, Italy — It takes just over two hours to escape from London and reach Florence in sunny Tuscany. The weather is much better than in the UK, and the huge range of cathedrals and Renaissance art will keep most culture vultures happy.
Duration of journey: Two hours, five minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £188
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17. Brussels, Belgium — The compact Belgian capital has excellent transport links, making it easy to see the city's historic landmarks such as the beautiful Grand Place — a UNESCO Heritage site.
Duration of journey: Two hours
Cost of a return ticket: From £81
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16. Bilbao, Spain — Modern art and architecture enthusiasts will want to take the short flight to Bilbao, home to the Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry.
Duration of journey: Two hours
Cost of a return ticket: From £126
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15. Nice, France — The French Riviera attracts tourists from all over the world. It's best to visit Nice in August, when temperatures can reach 24 degrees celsius. With return flights from £54, the city is perfect for anyone desperate to work on their tan.
Duration of journey: Two hours
Cost of a return ticket: From £54
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14. Munich, Germany — Bavarian capital Munich is best known as the home of Oktoberfest. With flights lasting less than two hours, it's even possible to join in the celebrations and make it home the same day.
Duration of journey: One hour, 55 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £95
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13. Salzburg, Austria — Classical music fans will love Salzburg — Mozart's birthplace. You can visit the house the composer grew up in, and the city's churches host plenty of small concerts all year round.
Duration of journey: One hour, 55 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £69
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12. Oslo, Norway — Oslo is the most northern city on our list. The Scandinavian capital was named one of the most welcoming and environmentally-friendly cities in the world in 2016, making it an ideal place to unwind.
Duration of journey: One hour, 55 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £82
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11. Prague, Czech Republic — Prague is one of the cheapest cities in Europe to spend the day, and return flights are also affordable at under £100.
Duration of journey: One hour, 50 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £98
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10. Milan, Italy — Milan is famous for being one of the fashion capitals of the world. Gallerie Vittorio Emanuele II, a shopping arcade housing Prada's flagship store, is conveniently located close to the Duomo — one of the city's most iconic landmarks.
Duration of journey: One hour, 50 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £56
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9. Zurich, Switzerland — Two swiss cities make it onto our list, including Zurich. It takes just 15 minutes to reach the city centre from the airport, meaning there's more time to explore.
Duration of journey: One hour, 40 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £188
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8. Berlin, Germany — Germany's capital is in striking distance of all London airports.
Duration of journey: One hour, 45 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £66
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7. Geneva, Switzerland — Taking a stroll along Lake Geneva is a serene way to spend an afternoon.
Duration of journey: One hour, 40 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £53
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6. Copenhagen, Denmark — Despite its reputation as one of Europe's most expensive cities, Copenhagen is one of the cheapest cities to fly to on our list, with fares starting at just over £50.
Duration of journey: One hour, 40 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £51
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5. Amsterdam, Netherlands — Between the red light district, the museums and galleries, there's almost too much to see in Amsterdam. Fortunately, it takes less than an hour and a half to get there from the UK.
Duration of journey: One hour, 20 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £83
For more information, click here
4. Dublin, Ireland — A trip to Dublin wouldn't be complete without a tour of the Guinness Brewery. It takes just 45 minutes by train to reach the city centre from the airport, so you could be drinking Guinness from the source by lunchtime.
Duration of journey: One hour, 20 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £60
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3. Paris, France — You can be in central Paris by midday, visit iconic landmarks like the Eiffel tower and the Louvre, and still be at home by 9pm. Some return flights take less than an hour to reach London.
Duration of journey: One hour, 15 minutes
Cost of a return: from £98
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2. Edinburgh, Scotland — It may be in the UK, but the Scottish capital's rich culture and history is worlds away from London. A day trip would come in handy during the Edinburgh festival in August, as hotels can become fully booked months in advance.
Duration of journey: One hour, 10 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £88
For more information, click here
1. Luxembourg City, Luxembourg — Luxembourg's air fares are the cheapest on our list, starting at £44, but flights from London airports aren't always available, so it's wise to book a while in advance.
Duration of journey: One hour, 10 minutes
Cost of a return ticket: From £44