It’s the last bank holiday for three months so make the most of it by leaving the country. What do people; thedo on a bank holiday weekend? If it’s sunny, you go to the pubs you usually do except you sit outside. Or perhaps you splash out and pop down to the supermarket for barbequing materials only to find every single other person in your area had the same idea
It’s stressful trying to figure out what to do with that extra day, so why not take the Friday off too and make the most of the long weekend and go on an adventure. Wait, I hear you cry “But it’s massively expensive to travel around a bank holiday” – not always true. We’ve found six holidays all within 3-4 hours of the UK, so no long journeys, and when we say holidays we mean round-trips with accommodation included in the price, all from £163. Don’t waste your weekend sitting on the couch watching awful early 2000’s movies like ‘Eurotrip’ when you can have one of your own. Live a little and make your friends jealous at the same time.
Explore Berlin; the coolest city in Europe
Ah, Berlin, the city that never sleeps, New York may have nabbed the tag line but Berlin lives by it. You could touch down in Berlin and never step foot in your hotel, instead opting to spend the weekend clubbing all day and night in one of the cities infamous mega-clubs, try your luck at Watergate or Club Der Visionäre for a view of the Spree river. However, if you need a relaxing weekend then laze around Museum Island for the day before settling in at a bar in the uber-hip Kreuzberg to drink and chill out until the wee hours.
KAYAK Tip: If you want to catch some rays and relax, head to the Tiergarten, one of Germany’s biggest parks and visit the Cafe on the Neuen See – a delightful little place located by the lake in the middle of the Tiergarten.
Flights from London plus three days accommodation at the 4-star Hotel Angleterre in Mitte from £317 (per person, sharing a double room)
Flights from Manchester plus three days accommodation at the 3-star Days Inn in Kreuzberg from £312 (per person, sharing a double room)
Discover a whole new world in Reykjavik, Iceland
Heralded as one of the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities in the world, you can guarantee relaxation in Reykjavik. Sure, in May you won’t be experiencing much summer weather, but Iceland is a fairytale come to life, and its natural wonder will make you forget that it’s a tad chilly. Take a charming walking tour of Old Reykjavik to learn about some of the city’s history before visiting the Old Harbour. The harbour is an excellent photo opportunity, and it’s now home to several excellent restaurants such Höfnin where you can try some seafood or perhaps some reindeer. Sorry, Rudolph.
KAYAK Tip: Pick up a unique souvenir at Kolaportið, Reykjavik’s Flea Market, open from 9-5pm on the weekend, by the harbour.
Flights from London plus three days accommodation at the ‘Excellent’ rated Blue Mountain Apartments in Vatnsendi from £379 (per person, sharing a studio room)
Flights from Manchester plus three days accommodation at the centrally located Loki 101 Guesthouse from £481 (per person, sharing a double room)
Get your bank holiday cultural fill in Basel, Switzerland
Located where the Swiss, German and French borders meet, Basel is an explosion of world-renowned cultural institutions, architectural beauty and foodie delights. A must-see is the Kunstmuseum Basel which houses some of the most significant works of art in Switzerland or, indeed, Europe; you’ll find a mixture of old masters and modern art with pieces from Picasso to Andy Warhol on show. If you’re travelling with children, ake sure you take them to Basel Zoo, considered one of the best Zoos globally with just about every animal possible located there.
KAYAK Tip: You can’t leave Switzerland without trying a cheese fondue, and if you think you’ve had a good one, think again. The Walliser Kanne restaurant is located in the heart of Old City and takes it’s fondue very seriously.
Flights from London plus three days accommodation at 4-star Hotel Victoria from £213 (per person, sharing a double room)
Flights from Birmingham plus three days accommodation at 4-star Hotel Spalentor from £328 (per person, sharing a double room)
If you fancy searching a flight+hotel combo to any destinations (lesser known European cities, places closer to home) for yourself, just enter your info here and hit search. The filters are great if you want to tighten up your searches by budget, location etc.
Amsterdam, the city you should have visited already
The city of Amsterdam houses everything one would need over a bank holiday weekend. Culture, architecture, beautiful scenic walks and relaxation in, um, every form one could think of. Fill your long weekend with a mixture of the novel and the sublime. Book your place on the Heineken Experience, an interactive museum that takes you through the beer’s history before ending up in a ‘tasting room’ for a few hours. After this, you’re that you’re probably “refreshed” enough to wander around the gorgeous Jordaan neighbourhood; follow the Rozengracht canal to find a delicious selection of bars and cafes offering traditional Dutch fare.
KAYAK Tip: Get a free ferry to NDSM Noord, Amsterdam’s up and coming neighbourhood located across the water, expect cool cafes, experimental bars and late night raves.
Flights from London plus three days accommodation at 3-star Hotel Iron Horse in Amsterdam City Centre from £388 (per person, sharing a double room)
Flights from Manchester plus three days accommodation at 4-star Best Western Delphi Hotel from £400 (per person, sharing a superior suite)
You won’t get bored in Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux is fun to say, that’s a fact. But did you know, it’s also a fact that holidaying there is the perfect cure for whatever is ailing you? Wine (enjoyed responsibly) is a great cure for a lot of things, and Bordeaux is the jumping off point for every wine tasting vineyard tour. Discover the regions and tastes of Medoc, Saint-Emilion, Graves and numerous others for a unique and quintessentially French experience. Don’t forget about the city of Bordeaux itself, while there are plush green fields surrounding it, the city looks lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Marvel at the castles like the Porte Cailhau, the largest square in Europe the Esplanade des Quinconces and the newly built wine museum La Cité du Vin, a glittering architectural feat.
KAYAK Tip: Try and see the Cathédrale St-André cathedral, a gothic masterpiece with some sections that date all the way back to 1096. You’ll have to scale about 200 narrow steps to get to it, but the city panorama is worth it.
Flights from London plus three days accommodation at 4-star Hotel Kyriad Prestige Bordeaux Ouest Mérignac from £225 (per person, sharing a double room)
Flights from Glasgow plus three days accommodation at 4-star Hôtel Mercure Bordeaux Château Chartrons from £363 (per person, sharing a superior suite)
On KAYAK, finding the perfect holiday for your budget couldn’t be simpler: with KAYAK Explore, see the most beautiful beaches, amazing cities or peaceful getaways with their respective prices, all laid out for you on one easy map.
A last minute brush up on Brussels this bank holiday
Just a hop, skip and a jump away, Brussels is the perfect place for a four-day jaunt. Belgium is nestled in between the Netherlands, France and Germany so houses a wonderful and eclectic mix of architecture, art, food and culture. The Grand Palace should be your first stop, the main attraction the square on which it sits also plays host to the Town Hall and the famous ‘Manneken Pis’ a bronze fountain which features a sculpture of a small boy urinating freely. Combine sightseeing with indulgence by taking a Chocolate Walking Tour and Workshop, a bit pricey but worth it if you want only the best Brussels has to offer.
KAYAK tip: If you fancy a drink, Poechenellekelder is just around the corner from The Grand Palace. Expect to find lots of urinating boy memorabilia littering the walls and over 150 different types of beer.
Flights from London plus three days accommodation at Thon Hotel in Brussels City Centre from £199 (per person, sharing a double room)
Flights from Manchester plus three days accommodation at Hôtel Van Belle from £329 (per person, sharing a deluxe room)
Note: These rates are based on search queries made on KAYAK.co.uk on May 15th, 2017. The prices are quoted in GBP. Flight prices are based on results for a return economy flight search. Hotel prices are for double occupancy and include taxes and fees. Prices are subject to change, may vary, or no longer be available.
