Cheap weekend breaks from the UK
Last updated 29 October 2026 · by the HopCheap team
Quick answer: The cheapest weekend breaks from the UK are usually short-flight cities in Central and Eastern Europe, such as Krakow, Budapest and Prague, plus Porto and Dublin. Fly Thursday–Sunday or Saturday–Tuesday rather than Friday–Sunday to save, and travel January to March.
✦ Search live fares: “cheap weekend breaks from the UK under £300”Which destinations are best for weekend breaks from the uk?
| Destination | Flight time | Best weather | Usually cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | ~2.7h | March–June and September–October | November–February, outside Christmas |
| Porto | ~2.2h | May–June and September | November–March |
| Krakow | ~2.3h | May–June and September | January–March (after New Year) |
| Budapest | ~2.4h | April–June and September–October | January–March |
| Prague | ~1.9h | May–June and September | January–March |
| Athens | ~3.6h | April–June and September–October | November–March |
| Rome | ~2.5h | April–May and late September–October | November–February (outside Christmas) |
| Venice | ~2.1h | March–May and October–November | November–February (excluding Carnival) |
| Vienna | ~2.3h | April–June and September–October | January–March |
| Amsterdam | ~1.2h | April–May and September | January–February |
| Dublin | ~1.2h | May–September | January–March |
| Copenhagen | ~1.8h | May–September | January–March |
| Rovaniemi (Lapland) | ~3.5h | January–March for snow and aurora | Late January–March, outside half-term |
| Istanbul | ~3.9h | April–May and September–October | November–March (excluding Christmas) |
This table shows typical patterns for UK departures, not fixed prices. Search live fares for your dates.
How do I get the best price?
- Be flexible by a few days and compare 2–3 UK airports.
- Compare a package with flight + hotel booked separately; packages from UK ATOL holders add protection.
- Travel light – see our hand luggage guide.
- Use HopCheap's AI search: describe the trip in your own words and it finds and explains the best-value fares.
Related guides
- Weekend breaks under £100 from the UK: how to do it
- Cheap weekend breaks from London
- Cheap Christmas market breaks from the UK
See also: Cheap winter sun holidays from the UK · Cheap half-term holidays from the UK · Cheap all-inclusive holidays from the UK.
We don't quote fixed prices because fares change constantly – the search buttons fetch current fares. Entry rules can change: always check GOV.UK before you travel.