Top Destinations for 24 hour Day Trips from Ireland

I recently saw this post on Facebook and it really had me thinking of the new Gen Z craze of flying out of Ireland or the UK to mainland Europe for the day to enjoy the offers of a European city before returning home. With the cost of living crisis and limited PTO, it might be how some travellers are enjoying countries in bite sized moments, rather than spending money on a hotel. Now, as a millennial with an income, you couldn't pay me to fly in and out for a one-day only holiday but, for the sake of it let's think about this! And, while we're on it, for the sake of it, let's forget about carbon footprints and the sustainability aspect!

If! And I mean if you were going to spend a day in a country- leave early and fly home the same day, we need to look at some basic destination requirements.

Requirements

Here's the necessities of a city or town to become a day trip destination:

1. Cheap flights: there's no point in me telling you to fly to Dubai for the day, we're scouring Ryanair and other cheap airlines to make sure that there are cheap flights available and at the right times!

2. Short haul: if you're leaving at 5 am and back at 11 pm, we're looking for flights that are two hours or less- maximum 3 hours- so that you get the most out of your day trip. As an Irish company, we're flying from Dublin (more flights available) but just drop a comment if you want us to do it from another airport!

3. Close airport in destination: one of the most important things is that there's a close airport- so you get in and out of your destination efficiently with good transport options. This means you get more from your day and you're not spending hours on the commute in. It also means there won't be too much panic getting back to the airport! (again, you couldn't pay me to do this)

4. Cheap and accessible food and attractions: finally, I'm not sending you to Venice so you can enjoy a €45 pizza the same quality as Centra, I'm listing the most affordable places to go in destination too. Let's face it, if all you can afford is a day trip and not a hotel, then money's a little tight!

   
   

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   The date is 3rd of April 2025, so I'm going to pick dates not too far in advance as I assume our youngster travellers aren't planning their day trips too long in advance!

A comment on Dublin-Milan

Originally, and seeing as Kerri and Jade inspired this post because of Milan, I was going to start there. But unfortunately the Irish are out of luck for an affordable flight to Milan that is worth the time. I have to include it because I don't want you to be duped (I got you).

There are multiple airports in Milan, if you get cheap flights to Milan with Ryanair they will most likely be to Il Caravaggio International Airport in Bergamo which is a 1 hour 20 minutes ride from the city centre with changes (not a direct bus or train) and it's not worth your time (see BVA below).

If you flew to Milan Malpensa with Ryanair for the day: it's more expensive because it's closer and the departing times DUB-MXP are in the afternoon. Alternatively, Aer Lingus fly to both MXP and Linate airport (which is worth visiting just for the airport alone) but there's no returns less than €120 - which is fair enough because they're the superior airline here and I'm trying to get you cheap, cheap day trips!

I will tell you that I know some of the best sandwich and bakeries in Milan which will be included in an article in the near future, but anyway, let's get started- here are three day trip destinations from Dublin airport:

Amsterdam

I love Amsterdam after living there for half a year and dating a Dutch guy for 3 years. I'd highly recommend it on your list for travelling, and highly dissuade you from dating a Dutch man.

Airport & transport: you've only got one choice when you're visiting Amsterdam to go to Schiphol which is a lovely airport, you can get into Amsterdam Centraal Station in 40 minutes which will leave you in the centre of the city.

Flights: at this moment, Ryanair are doing their 19.99 seat sale and Amsterdam is a destination! Return flights on Wednesday the 7th of May are 44 euro return leaving at 07.50 DUB-AMS and returning at 21.20 AMS-DUB.

Time: you land at 10 am, you're in the city by 11 am. You've got to be at the airport at 19.20 leaving at 6.30 pm giving you 7 hours in the city.

What to Do: you'll be in the tourist area when you arrive but don't give up hope! From living in Amsterdam, my favourite spots close to the train station are the Eye Film Museum (€15) and Nemo Science Museum (€20), the Sexmuseum, Body Parts and Madame Tussauds are also close by. Grab dinner on a visit to Chinatown via the Red Light District, or go to my favourite the Floating Chinese Restaurant (beside station, really good for dinner)

If you're looking for a great hipster neighbourhood go south to de Pijp for less costly restaurants and close by my favourite art museum in the world Stedelijk contemporary art museum (€23) directly beside the Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum!

There's lots to do and great options for cheap meals if you know where to look! Even if you just want to spend the day in a coffeeshop lighting up, I'm giving this destination a 8/10.

Manchester

Manchester is the most underrated destination in the UK I've ever been to and the FOOD! You have your pick of amazing restaurants, cocktail bars and shopping experiences to keep you going so I'm already a bit biased here.

Airport & transport: again, you've only got one choice when you're visiting Manchester for airports, you can get into Manchester Piccadilly station (a 10 minute walk from the centre of the city) in just under 30 minutes.

Flights: I'm on the Ryanair Seat Sale again and I've found flights for Tuesday the 15th of April for 30 euro return leaving at 07.15 DUB-MAN and returning at 22.50 MAN-DUB with loads of other options if you want a shorter day for the same price.

Time: you land at 8.15 am, you're in the city by 9 am. You've got to be at the airport at 20.50 leaving at 20.30 giving you 11 hours in the city. Now, as much as I love it- you don't need that long on your feet so if you grabbed the 18.00 you'd still get 9 hours for the same price on flights!

What to Do: museums in Manchester aren't great unless you're a football nut, but what I highly recommend is checking out the shopping streets and you could absolutely time your visit to coincide with football matches and music events with most venues close to the city centre. Although this might drive up prices on flights.

Unlike Amsterdam, you're not going to have problems with restaurants with tourist prices near museums so anywhere you pick to eat is going to be good. There are lots of cool fast food options in the Arndale shopping centre that we don't have in Ireland like Archie's, Taco Bell and Yo!Sushi (a personal favourite). I'd 100% recommend a Greggs sausage roll on arrival.

If you're looking for something different try wandering down to Spinningfields and try the Asian Ivy restaurant for fancy cocktails or lunch, The Alchemist is also so much fun and you have Sexy Fish and Slug and Lettuce down that way, too. There are a plethora of great Mancunian pubs right in the city centre, a great market and bars in the Northern Quarter. Finally, Mowgli and loads of other cool places to eat can be found in the Corn Exchange.

You could eat and drink your day around shopping or events here so I'm going to give this destination a 7/10 only because there's no weather change from Dublin!

Paris

Could you do Paris in a day? Maybe. From my travel agent days I'd send people for two nights and they'd have a ball, one night and you're getting a taster, one day? Let's try it.

Flights, airport & transport: you've got options when it comes to airports and there are cheap flights available with multiple airlines. Charles de Gaulle isn't great for cheap cheap flights, so it's not included.

Ryanair only flies to Beauvais which is the airport you'll always get cheap flights to and from because it's not in Paris and it's a PAIN of an airport to. Fly with Ryanair on 8th of May return at 06.30 DUB-BVA and 22.35 BVA-DUB for just €45 but add on that it's two hours each way minimum with changes and the prone-to-strike French, could it really be worth it?

For just, €50 more (€90 return) you can fly to Orly airport only 30 minutes direct to and from the centre of Paris. On Skyscanner, we can opt for two different airlines so on the same day as above (8th of May) you could fly 08.20 DUB- ORY with Veuling and 18.15 ORY-DUB with Transavia to get that price.

Time: with Ryanair you land at 9.00 am, you're in the central city by 11.30 am. You've got to be at the airport at 20.35 leaving at 18.30 latest so you have 7 hours in the city.

With Veuling you land at 11.15 in Paris by midday, at the airport for 4.15 for Transavia so leaving Paris at 4pm giving you a shorter day of 4 hours to enjoy your croissant!

What to Do: I've done the timing so that you would land directly where I want you: in Place du Châtelet. Here, you're beside a great shopping street on Rue de Rivoli, a stone's throw from the Louvre and luxury shopping at Galleries de Lafayette. You'll come up by the Notre Dame and south of the river just behind it you'll find the famous Shakespeare and Co Bookshop.

On the right of that (if you're looking at the bookshop), you'll find the Latin Quarter where you can enjoy incredible touristy meals at four courses and a free glass of kir for under 30 euro. It won't be the best meal in the world but you'll love it because it's value for money!

You can go free salsa and samba dancing further down the south bank of the Seine, grab a bottle of wine and eat like locals on the banks of the river and enjoy a great day. For Ryanair passengers, connect at Châtelet to Gare Du Nord for your transport home and go direct from Châtelet to Orly!

What destinations do you want me to do next? I'm thinking southern Europe, what would you like?