Every destination, rated honestly

Direct from Irish airports, scored out of seven blue dots. Pick your airport.

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City break direct from Dublin Clear

Prague

Czechia · 2h 15m direct5°7/75° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“Castles, bridges and beer cheaper than water. Possibly the most beautiful city you can reach in two hours.”

Salzburg and the Austrian Alps

Austria · 2h 30m direct6°7/74° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“Mozart, The Sound of Music and ski slopes an hour away. Winter wonderland or summer meadows.”

Venice

Italy · 2h 35m direct11°7/71° warmerthan homeWeather match Grand6/10Worth the bother? Could be tempted.“Unreal. Absolutely unreal. Also absolutely heaving, so get up early.”

Kraków

Poland · 2h 40m direct6°7/74° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“A fairytale old town, cheap pints and pierogi everywhere. One of the best-value city breaks from Ireland.”

Budapest

Hungary · 2h 50m direct8°7/72° colderthan homeWeather match Questionable4/10Worth the bother? Think about it.“Thermal baths, ruin bars and the Danube lit up at night. Two cities for the price of one.”

Rome

Italy · 2h 55m direct15°7/75° warmerthan homeWeather match Good9/10Worth the bother? Go on so.“Three thousand years of history and the best pasta of your life. You will walk 20,000 steps and regret nothing.”

Naples and the Amalfi Coast

Italy · 3h 10m direct15°7/75° warmerthan homeWeather match Good8/10Worth the bother? Sure why not.“Chaos, the best pizza on earth, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. Hold onto your bag and your heart.”

Marrakech

Morocco · 3h 35m direct19°7/79° warmerthan homeWeather match Good7/10Worth the bother? Worth a look.“Souks, spice, rooftop sunsets and snake charmers. A full-on assault on the senses, in the best way.”

Istanbul

Turkiye · 4h 25m direct16°7/76° warmerthan homeWeather match Good6/10Worth the bother? Could be tempted.“One of the great cities of the world, and closer than you think. Go.”

Boston

USA · 7h 10m direct22°7/712° warmerthan homeWeather match Questionable3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“History, seafood and more Irish connections than you can count. Feels like a cousin you have not met yet.”

New York

USA · 7h 45m direct20°7/710° warmerthan homeWeather match Grand5/10Worth the bother? Ah… maybe.“Loud, dear and absolutely brilliant. Clear US immigration in Ireland and land like a local.”

Paris

France · 1h 40m direct10°6/7Same as homeWeather match Questionable5/10Worth the bother? Ah… maybe.“Yes, it is as good as the films. Yes, the coffee is dear. No, you do not have to climb the Eiffel Tower.”

Cologne

Germany · 1h 50m direct8°6/72° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“A cathedral you can see from the airport, small beers and the best Christmas markets for the money.”

Hamburg

Germany · 1h 55m direct9°6/71° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for1/10Worth the bother? Stay where you are.“Ships, canals and a very good night out. It rains, but so does Dublin, and Hamburg has a concert hall.”

Bilbao and the Basque Coast

Spain · 2h 10m direct12°6/72° warmerthan homeWeather match Grand6/10Worth the bother? Could be tempted.“Pintxos, the Guggenheim and green hills. It rains a bit, so you will feel right at home.”

Geneva and the Alps

Switzerland · 2h 15m direct7°6/73° colderthan homeWeather match Questionable3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“Lake views, chocolate and the gateway to the French and Swiss Alps. Ski-trip central.”

Lyon

France · 2h 15m direct8°6/72° colderthan homeWeather match Questionable5/10Worth the bother? Ah… maybe.“France’s food capital. You will eat too much and not regret a single bite.”

Porto

Portugal · 2h 15m direct17°6/77° warmerthan homeWeather match Good7/10Worth the bother? Worth a look.“Port wine, pretty bridges and a riverside built for long lunches. Your legs will remember the hills.”

Barcelona

Spain · 2h 20m direct16°6/76° warmerthan homeWeather match Perfect10/10Worth the bother? Book it.“Gaudí, tapas and a beach in the city. Mind your phone on Las Ramblas.”

Berlin

Germany · 2h 20m direct7°6/73° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“History on every corner, clubs that never close and currywurst at 4am. Cool, not cute.”

Milan and the Lakes

Italy · 2h 20m direct9°6/71° colderthan homeWeather match Grand5/10Worth the bother? Ah… maybe.“Fashion, a ridiculous cathedral and Lake Como an hour away. Dress up a bit, they notice.”

Nice and the Riviera

France · 2h 20m direct13°6/73° warmerthan homeWeather match Excellent8/10Worth the bother? Sure why not.“Pebbles instead of sand, rosé instead of water and Monaco a bus ride away. Very civilised.”

Turin

Italy · 2h 25m direct10°6/7Same as homeWeather match Grand5/10Worth the bother? Ah… maybe.“Italy’s most underrated city: elegant, delicious and nowhere near as busy as Rome.”

Munich

Germany · 2h 30m direct5°6/75° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“Beer halls, lederhosen and the Alps on the doorstep. Bavaria does not do things by halves.”

Wroclaw

Poland · 2h 30m direct7°6/73° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“A beautiful market square, hunting for tiny bronze dwarves, and pints that cost less than a coffee at home.”

Madrid

Spain · 2h 35m direct14°6/74° warmerthan homeWeather match Good8/10Worth the bother? Sure why not.“Late dinners, world-class art and a city that never seems to go to bed. Your liver will need a siesta.”

Stockholm

Sweden · 2h 35m direct6°6/74° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for1/10Worth the bother? Stay where you are.“Islands, a museum with a whole ship in it and prices that make you look at your phone twice.”

Lisbon

Portugal · 2h 40m direct20°6/710° warmerthan homeWeather match Perfect10/10Worth the bother? Book it.“Gorgeous, cheap-ish and built entirely on hills. Bring the good runners.”

Valencia

Spain · 2h 40m direct19°6/79° warmerthan homeWeather match Excellent8/10Worth the bother? Sure why not.“Paella’s home town, a city beach and futuristic buildings. Like Barcelona without the elbows.”

Seville

Spain · 2h 45m direct22°6/712° warmerthan homeWeather match Excellent8/10Worth the bother? Sure why not.“Flamenco, orange trees and the best tapas in Spain. Do not go in August unless you enjoy being roasted.”

Vienna

Austria · 2h 45m direct7°6/73° colderthan homeWeather match Questionable4/10Worth the bother? Think about it.“Palaces, cake and coffee houses. The most civilised city in Europe, with Christmas markets to match.”

Málaga

Spain · 2h 55m direct17°6/77° warmerthan homeWeather match Excellent8/10Worth the bother? Sure why not.“A proper city with a beach attached. Tapas portions are not a meal.”

Split

Croatia · 2h 55m direct15°6/75° warmerthan homeWeather match Grand6/10Worth the bother? Could be tempted.“People live inside a Roman emperor’s palace. The islands are right there. Your camera roll will be full.”

Riga

Latvia · 3h direct6°6/74° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for1/10Worth the bother? Stay where you are.“Art nouveau, a huge market and good beer at good prices. Underrated, which suits us.”

Tallinn

Estonia · 3h 05m direct8°6/72° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for1/10Worth the bother? Stay where you are.“A fairytale old town at stag-party prices. Go before the secret is out. Ah, it is out.”

Cluj-Napoca

Romania · 3h 15m direct8°6/72° colderthan homeWeather match Questionable3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“Transylvania's big city, with great coffee, a young crowd and a salt mine you can go and look at.”

Chișinău and Moldova

Moldova · 3h 30m direct7°6/73° colderthan homeWeather match Questionable3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“Come for the Soviet relics, stay for the wine. More modern, friendlier and tastier than anyone back home will believe.”

Tirana

Albania · 3h 35m direct18°6/78° warmerthan homeWeather match Good6/10Worth the bother? Could be tempted.“Croatia’s beaches at half the price, before everyone else copped on.”

Athens

Greece · 4h 15m direct18°6/78° warmerthan homeWeather match Excellent7/10Worth the bother? Worth a look.“The Acropolis, rooftop bars and souvlaki at midnight. Ancient history with a great night out attached.”

Izmir

Turkiye · 4h 20m direct16°6/76° warmerthan homeWeather match Excellent7/10Worth the bother? Worth a look.“Turkey without the all-inclusive wristband. Proper city, proper food, beaches up the road.”

Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates · 7h 20m direct30°6/720° warmerthan homeWeather match Questionable2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“Dubai’s calmer, richer cousin. Guaranteed winter sun, theme parks and a mosque you won’t forget.”

Toronto

Canada · 7h 45m direct17°6/77° warmerthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for1/10Worth the bother? Stay where you are.“Friendly, multicultural and next door to Niagara Falls. Like New York, but it says sorry.”

Chicago

USA · 8h 30m direct15°6/75° warmerthan homeWeather match Questionable2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“Skyscrapers, deep-dish pizza and a lake that looks like the sea. Big-city America, done right.”

Amsterdam

Netherlands · 1h 30m direct10°5/7Same as homeWeather match Not what you asked for3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“Canals, museums and 800,000 bikes, all of them coming straight for you. Look both ways. Twice.”

Brussels

Belgium · 1h 40m direct8°5/72° colderthan homeWeather match Questionable3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“Chips, chocolate, waffles and 300 beers. Diet starts Monday.”

Dusseldorf

Germany · 1h 45m direct8°5/72° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“Posh shops, an old town full of pubs and a very short flight. Cologne's smarter cousin.”

Luxembourg

Luxembourg · 1h 50m direct7°5/73° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“A tiny country with a postcard old town, free public transport and prices that say 'banker'.”

Basel

Switzerland · 2h 05m direct8°5/72° colderthan homeWeather match Questionable3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“Swiss, spotless, and you swim in the river. Bring your wallet and your cop-on.”

Copenhagen

Denmark · 2h 10m direct10°5/7Same as homeWeather match Not what you asked for3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“Bikes, pastries and Nyhavn’s colourful harbour. Gorgeous, but your wallet will cry.”

Oslo

Norway · 2h 10m direct1°5/79° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for1/10Worth the bother? Stay where you are.“Fjords, saunas and design. You will love it right up until you buy a round.”

Toulouse

France · 2h 10m direct10°5/7Same as homeWeather match Grand5/10Worth the bother? Ah… maybe.“The pink city: rugby, cassoulet and sunshine. Like Cork, if Cork had better weather.”

Zurich

Switzerland · 2h 25m direct7°5/73° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“Gorgeous, spotless and on a lake. Bring a second mortgage for the pints.”

Poznan

Poland · 2h 30m direct7°5/73° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“Charming old square, mechanical goats and croissants that have a whole festival. Easy and cheap.”

Lodz

Poland · 2h 40m direct7°5/73° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for1/10Worth the bother? Stay where you are.“An old textile city turned art city, with a street of murals and a very long main drag. Unfussy and cheap.”

Bratislava

Slovakia · 2h 45m direct7°5/73° colderthan homeWeather match Questionable3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“A pocket-sized old town and cheap pints. Vienna is an hour away if you get bored.”

Warsaw

Poland · 2h 45m direct7°5/73° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“A rebuilt old town, great food and vodka that costs less than water. Seriously underrated.”

Zagreb

Croatia · 2h 50m direct9°5/71° colderthan homeWeather match Questionable4/10Worth the bother? Think about it.“Croatia without the beach, and without the crowds. Come for Christmas.”

Vilnius

Lithuania · 2h 55m direct6°5/74° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for1/10Worth the bother? Stay where you are.“A baroque old town nobody talks about, with prices that make you order dessert.”

Helsinki

Finland · 3h direct7°5/73° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“Saunas, sea and silence. A city break for people who find city breaks a bit much.”

Kaunas

Lithuania · 3h direct3°5/77° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for1/10Worth the bother? Stay where you are.“Lithuania's second city, a lot of 1930s architecture and nobody else there.”

Kosice

Slovakia · 3h direct6°5/74° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“A pretty Slovak city with the biggest church in the country and a main street that is all cafes.”

Malta

Malta · 3h 30m direct18°5/78° warmerthan homeWeather match Good6/10Worth the bother? Could be tempted.“They drive on the left and speak English. Wexford with sun and 7,000 years of history.”

Iasi

Romania · 3h 35m direct8°5/72° colderthan homeWeather match Questionable3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“A university city with a palace in the middle and prices from another decade.”

Sofia

Bulgaria · 3h 35m direct8°5/72° colderthan homeWeather match Questionable4/10Worth the bother? Think about it.“One of the cheapest capitals in Europe, with a mountain at the end of the tram line.”

Bucharest

Romania · 3h 40m direct7°5/73° colderthan homeWeather match Grand4/10Worth the bother? Think about it.“Grand boulevards, one gigantic palace and a very good night out for very little.”

Cairo

Egypt · 5h 30m direct25°5/715° warmerthan homeWeather match Grand5/10Worth the bother? Ah… maybe.“The pyramids are every bit as good as you think. The traffic is every bit as bad.”

Doha

Qatar · 7h 05m direct30°5/720° warmerthan homeWeather match Questionable2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“Winter sun with skyscrapers and a very good museum. Do not go in July.”

Dubai

United Arab Emirates · 7h 40m direct31°5/721° warmerthan homeWeather match Questionable2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“Winter sun turned up to eleven. Skyscrapers, beaches and a mall with an aquarium.”

Washington

United States · 8h 30m direct17°5/77° warmerthan homeWeather match Grand4/10Worth the bother? Think about it.“The free museums are some of the best in the world. Washington in summer is a sauna.”

Beijing

China · 10h 05m direct3°5/77° colderthan homeWeather match Grand3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“The Great Wall is a day trip. Let that sink in, then book the flight.”

San Francisco

United States · 11h 05m direct16°5/76° warmerthan homeWeather match Perfect6/10Worth the bother? Could be tempted.“Golden Gate, cable cars and fog with its own name. It is not as warm as you think.”

Los Angeles

United States · 11h 10m direct22°5/712° warmerthan homeWeather match Good5/10Worth the bother? Ah… maybe.“Sunshine, beaches and Hollywood. Also traffic you could write a country song about.”

Shanghai

China · 11h 30m direct16°5/76° warmerthan homeWeather match Perfect6/10Worth the bother? Could be tempted.“A long, long flight to a very big, very good city. Bring a charger and a plan.”

Frankfurt

Germany · 2h direct8°4/72° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“Skyscrapers, a bank on every corner and apple wine. Underrated, but not for the sun-seekers.”

Memmingen

Germany · 2h 20m direct4°4/76° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“A small airport in Bavaria, a very nice old town and the Alps on the doorstep. A gateway more than a destination.”

Katowice

Poland · 2h 45m direct5°4/75° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“Industrial roots, a very good music scene and Krakow about an hour and a half down the road.”

Rzeszow

Poland · 3h direct7°4/73° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for2/10Worth the bother? Would ya bother?“A small, friendly city in the south-east and the gateway to the Carpathians. Bring walking boots.”

Swidnik

Poland · 3h direct6°4/74° colderthan homeWeather match Not what you asked for1/10Worth the bother? Stay where you are.“The airport is in Swidnik, the real prize is Lublin 10 minutes away, a lovely, quiet old town.”

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