The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
Long weekends with the feelgood factor
It’s official: a short break is as good for your wellbeing as a longer holiday – so find a European escape to suit your tastes and go. Emma Thomson picks 20 of the best
We may have 52 weekends a year in which to rest and reset – but let’s be honest, they never seem long enough. By the time we have finished work on Friday, done a food shop, washed the car and visited the family, it simply isn’t realistic to make every weekend count.
However, there is a strong argument that a few times a year we should break from reality and invest in an experience away from home. Organising a weekend break abroad can feel overwhelming, but a three or-four-day trip is both cheaper and quicker to arrange than longer holidays. What’s more, they are proven to be good for your health.
Surveys have revealed that stretching our weekends to incorporate Friday and even Monday is just as effective, if not more so, at reducing stress and boosting our productivity as taking a week-long break.
Many of us, families included, will have to time our long weekends to coincide with bank holidays – but an increasing number of employers now offer flexible working hours, or the kind of hybrid working-from-home set up that proliferated during the pandemic. Many professionals are now able to work from anywhere, and hours that would be wasted commuting can be accrued, adding an average of six days to their potential travels.
Favourite destinations for a weekend getaway include Lisbon, Amsterdam, Paris and Prague, but don’t restrict your adventures to the classics. Rail networks are better connected than ever and budget airlines fly to some fairly unusual outposts, allowing us to travel to unexplored regions of Europe with ease.
To help you on your way, we have compiled a round-up of the best long-weekend options for those seeking alternative cities, mini adventures, short beach breaks, luxury getaways and wellness escapes. You will be amazed by just how much you can squeeze into 72 or 96 hours.
ALTERNATIVE CITIES
A royal stay in Hillerød, Denmark
Less than an hour from Copenhagen by train, the Danish island of North Sealand was recently declared the “Danish Riviera” thanks to its spread of beaches, lakes and forests. And with Denmark crowning a new king in 2024, we suggest basing yourself in the historic city of Hillerød.
It is home to three royal castles, including the jaw-dropping Renaissance Frederiksborg, which houses Denmark’s Museum of National History and an exhibition on Queen Margrethe II’s 52 years on the throne. Enjoy gastronomic triumphs at the new Rhubarb Farm and kayak in Royal North Zealand National Park with a chance to spot sea eagles.
How to do it The brand-new
Zleep Hotel (zleep.com) is located right next to the castle and a standard double room there costs from £80 per person. Fly to Copenhagen with British Airways (ba.com) from £53 return.
Roman Nîmes by rail, France
Dubbed the most Roman city outside Italy, sunny Nîmes is one of France’s most-underrated weekend breaks. With an amphitheatre second only to the one in Rome, which plays host to the annual Great Roman Games, the Pont Du Gare aqueduct spanning the
Gardon River and the glittering mosaics inside the Musée de la Romanité, it is a time-travel city. Also on offer are master paintings at the Musée des Beaux Arts, the colourful Feria flamenco festival and summer months abuzz with painting and pottery workshops and markets perfect for picking up picnic supplies.
How to do it Ffestiniog Travel (01766 512400; ffestiniotravel.com) offers a four-day rail break to Nîmes from £1,150 per person, based on two sharing. Includes first-class rail travel from London and three nights’ B&B accommodation.
Capital of Culture, Bodø, Norway
Previously dismissed as “Boring Bodø” – serving only as a gateway to the over-Instagrammed Lofoten Islands a half-hour flight away – this working fishing town in northern Norway is undergoing an exciting renaissance and was selected as one of the three Capitals of Culture for 2024.
Enjoy hikes amid snow-dappled mountains, or cold-sea plunges followed by warming up in a a harbourside sauna. Witness Saltstraumen, the world’s strongest tidal current, fuel up at first-rate restaurants and learn about Sámi culture. Check Bodø’s online calendar (bodo2024.no) for a host of music, theatre and film events.
How to do it Sunvil (020 8568 4499; sunvil.co.uk) offers a three-night stay at the Quality Hotel Ramsalt from £829 per person, B&B, including return flights to Bodø from London, via Oslo.
Live like a Sicilian in Syracuse, Italy
With a history to rival that of Florence or Venice, Unesco-listed Syracuse on Sicily’s east coast gets a name-check in the Bible and was once one of the major powers of the Mediterranean. That legacy is reflected in its swathe of Greek and Roman architecture, such as the Temple of Apollo and an amphitheatre. Stroll the historic centre of Ortygia with a gelato, feast on pasta with sardines and local Pachino tomatoes at the Mercato di Ortigia and swim from the local Arenella and Fontane Bianche beaches.
How to do it Wish Sicily (020 7193 7302; wishsicily.com) offers four nights from £128 per person, staying at the Stella in Oritigia, an apartment inside an aristocratic palazzo. Fly to Catania with Ryanair (ryanair.com) from £147 return.
MINI ADVENTURES Wildlife safari in the Camargue, France
Who knew that a two-hour drive from the glittering Côte d’Azure lies the Wild West? The Camargue forms Europe’s largest river delta – a flat, watery world of salt pans that is home to semi-wild white horses and pink flamingos. In addition, enjoy fine Provençale food and watch gardians (cowboys) herding black bulls.
Life unfolds slowly in the Camargue, so match its pace on a canalboat cruise that weaves through marshes teeming with wildlife and serves up some superb birding opportunities.
How to do it Locaboat (020 3966 4318; locaboat.com) offers a three-night Cruise in Camargue trip from £1,404 per boat. Fly to Montpellier with easyJet (easyjet.com) from £62 return.
Active archipelago life, Furusund, Sweden
Just an hour’s drive from Stockholm is Furusund, the gateway to the off-thebeaten-track Roslagen archipelago. Join a three-day guided adventure on which you will kayak along the wild coastline and fish for your supper while competing with seals and sea eagles, then have your catch turned into a gourmet meal by a wilderness chef. Camp under the stars one night and switch it up the next with a stay at the Hotel Furusund with floating hot tub.
How to do it F&P Travel (01306 264 005; fandptravel.com) offers a threeday guided Swedish Adventure from £1,899 per person, including the services of a guide, return flights to Stockholm and a concierge service.
Two-wheel adventure through Chianti, Italy
Straddle a saddle and embark on this bargain self-guided cycling trip from the romantic Renaissance capital of Florence to the medieval alleys of Siena, by way of the Greve and Radda vineyards in the world-famous wine-producing region of Chianti. Covering a daily distance of between 20 and 30 miles on (mainly) smooth asphalted roads, there is ample time for posttasting snoozes or sightseeing.
How to do it Utracks (0800 0744 135; utracks.com) offers a four-day selfguided Cycle Florence to Siena trip from £750 per person, including B&B accommodation, bike rental and luggage transfers. Fly to Florence with Vueling (vueling.com), with fares from £107 return.
Pintxo perfection in San Sebastian, Spain
Boasting an impressive 17 Michelin stars, San Sebastian, on Spain’s northern Basque coast, is the current queen of the European food scene. Ditch the stiff-white-tablecloth restaurants in favour of pintxos-hopping, in which you go from bar to bar in the Casco Viejo (Old Town), sampling seafood tapas and dishes such as txistorra (cured sausage) accompanied by a glass of txakoli or refreshing Basque cider.
How to do it Original Travel (020 3582 4990; originaltravel.co.uk) offers a three-night short break from £1,410 per person, including B&B accommodation, return flights, transfers and guided tours.
SHORT BEACH BREAKS
Surf ’s up in Biarritz, France
“I have not met in the world any place more pleasant and perfect than Biarritz,” wrote Victor Hugo in 1843. Ever since, this tooth-white seaside town has attracted the well-heeled and its blend of sports and sunshine is ideal for couples, one of whom goes stir crazy sitting still while the other prefers sunbathing. Biarritz is a cherished surf spot and home to one of Europe’s most prestigious golf courses, neighbouring forest-backed Anglet and its 11 beaches.
How to do it The newly reopened Art Deco Regina Experimental (0033 5 59 41 33 00; reginaexperimental. com) offers double rooms from £268, B&B. Fly to Biarritz with Ryanair (ryanair.com) from £189 return.
Alternative Tuscany, Porte Ercole, Italy
Connected to the Tuscan mainland by two sand bars, Porte Ercole sits on the island of Argentario and can be accessed only via a single road that spans lagoons visited by pink flamingos. Expect olive groves, gardens of bougainvillea and jasmine, and an Old Town clustered around the harbour and lined with rustic trattorias. Visit the tomb of esteemed painter Caravaggio and laze on islet beaches – our pick is the Bagno Le Viste.
How to do it The boutique La Roqqa (laroqqa.com) has double rooms from £371, B&B. Fly to Rome Fiumicino with British Airways (ba.com), with fares from £137 return.
The car-free island of Kolocep, Croatia
Just seven miles from Dubrovnik, but a world away from its crowds, the island of Kolocep is the smallest of the Elafiti archipelago and has just two villages, a smattering of local restaurants and shops – and, best of all, no cars. Unusually for Croatia, it also has both sandy and pebble beaches on which to laze. Buy catch of the day from local fishermen who pull up to the jetty, or wind through pine forests on the island’s biking trails. It’s a place in which to unplug.
How to do it Sunvil (020 8568 4499; sunvil.co.uk) offers a three-night stay at the Kalamota Beach House from £1,300 per person, B&B, including return flights from London Gatwick and transfers.
Adults-only five-star, Paphos, Cyprus
Taken from the Greek word “Kalies” meaning “most beautiful”, the newfor-2024 Cali Resort & Spa packs a powerful first impression. It is a high-design five-star just 300 yards from the famous
Blue Flag Coral Bay Beach, with a swimming pool worthy of a magazine shoot framed by ultra-luxe sunbeds, sunken in-pool loungers and cabanas with billowing white curtains. Spend the day in the sumptuous on-site spa with its sauna and steam room, sip golden-hour cocktails at Sonata and dine on first-rate sushi at the Japanese fusion restaurant Fiki. This is fly ‘n’ flop at its best.
How to do it Jet2 Holidays ( jet2holidays.com) offers four nights at the Cali Resort & Spa from £726 per person, all-inclusive, including return flights from London Stanstead and transfers. LUXURY GETAWAYS
Lighthouse living, Hamneskä, Sweden
Marooned on the tiny island of Hamneskä, off the coast of Sweden, Pater Noster – which translates as the “Lord’s Prayer” – is a lighthouse and keeper’s house dating from 1868, converted into an award-winning state-of-the-art hotel that is open from April to November. The site may be small, but it is not short on activities, from sea kayaking and snorkelling with seals to soaking in the sauna or the seawater hot tub, followed by seafood suppers and wine tastings. You can even try the outdoor bed placed on a cliff edge overlooking the sea.
How to do it Regent Holidays (0117 4534 770; regent-holidays.co.uk) offers a Summer on the Horizon package from £400 per person per night, half board. The price includes transfers and a guided tour of the island. Fly to Gothenburg with Norwegian (norwegian.com) from £74 return.
Lavender haze, Havar, Croatia
A member of luxury brand Relais & Chateaux, the 50-room Maslina Resort is on Hvar – reputedly Europe’s sunniest island. From May to October, its landscapes are a violet haze of lavender, with a Lavender Festival held mid-July in Velo Grablje, when the flowers are at their peak. The hotel has a Michelin recommended restaurant and a wellness centre using herbs grown in an on-site organic garden. The property, which is close to beaches, showcases its relaxing therapeutic powers with everything from a lavender-infused drink on arrival to scented meditation, massages, breathwork sessions and sound healing.
How to do it Maslina Resort (00385 21 888 700; maslinaresort.com) offers a three-night Lavender Dreams break from £4,520 per person, including transfer by speedboat. Fly to Split with BA (ba.com) from £80 return.
Artisanal escape, Menorca
Set amid olive groves and citrus trees, Son Vell is a truly beautiful restored 18th-century manor house where everything is focussed on immersing guests in Menorcan culture. Indulge in two restaurants, serving up fare sourced from the hotel’s own farmland, and take the opportunity to learn the art of shoe, jewellery and bag making with local artisans, or enjoy horse rides along the ancient Cami de Cavalls, or a private boat tour to swim in hidden coves.
How to do it Son Vell (0034 911 118 161; vestigecollection.com) offers double rooms from £670 per room, B&B. Fly to Mahon with easyJet (easyjet. com) from £95 return.
Michelin-star food in Mdina, Malta
Mdina served as Malta’s capital until medieval times and it feels like little has changed since then. The walled city is a warren of palazzos and century-old homes – and among them is the exclusive 17th-century Xara Palace. With just 17 luxurious rooms, this antiquefilled five-star property is famed for its rooftop Michelin-star restaurant, De Mondion, with sweeping city views. This is the place for culture vultures.
How to do it The Xara Palace (00356 2145 0560; xarapalace.com.mt) offers rooms from £200 per night. Fly to Malta with Ryanair (ryanair.com) from £97 return.
WELLNESS BREAKS Treetop living in the Loire Valley, France
Just over an hour from Paris by train, Loire Valley Lodges is a boutique treehouse hotel set in 300 acres of Duporterie forest. Best-suited to solo travellers and romantics, these treetop rooms are designed to reconnect you with nature, so there is no WiFi or TV. Instead, lodges come with binoculars to help spot wildlife from the deck, a book about trees and a leather-bound notepad to encourage creative jottings. Activities include wild swimming, sound baths and spa treatments.
How to do it A treehouse at Loire Valley Lodges (0033 247 388 588; loirevalleylodges.com) costs from £376 per night, B&B. Travel by
Eurostar (eurostar.com) from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord from £150 return, then take the TGV (1hr direct) from Paris Montparnasse to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, with fares from £65 return.
Salt town of Portorož, Slovenia
Lake-studded Slovenia remains off the radar for many travellers. Start in the spa town of Portorož, sandwiched between the glittering Adriatic Sea and green hills, where monks started healing people with mud and brine from the nearby Sečovlje Salina salt pans in the 13th century. The place to stay is the 1910 waterfront Kempinski Palace Portorož with its golden-sand beach and Rose Spa, offering traditional salt-water treatments. The hotel is near the beautiful medieval walled town of Piran, ideal for a day trip.
How to do it The Kempinski Palace Portoroz offers double rooms from £282 per night. Fly to Ljubljana with easyJet (easyJet.com), with fares from £100 return.
Europe’s first forest spa, Austria
Unplug at Forsthof, a 400-year-old wooden Tyrolean farmhouse that has been in the Schmuck family for five generations. It has been transformed into a luxury hotel with Europe’s first forest spa. There is a unique onsenstyle bathing pool with views of the Leogang Rocky Mountains and an adults-only section, with an old-wood sauna delivering birch-branch rituals, herbal steam baths, microsalt cabins, infra-red saunas and yoga classes.
How to do it Naturhotel Forsthofgut (0043 6583 8561; forsthofgut.at) offers double rooms from £240 per night, B&B. Fly to Salzburg with British Airways (ba.com), with fares from £245 return.
Bohemian reset, Formentera, Spain
Accessible only by boat, Teranka is a barefoot-vibe bolthole on Formentera, the smallest and most southerly of the Balearic Islands. The in-house team develops bespoke retreat itineraries for your specific wellness goals and brings in a range of practitioners offering everything from sound baths and breathwork to kickboxing and hypnotherapy. Yoga, pilates and ice baths are among the options, too.
How to do it Teranka (0034 871 873 030; teranka.com) offers stays from £1,188 per night, B&B, including use of kayaks, paddleboards and snorkelling gear. Fly to Ibiza with easyJet (easyjet.com) from £52 return and take the car ferry to Formentera from £48 return. Tickets can be bought on the day, or booked online at ferryhopper.com or balearia.com.
Expect olive groves, gardens of jasmine and an Old Town clustered around the harbour and lined with trattorias