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There are plenty of weekend destinations in Europe that we Swedes return to again and again. Paris, London, Barcelona and Rome in all their glory – but sometimes it's more fun to choose a place that's not already on everyone's list. And it doesn't actually have to be any more complicated to get there.
Here I have collected ten slightly more unexpected weekend destinations that you may not have thought of, but which are surprisingly easily accessible from Sweden. Some are reached by direct flights, others by a short train ride from a major airport and one of them you can even reach by night ferry from Skåne. What they have in common is that the journey is easy, while the experience feels all the more unique!
1. Leipzig – Germany
Have you already been to Berlin? Leipzig in the former East Germany is a creative city that is often called “little Berlin” for its hipster atmosphere. Here, a rich musical history, impressive architecture, lots of street art and an exciting history from the GDR era come together. Visit the Bach Museum and the Thomaskirche, stroll through the Mädler-passage and Marktplatz and experience the historic Nikolaikirche, which became an important place for the peaceful revolution in 1989. Leipzig has a compact city center, plenty of cafes, restaurants, shopping and culture and all for less money than Berlin – perfect for a weekend.
How do you travel here? Direct flight to Berlin and then hop on a 1-hour train to Leipzig.
Read more about Leipzig here: Creative Leipzig – 10 attractions in Germany's trendiest city
2. Champagne – France
Reims is the capital of Champagne and is a perfect weekend getaway for wine lovers, with rolling vineyards, charming villages and hundreds of champagne houses. Reims itself is home to all the major wine houses, but to see more, you can book a bus tour that takes you around the vineyards or rent a car and explore the scenic Route Touristique du Champagne. Reims and Épernay are the hubs of the region, but the real charm is in the countryside, where small winegrowers offer personal and often affordable tastings. Perfect for a few days of wine, good food and beautiful French scenery.
How do you travel here? Direct flight to Paris and then 1,5 hours by fast train to Reims.
Read more about Champagne here: Visiting Champagne – top tips for wine lovers
3. Skopje – North Macedonia
Are you looking for a capital city that is both fascinating and full of contrasts? Skopje is the city where Ottoman alleys, brutalist architecture and grand neoclassical buildings mix with hundreds of statues and snow-capped mountains. Experience the old bazaar, the historic stone bridge, Macedonia Square and the city's strong history from the 1963 earthquake and the GDR-like communist era. Skopje may not be the most beautiful city in Europe by classical standards, but it is unique, affordable and full of surprises and good food - perfect for a different weekend.
How do you travel here? The easiest way to get here is with a direct flight with Wizzair to Skopje from Arlanda.
Read more about Skopje here: Skopje – An evening walk through the capital of North Macedonia
4. Sintra – Portugal
Just outside Lisbon lies the fabulously beautiful town of Sintra. The town is known for its colorful palaces, romantic gardens and ruins and dramatic coastal landscapes. Here you will find the colorful Pena Palace, the oriental-inspired Montserrat Palace and the royal Sintra Palace, but also the beautiful Ursa beach and Europe's westernmost tip at Cabo da Roca. Sintra has more attractions than an ordinary Portuguese small town and is a perfect weekend destination for those who want to combine history, nature and spectacular environments.
How do you travel here? Fly to Lisbon and then take the train to Sintra (40 minutes).
Read more about Sintra here: Sintra
5. Frankfurt – Germany
Frankfurt is a slightly underrated metropolis that is so much more than its famous financial district and skyscrapers. Here, a charming new-old city meets with Europe's most impressive skyline, green parks, museums and lively neighborhoods. Stroll among the half-timbered houses on Römerberg, discover Neue Altstadt and Goethe's childhood home, visit the Kleinmarkthalle and Senckenberg Naturmuseum and end the evening in Sachsenhausen with a glass of local cider. With rooftop bars, festivals, restaurants and lots of green spaces, Frankfurt is an unexpectedly good and affordable weekend destination for those who like larger cities.
How do you travel here? Direct flights to Frankfurt daily from both Arlanda and Kastrup.
Read more here: 15 attractions in Frankfurt – your ultimate guide to the perfect weekend getaway
6. Bratislava – Slovakia
Bratislava is a small capital where historic alleys, a castle and modern city life meet on the banks of the Danube. You can do most things here in a weekend – explore the cute old town, pat the statue of Čumil on the helmet and walk up to Bratislava's white castle with views over the city and the river. There are plenty of nice cafes, restaurants and wine bars here, while there is also a lot of affordable shopping. Don't miss the smurf blue church or the futuristic bridge with its iconic UFO tower.
How do you travel here? Fly direct to Vienna and take the train to Bratislava (45 minutes).
7. Tirana – Albania
Tirana is a rapidly growing capital that feels completely different from many other European cities, perhaps mainly due to the many years under dictatorship. Here, Ottoman mosques, communist brutalism, colorful street art and spectacular new high-rise buildings meet in a charming mix. Explore Skanderbeg Square, the old bazaar and the rebuilt Pyramid, which has gone from communist monument to modern cultural and technological center. Discover the trendy Blloku, fascinating Bunk'Art and the city's lively café and restaurant scene. An affordable, exciting and different weekend destination.
How do you travel here? Direct flights to Tirana from both Arlanda and Kastrup.
Read more here: Tirana – 10 attractions in Albania's young capital
8. Lake Como – Italy
Lake Como is closer to Milan than you might think and is a perfect getaway for a few days of glamorous surroundings and relaxation. Here on the lake, magnificent villas, beautiful squares, narrow alleys and Italian café culture meet with a dramatic alpine landscape. By boat you can easily discover several towns along the lake such as Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio. Lake Como is a perfect weekend destination for those who want to combine Italian food, beautiful surroundings and relaxation.
How do you travel here? Direct flights to Milan from both Arlanda and Kastrup. Depending on the airport in Milan, getting to Lake Como is a bit easier. From the central Milan train station or from Malpensa it takes 1 hour by train to the city of Como.
9. Usedom – Germany
Do you live in southern Sweden? Congratulations, then you can easily take a ferry to northern Germany's paradise beaches on the island of Usedom. Usedom is one of the Baltic Sea's lesser-known gems – a place where long white sandy beaches meet grand seaside resorts, wild nature areas and a rather fascinating history. Here you can stroll between the classic imperial baths of Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf and Bansin, cycle along the sea, look for sea eagles and beavers or discover the dark history behind rocket research in Peenemünde. Add local beer, cozy spas and colorful beach chairs and Usedom becomes a surprisingly versatile destination.
How do you travel here? With the night ferry from Skåne to Świnoujście you will arrive almost directly to Usedom – making the island an unusually convenient option for a long weekend or a few days on the German Baltic coast.
Read more here: 12 Must-See Attractions on Usedom for an Unforgettable Visit.
10. Annecy – France
Annecy offers the ultimate romantic weekend getaway. The city is beautifully situated on the turquoise Lake Annecy, where snow-capped alpine peaks are reflected in the clear water and small boats slowly glide past. In the old town center, canals wind between colorful houses, small bridges and flower-covered facades, and along the water there are plenty of cafes and restaurants. For those who want to be more active, there are nice walks around the lake, cycle paths and the opportunity to go out on the water.
Try to visit in October, when the tourist crowds have disappeared and the mountain landscape explodes in red, orange and yellow. With the autumn colours around the lake and the snow-capped Alps in the background, Annecy is perhaps at its most beautiful.
How do you travel here? Fly direct to Geneva from Arlanda or Kastrup and then take the train/bus to Annecy (1 hour).
Do you have any more tips for destinations that might not be the first ones you think of for a weekend getaway? Feel free to share them and give others tips in the comments below!
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I really like Cluj Napoca in Romania, and since the city has its own airport, it is not difficult to get there. I think a weekend is too short considering everything northern Romania has to offer, such as the churches and magnificent wooden gates of the Maramures area, the Sapanta cemetery and the painted monasteries of Bukovina. But it doesn't hurt to start with a weekend and come back later to see more of the country.