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Looking for cheap weekend flights to Europe this winter? I searched eight weekends, from mid-November to the first weekend of January, for direct return flights from UK airports that leave after work on Friday and bring you home on Sunday. Here are the best deals I found, starting from £57 return.
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Prices were correct at the time of publishing, but fares change quickly, so always check the latest price before you book. I found these on Google Flights on Monday 9 November 2026. All prices are return, per person, for one adult in economy.
How I picked these: direct flights only, leaving on a Friday evening and coming home on Sunday from around midday, so you get two full days away without using any annual leave. Each deal has a link to check that route and those dates on Skyscanner.
All the deals at a glance
Tap a weekend to jump to the full flight details.
| Weekend | Route | Airline | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 to 22 November | London Luton to Venice | Ryanair / Wizz Air | £63 |
| 27 to 29 November | London Gatwick to Milan | easyJet | £90 |
| 4 to 6 December | Edinburgh to Copenhagen | Ryanair | £73 |
| 4 to 6 December | Edinburgh to Milan Bergamo | Ryanair | £81 |
| 11 to 13 December | Manchester to Malta | Ryanair / easyJet | £57 |
| 11 to 13 December | Bristol to Barcelona | easyJet | £79 |
| 18 to 20 December | London Luton to Barcelona | easyJet | £83 |
| 25 to 27 December | London Luton to Madrid | Wizz Air | £71 |
| 1 to 3 January | London Southend to Amsterdam | easyJet | £83 |
Weekend of 20 to 22 November
London Luton to Venice: £63 return
- Outbound: Fri 20 Nov, London Luton (LTN) 20:35, arriving Venice Marco Polo (VCE) 23:45
- Return: Sun 22 Nov, Venice Marco Polo 12:45, arriving London Luton 14:05
- Airline: Ryanair out, Wizz Air back
- Stops: direct both ways
- Tickets: Separate tickets
- Price: £63 return per person at the time of publishing
- Check this route on Skyscanner
The Sunday lunchtime return still gives you the morning in the city. Buses run from Marco Polo airport to Piazzale Roma, where you can pick up a vaporetto. You land late on Friday, so book somewhere easy to reach for the first night.
Can’t make this weekend? The same flights the following weekend, 27 to 29 November, were £59 in total.
Weekend of 27 to 29 November
London Gatwick to Milan: £90 return
- Outbound: Fri 27 Nov, London Gatwick (LGW) 21:00, arriving Milan Malpensa (MXP) 23:55
- Return: Sun 29 Nov, Milan Malpensa 21:55, arriving London Gatwick 22:55
- Airline: easyJet both ways
- Stops: direct both ways
- Tickets: One booking
- Price: £90 return per person at the time of publishing
- Check this route on Skyscanner
The late Sunday return gives you the whole day in Milan, and it is all on one easyJet booking. Malpensa is a fair way out, but the Malpensa Express train takes about 51 minutes to Milano Centrale or 37 minutes to Milano Cadorna, according to operator Trenord.
Want to be home a little earlier? A 19:55 Sunday return was £93.
Weekend of 4 to 6 December
Edinburgh to Copenhagen: £73 return
- Outbound: Fri 4 Dec, Edinburgh (EDI) 19:45, arriving Copenhagen (CPH) 22:35
- Return: Sun 6 Dec, Copenhagen 12:40, arriving Edinburgh 13:40
- Airline: Ryanair both ways
- Stops: direct both ways
- Tickets: One booking
- Price: £73 return per person at the time of publishing
- Check this route on Skyscanner
A good one for Scotland, with a direct flight after work. Copenhagen Airport says the metro runs every 4 to 6 minutes during the day and takes 15 minutes to Nørreport. The return is early afternoon, so plan a slow Sunday morning rather than a full day.
Prefer a later flight home? A 22:10 Sunday return was £100.
Edinburgh to Milan Bergamo: £81 return
- Outbound: Fri 4 Dec, Edinburgh (EDI) 18:55, arriving Milan Bergamo (BGY) 22:25
- Return: Sun 6 Dec, Milan Bergamo 19:40, arriving Edinburgh 21:15
- Airline: Ryanair both ways
- Stops: direct both ways
- Tickets: Separate tickets (Google Flights showed two one-way fares)
- Price: £81 return per person at the time of publishing
- Check this route on Skyscanner
The evening return gives you all of Sunday. Bergamo airport is outside Milan itself, so add the transfer time and cost when you plan your weekend, or stay in Bergamo instead.
Weekend of 11 to 13 December
Manchester to Malta: £57 return
- Outbound: Fri 11 Dec, Manchester (MAN) 19:30, arriving Malta (MLA) 23:59
- Return: Sun 13 Dec, Malta 12:10, arriving Manchester 14:50
- Airline: Ryanair out, easyJet back
- Stops: direct both ways
- Tickets: Separate tickets
- Price: £57 return per person at the time of publishing
- Check this route on Skyscanner
The cheapest deal I found for any weekend, and the most southerly. At three and a half hours each way it is the longest flight here, and you land around midnight, so book somewhere close to the airport or arrange a transfer for the first night. By day, the TD4 Airport Direct bus runs from Malta International Airport to Valletta.
Prefer a later flight home? A Ryanair return at 19:10 on Sunday was £59 in total.
Bristol to Barcelona: £79 return
- Outbound: Fri 11 Dec, Bristol (BRS) 17:15, arriving Barcelona El Prat (BCN) 20:20
- Return: Sun 13 Dec, Barcelona El Prat 21:55, arriving Bristol 23:15
- Airline: easyJet both ways
- Stops: direct both ways
- Tickets: One booking
- Price: £79 return per person at the time of publishing
- Check this route on Skyscanner
A handy one if you live in the South West. You land in time for a late dinner on Friday, and the late Sunday flight gives you the whole day. The Aerobús takes about 35 minutes from the airport to Plaça Catalunya, according to the operator.
Weekend of 18 to 20 December
London Luton to Barcelona: £83 return
- Outbound: Fri 18 Dec, London Luton (LTN) 17:00, arriving Barcelona El Prat (BCN) 20:10
- Return: Sun 20 Dec, Barcelona El Prat 20:55, arriving London Luton 22:25
- Airline: easyJet both ways
- Stops: direct both ways
- Tickets: One booking
- Price: £83 return per person at the time of publishing
- Check this route on Skyscanner
A pre-Christmas weekend in Barcelona, with an early-evening flight out and a late flight home, all on one booking. You will need to leave work a little early on Friday for the 17:00 departure.
Weekend of 25 to 27 December
London Luton to Madrid: £71 return
- Outbound: Fri 25 Dec (Christmas Day), London Luton (LTN) 21:30, arriving Madrid Barajas (MAD) 01:10 on Saturday
- Return: Sun 27 Dec, Madrid Barajas 19:15, arriving London Luton 20:40
- Airline: Wizz Air both ways
- Stops: direct both ways
- Tickets: One booking
- Price: £71 return per person at the time of publishing
- Check this route on Skyscanner
One for anyone who fancies escaping after Christmas dinner. Check how you will get to Luton first, as public transport in the UK is very limited on Christmas Day, and you land after 1am, so book a room you can check into late. Madrid Barajas is on Metro line 8, so getting into the city is easy.
Rather fly home earlier on Sunday? A 12:40 Wizz Air return was £92.
Weekend of 1 to 3 January
London Southend to Amsterdam: £83 return
- Outbound: Fri 1 Jan (New Year’s Day), London Southend (SEN) 19:25, arriving Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) 21:25
- Return: Sun 3 Jan, Amsterdam Schiphol 22:05, arriving London Southend 22:05
- Airline: easyJet both ways
- Stops: direct both ways
- Tickets: One booking
- Price: £83 return per person at the time of publishing
- Check this route on Skyscanner
A good way to start the new year, with a short flight and the whole of Sunday in the city. Schiphol says the train gets you to central Amsterdam in about 17 minutes. If you would rather go by sea, read about my Amsterdam mini cruise from Hull.
Want to be home earlier? An 18:10 Sunday return was £87.
Weekend of 13 to 15 November
I searched this weekend too, but with only a few days to go, every flight I checked that fitted my Friday evening and Sunday afternoon rules was around £100 return or more, so I have left it out.
Tips for booking cheap weekend flights
- Travel hand luggage only. Most of these fares include only a small bag that fits under the seat, so check the bag allowance before you pay. My guide to packing light will help you fit a weekend into one bag.
- Know what separate tickets means. Some deals are two one-way bookings, sometimes with different airlines. If your outbound flight is cancelled, the other airline does not have to change or refund your return.
- Check the airport, not just the city. Some airports, like Bergamo and Malpensa for Milan, are a long way from the centre, so add the cost and time of the transfer when you compare deals.
- Plan for late arrivals. Many Friday evening flights land close to midnight, and the Christmas Day flight to Madrid lands after 1am. Stay somewhere easy to reach late at night, and check when the last train or bus runs.
- Book your stay early. December and New Year weekends get busy in popular cities. I use Booking.com to compare places to stay.
You will find the travel companies I recommend on my resources page.
Cheap weekend flights to Europe FAQs
Are these prices per person?
Yes. Every price is the return fare for one adult in economy, correct at the time of publishing.
Do the prices include luggage?
Usually not. Most low-cost fares include only a small under-seat bag. A cabin bag or a checked bag costs extra and can add a lot to a cheap fare.
What does separate tickets mean?
Your outbound and return flights are two separate bookings, sometimes with different airlines. Each airline is only responsible for its own flight.
Can I fly over Christmas and New Year?
Yes. I found deals for the Christmas weekend and for New Year’s Day, but check how you will get to the airport first, as UK public transport is very limited on Christmas Day.
Why might the price be different when I search?
Fares change all the time as seats sell. Cheap seats on popular weekends can go within hours, so if you see a price you are happy with, it is worth booking quickly.
More European city breaks
Written by Kelly
I live in Cheshire, work full time and spend my weekends and annual leave finding short breaks worth taking. Everything on this blog fits around a nine to five.
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