Best Weekend City Trips With Cheap Flights
01 September 2026
The best weekend city trips with cheap flights depend on where you are flying from, but whether you are departing from the UK, USA, Australia or Canada, there are plenty of destinations where a short break does not have to cost a fortune.
A weekend city break is one of the easiest ways to see somewhere new without using up a week of annual leave. You can leave on a Friday, spend two or three nights exploring a new city and return home in time to get ready for Monday.
The trick is finding the flight deal before everyone else does. Airfares can change dramatically depending on demand, availability and the time of year, which is why being flexible with your destination and dates can make such a difference.
Secret Flight Club tracks thousands of routes every day, looking for low fares, special offers and error fares so members do not have to spend hours searching themselves.
Best Weekend City Trips From The UK
For UK travellers, Europe is the obvious place to start. Short flight times mean you can make the most of a two or three night break, while competition between airlines can result in remarkably low return fares.
Recent Secret Flight Club return deals have included Nantes from £31 and Mallorca from £30. There have also been return flights to Dubrovnik from just £45 and Tenerife from £45.
|
Departure: |
City trip: |
Recent return fare: |
Ideal for: |
|
UK |
Lapland |
From £54 |
Snow & winter activities |
|
UK |
Nantes |
From £31 |
Art and sightseeing |
|
UK |
Mallorca |
From £30 |
Sunshine and relaxation |
|
UK |
Geneva |
From £53 |
Lakes and city exploring |
|
USA |
Los Angeles |
From US$54 |
Beaches and entertainment |
|
USA |
Orlando |
From US$57 |
Theme parks and sunshine |
|
Canada |
Vancouver |
From CA$128 |
Food, nature and city life |
|
Australia |
Melbourne |
From A$126 |
Food, culture and shopping |
Prices are examples of recent Secret Flight Club deals and can change with availability.
Best Weekend City Trips From The USA
If you are departing from the USA, you have an enormous choice of destinations for a weekend escape. Domestic routes can be particularly useful for short breaks, meaning you can spend less time travelling and more time exploring.
Los Angeles recently appeared in our deals from just US$54 return, while Orlando was available from US$57 return. Vancouver has also featured from US$143 return for travellers looking for a quick trip into Canada.
Best Weekend City Trips From Australia
Australia is a little different because distances between cities are much greater, but there are still plenty of options for a long weekend. Melbourne is an excellent choice for food lovers, culture and shopping, while Brisbane offers a warmer city escape with beaches and outdoor attractions nearby.
Recent Secret Flight Club deals included Melbourne from just A$126 return, Canberra from A$196 and Ballina from A$87.
If you are prepared to travel internationally, keep an eye on deals to New Zealand and Asia too. Tokyo, for example, has recently appeared in our Secret Flight Club deals from Australia and New Zealand from A$860 return, although this is better suited to a longer break than a traditional weekend.
Best Weekend City Trips From Canada
Canada has plenty of options for weekend travellers, particularly if you are flying from major airports such as Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary or Montreal. Secret Flight Club covers departures from all major Canadian airports, making it easier to find deals close to home.
Vancouver recently appeared from just CA$128 return, while Orlando has been available from CA$266 return and Honolulu from CA$442 return. These kinds of fares can make a spontaneous long weekend much more tempting.
For Canadians wanting to travel further afield, European city breaks can also be surprisingly good value when the right fare appears. Dublin, Paris and destinations across Spain and Croatia are all worth watching.
How To Find Cheap Flights For A Weekend Away
The biggest mistake is deciding on a destination first and then searching for flights. Instead, keep your options open and look at several departure airports and dates.
A Friday to Sunday trip might sound ideal, but travelling on a Thursday or returning on a Monday can sometimes make a noticeable difference to the price. It is also worth considering quieter travel periods rather than school holidays and during major events.
That flexibility is exactly where a flight deal service can help. Secret Flight Club hand picks thousands of routes and monitors fares for its members, including low cost flights, special offers and error fares.
The potential savings are considerable. At Secret Flight Club, members can save up to 81% on flight deals, with average savings of £287 per return flight for UK members and CA$272 for Canadian members.
Your Next Weekend Could Be Somewhere Completely Different
You do not need weeks of annual leave or a huge travel budget to enjoy a memorable city break. From Lyon and Copenhagen when departing from the UK, to Los Angeles and Orlando from the USA, Melbourne from Australia or Vancouver from Canada, there are cheap flight opportunities appearing all the time.
The best approach is to stay flexible, watch the fares and be ready to book when a genuinely good deal appears. Secret Flight Club does the searching for you, meaning your next weekend away could be somewhere you had never even considered!