Liverpool’s City Centre has expanded massively over the last few years. The local economy has boomed, hotels and restaurants are springing up all over the city, and the Liverpool One complex has brought a lot of people back to the Mersey for quick breaks and last-minute getaways.
If you are local to the city, or to Merseyside, you have probably been enjoying everything that 21st Century Liverpool has to offer and loving every minute of it, but you deserve a quick break of your own every now and again too.
Liverpool John Lennon airport has been a travel hub for European travellers, and visitors from farther afield, for a long time now but many of the planes leave half empty with not enough people taking advantage of low-cost airfares and the airport’s close proximity to the city centre and its excellent transport links. For very little money, you can explore some of Europe’s fantastic cities and the wider countryside, and the journey can begin from the bus stop on your street.
Here is a look at some of the top European destinations you can get to from Liverpool John Lennon airport, and some of the things you can do when you get there for a quick city break.
Paris – A City for Lovers
The rivers of Paris are only a short hop away from Liverpool’s Docks, with a number of daily flights available. Paris is a city famed for its culture, cuisine, and fashion, and has long been a favourite for couples wanting a romantic break and a special time they can remember together. Visiting the city doesn’t have to be expensive either, with a number of accommodation options that don’t break the bank – there are budget hotels and Airbnb lettings available all across town.
There are plenty of adventures to be had in Paris, but the most famous is sometimes a little forgotten. Disneyland Paris is just outside the city and is a great day out for couples and families alike. Day passes are quite inexpensive compared to many theme parks or resorts, and the experience is well worth the money.
Rome – For a Journey Through History
Rome is one of history’s great cities and offers fantastic food and drink to complement its amazing architecture, some of which is older than London. Once the centre-piece of the Roman Empire, the city of Rome is now the centre of Italian culture, with football and opera offering visitors a unique spectator experience in one of its many stadiums and opera houses.
Flights to Rome can be incredibly cheap, especially if you plan ahead and book early. Not got your passport yet?
Don’t worry, the Liverpool passport office is right in the centre of the city; so now you can get the paperwork sorted and begin planning your Roman adventure.
Barcelona – For a Party Until Dawn
The Catalonian Capital of Barcelona is one of Spain’s oldest and most beautiful cities. Its art and architecture have drawn people to the city for a long time, and its cuisine and local customs create an extra sense of adventure. Dinner may not start late until into the night, with many families not dining until after 9 or 10 at night. Indeed, drinking and partying can often last right until lunch the next day if the occasion is right.
Barcelona has a rich sporting history, with one of the world’s most successful football teams, a world-renowned Formula 1 racetrack, and it was the site of the 1992 Olympics with many of the buildings constructed for the event still in use today. Barcelona is the perfect weekend getaway for couples looking for long nights and lazy days away from home.
Amsterdam – For Art and Inspiration
Not just for the stags and hens, Amsterdam has so much more to offer its visitors than hedonism and herbal highs. Amsterdam has its own cultural significance and claims to history, with some of Europe’s finest museums and art galleries. It was at the centre of some of World War Two’s most incredible stories of heroinism, including the story of ‘hidden child’ Anne Frank, and lesser-known Tina Strobos, a woman who housed persecuted Jews during Nazi Occupation and helped them flee to safety while she stayed behind to continue her work.
There is much more to Amsterdam than red lights and coffee bars, though feel free to take advantage of those attractions if you choose, and cheap flights and accommodation are available all year round for travellers in the North West.
Berlin – For Beerhalls and Bratwurst
The German city of Berlin is becoming a European tourist hotspot. With the reunification of the city’s East and West sides after the fall of the Soviet Union, and the city’s dividing wall with it, a new Berlin has risen from the turmoil to become a European centre for technology and finance. As the European Union has grown, and become a stronger economy on the world stage, Berlin has grown exponentially with it and is now full of restaurants, hotel, bars, and shopping complexes.
Many Europeans are now using Berlin as a shopping destination, taking a quick city break to one of Europe’s cleanest and most advanced cities, and stocking up on Christmas and Birthday gifts for family and friends. This can increase the cost of travel to Berlin towards the end of the year, so plan ahead. A summer break in Berlin is a great option, with a number of large outdoor events and one of the world’s best Air and Space museums just a short bus ride away from the city centre.
Reykjavik – For Hot Baths and Cool Nights
Not strictly a European destination in some people’s book, Reykjavik in Iceland has become a hugely popular destination for British travellers looking for an exclusive destination that offers something a little new and different. Iceland’s scenery can be quite beautiful, and the chilly climate gives it a wintery feel. A visit to Reykjavik is a trip to the whole island in many respects, with the majority of the small nation’s attractions centred around its only city.
The beauty of this is that you are never far away from the adventures Iceland has to offer. It’s hot spring baths are a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Geothermal heating from one of Iceland’s many volcanoes gives clean and clear pools of snow-melt water a toasty natural temperature that contrasts nicely with the near-freezing air temperatures.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport is not just a place for visitors to the fine city of Liverpool to land, it is also a place for us to take off and find our own relaxing break. Some of Europe’s best destinations are just a short-haul flight away from your doorstep and travelling to Europe and beyond has never been cheaper or easier. It doesn’t always take planning and preparation either, with low-cost airlines offering cheap last-minute flights, and companies like Airbnb offering deals all year around. Everyone deserves a break from the hustle and bustle of home life, so why not change your scene and enjoy all that Europe has to offer. Don’t forget to visit the passport office, Liverpool, first!