We know your time is precious and even more so when you’re escaping on a city break, so the less time spent getting to your hotel, the better. You want to be close to all the action and exploring all the city’s top attractions as soon as poss after getting off the plane. Beers in Berlin, tapas in Barcelona and pasteis de nata in Lisbon… we’ve rounded up all the best destinations to get you starting your holiday right away, with short transfers by public transport right into the city centre.
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Berlin
It’s all about cheap beers, bratwurst and a mega list of iconic landmarks in Berlin. This German capital is known for its historic charm and edgy architecture, making it the ideal German city break. Spend the day ticking off the main sites like Brandenburg Gate, Charlottenburg Palace and the Berlin Wall Memorial, and in the evening hit the lively clubs and beer gardens. Getting to the city is super easy, too. Brandenburg Airport has an airport express service – named FEX – that runs several times an hour to Berlin Central Station. There are also regional commuter trains that run towards the city centre, depending on what stop is closest to your hotel. You’ll find the main train station is in Terminal 1 and it’s just a 30-minute ride, so that means more time to fill up on currywurst and kebabs.
Valencia
With 300 days of sunshine, this Spanish city is the ultimate sunny getaway for the majority of the year. It’s got that beach and city combo nailed – the Old Town is small enough to pack in all the sites quickly, you’ve got tapas bars almost everywhere, and the beaches are around a 20-30-minute bus or cycle away. You’ll find two metro lines link Valencia Airport to the city centre, so getting here is easy. Head to the ground floor of the airport to find the trams and take either Line 3 or 5 to get to the centre in just 35 minutes. The best bit is the trams only cost a few euros, so you’ll be smelling the orange blossom and sipping sangria ASAP.
Lisbon
Portugal’s capital is a popular pick for its sunny waterfront, cobbled streets, historic ruins and iconic yellow trams. Oh, and it’s the home of the pastel de nata – Portugal’s famous custard tart. Humberto Delgado Airport is less than 10km from the city centre – that’s a Saturday morning run for some of you. The easiest way to get into the city is by metro, the ‘Aeroporto – Saldanha’ line goes straight there in about 20 minutes, and you pass through some of Lisbon’s architectural subway stations on the way. If you’re travelling with just hand luggage, you can also catch a bus from the arrival’s terminal. They run every 20 minutes, so no need to worry about running for the bus.
Barcelona
Whether you’ve come for the coastline or the cathedrals, there’s no city quite like Barcelona. It’s got architecture for days, a serious foodie scene, and it really knows how to create a buzz with rooftop bars, street parties and beachfront clubs. With so much to see and do, you don’t want to waste too much time getting here. The Aerobus is a fast shuttle bus – around 35 minutes – that takes you from the airport to the city centre, and there’s one roughly every 5-10 minutes. It includes three stops along the way, at Plaça d’Espanya, Gran Via Urgell and Plaça de la Universitat, and a one-way ticket is under €10. No need to worry about packing light either then, you can load up your luggage as much as you like, as long as your hotel isn’t too far from a stop.
Malaga
This pick’s the quickest of the lot. You can be checking out the cultural capital of the Costa del Sol in just 11 minutes, thanks to the city’s super quick trains. The C-1 line runs every 20 minutes or so with stops along Fuengirola, Benalmadena and Torremolinos, and a ticket is less than €2. There are also city, interurban or long-distance buses, depending on where you’re headed. All you need to worry about is what to do first – sightseeing, sunbathing or shopping.
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Author: Rachel Coppenhall (she/her)
Last updated: 06/08.2025
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