Last Minute Trip for the August Long Weekend? – 5 Ideas

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Photos: Moahim, Qasinka, Martin Furtschegger, Zairon (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 / CC BY 3.0 / CC0)

Four free days, a small suitcase and a good destination – sometimes that is all it takes to fit in one more memorable summer trip.

This year's long weekend around 20 August is a particularly good opportunity for a spontaneous getaway. 20 August falls on a Thursday and 21 August is a day off, so we can count on a four-day weekend between 20 and 23 August.

You do not need a full week off to break out of the everyday routine. It can be a beach break, a culinary adventure, a city trip or even a cooler northern escape.

🇩🇰 1. Copenhagen – escaping the summer heat

Not everyone longs for even more heat in August. A long weekend can also be perfect for travelling away from the heatwave for a few days.

The Danish capital offers a completely different summer experience: waterfront, colourful houses, bicycles, cosy cafés and long walks in a milder northern climate.

What is worth doing?

• ⚓ a walk among the colourful houses of Nyhavn;
• 🚲 sightseeing by bicycle;
• 🚤 a canal cruise;
• 🎡 an evening at Tivoli;
• ☕ breakfast at a charming Danish bakery;
• 🏰 exploring the historic city centre.

One of the great advantages of Copenhagen is that you do not have to plan every minute in advance. It feels good simply to walk around the city, stop for a coffee and then head on towards the waterfront.

💡 ParkFly tip: a four-day getaway does not necessarily require a huge suitcase. A well-packed carry-on bag, comfortable shoes and a light sweater are already a good basis for a northern city break.

🇲🇹 2. Malta – four days of Mediterranean atmosphere

If you think the other way round and would like one more big dose of summer, Malta can be an exciting choice. Sea, historic streets, Mediterranean food and evening strolls – a short trip can hold a great deal.

Malta is also about more than just the beach. The historic centre of Valletta is worth a whole day in itself, and for the rest of the time you can enjoy the coast, a boat trip or simply some rest.

A four-day Maltese programme could look like this:

• 🏛️ day 1 – discovering Valletta;
• 🏖️ day 2 – beach and relaxation;
• 🚤 day 3 – a boat trip;
• 🍽️ day 4 – a calm breakfast, one last walk and the journey home.

On a long weekend you do not have to tick off every sight. Sometimes it is far better to plan less and truly enjoy those few days.

🇨🇾 3. Cyprus – when you are not ready to let summer go

The long weekend in August is also a good opportunity for those who would like to get one last seaside trip out of the summer.

In Cyprus you can combine the beach with historic sights, local gastronomy and evening walks: swimming, sunbathing, sightseeing, local food and a sunset by the sea.

On a four-day trip it is worth concentrating on a single region. That way the time is not eaten up by travelling and constant moving around, and there is genuinely room left for rest.

🇮🇹 4. Bologna – a long weekend the Italian way

Bologna can be an excellent choice for those who are not necessarily looking for the seaside, but rather for good food, atmospheric streets and a real Italian feeling.

There is no need to draw up a long list of programmes. A cappuccino in the morning, a walk in the historic centre during the day, a little rest in the afternoon and then an Italian dinner in the evening.

Why is it a good choice for a long weekend?

• 🏛️ an atmospheric historic centre;
• ☕ Italian coffee culture;
• 🍝 the famous gastronomy of Emilia-Romagna;
• 🍷 evening dinners;
• 🚶 a city that is easy to explore on foot.

Bologna is also reachable from Budapest on a direct flight, with a flight time of around an hour and a half. On a four-day weekend that is a serious advantage: less time travelling, more time relaxing.

🇬🇷 5. Greece – classic summer in four days

Sometimes there is no need to overthink it. If you long for the sea, Greek food, sunshine and evening walks in August, a Greek getaway remains a classic choice.

Several Greek destinations are reachable from Budapest on direct flights: Corfu is about 1 hour 40 minutes away and Thessaloniki about 1 hour 35 minutes.

Four days can be enough for:

• 🏖️ one or two calm beach days;
• 🥗 a proper Greek dinner;
• 🌊 a swim in the sea;
• 🚶 an evening walk;
• 🌅 and of course a sunset when at last you do not have to rush anywhere.

On a long weekend the best programme may be exactly the one with not too many programmes.

🧳 Travelling last minute? Do not leave this to the last moment

Spontaneous travel has its own charm. Packing on Wednesday evening and having breakfast in another country on Thursday feels quite different from planning everything months ahead. There are, however, a few important things worth checking in good time:

• ✅ is your passport or ID card valid?
• ✅ do you have your flight ticket and accommodation?
• ✅ have you checked the size and weight of your cabin bag?
• ✅ have you taken out travel insurance?
• ✅ are your necessary medicines in your carry-on bag?
• ✅ are your phone, charger and other important devices ready?
• ✅ have you booked your airport parking?

🚗 Airport parking is also worth arranging in advance

Long weekends are naturally popular among travellers as well. That is why you can expect heavier traffic and more passengers on the day of departure.

So once the flight and the accommodation are booked, do not leave airport parking in Budapest to the last moment either. You can reserve your parking space in advance, arrive at the car park in your own car on the day of travel and continue to Liszt Ferenc International Airport by transfer.

There is no need to start looking for a parking space on the morning of departure.

☀️ Four days can be enough for a little holiday

Copenhagen for the milder weather, Malta for the Mediterranean atmosphere, Cyprus for relaxation, Bologna for the Italian feeling and Greece for one last real summer swim.

The four-day long weekend around 20 August is a great opportunity to collect one more experience from the summer. You do not have to travel far, and you do not necessarily need a full week off either. Four well-used days are sometimes exactly enough to come home recharged.