With Manchester to London by train averaging at about 2 hours 15 minutes, at its fastest, we did a little digging to see just what other (probably sunnier) places across Europe you could reach by air in the same time or less and the answer was: a lot.

From Nordic gems to palm-tree lined promenades, here’s 13 places you can reach in under 2 hours(ish).

Note: All times are for departures from Manchester Airport. 

Amsterdam’s got stunning canals, world-class museums, and a level of bike dominance that makes cars look like an afterthought. It’s a place where you can admire Rembrandt by day, sip Heineken by the canal in the afternoon, and accidentally wander into the Red Light District at night. Charming, tilting canal houses give the city an old-world elegance, while the locals glide past you on two wheels. Where the coffee shops serve more than just coffee, this is one of Europe’s most effortlessly beautiful and culturally rich cities.

Top sights : Allll the museums, Anne Frank House, Jordaan, Vondelpark, Dam Square, A’DAM Lookout

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Brussels is the city where grand European history meets a deep, unwavering love for beer, chocolate, and fries. Its architecture is a delightful mix of grand, gilded buildings in the stunning Grand Place and quirky, surrealist murals scattered around like an open-air comic book. Sure, it’s home to the EU and some serious political energy, but let’s be honest, most people come for the waffles and stay for the surreal sight of the Manneken Pis, a tiny statue of a boy peeing, being treated like a national treasure.

Top sights : Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Royal Palace of Brussels, European Quarter, Comic Strip Route, Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert

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It know it’s beautiful and doesn’t need your validation – but go ahead and stare, it’s used to it. The Eiffel Tower casually sparkling in the background, Parisians sipping espresso at cafés like they’re starring in a black-and-white film (that could be you!), the Louvre holding enough art to make your head spin, and the Seine slipping through the city as the perfect excuse for a dramatic, introspective stroll. It’s Paris, guys. We don’t need to say anything else.

Top sights : Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Champs-Élysées & Arc de Triomphe,  Sacré-Cœur & Montmartre, Musée d’Orsay, Latin Quarter & Shakespeare and Company, Le Marais

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Cologne is the kind of city that casually boasts a Gothic cathedral so massive and intricate, it makes you wonder if medieval architects just had too much time on their hands. The Kölner Dom dominates the skyline, while the Rhine River lazily snakes through, offering postcard-worthy views. The locals? Friendly, beer-loving, and fiercely proud of their Kölsch – a beer served in tiny glasses so you never realize how much you’ve had until it’s too late. Wander through the Old Town, pop into a few museums, and if you visit during Karneval, prepare for a city-wide party where costumes, parades, and questionable life choices are encouraged.

Top sights : Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), Hohenzollern Bridge, Old Town (Altstadt), Museum Ludwig, Belgian Quarter, Kölsch Beer Halls

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Flawless bike lanes, sleek architecture, and charming canal views. You can spend your day pretending to be a royal at Amalienborg Palace, or channel your inner hipster at Vesterbro’s craft beer bars, all before getting your culture fix at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, because Copenhagen does art as casually as it does hygge. And don’t forget to stop at Tivoli Gardens, the world’s second-oldest amusement park.

Top sights : Tivoli Gardens, Nyhavn, Amalienborg Palace, Rosenborg Castle, Strøget, National Museum of Denmark, The Round Tower (Rundetårn)

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This is a city of history, from the remnants of the Berlin Wall to monuments like the Brandenburg Gate, which casually reminds you that this city once symbolized the division of a continent. But don’t think it’s all history lessons and sombre moments – wander through Mitte’s galleries or party in an abandoned warehouse, It’s where the past and future meet for coffee, and somehow it all makes sense.

Top sights : Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall Memorial, Reichstag Building, Museum Island, Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdamer Platz, Tiergarten

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Lyon is like Paris’ cool cousin. The gastronomic capital of France, this city takes its food very seriously – so prepare to eat your weight in bouchon delicacies. The Old Town (Vieux Lyon) is a charming maze of Renaissance architecture and secret passageways (traboules) that make you feel like a time traveller with poor navigation skills. The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière watches over the city like a protective parent, offering sweeping views, and you’ve got two rivers to play with – the Rhône and Saône.

Top sights : Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, Vieux Lyon (Old Town), Presqu’île , Place Bellecour, Les Halles de Lyon – Paul Bocuse, Croix-Rousse, Roman Theatres of Fourvière 

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Nestled on the west coast, it’s got canals that make it feel a bit like like Amsterdam (if Amsterdam had a thing for Volvo factories and seafood). The Liseberg amusement park keeps thrill-seekers happy, while the Fish Church (yes, a church-shaped fish market) ensures you never go hungry for the city’s famed seafood. Cafés and craft beer spots, meanwhile, line Magasinsgatan. And if you fancy escaping the city, hop on a ferry to the Gothenburg Archipelago, where you can hike, swim, or just stand there looking dramatically into the distance like a proper Nordic soul.

Top sights : Feskekôrka (Fish Church), Haga, Magasinsgatan, Gothenburg Archipelago, Göteborgs Konstmuseum

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Zurich looks like it was designed by someone with a serious obsession with perfection – pristine streets, postcard-worthy lake views, and a general sense that everything runs exactly on time. As Switzerland’s financial hub, it’s a place where bankers roam free, luxury shops outnumber regular ones, and even the street performers probably have investment portfolios. But don’t be fooled by the buttoned-up reputation – Old Town (Altstadt) is full of medieval charm, the Limmat River glitters, and the locals know how to let loose at the bars along Langstrasse.

Top sights : Old Town (Altstadt), Bahnhofstrasse, Lake Zurich, Kunsthaus Zurich, Langstrasse, Grossmünster

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Where medieval castles, gothic spires, and fairytale streets make you feel like you’ve stumbled into a Disney movie – minus the talking animals, but with plenty of beer. Combining history, mystery, and pub culture in the most magical way, you can wander through the maze of winding streets, try not to trip over tourists at Old Town Square, and then head to the Charles Bridge to pretend you’re a 14th-century royal. And don’t forget Prague Castle, which towers over the city.

Top sights : Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square, Petrin Hill

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Home to the breathtaking Duomo di Milano, a gothic masterpiece that took nearly 600 years to complete, here you can stroll through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, an opulent 19th-century shopping arcade, marvel at Da Vinci’s Last Supper, and worship at San Siro Stadium (if you’re a footie fan). And if all that culture tires you out, a Negroni Sbagliato at a chic bar in Navigli will remind you why Milanese people always seem effortlessly sophisticated – it’s all in the aperitivo.

Top sights : Duomo di Milano, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, Castello Sforzesco, Brera District, Navigli

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Innsbruck is what happens when Mother Nature and European charm get together and show off. Tucked between snow-capped Alpine peaks, this Austrian gem is part ski paradise, part storybook town, and entirely photogenic. Hit the slopes, wander through its pastel-hued Old Town, or pretend you know everything about Habsburg history at the Hofburg Palace. The Golden Roof? Yep, literally a roof with gold on it. And if you’re feeling adventurous, the Nordkette cable car will take you from city streets to jaw-dropping mountain views in minutes.

Top sights : The Golden Roof, Nordkette Cable Car, Hofburg Imperial Palace, Bergisel Ski Jump, Innsbruck Old Town, Ambras Castle

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Nice is the French Riviera’s way of showing off. With its stunning Mediterranean views, palm-lined Promenade des Anglais, and pastel-hued Old Town, this city oozes effortless charm. The beaches? Gorgeous, but don’t expect soft sand—these are pebbles, so bring sturdy flip-flops unless you enjoy an impromptu foot massage. The food scene is a love letter to seafood and olive oil, especially the Niçoise salad. And if you’re up for a little exercise, Castle Hill rewards you with panoramic views that scream French Riviera glamour.

Top sights : Promenade des Anglais, Vieille Ville (Old Town), Place Masséna, Musée Matisse, Port Lympia, Castle Hill 

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