You don’t need a full week off to have a great trip.

A long weekend can be enough to explore a new city, eat your way through somewhere you’ve never been or simply escape your routine for a few days. The trick is choosing the right destination and making those few days work for you.

When you only have three or four days, you don’t have much room for wasted time. Here’s how I make the most of a long weekend.

The biggest mistake you can make with a long weekend is choosing somewhere that takes too long to reach. A destination might look perfect on a map, but if getting there involves a long flight, a connection and several hours of transfers, you could spend a significant part of your trip travelling.

For a long weekend, I generally look for destinations that are easy to reach, easy to get around and have plenty to see and do in a relatively small area. Think European cities, nearby countries and destinations with direct flights and straightforward airport transfers.

And remember: you don’t need to see an entire country in three days. A long weekend is usually much better suited to exploring one city or one small area properly.

If you’re looking for inspiration, I’ve put together my favourite destinations depending on exactly how much time you have:

→ 3-Day Trip: Best Destinations

→ 5-Day Trip: Best Destinations

Your first and last days might not be full sightseeing days, but that doesn’t mean they have to be wasted. Whenever possible, I like to travel early or late enough to make the most of the day. An evening flight after work can turn Friday into a travel day while leaving Saturday and Sunday completely free to explore. Likewise, a later flight home can give you most of your final day at your destination.

Of course, don’t choose a flight that leaves you exhausted just to gain a few extra hours. The goal is to maximise your time without making the trip unnecessarily stressful.

Before booking, look at the entire journey rather than just the flight duration. Factor in getting to the airport, airport transfers, check-in and getting to your accommodation.

A flight that arrives two hours earlier isn’t necessarily better if the airport is an hour and a half from the city.

When you only have a few days, location matters more than it does on a longer trip. This isn’t necessarily the time to choose the cheapest hotel on the outskirts of the city if it means spending an hour travelling back and forth every day.

I’d rather pay a little more to stay somewhere central and well connected, especially when it means I can walk to restaurants, attractions and neighbourhoods I want to explore. Think about what you actually want to do during your trip and choose your accommodation around that.

You don’t want to spend your long weekend commuting.

Three days can sound like plenty until you start making a list of everything you want to see. Then suddenly you’re planning six attractions before lunch, three neighbourhoods in the afternoon and dinner on the other side of the city.

Don’t.

The best long weekends aren’t necessarily the ones where you see the most. They’re the ones where you spend your time well.

Pick a few things that you really don’t want to miss and build your days around them. Leave some space between activities so you can stop for lunch, wander through a neighbourhood or sit down for a coffee without constantly checking the time.

If you leave wanting to come back and see more, that’s a good thing.

One of my favourite ways to save time on a short trip is to group your plans geographically. Rather than crossing the city several times a day, choose one area to explore at a time.

You might spend the morning visiting the main sights in one neighbourhood, stop for lunch nearby, then explore the surrounding streets and cafés in the afternoon. It sounds simple, but it can save a surprising amount of time.

This is also where having your places organised before you arrive can make a huge difference. Instead of spending your first morning searching for restaurants, cafés or things to do, you already know what’s nearby. That’s exactly why I created The Leave List Maps to make it easier to find the places worth your limited time, from must-see highlights and hidden gems to food spots, cafés, shopping areas, nightlife and photo spots.

→ Explore The Leave List Maps

Planning is important when you only have a few days, but don’t plan every minute Some of my favourite travel memories have come from simply wandering around, finding a great little restaurant or stopping somewhere because it looked interesting.

I’d recommend having a rough plan for each day, with a few priorities you definitely want to see, but leaving enough flexibility to change your mind.

A good itinerary should save you time, not control your entire trip.

One of the best things about a long weekend is that you don’t need to do everything. You don’t need five restaurants booked, every attraction ticked off or an itinerary packed from 7am until midnight.

Choose the right destination. Travel at sensible times. Stay somewhere convenient. Focus on a few things you genuinely want to experience and give yourself time to enjoy them. That’s how a few days can feel like a proper break rather than a very busy weekend away.

And if you’re not sure where to go with the time you have, start with my destination guides:

→ Best Destinations for 3 Days

→ Best Destinations for 5 Days

Limited annual leave doesn’t mean limited travel. Sometimes, a long weekend is all you need.