New Year's Eve Day Trips 2026, Abroad and Home by Midnight
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New Year's Eve is the cheapest day to fly over the festive week, with a middle fare of £100 against £154 on 30 December, and a day in Palma from Gatwick on 31 December costs £80.65 all in, home by 22:20.
Here's something I didn't expect. New Year's Eve is the cheapest day to fly over the whole festive week.
The middle fare for a same-day return across 15 UK airports was £100 on Thursday 31 December. The day before, it was £154. On New Year's Day it was £137. Everyone wants to be home or already somewhere for midnight, so the planes on the 31st are cheap. That makes it a great day for one of our extreme day trips, a day in the sun or a city abroad, and home in time to see the new year in.
Can you go abroad and be home for midnight?
Yes, and with room to spare. Every trip below lands back in the UK before midnight, most of them by 22:30.
The best New Year's Eve day trips
Palma from Gatwick, £80.65
easyJet out at 07:10, landing at 10:35. Home at 20:50, back at Gatwick at 22:20. £48.00 return and £80.65 for the whole day, with about 7.1 hours in Palma.
Sunset is 17:34, the latest of the lot, so you get proper daylight for the old town and the Passeig del Born. Parc de la Mar is free, right under the cathedral. Most of the museums are closed on Mondays, but the 31st is a Thursday, so the Castell de Bellver is €4 and the Fundació Miró €10. See the day trip to Palma from Gatwick
Faro from Gatwick, £83.25
easyJet out at 06:20, landing at 09:15. Home at 19:50, landing at 22:40. £64.00 return, but the ground cost in Faro is just £19.25, so the whole day is £83.25 with 7.3 hours in town. Sunset is 17:24. See Faro on 31 December
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Dublin from Stansted, £84.85
The cheapest flight on the board, £46.00 return with Ryanair. Out at 06:45, landing at 08:05, and a long 11.4 hours in the city. The flight home is at 22:00 and lands at 23:20, so it's the tightest for midnight, but you'll be home.
With 11.4 hours there's time for Trinity, a long lunch and a pint somewhere warm. The sun sets at 16:15, so plan the walking early. See Dublin from Stansted
Barcelona from Luton, £96.85
Wizz Air out at 06:00, landing at 09:05. easyJet home at 20:55, landing at 22:30. Two airlines, so two tickets, £59.00 return between them and £96.85 all in, with 8.3 hours in the city.
The Sagrada Família is €26 if you want to go in. The Gothic Quarter, El Born, the beach at Barceloneta and La Boqueria are all free to wander.
What about from the north and the west?
Dublin again, and it's cheap from almost everywhere on the 31st.
- Bristol to Dublin, £50.00 return, £88.85 all in. Home at 21:35.
- Newcastle to Dublin, £53.00 return, £91.85 all in. Home at 20:25.
- Stansted to Cork, £53.00 return, £108.85 all in. Home at 20:10, the earliest of the lot.
And on New Year's Day?
Fares jump back up on 1 January, but the north does well. Glasgow to Dublin is £35.00 return and £73.85 for the whole day, out at 07:35 and home at 21:25. Edinburgh to Dublin is £41.00 return and £79.85 all in.
Plenty of places run reduced hours on New Year's Day, so check opening times before you go. A walk, a long lunch and an early night is not a bad way to start the year.
Tips for a New Year's Eve day abroad
- Book the flight home first in your head. Work back from it and leave the city when the trip page says, not later. Every trip above already allows for the bus or train back and the airport.
- Go hand luggage only. A small bag that fits under the seat keeps the fares at the prices above, and there's no waiting at the carousel when you land at 22:00.
- Plan how you get home from the airport. Late trains on New Year's Eve can run differently, so check yours before you go.
- Eat in the city, not the airport. Dinner is in every whole-day price above.
Is a New Year's Eve day trip worth it?
If you're not fussed about a big night out, it's one of the best value days of the year. Cheap flights and a day somewhere warmer or more interesting than home. Then back for the countdown with your own people.
These were the fares on 31 October. They will move, so the trip pages are where to check today's.
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