Event day trips from the UK.
Carnivals, rugby, tulips, opera.
87 events with confirmed dates, soonest first. 60 work as a day trip: fly out in the morning, home the same night. The rest need a night, and we say so.
Winter 2026/27
21 events
Iceland Airwaves
Reykjavik, Iceland
Costs: Ticketed
GLOW Eindhoven light festival
Eindhoven, Netherlands
Cologne carnival season opening (Sessionseröffnung, 11.11.)
Cologne, Germany
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Wed 11 Nov. Countdown at 11:11, programme 09:00 to 20:00.
Hoppeditz-Erwachen, Düsseldorf carnival opening
Düsseldorf, Germany
Costs: Price not published
Best day: Wed 11 Nov at 11:11, when the jester Hoppeditz wakes up and opens the season.
Photo: Kürschner, CC0
Sinterklaas arrival in Amsterdam (Intocht Sinterklaas)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Costs: Free
Best day: Sun 15 Nov, 10:00 to 18:00. This year's route and times are not out yet.
Beaujolais Nouveau weekend
Lyon, France
Amsterdam Light Festival (Edition 15)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Any day. The lights are on 16:30 to 23:00 (21:00 on 31 Dec): walk or cruise from 16:30, then the train back to Schiphol, 17 minutes.
Photo: Alf van Beem, Public domain
Fête des Lumières (Lyon Festival of Lights)
Lyon, France
Le Grand Palais de Glace (ice rink at the Grand Palais)
Paris, France
Costs: Ticketed
Best day: A morning (10:00 to 13:00) or afternoon (14:00 to 19:00) session. Closes at 19:00 on 24 and 31 Dec.
New Year's Festival Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: 31 Dec. Last year the coastal fireworks at Howth and Dún Laoghaire were at 18:30. This year's times are not out yet.
New Year's Eve on the Champs-Élysées (Arc de Triomphe show)
Paris, France
Costs: Free
Day trip?: Only with a night
Cap d'Any, New Year's Eve show at Montjuïc
Barcelona, Spain
Costs: Free
Day trip?: Only with a night
New Year's Eve at Rådhuspladsen and Tivoli
Copenhagen, Denmark
Vienna New Year's Concert (Vienna Philharmonic)
Vienna, Austria
Costs: Ticketed
Day trip?: Only with a night
Cabalgata de Reyes Magos del Ateneo de Sevilla
Seville, Spain
Costs: Free
Best day: Tue 5 Jan. Last year it left the University of Seville at 16:00 and reached Plaza de la Campana at about 18:50. 2027 times are not out yet.
Cabalgata de Reyes Magos de Madrid
Madrid, Spain
Cavalcada de Reis de Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
Regata delle Befane
Venice, Italy
Costs: Free
Best day: Wed 6 Jan. Last year: stocking hung on the Rialto at 10:30, race at 11:00, finish about 11:15. 2027 times are not out yet.
Cavalcata dei Magi
Florence, Italy
Costs: Free
Best day: Wed 6 Jan. The last published timetable had it leave Piazza Pitti at 14:00 and reach the Duomo at about 15:00. 2027 programme not out yet.
Wiener Eistraum (ice rink at the Rathausplatz)
Vienna, Austria
Costs: Ticketed
Best day: Any day, 10:00 to 22:00. The lights are on from dusk, about 16:30.
Photo: Haeferl, CC BY-SA 3.0
Venice Carnival (Carnevale di Venezia)
Venice, Italy
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Any day of the run: the street events are on daily.
Photo: Frank Kovalchek from Anchorage, Alaska, USA, CC BY 2.0
Carnival to Easter 2027
22 events
Weiberfastnacht, Cologne street carnival opening
Cologne, Germany
Six Nations rugby: Ireland home games
Dublin, Ireland
Malta Carnival (Il-Karnival ta' Malta)
Valletta, Malta
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Last year the float parades ran at 14:30 on the Sunday and in the evenings. The 2027 programme is out in early 2027.
Photo: Nenoc72, CC BY-SA 4.0
Six Nations rugby: France v Wales
Paris, France
Carnaval de Binche
Binche, Belgium
Costs: Free
Best day: Tue 9 Feb (Mardi Gras). Last year: Gilles on the Grand-Place through the morning, the orange-throwing parade at 15:00. 2027 times not out yet.
Photo: Henri Picot, CC BY-SA 4.0
Battle of the Oranges, Ivrea Historic Carnival
Ivrea, Italy
Costs: Price not published
Best day: Sun 7, Mon 8 or Tue 9 Feb, battle from 14:00. Tuesday ends with the burning of the Scarli in the evening.
Photo: Vfbia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cologne Carnival: Rosenmontag
Cologne, Germany
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Mon 8 Feb. The parade leaves Chlodwigplatz at 10:00 and takes about three and a half hours to pass.
Photo: Geolina163, CC BY-SA 4.0
Düsseldorf Rose Monday parade (Rosenmontagszug)
Düsseldorf, Germany
Costs: Free
Best day: Mon 8 Feb, parade from 12:30 for about 3 to 4 hours. Altweiber is Thu 4 Feb at 11:11, when the women storm the Rathaus.
Photo: Kürschner, CC0
Mainz Rose Monday parade (Mainzer Rosenmontagszug)
Mainz, Germany
Costs: Free
Best day: Mon 8 Feb. The parade starts at 11:11 and ends around 16:00.
Cádiz Carnival: Lunes de Coros
Cádiz, Spain
Costs: Free
Best day: Mon 8 Feb, Lunes de Coros (a local holiday in Cádiz). The carnival runs 4 to 14 Feb.
Photo: El Pantera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Nice Carnival "Vive l'Amour"
Nice, France
Six Nations rugby: Italy v Ireland
Rome, Italy
Menton Lemon Festival (Fête du Citron)
Menton, France
Costs: Ticketed
Best day: A Sunday: 14, 21 or 28 Feb. Gates open 11:00 and the organiser asks you to be in Menton before then.
Photo: Rémih, CC BY-SA 4.0
Basel Fasnacht
Basel, Switzerland
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Mon 15 or Wed 17 Feb for the Cortège, the big parade, 13:30 to about 18:00.
Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Six Nations rugby: France v Scotland
Paris, France
Costs: Ticketed
Best day: Sun 21 Feb, kick-off 16:10 local (15:10 UK).
Las Fallas (Les Falles de València)
Valencia, Spain
Costs: Free
Best day: Any day for the 14:00 mascletà. From 16 Mar the big fallas are up in the streets.
Photo: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0
Six Nations rugby: Italy v Wales
Rome, Italy
St Patrick's Festival and Parade
Dublin, Ireland
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Wed 17 Mar, parade from 12:00 for about two hours. The festival runs 13 to 17 Mar.
Photo: William Murphy, CC BY-SA 2.0
Keukenhof tulip gardens
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Costs: Ticketed
Best day: Any day, 08:00 to 19:00. Tickets are for a time slot.
Photo: Willem van Valk, CC BY 2.0
Semana Santa de Málaga (Holy Week)
Málaga, Spain
Costs: Free
Best day: Palm Sunday 21 Mar to Easter Sunday 28 Mar. 2027 times not out yet; last year most processions passed the main grandstand between 16:00 and 23:40.
Semana Santa de Sevilla: Holy Monday
Seville, Spain
Costs: Free
Best day: Holy Monday 22 Mar. Last year the first procession reached La Campana at 16:25, then one every 30 to 50 minutes. Holy Week runs 21 to 28 Mar.
Spring 2027
23 events
Feria de Abril
Seville, Spain
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Wed 14 Apr (Seville's local holiday for the Feria), Fri 16 or Sat 17 Apr. The day fair runs from about 14:00, with the horses and carriages until about 19:00.
Photo: Tajchman, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sant Jordi (St George's Day): books and roses
Barcelona, Spain
Costs: Free
Best day: Fri 23 Apr. Book and rose stalls all day across the city; the 2027 programme is out around April.
Photo: Francis Lenn, CC BY 2.0
Feria del Caballo de Jerez (Jerez Horse Fair)
Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
Costs: Free
Best day: Any day from Sun 25 Apr. Last year the horse and carriage parade ran 13:00 to 19:30 each day. 2027 is the 60th edition.
Photo: El Pantera, CC BY-SA 4.0
King's Day (Koningsdag)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Costs: Free
Best day: Tue 27 Apr: the street market runs 06:00 to 20:00. King's Night is the evening before.
Photo: Hay Kranen, CC BY 4.0
Madeira Flower Festival
Funchal, Portugal
Festival de los Patios de Córdoba
Córdoba, Spain
Costs: Free
Best day: Any day, in the morning: the patios close 14:00 to 18:00. The Cruces de Mayo run before it, 28 Apr to 2 May.
Photo: Julia Kostecka, CC BY 2.0
Procession of the Holy Blood (Heilig Bloedprocessie)
Bruges, Belgium
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Thu 6 May (Ascension Day). The procession leaves the Dijver at 14:30 and takes about an hour and a half to pass any one point.
Hafengeburtstag Hamburg (Hamburg Port Birthday)
Hamburg, Germany
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Thu 6 May for the ships arriving, or Sat 8 May for the tug ballet.
Photo: C.Suthorn, CC BY-SA 4.0
Prague Spring International Music Festival: opening concert
Prague, Czech Republic
Karneval der Kulturen (Carnival of Cultures)
Berlin, Germany
Costs: Free
Best day: Sun 16 May (Pentecost) for the street parade: last year 13:30 to 22:00. The street festival in Kreuzberg runs 14 to 17 May.
Photo: Lear 21, CC BY-SA 4.0
Roland-Garros (French Open tennis)
Paris, France
Costs: Ticketed
Best day: Any day on a grounds pass. Opening Week (qualifying) is the cheapest.
Photo: MFonzatti, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hopping Procession of Echternach (Sprangprëssessioun)
Echternach, Luxembourg
Costs: Free
Best day: Tue 18 May (Whit Tuesday). The procession usually starts about 09:00 and runs to about 13:00.
Photo: David Edgar, CC BY-SA 3.0
Corpus Christi de Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Thu 27 May. Last year the procession left the cathedral at 11:30 and was back by about 13:35. 2027 programme not out yet.
Photo: Emiliano García-Page Sánchez from Toledo, España, CC BY-SA 2.0
Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco
Monaco, Monaco
Costs: Ticketed
Best day: Friday or Saturday. 2027 is Monaco's first Sprint weekend. Session times not out yet.
Primavera Sound Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
Arena di Verona Opera Festival
Verona, Italy
Festas de Lisboa: Marchas Populares (Santo António)
Lisbon, Portugal
Costs: Free
Day trip?: Only with a night
Art Basel
Basel, Switzerland
Costs: Ticketed
Best day: Sat 19 or Sun 20 Jun. Last year the public hours were 11:00 to 19:00.
Photo: Bea Phi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sónar Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
Open Garden Days (Open Tuinen Dagen), Amsterdam canal gardens
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Costs: Ticketed
Best day: Any of the three days, 10:00 to 17:00. Dates may still change.
Fête de la Musique
Paris, France
Festas de São João do Porto
Porto, Portugal
Costs: Free
Day trip?: Only with a night
Midsummer at Skansen (Midsommar på Skansen)
Stockholm, Sweden
Costs: Ticketed
Best day: Fri 25 Jun, Midsummer Eve: maypole, folk music and wreaths through the day. 2027 programme not out yet.
Photo: ThibautRe, CC BY-SA 4.0
Summer 2027
15 events
Rock Werchter
Werchter, Belgium
Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux, Switzerland
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Any afternoon: the free stages run from 14:00.
Photo: EGilham, CC BY-SA 4.0
Palio di Siena
Siena, Italy
Fiestas de San Fermín (Running of the Bulls)
Pamplona, Spain
Bordeaux Fête le Vin (with the Tall Ships Races)
Bordeaux, France
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Wed 7 to Sun 11 Jul, 11:00 to 23:00 daily, with the Tall Ships Races in port.
Photo: Prométhée, CC BY-SA 3.0
Fêtes de Bayonne
Bayonne, France
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Thu 15 to Sun 18 Jul for King Leon's wake-up at 12:00 on the Town Hall balcony. Thursday is children's day and free.
Photo: Belarra64, CC BY-SA 4.0
Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele)
Salzburg, Austria
Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix
Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
Galway Races Summer Festival
Galway, Ireland
Costs: Ticketed
Best day: Thu 29 Jul, Sat 31 Jul or Sun 1 Aug: the only days with afternoon racing.
Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix
Budapest, Hungary
Costs: Ticketed
Best day: Friday or Saturday: sessions end around 17:00. Race start time not out yet.
Pride Amsterdam Canal Parade
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Costs: Free
Best day: Sat 7 Aug, 12:00 to 18:00. Pride runs 31 Jul to 8 Aug.
Photo: Tadeáš Bednarz, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sziget Festival
Budapest, Hungary
Rheingauer Weinwoche (Rheingau Wine Week)
Wiesbaden, Germany
Costs: Free
Best day: Any day from 11:00. The 50th edition: over 100 stands and more than 1,000 wines.
Photo: Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 4.0
Street Parade Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland
Moselfest Winningen, Germany's oldest wine festival
Winningen, Germany
Costs: Price not published
Best day: Any day. The 2027 programme is not out yet.
Photo: Klaus Graf, CC BY-SA 2.0 de
Autumn 2027
5 events
Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, Monza
Monza, Italy
Reeperbahn Festival
Hamburg, Germany
Oktoberfest (Wiesn), Munich
Munich, Germany
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Any day. The grounds open at 10:00 on weekdays and 09:00 at weekends.
Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fête des Vendanges de Neuchâtel (100th edition)
Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Sat 25 Sep in the daytime, or Sun 26 Sep for the flower parade (15:00 last year). 2027 programme not out yet.
Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt Book Fair), Guest of Honour Chile
Frankfurt, Germany
Costs: Ticketed
Best day: The public days, expected Fri 8 to Sun 10 Oct. Wed and Thu are trade only.
Winter 2027/28
1 events
Cologne carnival season opening (Sessionseröffnung, 11.11.)
Cologne, Germany
Costs: Free and paid
Best day: Thu 11 Nov, countdown at 11:11. Programme not announced yet.
About these dates
Dates checked against each event's official page (September and October 2026). Where this year's programme is not out, the page says so. Events without confirmed dates are left off until the organisers publish them. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each card.
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