Bank holiday deals

Dreaming of glistening waters and sand between your toes? Or scaling skyscrapers with panoramic views? Turn long weekends into city breaks and free days off into last minute beach holidays with our bank holiday travel deals.

Bank holidays are annual public holidays that, ultimately, mean a day off work. And why waste them sitting at home when you can tag them onto your holiday allowance and jet off on exciting escapes to far-flung places? You could spend bank holiday weekends sampling gelato on the cobbled piazzas of Rome, or even lazing around on white-sand beaches in Dubai, if that’s more your cup of tea.

Plus, with flights from Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Knock and Kerry airports, your bank holiday escapes are closer than you think.

City breaks are some of the most popular long weekend escapes. So why not couple sightseeing with celebrating Ireland's patron saint? London’s St Patrick’s Day parade features imaginatively designed floats, marching bands and Irish dancing schools from across the UK, while across the Atlantic, you can experience the world’s biggest St Patrick’s Day celebration in New York City. Dating back to 1762, the iconic parade has over 150,000 participants that ride atop extravagant floats, play instruments and dance their way through the streets.

Alternatively, if you have little ones and school holidays aren’t an issue, you could whisk your family off on a holiday over the May or June bank holidays. Get first dibs on summer sun and enjoy beach breaks in Malta or the Greek Islands before the peak prices set in, or experience city breaks in Porto, Athens or Barcelona without the crowds. Or, if you’re able to book a bit more time off work, you could fly to Florida to experience its theme parks before the dry season ends.

Dreaming of sipping cocktails by the pool? Take a day off and head abroad over the Easter weekend for four days of sun-soaked fun. With tons of all inclusive hotels and beaches galore, the Canary Islands and Turkey are top destinations for 4 or 5-day trips. The chocolate eggs can wait until you return!

If you haven't got any kids in tow, all inclusive weekend beach trips during term time are also within easy reach. Head off in May or June to experience the soaring spring sunshine in places like the Costa del Sol, the Algarve, Cyprus, Malta or the Greek Islands.

Squeeze in as much time with the kids as you can by booking trips over the bank holiday weekends. Not sure where to start? You could always:

• Join the kids on their school holidays by escaping over the August Bank Holiday. The sun will be shining in most European destinations, but if you’re after a cheap family getaway, you’ll want to check out the likes of Croatia, Bulgaria and Portugal. Got older kids? City breaks to Krakow or Budapest are great options too.
• If the kids are a tad too old for trick-or-treating, why not jet off over the October Bank Holiday to check out other countries’ spooky celebrations? Edinburgh’s Royal Mile is full of eerie vaults, underground passages and candle-lit restaurants. Or pick London for its creepy castles, London Dungeons and Jack the Ripper walks. Check out the home of the world’s most famous vampire in Transylvania and enjoy Halloween parties in Romania’s capital, Bucharest. Across the Atlantic, you can watch the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade in New York, said to be the biggest Hallows Eve celebration in the USA.
• Do Christmas differently by booking a winter sun break between Christmas and New Year – Dubai, Morocco and Egypt are famously hot in December. Or lean into winter and head somewhere snowy. See Santa in Lapland or spend Christmas day on the slopes in France or Canada.

Long weekends are perfect for short breaks abroad with your other half. Whether you’re after romantic escapes to blissful beaches or jam-packed itineraries in historic cities, bank holiday breaks offer a world of options.

• Beat the rush and escape on an early Valentine’s Day trip over St. Brigid’s Day in February. Float down canals or stroll through the streets of the world’s most romantic cities like Bath, Paris, Venice and Florence, or find your own private slice of paradise on the golden sands of chic Tulum in Mexico.
• Welcome in the new year without taking any annual leave with a quick bank holiday break. Head to Amsterdam for epic New Year’s Eve street parties, complete with massive fireworks displays, or eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight at Barcelona’s Nochevieja. Las Vegas is another iconic party city, while Edinburgh is famous for dancing, drinking and belting out Auld Lang Syne.