From city breaks to seaside resorts, I’ve hand-picked some great short breaks over Easter weekend with flights and highly rated accommodation included.
Walk along the medieval walls in Dubrovnik, take a road trip through Tuscany, or laze on the beach in Sardinia – these are just a sample of my favourite short breaks over Easter weekend from Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports. All deals are priced with flights and highly rated hotels or apartments.
1. Croatia Ex Dublin: Flights & 5-Star Hotel, 3 Nights – €370pp
The medieval city of Dubrovnik should be on everyone’s wish list. It is so well preserved and looks like something straight out of a fairytale. There are many great hotel choices here, but I found a superb deal in the 5-star Hotel Croatia, which is located in the pretty resort of Cavtat, an hour’s water taxi ride away from the city.
Read my top tips on discovering Dubrovnik
As well as the benefit of staying in a luxury 5-star hotel, there is a Wellness Centre with heated indoor pool. This deal also includes breakfast each day.
View flights 8th – 11th April €226pp
View hotel here €144pp
2. Tuscany, Ex Dublin or Shannon: Flights & 3 Nights in San Gimignano from €314pp
Pisa is is superbly located to explore Tuscany and there are flights available from Dublin and Cork airports with Ryanair. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located close to the airport so it is best seen when you arrive, or before you leave to fly home – depending on your flight times. I suggest hiring a car to explore Tuscany’s gorgeous towns and countryside.
Read: Top towns and cities to visit in Tuscany
Return flights are available from €134 from Dublin or only €84 from Shannon on the 8th of April for three nights. I have chosen the highly rated three-star Hotel Colline just outside the walled city of San Gimignano, this is one of Tuscany’s prettiest and most famous towns. You could also choose to stay in Florence, which is located about 90 minutes drive from Pisa.
Search flights 8th – 11th April from €84pp
View hotel here €230pp
3. Trieste, Ex Dublin: Flights & 4-Star Hotel, 4 nights, €394pp / Family Break – €785
Image by Severin Herrmann from PixabayI visited Trieste many years ago and am delighted that it is one of the 23 new destinations from Ireland in 2023. Trieste is a beautiful city in its own right, with a historical square overlooking the sea, a fabulous yacht-lined marina, a sandy beach, and a cosmopolitan city centre.
However, its unique location is what attracts holidaymakers most. It is surrounded by Slovenia and is perfectly placed to explore the colourful towns of Piran and Portoroz, as well as Lake Bled, which is just 90 minutes away.
Return flights from Dublin to Trieste are just €74 for four nights from the 8th of April, and I found great value in the 4-star Hotel Coppe, which is superbly located to explore this great city.
Want to bring the kids along? The Residence Le Terrazze apartments are just €489 for a four night stay for a family of four.
Search flights 8th – 12th April €74
View hotel here €320pp
View Apartment €489
4. Sardinia: Ex Cork Flights & 4-Star Hotel, 3 Nights – €318pp
With a direct three-hour flight from Dublin Airport and a ten-minute airport transfer, you can be enjoying nice Italian food in the old town of Alghero, with one of Italy’s best beaches beside you.
Sardinia is perfect for a short break over Easter weekend. With cobbled stone streets, trendy boutiques and a great food scene, Alghero is a pleasure to stroll around. And if you are lucky with the weather, there is a gorgeous sandy beach on your doorstep!
I have chosen the 4-star Alma di Alghero Hotel which is only €192 per person including breakfast, based on a three-night stay from the 7th of April.
Search flights 7th – 10th April €126 ex Cork
View hotel here €192pp
5. PortAventura: 4-Night Family Break Including Park Passes, 2ad & 2ch from €1199
Take the kids to PortAventura for Easter weekend and they will thank you for it! Not only is it one of Europe’s largest theme parks, but it’s also one of the best. I visited twice, and loved it and was amazed at how many rides and experiences are available for children of all ages.
I have a choice of accommodation to choose from. Stay in a two-bedroom apartment at the popular Pierre & Vacances Salou, or stay at the PortAventura Hotel, where you can walk in and out of the park as many times as you like. You can also enjoy a complimentary family pass to Ferrari Land, which is located nearby.
Flights are available from Dublin, Cork and Shannon – see more in this post:
6. Majorca: Flights & 5-Star Hotel 3 Nights – €259pp
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Palma ticks all boxes if you are looking for short breaks from Dublin, Cork or Shannon. Flights also operate weekly from Ireland West. Don’t miss a trip to Palma’s cathedral, and a stroll along the marina is a must in the evenings. Palma is also a great choice for a shopping break, and is an ideal launchpad to explore the rest of the island.
There are many different resorts to choose from, but I found a superb deal in the 5-star CM Mallorca Palace. Price for flights and a three night stay is just €259 over Easter weekend. This luxury beachfront hotel is located about an hour from Palma, however the reviews are so good, you may not want to leave!
Search flights 8th – 11h April ex Dublin €113pp
View hotel here €146pp
7. Porto Ex Dublin or Shannon: Flights & 4-Star Hotel, from €259pp
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I loved our trip to Porto and would highly recommend Porto for a city break. As well as being home to a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is packed with colourful buildings, delightful streets, and has a great food and wine scene.
There are flights from Dublin and Shannon for Easter holidays. Price for return flights the 8th of April are only €132 from Dublin, or €80 from Shannon on the 9th of April.
Enjoy a three-night stay at the highly rated 4-star Yotel Porto for just €179 per person. Highly rated on TripAdvisor, this is one of the best value breaks over Easter.
Read: Why you need to choose Porto for your next city break
Search flights here 9th – 12th April ex Shannon €80 / 8th – 11th April ex Dublin €132pp
View hotel here €179pp
8. Beziers, France, Ex Shannon: Flights & Hotel, 3 Nights, €277pp
Image by jeanmi from PixabayAccording to Lonely Planet, Beziers is Languedoc’s most underrated city. It has a historical centre that is built on a hilltop – I’m liking the sound of it already! It’s small size will suit those looking for new city break destinations, as well as holidaymakers who want to explore the nearby towns of Carcassonne and Montpelier, and the beach resorts on the Languedoc coast.
Read: 23 new destinations from Ireland in 2023
Return flights from Shannon are available from Good Friday to Easter Monday for just €90 return. The highly rated Hôtel le XIX is located in the heart of the old city and is priced at €187 per person for a three night stay.
Search flights here 7th – 10th April €90
View hotel here €187pp
9. Venice Ex Dublin or Cork: Flights & 4-Star Hotel, 3 Nights, €479pp
The unique floating city of Venice has to be visited at least once in a lifetime. There are so many iconic sights, that simply wandering around its streets and canals will captivate you. However, sipping a latte on St Mark’s Square and taking a gondola ride through the canals have to be done too!
I found airfares from the 8th of April for three nights for just €94 from Dublin and Cork airports! The 4-Star San Marina Hotel is €385 per person for a three-night stay, but you can find lots more hotel options in my Venice travel guide here:
Read: Top things to do in Venice and where to stay
Search flights here 8th – 11th April €94p
View hotel here €385pp
10. Malaga: Flights & 4-Star Hotel, 3 nights €349pp
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After many years of visiting the beach resorts on the Costa del Sol, I finally got around to enjoying a Malaga city break and can’t believe what I have been missing for the last 30 years! Despite being the six largest city in Spain, Malaga feels more like a vibrant town. Its colourful streets are a delight to explore and it is packed with history and culture, as well as tasty tapas bars.
Many of the top things to do in Malaga are located close together so you can see most of the highlights in a Malaga city break. My Malaga travel guide has all you need to know about discovering this great city:
Read: Top things to do in Malaga, where to stay and eat
I found return flights from Dublin airport for €121 departing the 8th of April for three nights. The 4-Star Soho Boutique Hotel Colón is just €228 per person for a three-night stay. Why not walk the Caminito del Rey too? I did this recently and can’t recommend it highly enough!
Read: Top tips for walking the Caminito del Rey
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Flights are also available from Shannon and Cork over Easter weekend, but airfares are higher, and there is a weekly from Ireland West Airport – Knock. Simply edit the search dates via the accommodation links below to suit your requirements.
Search flights here 8th – 11th April €121pp
View hotel here €228pp
11. Lisbon, Ex Dublin: Flights & 4-Star Hotel, 3 Nights, €334pp / Family Break – €914
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Lisbon is one Europe’s top city break destinations, and after my recent visit I now know why! It has a beautiful old town, with pastel-coloured buildings with terracotta rooftops as far as the eye can see.
Lisbon is very easy to navigate too, but if you don’t fancy walking it, there are delightful old trams and tuk tuks available to help you explore this great city.
Read: My Top 10 things to do in Lisbon
I found great value flights to Lisbon from Dublin airport for just €79 return. The 4-star LX Boutique Hotel is €255 per person for a three night stay. It is superbly located and is rated Excellent on TripAdvisor, although there are many more cheaper hotels options available.
Want to bring the kids along? The OnJ S. Lazaro is one of the best rated aparthotels in Lisbon and is priced at €598 for a family of four for three nights.
Read: Where to stay in Lisbon – my top 10 Lisbon hotels
Search flights here 8th – 11th April €79pp
View hotel here €255pp
View hotel here €598
12. Gothenburg, Sweden: Ex Dublin Flights & 4-Star Hotel, 3 Nights, €289pp
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Sweden is a country that is on my own wish list, and this super deal to Sweden’s second city is a great introduction. With return airfares from €118 from Dublin, this must be one of the best value short breaks over Easter weekend.
Despite its seaside location, Gothenburg is known as the Green City. It has an abundance of green spaces, and its work on sustainability has made it one of Europe’s leading cities in this field. Gothenburg is an inviting city renowned for its friendly seaside charm, as well as its great food and craft beer scene. Thrill seekers might also like to try the many rides and rollercoasters at Scandinavia’s largest theme park – Liseberg.
The Radisson Blu Riverside overlooks Gothenburg’s harbour and the Göta River. It also boasts a wellness centre and a rooftop terrace with a hot tub.
Search flights 8th – 11th April €118pp
View hotel here €171pp
All of these short breaks over Easter weekend are correct at time of issue, but are subject to change. Please note that these links are affiliate links where we receive a small commission if a booking is made.
2 Comments
Hi , I’m Looking for some advice/ideas please on for our summer holiday this year . This is the first year we are travelling with just out 13yr old daughter . Our older two are travelling with college friends . We have done sun holidays in Portugal and Spain all together for the last few years.
Look forward to hearing any suggestions you may have . Thanks a mil Trish
Hi Trish, many thanks for your enquiry. Would you mind filling out this enquiry form with some more details, dates duration etc https://thetravelexpert.ie/travel-enquiry/ and I will get someone to get back to you. Cheers, Sarah