From Puglia to Podgorica, Sardinia to Shanghai – there are so many new destinations from Dublin Airport in 2020 – which one will you choose?
Would you believe that Dublin Airport has flights to 190 destinations in 42 countries operated by 50 airlines – a phenomenal statistic, and a far cry from the choice of destinations available when I started travelling abroad. With people travelling more than ever, it is great to see so many new destinations from Dublin Airport each year.
If you are looking for a mix of culture and adventure, then Puglia and Montenegro could be right up your street. For stunning beaches, try Sardinia or Rhodes, and if you want to try somewhere completely different, there will be direct flights to Tel Aviv next Summer.
If you want to travel further afield, there is good news there too, United Airlines have announced a new year-round daily service between Dublin and San Francisco, and Chinese airline Juneyao Air is to launch a twice-weekly service between Dublin and Shanghai, albeit with a short stop in Helsinki on each leg.
I have listed ten new destinations for Dublin Aiport below, hopefully one of these will tempt you explore somewhere new in 2020!
2. San Francisco, California – USA
1. Brindisi, Puglia – Italy
Located in Puglia, in the heal of the Italian boot, Brindisi is superbly located to discover this stunning region. I visited Puglia last year and loved it. With Ryanair already flying into Bari, and now Aer Lingus flying to Brindisi twice weekly, you can explore all the highlights on one trip. I suggest flying into one airport and flying home the other to see as much as possible, including the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Alberobello and Ostuni, and the beautiful city of Lecce. But don’t miss the opportunity to explore the nearby city of Matera too.
View this post on Instagram
Read: Three places you must visit in Puglia
Read: A magical weekend in Matera
Check Out Hotels2. San Francisco, California – USA
United Airlines have announced daily flights to San Francisco from Dublin airport commencing in June. This is in addition to the daily service operated by Aer Lingus. It looks like there may be great value on airfares to San Francisco next summer. Visit Alcatraz, cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge or use San Francisco as a starting point to discover California. We drove the Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to San Diego a few years ago – it was a spectacular adventure!
Read: The streets of San Francisco – the good, the bad and the ugly
Read: The best places to stop on the Pacific Coast Highway
Check Out Hotels3. Alghero, Sardinia – Italy
Aer Lingus have introduced twice weekly flights from Dublin to Alghero from May 2020. The old town has cobbled stone streets, plenty of great shops and some fantastic restaurants. There are also beautiful sandy beaches in Sardinia, which is not something that many Italian resorts can boast about. I visited a few years ago for a long weekend. The airport is just 10 minutes from the airport, so Alghero is a great choice for a short break or summer holiday.
4. Rhodes – Greece
Not only is Rhodes one of the largest Greek Islands, but it boasts a UNESCO world heritage site as it’s capital. Wandering around the Colossus of Rhodes is like stepping into a fairy tale, but once you step outside the city walls, you will find a modern town, full of designer shops and trendy waterfront cafés.
The hill top town of Lindos is another ‘must see’. Complete with whitewashed buildings and winding alley ways, it is a photographers dream. Aer Lingus twice-weekly service starts from the 23rd of May 2020.
5. Verona – Italy
Verona is one of Italy’s prettiest cities. Catch an open air opera in its remarkable amphitheatre, call out to your Romeo from Juliette’s balcony and enjoy its stunning architecture and countless churches. Verona is also the gateway for visiting Lake Garda – it is just a half-hour from its shores. Ryanair’s new service will operate thrice-weekly and that is in addition to Aer Lingus’ four-times weekly service during the summer months. It looks like Lake Garda might be a good choice for a summer holiday next year.
6. Podorica – Montenegro
Montenegro’s capital, Podorica, is another new destination from Dublin Airport for 2020. It is multicultural mix of Austrian, Roman, Turkish and Hungarian influences, and is located just 90 minutes from the fjords of Kotor. This is a great choice if you want to explore Montenegro and Croatia, as the medieval city of Dubrovnik is only three hours from Podorica. Ryanair will be flying twice weekly from Dublin Airport, commencing in March 2020.
Read: Visiting Croatia and Montenegro
Check Out Hotels7. Shanghai – China
Chinese airline Juneyao Air is to launch a new twice-weekly route between Dublin and Shanghai from March 2020, with a short stop in Helsinki on each leg. Juneyao offer onward connections to 40 other Chinese destinations as well as destinations in Japan and Asia.
8. Tel Aviv – Israel
EL Al, Israel’s national airline, is flying direct from Dublin to Tel Aviv thrice-weekly from May 2020. As well as 14km of coastline, you can expect vibrant nightlife and a wide selection of dining options in this cosmopolitan city. Of course the chance to visit the holy city of Jerusalem will be another big draw – it is just one hour from Tel Aviv.
Check Out Hotels
9. Billund, Denmark
Famous as the birthplace of Lego, Billund is home to the first Legoland theme park, Sandinavia’s biggest water park – Lalandia, and the world’s largest play house – The Lego House. It is a great choice for a family break away; so much so that the town renamed itself as ‘The Capital of Children’. With Ryanair flying twice-weekly year- round from Dublin Airport, perhaps 2020 is the year to take the kids on a city break…
10. Palanga – Lithuania
Contrary to what you may think, Palanga is a seaside resort with a lively vibe, especially during the summer months. Ryanair will commence flights from Dublin airport thrice-weekly from April. With average temperatures 22 degrees in July, this might be worth considering if you are looking for a cheap summer holiday away from the usual hotspots.
Check Out Hotels
Note some of the links in this post are affiliate links where I receive a small commission if a booking is made – but at no additional cost to you.
Happy travels!
Sarah
