![\"Lake](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1_Lake-Ohrid-and-cityscape-of-Ohrid-North-Macedonia.jpg\")
Lake Ohrid in the southwest of North Macedonia(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\nMove over Spain, Greece and Turkey; these destinations in Eastern Europe are perfect for your next holidayLake Ohrid in the southwest of North Macedonia(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re dreaming of a summer holiday<\/a> or a trip later in the year, Manchester Airport<\/a> has no shortage of destinations to choose from. The northern travel hub is connected to more than 200 routes across the globe.<\/p>\n Naturally holiday hotspots like Spain, Greece and Turkey draw hundreds of thousands of passengers each year. Yet there are destinations in Eastern Europe which many overlook.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a melting pot of cultural influences, from cuisine to architecture \u2013 and offers everything from summer sunshine and spectacular beaches, to historic sites, picturesque hiking trails and natural wonders. With flights starting from as little as \u00a328 for a return, it\u2019s easy on the wallet too.<\/p>\n In the first few months of the year you can even find winter wonderlands blanketed in ice and snow, perfect for a skiing or snowboarding break if you\u2019re looking for a change of scenery from the Alpine resorts.<\/p>\n For those seeking a vibrant citybreak, Prague and Budapest are ideal for long weekends away. The likes of Croatia and Bulgaria are excellent beach holiday spots in the summer months. Read on to find out more about the destinations below, some destinations operate on a seasonal basis, indicated in brackets.<\/p>\n Poland<\/p>\n Destinations with direct flights from Manchester: Krakow, Gdansk, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Poznan, Rzeszow, Katowice (seasonal service)<\/p>\n Prices starting from: \u00a332pp return (Ryanair \u2013 Poznan)<\/p>\n Highlights: 20th Century history, filled Pierogi and the \u2018Polish Riviera\u2019<\/p>\n With no fewer than seven Polish cities benefitting from direct flights to Manchester, travellers from our region can reach every corner of the country, and there\u2019s loads to explore. The capital Warsaw was almost completely rebuilt after World War 2 and is now a vibrant and modern city, but for much of the later 20th Century it was behind the Iron Curtain, and the Museum of Life under Communism offers a fascinating insight into what this was like for locals.<\/p>\n Krakow has a picturesque Old Town, but has some dark stories in its past and many visitors here use it as a base from which to visit the museum and memorial at nearby Auschwitz. Something altogether different is on offer in Sopot near Gdansk \u2013 a Baltic Sea resort on what has become known as the \u2018Polish Riviera\u2019, where the opulent Grand Hotel has attracted musicians, actors, and political leaders.<\/p>\n Wherever you choose to go in Poland, make sure you try some of the local cuisine, like Pierogi \u2013 miniature dumplings with a range of delicious fillings.<\/p>\n Croatia<\/p>\n Destinations with direct flights from Manchester: Dubrovnik, Split, Pula, Zadar, Zagreb (all seasonal service)<\/p>\n Prices starting from: \u00a328pp return (Ryanair \u2013 Zagreb)<\/p>\n Highlights: Stunning beaches, Game of Thrones and an emerging summer festival scene.<\/p>\n Visitors to Croatia this summer will have five different options if they wish to travel from Manchester. Perhaps the best known is Dubrovnik, the walled city that doubled for King\u2019s Landing in Game of Thrones and boasts some of the Adriatic\u2019s most iconic architecture. Further up the coast, Split houses Diocletian\u2019s Palace, an enormous retirement estate built for a Roman Emperor that has, over the centuries, become intertwined with Split\u2019s labyrinth of Medieval streets.<\/p>\n Pula and Zadar offer links to Croatia\u2019s islands, where a burgeoning arts scene draws young crowds to events like the Hideout Festival, a five-day beach party showcasing the best in electronic music. The capital Zagreb, meanwhile, is a great option for a city break.<\/p>\n Bulgaria Destinations with direct flights from Manchester: Sofia, Burgas, Plovdiv (all seasonal service)<\/p>\n Prices starting from: \u00a3111pp return (easyJet \u2013 Sofia)<\/p>\n Highlights: Caf\u00e9 culture, Black Sea resorts and ski slopes<\/p>\n Manchester Airport offers routes to three destinations in Bulgaria which offer contrasting experiences. Sofia is a bustling modern metropolis with a rich history under the surface, and city-breakers can explore cobbled streets, a thriving caf\u00e9 culture and sites like the 1,700-year-old St. George Rotunda Church, one of the world\u2019s oldest surviving churches, and the City Gardens, in front of the stunning Ivan Vazov National Theatre.<\/p>\n Burgas is the gateway to Bulgaria\u2019s Black Sea coast. The resort of Sunny Beach attracts a younger, partygoing crowd, but the idyllic fishing port of Nessebar also offers some great beaches if you\u2019re looking for something more sedate. In the winter, Ryanair offers flights from Manchester to Plovdiv, a city at the foot of the Rhodope Mountains with a selection of ski resorts.<\/p>\n Hungary<\/p>\n Destinations with direct flights from Manchester: Budapest<\/p>\n Prices starting from: \u00a357pp return (Ryanair)<\/p>\n Highlights: Ruin bars, public baths and grand architecture<\/p>\n Jet2.com, Ryanair and TUI all fly to Budapest year-round from Manchester. Hungary\u2019s capital is a firm favourite for mini breaks with plenty to see and do. The impressive Parliament building was modelled on London\u2019s Houses of Parliament but with a neo-Gothic twist and is a popular selfie spot, as is Buda Castle. The city is also known for its thermal baths, and the most impressive is the sprawling Sz\u00e9chenyi Bath, set in the City Park. The city comes alive at night when its ruin bars \u2013 a collection of quirky bars in formerly abandoned buildings \u2013 are thronged with visitors.<\/p>\n Czech Republic<\/p>\n Destinations with direct flights from Manchester: Prague<\/p>\n Prices starting from: \u00a328pp return (Ryanair)<\/p>\n Highlights: Architecture, history and river cruises<\/p>\n Prague is another city that has built a reputation as an ideal weekend getaway. The Astronomical Clock on the facade of the City Hall dates to the 14th century and features moving statuettes, including representations of the Twelve Apostles. Other sites include Prague Castle, the \u2018Powder Tower\u2019 \u2013 a medieval city gate \u2013 and the historic Charles Bridge. You can take in the city\u2019s amazing architecture on a river cruise along the Vltava, which flows through the heart of the city.<\/p>\n Slovakia Destinations with direct flights from Manchester: Bratislava<\/p>\n Prices starting from: \u00a328pp return (Ryanair)<\/p>\n Highlights: Street art, brewpubs and UFOs<\/p>\n The Slovakian capital is a bohemian city with unique street art installations everywhere you look, like the iconic bronze statue of Cumil the Sewer Worker peeping up at passers-by on a busy city centre street from a faux manhole cover. Other quirky attractions in Bratislava include the \u2018UFO tower\u2019, a flying saucer shaped observation deck on one of the main city bridges. There is a burgeoning microbrewery scene here with taprooms scattered throughout the city, and nearby Devin Castle offers panoramic views over the Danube.<\/p>\n Latvia<\/p>\n Destinations with direct flights from Manchester: Riga<\/p>\n Prices starting from: \u00a347pp return (Ryanair)<\/p>\n Highlights: Relaxed strolls, Soviet relics and floating saunas<\/p>\n Much of the Old Town in the centre of Riga is pedestrianised \u2013 so Latvia\u2019s capital is a great option if you like to get out and about on foot to explore a city. Sights to see include the House of the Blackheads, a former meeting place for a Medieval secret society of merchants, and the KGB\u2019s Soviet-era headquarters which has now been converted into a museum studying life behind the \u2018iron curtain\u2019. One of the more unusual pastimes you can experience in Riga is a floating sauna set in the Daugava river, with city views.<\/p>\n Moldova<\/p>\n Destinations with direct flights from Manchester: Chisinau<\/p>\n Prices starting from: \u00a3113pp return (FlyOne)<\/p>\n Highlights: Frescos, ancient ruins and local wines<\/p>\n Moldova is one of Europe\u2019s least visited countries, but that doesn’t mean there isn\u2019t plenty to see and do here. Highlights in the capital Chisinau include the Metropolitan Cathedral, with its elaborate interior artwork, and the Triumphal Arch. Moldova is a small country and most of its tourist sites are within easy reach of Chisinau \u2013 like the archaeological site at Old Orhei and the Cricova winery, which boasts the world\u2019s largest wine cellar.<\/p>\n Romania<\/p>\n Destinations with direct flights from Manchester: Bucharest<\/p>\n Prices starting from: \u00a371pp return (Ryanair)<\/p>\n Highlights: Classical music, scenic national parks and \u2018Dracula Castle\u2019<\/p>\n When it comes to city break destinations, Bucharest is perhaps not as well known as Prague or Budapest but offers a similar aesthetic with its quaint Old Town, historic architecture and cultural sights. The Romanian Athenaeum is one of its most impressive buildings and has hosted performances by many of the big names in classical music. The city is at the foot of the Carpathian mountains and neighbours the Piatra Craiului and Bucegi National Parks. The famous \u2018Dracula Castle\u2019, believed to have provided inspiration for Bram Stoker\u2019s novel, is reachable as a day trip.<\/p>\n Albania<\/p>\n Destinations with direct flights from Manchester: Tirana<\/p>\n Prices starting from: \u00a397pp return (Ryanair)<\/p>\n Highlights: Colourful streets, sandy beaches and lamb casserole<\/p>\n An emerging favourite for summer getaways thanks to its great beaches and fantastic value for money, Albania has more to offer besides. Buildings in the capital Tirana are painted in a vibrant mix of pastel colours and Skanderbeg Square at the heart of the city is a hub of activity with regular cultural events. Albania\u2019s national dish Tav\u00eb Kosi \u2013 a lamb and rice casserole \u2013 is a must-try. The beach resort of Durres is just an hour to the west.<\/p>\n Montenegro Destinations with direct flights from Manchester: Tivat (seasonal service)<\/p>\n Prices starting from: \u00a3118pp return (Jet2.com)<\/p>\n Highlights: Rugged coastline, hiking trails and the \u2018Budva Riviera\u2019<\/p>\n Montenegro sits just south of Croatia on the Adriatic coastline and shares the same dramatic scenery, with steep-sided mountains rising up out of the sea and idyllic villages clinging to the side of them. There are direct flights to Tivat airport from Manchester with easyJet each summer, and the towns of Tivat and Kotor, located on the Bay of Kotor, offer up the best of this scenery. The hiking trail to the Old Kotor Fort is a challenging one but worth it for the spectacular views. Further down the coast is Budva \u2013 at the heart of the \u2018Budva Riviera\u2019 with golden sands and turquoise waters.<\/p>\n North Macedonia<\/p>\n Destinations with direct flights from Manchester: Ohrid (seasonal service)<\/p>\n Prices starting from: \u00a3108pp return (TUI)<\/p>\n Highlights: Ancient Greek ruins, lake views and rustic charm<\/p>\n TUI flies direct from Manchester to Ohrid in the summer months. The town is perched on a hilltop overlooking Lake Ohrid, from which it takes its name. Lake Ohrid has some of the best lake beaches to be found anywhere in Europe and the town has a rustic charm too, with cafes and bars along the waterfront and centuries of history on show. Sites include the Theatre of Lychnidos, an Ancient Greek amphitheatre, and the Church of Saints Clement of Ohrid and Panteleimon. Better still, prices in North Macedonia are some of the lowest anywhere in Europe \u2013 so it offers great value for money.<\/p>\n![\"Old](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_Old-Town-in-Krakow-Poland.jpg\")
Old Town in Krakow, Poland(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Sunny](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745646072_672_0_Sunny-Beach-Great-British-Bake-Off.jpg\")
Sunny Beach, Bulgaria(Image: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n![\"Bratislava,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_DBR_SCU_150515bratis.jpg\")
Bratislava, Slovakia(Image: Shared Content Unit)<\/p>\n![\"Kotor](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_Kotor-Montenegro.jpg\")
Kotor bay and Old Town from Lovcen Mountain. Montenegro(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n