Europe’s Best Cities for Maximising Your Holiday Time

Europe’s best cities for maximising your holiday time

Whether you prefer to lounge by the pool or immerse yourself in the local culture, making the most of your time away is key to enjoying your holiday. After all, according to Statista, on average British holidaymakers spend just nine days a year abroad.

To help travellers make the most of their precious vacation time, we’ve conducted a new piece of research to identify the European city breaks where tourists waste the least time.

We’ve examined multiple factors to determine the best cities, including open data from Skytrax (the international air transport rating organisation), the average journey time from the airport to the city centre and local internet speeds. We also analysed over 3.29 million Tripadvisor reviews, monitoring for words such as "queues" and "waiting times”, to determine the destinations with the most time-efficient attractions and lowest Tripadvisor Queue Score.

The research has found that vacationers typically spend five hours and 45 minutes of their holiday waiting around. So if you want to make every moment count, keep reading. We explore which European destinations provide the best experience in terms of time saved and offer tips on how you can spend more time exploring and less time waiting!

The European cities where holidaymakers waste the most time

In last place on our index is Athens. The city had one of the highest Tripadvisor Queue Scores (164 mentions) and performed the worst for airport waiting times, with an average Skytrax rating of 2.25 out of 5.

The next worst-performing destinations were Istanbul, Berlin, London and Lisbon. These cities had an average airport-city centre journey time of 40 minutes and documented some of the highest annual passenger numbers, with London Heathrow and Istanbul Airport both recording over 70 million visitors per year.

1. Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Luxembourg City, the capital of Luxembourg, is the number-one destination on our time-saving index, scoring 92.3 out of 100.

This small yet charming city is built on the foundations of a 15th-century fortress and comprises a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its Old Quarters.

With a 12-minute car journey from the airport to the city centre, a highly efficient public transportation system, and the lowest Tripadvisor Queue Score in our index (6 mentions), you'll find it easy to visit Luxembourg’s many tourist spots without any delays or long queues.

2. Vilnius, Lithuania

Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania, is a stunning destination known for its baroque architecture and old-timey good looks.

The city is one of the greenest capitals in Europe, with 61% of the landscape covered in greenery. And as the second highest-scoring destination on our index (70.9/100), with a low-traffic airport and one of the shortest airport-city centre journeys in our analysis, you’ll find it easy to visit its countless historic sites and museums during your trip.

3. Stuttgart, Germany

Stuttgart, situated in the Neckar Valley, is the largest city in the state of Baden-Württembergis.

With lush vineyards that extend right into the city centre, as well as two automotive museums (Mercedes-Benz and Porsche) and cultural sites like the Stuttgart Opera House, there’s something for everyone in this multifaceted destination.

Stuttgart came third in our analysis of time-saving destinations. Its airport scored 3.5/5, ranking 17th overall, and its local attractions performed well, taking fourth place for its Tripadvisor Queue Score (7 mentions).

4. Zagreb, Croatia

Next on our list is Croatia’s capital, Zagreb. The city is a magnet for history lovers, its mediaeval architecture and cobblestone streets transporting visitors back in time.

Our analysis of Zagreb’s popular attractions shows tourists can expect very few delays when taking in the local sights. The city’s main transport hub, Franjo Tuđman Airport, is also one of the least congested in Europe, taking in just 3.7 million passengers annually.

5. Lyon, France

Fifth on our index is the culinary capital of France: Lyon. Famed for its bouchons (traditional restaurants that serve hearty, authentic dishes), the destination is a paradise for gastronomes.

The city’s airport and local attractions both rank high on our index. Moreover, with a well-connected public transport system and an average airport-city centre journey time of just 29 minutes, tourists can explore the best of Lyon with minimal fuss.

Europe’s best airports for waiting times

Experiencing airport issues before jetting off can put a dampener on your vacation. The stress of not knowing when your flight will depart, not to mention if your delay will affect the next leg of your journey, can cause significant anxiety.

To help travellers better plan their next holiday, we’ve analysed annual passenger traffic, plus ratings for security waiting times, immigration waiting times and baggage delivery times to identify which European airports are the fastest and which are the slowest.

Topping our index is Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, with the highest overall rating of 4.25 out of 5.

Driving to the airport takes 35 minutes on average. However, the airport is served by the Leonardo Express, connecting Fiumicino Airport and Rome’s Termini Station with direct, non-stop trains.

In second and third places are Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB) and Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD). These transport hubs have an overall score of 4 out of 5 for their waiting times and receive less traffic than most other airports on our list, recording fewer than 15 million passengers annually.

Europe’s slowest airports

At the other end of the spectrum, performing the slowest of all 45 airports on our index, were Athens International Airport (ATH), Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) and John Paul II International Airport Kraków–Balice (KRK).

Athens Airport and Nice Airport both scored 2.25 out of 5 for the three waiting times we analysed. However, with almost twice as many annual passengers, Athens took last place overall.

Europe's quickest cities for local attractions

While there are lots of reasons for travelling abroad, from catching some sun to learning about new cultures, nothing can make your holiday feel truly special like visiting a destination’s popular attractions - that’s why they’re so popular after all!

Our latest research analysed over 3.29 million Tripadvisor reviews for each destination's top three attractions, monitoring for specific words such as "queues" and "waiting times", to find the destinations with the best attractions for saving time. We refer to this as our Tripadvisor Queue Score, which measures total mentions.

Europe’s slowest cities for local attractions

According to our research, the city with the worst Tripadvisor Queue Score is Istanbul, with a total of 305 mentions and an average airport-city centre journey time of 39 minutes. The next slowest city is Barcelona followed by Paris, London and Rome.

Together, the slowest five cities recorded an average Tripadvisor Queue Score of 247 and an overall airport-city centre journey time of 42 minutes.

1. Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Coming in first is the city of Luxembourg, with a Tripadvisor Queue Score of 6 and a typical airport-city centre journey time of just 12 minutes.

Among the city’s top three attractions is Viandan Castle, one of Europe’s largest fortified castles and a great place to take in the city’s iconic landscapes.

2. Belgrade, Serbia

Second in our rankings is the Serbian capital city of Belgrade. The city recorded a Tripadvisor Queue Score of 6 and an average airport-city centre journey time of 34 minutes.

The destination’s rich history, which dates back to prehistoric times, is reflected in its local sights. Among the top three attractions is Skadarlija, a bohemian quarter known for its cobblestone streets, and Belgrade’s hill-top fortress, which contains an old citadel and Kalemegdan Park.

3. Ankara, Turkey

In third place is the Turkish capital city Ankara, with a Tripadvisor Queue Score of 6 and an average airport-city centre journey time of 38 minutes.

The city’s top attraction on Tripadvisor is Anitkabir, an extensive mausoleum located in the Çankaya district and the final resting place of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first President of the Turkish Republic. The site attracts millions of visitors per year but according to our research, most tourists enjoy a visit with little queuing or delays.

Enjoy your next city break with our time-saving tips

If you’re planning a European getaway, it’s important to know how to make the most of your trip and make every minute count. Here are our top tips for ensuring your holiday is as smooth and as time-efficient as possible.

1. Book attractions in advance

Many attractions across Europe offer online booking. Skip the queues by purchasing your tickets ahead of time so you can start exploring as soon as you arrive.

2. Travel Off-Peak

Avoid the hustle and bustle of high season and consider travelling off-peak. The weather is still pleasant in many European destinations during spring and early autumn, and the crowds are thinner.

3. Opt for a direct flight

Choose direct flights whenever possible. Layovers can eat into your holiday time, and direct flights get you to your destination faster and with less hassle.

4. Rent a car

While public transportation can be quick and is typically less expensive, renting a car gives you the freedom and flexibility to explore at your own pace. Don’t waste time waiting for a bus or train - just hop in your car and go!

5. Stay somewhere central

Staying in the heart of your chosen city will mean you are closer to the main attractions, restaurants and bars. This will reduce your travel time and make it easier to walk to certain locations, saving you time and money.