We don’t know about you, but one of the worst things is when you hop off the plane only to realise that the airport you’ve landed at it is not quite as close as you thought it was (anyone who’s ever flown into Paris Beauvais Airport knows this.) To help avoid this in future, we’ve put together a handy round up of the top 10 European cities with the closest airports – including one you can literally walk to the city centre from. Yes, really.

If you’re eyeing up an extreme day trip anytime soon, then this’ll really come in useful

Stitched together by canals and cobblestones, Copenhagen is punctuated by royal palaces, vibrant street art, and the technicolour chaos of Nyhavn harbour. Get on a bike and explore, oggle the crown jewels at Rosenborg Castle, and climb the Church of Our Saviour (the stairs are on the outside). From Copenhagen Airport, you can reach the centre by train or metro in 13 minutes, or 20-30 minutes in a taxi.

Bonus: The metro runs 24/7, perfect for super early/late flights.

Cheap flights to Copenhagen

Naples sits in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, and the Bay of Naples curls around it like a protective arm, offering sea breezes, ancient ruins, and one of the most photogenic coastlines in Europe. Oh, and Pompeii just happens to be down the road! From Naples International Airport, you can reach the centre by bus or taxi in just 15 minutes.

Delish detail: You’re just minutes away from from the OG Pizza Margherita and a sfogliatella.

Cheap flights to Naples

The city of seven hills, a thousand tiles, and trams squeaking up cobbled streets. Ride Tram 28, take the ferry to Cacilhas for the best view of the city across the Tagus River, listen to Fado (a traditional style of Portuguese music served with a side of saudade), and eat alllll the pastéis de nata and bacalhau. Oh, and bring comfy shoes. You’re gonna need ’em. From Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport, you’ll reach the centre in 20 minutes by metro and taxi, and 35 minutes by bus.

Tip: The metro’s red line connects directly to downtown.

Cheap flights to Lisbon

Tucked quietly in the Baltic’s back pocket, Vilnius is one of the greenest cities in Europe, full of church spires and crumbling courtyards, but also bold street art and cool coffee shops. The Old Town is Unesco-listed, the cathedral looks more like a neoclassical Greek temple than a Catholic church, and Gediminas’ Tower gives you incredible views over the city. From Vilnius Airport you can take a 7 minute train or a 15 minute bus and taxi.

Quirk: At just 70p for the train, it’s one of Europe’s cheapest airport-city transfers!

Cheap flights to Vilnius

Nestled right in the heart of Austria’s Tyrol region, Innsbruck feels like a mashup of Sound of Music daydreams, imperial grandeur, and snowboarder cool. One moment, you’re wandering medieval lanes, and the next, you’re on a cable car climbing 2,000 meters into snow-globe territory. The Old Town is a walkable wonderland of pastel façades, Gothic arches, and cozy cafés, and the city is surrounded by ski resorts like Axamer Lizum, Stubai Glacier, and Kühtai. From Innsbruck Airport, the centre is 18 minutes by bus or just 9 minutes by taxi.

Scenic view: Land amidst the Alps and be in the city in under 10 minutes.

Cheap flights to Innsbruck

In the Austrian Alps, brushed by the Salzach River, and crowned by a fairy-tale fortress, this is a city of Baroque brilliance, haunted catacombs, and food named after dead composers. Don’t miss Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mirabell Gardens, and Mozartkugeln – little balls of chocolate, marzipan, and pistachio wrapped in Mozart’s face. Extremely giftable. Also extremely snackable. From Salzburg Airport, it’s 15 minutes to the centre by bus, and 15 minutes by taxi.

Musical tidbit: Mozart’s birthplace is just a short ride away.

Cheap flights to Salzburg

At first glance, it’s all turrets and medieval walls, but give it a minute and boom – you’re deep in a world of digital innovation, gritty street art, and design-forward brunch spots. The Old Town is Unesco-listed, and Toompea Hill (the upper town) has epic city views. Kalamaja, meanwhile, once a fishing district, is now the Brooklyn of Tallinn. All wooden houses, craft beer, and bicycles. From Tallinn Airport, it’s 20 minutes to the centre by bus or tram.

Charming note: The tram glides through pine forests before reaching the medieval heart of Tallinn.

Cheap flights to Tallinn

Home to the United Nations, Red Cross, and about 200 other international organizations, it’s a high-powered, high-brow place. The Old Town has winding cobblestone lanes, giant squares, and ancient cathedrals. Jet d’Eau, meanwhile, is a giant water spout shooting 140 meters into the air from Lake Geneva. If you love luxury, the Patek Phillipe Museum is here, whilst just outside the city is CERN – where they confirmed the existence of the so-called ‘God’ particle. From Geneva Airport it’s 7 minutes on a train to the centre, or 35 minutes in a taxi.

Perk: Free public transport tickets for arriving passengers. Handy, that.

Cheap flights to Geneva

Most people know it as the home of that famously tipsy tower, but Pisa isn’t just a one-monument wonder. It’s a Tuscan city with medieval swagger, a river that sparkles at sunset, and a vibrant energy thanks to its student population. Besides the tower, it’s home to the University of Pisa, one of Europe’s oldest, and Piazza dei Miracoli, where you’ll find a duomo and the largest baptistry in Italy. From Pisa International Airport, it takes just 5 minutes on the People Mover!

Highlight: From touchdown to leaning tower in under 15 minutes.

Cheap flights to Pisa

It’s not a country. It’s not a city. It’s The Rock – and it punches far above its weight. Monkeys, red telephone boxes, Moorish castles, and WWII tunnels all somehow make sense in this ridiculously dramatic hunk of limestone. Walk a few yards and you’ll hear English, Spanish, and Llanito (the local Spanglish dialect). You can climb or cable-car the Rock, and at the top you’ll find St Michael’s Cave, the Skywalk, and the Windsor Suspension Bridge. You literally can’t get closer than this – you could take the bus from the airport in 5 minutes, or you could just walk (yes, walk) straight to the centre in 15 minutes instead.

Fun fact: It’s the only airport where the main road intersects the runway.

Cheap flights to Gibraltar