Located in one of the most vibrant capitals of the world, London, you are within easy reach of a variety of fascinating countries that can be reached in a short five-hour flight. Whether you are searching for cultural immersion, natural wonders, or indulgent relaxation, these 17 destinations have something unique to offer. Join us on a virtual journey as we highlight the best places to stay, things to do, and incredible sights to see in each of these enchanting countries. Below is a list of 17 countries within 5 hours flight from London.
17 countries within 5 hour flight from London
Iceland
The typical flight time from London to Reykjavik Airport is 2 hours and 56 minutes. However, the length of a flight might vary based on the weather, flight path, and air traffic. Individual flight times can thus be shorter, but they can also occasionally be longer.
There are a number of airports nearby that fly to London: Reykjavik Airport (RKV) and Keflavik International Airport (KEF).
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Best Places to Stay: Reykjavik, Akureyri
Best Things to Do: Explore the Golden Circle, unwind in the Blue Lagoon, chase the elusive Northern Lights
Best Places to Visit: Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Portugal
Head to Lisbon to enjoy the scenic beaches, eat pastéis de nata with a coffee and explore the historic Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower.
Depending on your specific route, a nonstop flight from the UK to Portugal usually lasts between 2 hours and 3 hours.
There are a number of airports nearby that fly to London: Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS), Porto Francisco de Sa Carneiro Airport (OPO), Faro Airport (FAO), Porto Santo Airport (PXO), Funchal Madeira Airport (FNC), Santa Maria Airport (SMA) and Joao Paulo II Airport (PDL).
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Best Places to Stay: Madeira, Azores, Lisbon
Best Things to Do: Wander through the streets of Alfama, sample delicious port wine, soak up the sun on Algarve’s picturesque beaches
Best Places to Visit: Sintra, Douro Valley, Furnas Lagoon
Morocco
The average flight time between United Kingdom and Rabat (Morocco’s capital), is 3 hours and 13 minutes. There are a number of airports nearby that fly to London:
Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK), Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport (CMN), Rabat-Sale Airport (RBA), Agadir Al Massira Airport (AGA), Fes Saiss Airport (FEZ), Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport (TNG) and Oujda Angads Airport (OUD).
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Best Places to Stay: Marrakech, Essaouira
Best Things to Do: Visit the vibrant souks, discover architectural wonders, experience the Sahara Desert
Best Places to Visit: Atlas Mountains, Chefchaouen
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Italy
A true foodie destination also known as the land of ancient architecture and great art. From pizza in Naples to street art in Rome, Italy has something for everyone.
The typical flight lasts 2 hours, 31 minutes. Rome Ciampino Airport (CIA), Rome Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO), Perugia San Francesco d’Assisi â Umbria (PEG), Abruzzo Airport (PSR), Naples Airport (NAP), Rimini Federico Fellini Airport (RMI), and Florence Peretola Airport (FLR) are just a few of the nearby airports that offer flights to London.
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Best Places to Stay: Rome, Florence, Venice
Best Things to Do: Explore the ancient ruins of Rome, admire Renaissance art, cruise the canals of Venice
Best Places to Visit: Amalfi Coast, Tuscany
Greece
The shortest trip from London to Greece takes 3 hours and 24 minutes.
Volos Nea Anchialos National Airport (VOL), Aktion National Airport (PVK), Patras Araxos Airport (GPA), Skiathos Island National Airport (JSI), Kefalonia Cephalonia International Airport (EFL), Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH), and Corfu International Airport (CFU) are a few of the nearby airports that offer flights to London.
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Best Places to Stay: Athens, Santorini, Mykonos
Best Things to Do: Visit iconic historical sites, relax on breathtaking beaches, indulge in traditional Greek cuisine
Best Places to Visit: Meteora, Crete
Ireland
Just a quick flight away from London, Ireland is perfect for those looking to escape the city’s commotion. Visit Dublin and explore the St. Patrick’s Cathedral or just enjoy a pint of Guinness beer!
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Best Places to Stay: Dublin, Galway
Best Things to Do: Sip a pint of Guinness in a traditional pub, explore ancient castles, drive along the Wild Atlantic Way
Best Places to Visit: Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry
Czech Republic
Visit Prague and explore the historic Old Town Square and Charles Bridge, or just wander through the labyrinthine streets of Mala Strana.
The fastest flight time from London to Czech Republic is 2 hours.
There are a number of airports nearby that fly to London: Prague Vaclav Havel Airport (PRG), Brno Turany Airport (BRQ), Karlovy Vary Airport (KLV) and Ostrava Leos Janacek Airport (OSR).
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Best Places to Stay: Prague, Cesky Krumlov
Best Things to Do: Discover the magical charm of Prague’s Old Town, visit medieval castles, enjoy Czech beer
Best Places to Visit: Karlovy Vary, Kutna Hora
France
Hop on a flight to Paris and explore the iconic Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, or even tour the Louvre Museum. The French cuisine, art, and architecture are sure to leave you in awe!
The fastest flight time from London to France is 1 hour 35 minutes. There are a number of airports nearby that fly to London: Limoges Bellegarde Airport (LIG), Poitiers Biard Airport (PIS), Tours Val de Loire Airport (TUF), Saint Etienne Boutheon Airport (EBU), Bergerac Dordogne Perigord Airport (EGC), Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport (LYS) and Grenoble Isere Airport (GNB).
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Best Places to Stay: Paris, Nice
Best Things to Do: Admire the Eiffel Tower, wander through the charming streets of Montmartre, relax on the French Riviera
Best Places to Visit: Provence, Bordeaux
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Spain
Spain offers the perfect balance of art, culture, and beach life. Catch some rays on the beaches of Valencia or check out the stunning architecture of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter.
The fastest flight time from London to Spain is 2 hours 15 minutes.
There are a number of airports nearby that fly to London: Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD), Zaragoza Airport (ZAZ), Valencia Airport (VLC), Bilbao Airport (BIO), Santander Airport (SDR), Granada Federico Garcia Lorca Airport (GRX) and Alicante Airport (ALC).
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Best Places to Stay: Barcelona, Madrid, Seville
Best Things to Do: Marvel at Gaudí’s masterpieces, sample tapas, immerse yourself in Spanish culture
Best Places to Visit: Granada, Ibiza
Netherlands
The charming Dutch capital of Amsterdam is known for its picturesque canals and vibrant nightlife. Take a stroll through Vondelpark or visit the Anne Frank House.
The fastest flight time from London to Netherlands is 1 hour 5 minutes.
There are a number of airports nearby that fly to London: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM), Eindhoven Airport (EIN), Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) and Groningen Airport Eelde (GRQ).
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Best Places to Stay: Amsterdam, Rotterdam
Best Things to Do: Explore the canal-filled streets of Amsterdam, visit world-class museums, cycle through tulip fields
Best Places to Visit: The Hague, Utrech
Germany
Enjoy the festive German architecture and visit the iconic Brandenburg Gate, or immerse yourself in Berlin’s art scene and taste the German cuisine.
The fastest flight time from London to Germany is 1 hour 54 minutes.
There are a number of airports nearby that fly to London: Magdeburg Cochstedt Airport (CSO), Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ), Braunschweig Airport (BWE), Paderborn Lippstadt Airport (PAD), Hannover Langenhagen Airport (HAJ), Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Nuremberg Airport (NUE).
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Best Places to Stay: Berlin, Munich
Best Things to Do: Discover Berlin’s history, visit fairytale-like castles, indulge in Bavarian cuisine
Best Places to Visit: The Black Forest, Neuschwanstein Castle
Hungary
The fastest flight time from London to Hungary is 2 hours 25 minutes.
There are a number of airports nearby that fly to London: Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD), Debrecen International Airport (DEB) and Sarmellek International Airport (SOB).
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Best Places to Stay: Budapest, Eger
Best Things to Do: Soak in thermal baths, explore historic buildings, indulge in Hungarian cuisine
Best Places to Visit: Lake Balaton, Szentendre
Sweden
The fastest flight time from London to Sweden is 2 hours 15 minutes.
There are a number of airports nearby that fly to London: Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN), Stockholm Bromma Airport (BMA), Stockholm Vasteras Hasslo Airport (VST), Borlange Dala Airport (BLE), Stockholm Skavsta Airport (NYO), Mora Siljan Airport (MXX) and Sundsvall Timra Airport (SDL).
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Best Places to Stay: Stockholm, Gothenburg
Best Things to Do: Explore Stockholm’s archipelago, witness the Northern Lights in Lapland, discover Swedish design
Best Places to Visit: Gotland, Kiruna
Turkey
From London to Turkey, the shortest flight takes 4 hours and 45 minutes. There are several airports close by that offer flights to London, including Adana Sakirpasa Airport (ADA), Esenboga International Airport (ESB), Konya Airport (KYA), Gazipasa Airport (GZP), Trabzon Airport (TZX), Antalya Airport (AYT), and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
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Best Places to Stay: Istanbul, Cappadocia
Best Things to Do: Explore ancient ruins, indulge in delicious Turkish cuisine, sail along the turquoise coast
Best Places to Visit: Pamukkale, Ephesus
Croatia
The shortest flight time between London and Croatia is 2 hours and 8 minutes. Rijeka Airport (RJK), Zagreb Airport (ZAG), Pula Airport (PUY), Zadar Airport (ZAD), Split Airport (SPU), and Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) are a few of the nearby airports with flights to London.
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Best Places to Stay: Dubrovnik, Split
Best Things to Do: Walk the ancient walls of Dubrovnik, discover hidden islands, swim in crystal-clear waters
Best Places to Visit: Plitvice Lakes National Park, Hvar Island
Belgium
Known for its delicious waffles and chocolates, Belgium is a great destination for a quick trip. Visit Brussels and explore the Atomium and the Grand Place or just enjoy some of the world’s best chocolate shops. The fastest flight time from London to Belgium is 1 hour 10 minutes.
There are a number of airports nearby that fly to London: Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), Brussels Airport (BRU), Liege Airport (LGG), Antwerp International Airport (ANR) and Ostend Bruges International Airport (OST).
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Albania
The fastest flight time from London to Belgium is 1 hour 10 minutes. There are a number of airports nearby that fly to London: Tirana International Airport (TIA).
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Best Places to Stay: Tirana, Kruja
Best Things to Do: Visit Kruja Castle and its nearby bazaar market, hikes and climbs in the northern region of the Albanian Alps
Best Places to Visit: Blue Eye Spring of Theth, The Cave of Pellumbas
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London’s geographical advantage allows travellers to embark on unforgettable adventures within a convenient five-hour flight. Whether you crave vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, or historical richness, these 17 countries within 5 hours flight from London offer an abundance of experiences to savour. So, pack your bags, grab your passport, and prepare for an incredible journey of exploration and discovery! Wherever you end up, make sure to have a fantastic trip and create some unforgettable memories!