is remembering one universal truth: tourists are lazy, but you don’t have to be.
; the threat of anything longer than a swift taxi ride keeps the masses away, enabling you to skip between sights with ease.
The following destinations all enjoy intriguing history, rich culture, good looks – and not an airport between them. Reaching them is part of the adventure, but good public transport links make them easier to get to than you might expect. This list is not exhaustive: other cities may be farther from aviation hubs but are perhaps not worth the schlep, and, for practicality’s sake, we have ignored the proximity of any non-commercial airports, too.
Reims, France: for legendary art and wine
Distance from airport: 90 miles (Paris Charles de Gaulle)
Forget flying – the easiest way to reach Reims, the charming epicentre of the Champagne region, is by rail. Paris-Vatry Airport is “just” an hour’s drive away, but it has few international links – and none with the UK. If you must fly, head to Paris Charles de Gaulle: a 90-minute drive away. But the train journey from London’s St Pancras International station can take just under four hours.
Champagne is everywhere in Reims: it’s practically compulsory to pop bottles over lunch, dinner, even breakfast – or venture into the city’s wineries, such as Domaine Vranken-Pommery, for tours and tastings.
in the cavernous wine cellars of a 13th-century abbey?
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Jaén, Spain: for Moorish majesty
Distance from airport: 60 miles (Granada International)
Peppered with Renaissance and Moorish architecture, interesting museums and superb tapas bars, this Andalusian city should be overrun with tourists, but the one-hour airport transfer keeps crowds at bay.
, meaning “crossroads of caravans” and reflecting the city’s bustle under Moorish rule – which reached its zenith in the 10th century. Get to know Jaén’s ancient civilisations in Museo Íbero, before exploring its Roman Catholic cathedral and the Jaén Museum’s 2,500-year-old artworks – all presided over by Parador de Jaén, a Moorish fortress turned lavish hotel (where Charles de Gaulle wrote his memoirs).
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Taranto, Italy: for beaches and wildlife
Distance from airport: 67 miles (Bari Airport); 46 miles (Brindisi Airport)
Founded by the Spartans in 706 BC, Taranto is no shrinking violet: its 600-year-old Castello Aragonese fortress dominates the coastline, while its Cattedrale di San Cataldo is a masterpiece of mosaics, frescoes and marble sculptures. Yet, this Puglian city remains wholly under the radar, plagued by its industrial reputation and hour-long airport transfer.
However, change is on the horizon: in 2026, Taranto will host the Mediterranean Games, kickstarting a “strategic plan for the city”, says mayor Rinaldo Melucci. Meanwhile, its waterfront is also undergoing a multimillion-euro facelift.
(old town) is best explored on a tuk-tuk-style motorbike with tour company Taranto in Calessino. Its sea-view promenade is the perfect spot for a sunset stroll, while Jonian Dolphin Conservation runs top-rated wildlife cruises from the harbour.
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Victoria, Malta: for food and fortresses
Distance from airport: 25 miles (Malta International)
As the crow flies, Victoria – the capital of Gozo island – is only 25 miles from its closest airport, yet the journey takes at least 90 minutes, involving both road and ferry. The star of Victoria is its Cittadella, a hilltop Roman acropolis turned Medieval fortress (though the area’s history dates back even further to the Neolithic era, circa 3600 BC).
Beautifully restored yet softly crumbling, its honeyed stone architecture is linked by a warren of winding streets, dotted with museums and viewpoints overlooking the island and coast. The Cittadella’s terrain can be steep, but is largely wheelchair-friendly thanks to recent investment.
(ricotta-filled pastries) at Pjazza Indipendenza’s morning market. The capital moves at a sleepy pace, so dip into the Gozo Nature Museum and street cafés, and pore over St George’s Basilica’s magnificent gold stucco nave.
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Galway, Ireland: for festivals and coastal culture
Distance from airport: 58 miles (Shannon Airport)
Keen-eyed Google Maps users will no doubt have spotted – ah-ha! – that Galway Airport is just five miles away from its namesake city, but this small airfield only serves the local flying club. Galway’s closest commercial airport is, in fact, Shannon, which is located more than an hour’s drive away in County Clare.
But this west-coast city is well worth the journey, with its pretty riverside, folk-music-filled pubs and bustling Eyre Square – a park surrounded by shops and restaurants. Its festival calendar ranges from February’s traditional Celtic fire celebration of Imbolc, to July’s International Arts Festival and Galway Races – and its museums, foodie tours and sea-view walks on the Salthill Prom can easily fill a long weekend.
’s destination expert. “It contextualises the region’s complexities, from its seafaring heritage and the severities of the famine years to its enduring association with Irish traditions and language.”
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