As student on the General Course programme, exploring Europe on the weekends has been one of the highlights of my experience. However, planning a trip can be tricky, so here are some tips. 

The first part of booking a trip is the flights. Make sure to book flights early, as they are usually cheaper ahead of time. Another note to keep in mind is to pick times that work well with check-in and check-out from accommodations, as lugging your baggage around the city for hours is not fun. Typically, these times are around 11AM for check out and 3PM for check-in, but it depends on the specific location you are staying at. If you have Friday or Monday classes, be sure to factor in the time that it will take to get to the airport before your flight. It’s recommended to arrive at the airport hours before your gate closes.  

While booking the trip, decide how many people you are going with. Going in a group of 2-4 people is usually a safe bet, as too many people can create complications with planning around everyone’s interests and finding seats in restaurants, unless you plan to make reservations. If solo travel is your choice, remember to tell a loved one where you are going and be aware of your surroundings. 

Finally, I’ve found that it is important to make a loose itinerary. Exploring a city with nothing planned can be exciting, but you may end up missing out on sights or activities you would have loved if you do not research beforehand. Some museums may be sold out if you don’t book ahead, especially popular ones like the Louvre or Van Gogh Museum. Factoring in some downtime to sit and rejuvenate at a café or park is also necessary – sightseeing can be tiring!

On my recent trip to Dublin, I used these tips and had a smooth and fun experience. I went with two friends, and we landed in Dublin at around 8PM on a Friday. We had some wood fired pizza and tried Guinness at the famous Temple Bar Pub before settling in for the night. The next day, we visited Trinity College Dublin and daydreamed about Normal People characters, strolled around the National Gallery, and went to St Stephen’s Green to sit for a while. Once our legs were less tired, we listened to buskers along Grafton Street and had a delicious dinner at O’Connell’s, which Ed Sheeran had previously dined at. On our last day, we had a large brunch before flying back to London. We got back to our halls at 4:30PM, which left us enough time to get settled back in before a new week of learning. 

St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 

Hope these tips help!