A veritable fleet of newly launched routes take off this year, from Nordic station wagons to Middle Eastern jaunts. And the new itineraries come with attractive fares, enticing package holiday destinations and a whole new world of adventure. Here is our selection of the most interesting options available this year.
If you like breaks with a little less heat and a little more latitude, then why not enjoy a midsummer break aboard one of the most exciting new routes launched this year: to beautiful Bergen, Norway.
The new service operated by Scandinavian airline Widerøe takes off from Dublin on April 28 with a flight time of just under two hours.
While in Norway’s second city, soak up its postcard-perfect Old Town, enjoy the city’s rich food, arts and culture scene, or experience the great outdoors as you dive into the beaches of the North Sea for take the Fløyen funicular into the mountains surrounding Bergen.
Fares, including 8kg hand luggage, start from €145 return and despite the prohibitive price of the Norwegian representative, there are several good hotel options hovering around €150 a night for weekend nights in May.
Cork-Malaga is surely one of the most popular air routes in the country, but now there is a new Spanish option available from the Costa del Cork to the beautiful city of Seville.
Ryanair’s new route to the capital of Andalucia begins in May with summer fares currently at €210 return.
As an urban hotbed of architectural, cultural and culinary attractions (don’t forget all those tapas!), Seville makes a fantastic city break in its own right, as well as being the perfect gateway to the sunny Costa de La Luz .
Turkey (or Türkiye, to give it its new official name) with its colossal coastline makes it one of the most inviting destinations in the Mediterranean to explore and with the Turkish lira soaring over the past couple of years, it could also be a high-value option. . Starting this May, Turkish Airlines and Turkish-German airline Sun Express will fly from Dublin to Antalya, one of the country’s most popular resorts.
The area is also the gateway to Turkey’s spectacular Turquoise Coast which, given that it gave the color its name, you can also expect to be quite spectacular.
Spending Easter in the Holy Land could be on the horizon this year. Israel’s national airline, El Al, will operate its new direct route from Dublin to Tel Aviv this spring, making the furthest stretch of the Mediterranean all the more accessible.
Israel’s largest city, Tel Aviv is not only known for being the country’s financial powerhouse, but it’s also known for its hedonistic party life, vibrant LGBT+ scene, and boasts the world’s most vegan restaurants. .
For new adventures, it’s just 45 minutes from Jerusalem while the West Bank, an increasingly popular tourist spot, is also accessible from the area – just be aware of the latest travel advisories via dfa.ie. Flight time to Israel can be six hours (Israel is as far away as Quebec after all) but being only two hours ahead of Ireland, this should minimize the time difference on the ground. Fares start from €399 return.
Oh hi Ohio! Starting this summer, you can fly to bustling Cleveland on Aer Lingus’ latest direct route to the United States.
The self-billed home of rock and roll not only makes a great alternative city getaway for music lovers, but as one of the largest cities on the Great Lakes, Cleveland also makes a great gateway for a road- summer trip on the shores of the lake. Erie – think upstate New York vineyards, Niagara Falls and a Motown hunter in Detroit.
Fares from Dublin start from €399 return. Aer Lingus will also resume its Dublin-Hartford, Connecticut route this summer, while you can fly from Shannon to Chicago this summer on the United route.
If you’ve already experienced la dolce vita in Rome, Milan or Florence, why not plan your next Italian getaway via the southern town of Brindisi? Set in the stunning Puglia region (in Italy’s most unusual heel), the town offers a foodie’s dream base as well as being an ideal base for exploring the heritage towns of Lecce, Gallipoli, Ostuni and Alberobello , or a stunning coastline dotted with higgledy piggledy villages. Aer Lingus and Ryanair fly from Dublin to Brindisi this summer; when comparing fares, note the different baggage allowances between the two airlines. Ryanair has also launched a new route from Shannon to Naples this summer.
Lisbon has become a favorite city for Irish travelers in the age of Covid as we flock to its beautiful streets steeped in culture, heritage and delicious and pastel de nada.
However, the country’s second city, Porto, has recently become the latest Iberian ‘It’ spot and a new flight from Shannon makes it an attractive option for travelers to Munster.
Highlights include its Insta-perfect streetscapes, Douro River cruises and mouth-watering wine bars, while the city’s hotel rates make it a reasonable value.
Fares, including hand luggage, start from a very attractive €105 round trip.
You can’t top the Greek islands for the ultimate summer getaway. From feeling the waves lap on the white sand beaches, gorging on fresh calamari straight from the trawler and soaking up the Aegean sunsets, the destination offers pure vacation paradise. .
The Athens ferry to the islands can be an iconic but often chaotic experience, which is why it’s good to have so many direct routes to head you straight to the islands this summer.
Dublin to Kos is the last route from Ireland and as it is operated by both Aer Lingus and Ryanair you can also expect competitive fares.
Part of the Dodecanese Islands (i.e. the archipelago that dots the Turkish coast), Kos is famous for its beautiful coastline, lush forests and multitude of heritage sites.
Don’t get hung up on your accommodation reservations, as hotel rooms and Airbnbs can be snapped up quickly. Lines open in May with return fares currently starting at €200.
New routes also mean new package holiday deals and Italian specialists Topflight have some pretty tasty options via the new Ryanair route from Cork to Treviso.
Topflight’s Michelle Anderson says: “The Irish love affair with Italy continues and our customers love what an Italian holiday has to offer, from the wonderful food to the amazing and varied scenery and the ever warm Italian welcome. “
Topflight offers offers on Lake Garda and the Venetian Riviera via the Cork to Treviso route; Seven-night packages in June to Lake Garda, based on a B&B pension in a four-star establishment, are available for €932 per person. Topflight also offers a Sorrento package via the new Shannon route to Naples.
Expect Newcastle to appear on many Instagram feeds over the coming months.
Alongside services from Dublin, the current Cork to Newcastle route will switch to Shannon in March, while Cork will offer a new Ryanair route to the East Midlands.
In Newcastle, take advantage of the city’s burgeoning food and arts scene, visit the historic fortress that gives the city its name, or perhaps head to St James’s Park to witness the rising fortunes of the Magpies.
If you’re traveling light to Newcastle, flights from Shannon start from just €20 return.
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