One of the best things about living in Boston is how close Europe really is. With a Thursday night departure and a Monday flight home, you can have three full days in Dublin, Lisbon or Paris and only take two days off. And this fall, the list of nonstop flights from Boston is better than ever, with a few new year-round options that make a quick escape very easy.

Here are the routes I would look at for a fall or early winter long weekend, which ones are seasonal and how I would spend my time in each city.

How to Plan a Long Weekend Using Nonstop Flights from Boston

My rule is simple: fly overnight eastbound, land in the morning, check in, take a walk and go to bed at a normal local time. Fly home on a daytime flight, so you land in Boston in the afternoon and sleep in your own bed. A few more tips:

• Stick to nonstops. On a three-day trip, a connection can cost you half a day.
• Book a hotel that allows early check-in, or pay for it. It makes the first day.
• Choose a lie-flat seat if you can. I wrote about Delta One from Boston, and on a short trip, arriving rested matters even more.

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This summer, I flew home on Delta’s new nonstop from Nice to Boston in Delta One. It was the perfect example of how easy a nonstop makes the end of a trip. Just know that route is summer-only, so it is not an option for a fall escape (more on seasonal routes below).

1. Dublin

Aer Lingus flies Dublin year-round, with additional seasonal service from Delta and JetBlue. At roughly six hours, it is one of the shortest flights to Europe from Logan, which makes it the easiest long weekend on this list.

My long weekend: Georgian squares, the National Gallery and a long lunch on the first day, a drive out to the coast at Howth or Dalkey on the second, and a proper pub night before you leave. For a hotel, I would look at The Merrion or The Shelbourne, both right on the city’s best squares.

2. Reykjavik

Icelandair flies to Reykjavik year-round, and it is the shortest hop to Europe from Boston. Fall and early winter bring the first chances of seeing the northern lights.

My long weekend: A day in the city, a day on the Golden Circle and a slow afternoon at a geothermal spa before your flight home. The Reykjavik EDITION puts you right on the harbor.

3. London

London is the most connected city from Boston, with year-round nonstops to Heathrow on British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American, Delta and JetBlue. That means plenty of departure times and a good chance of finding the cabin you want.

My long weekend: A museum morning, a walk through Mayfair, theater in the West End and Sunday at a market. My comprehensive travel guide to London has everything from neighborhoods to where to stay.

4. Paris

Air France, Delta and JetBlue fly Boston to Paris Charles de Gaulle year-round. Paris in late fall is quieter, cozier and more Parisian, with fewer lines and gorgeous early dusk light on the Seine.

My long weekend: One museum, one great bistro, one long walk and one splurge dinner. If you want the classic Paris hotel experience, my piece on the Four Seasons George V is a good place to start.

5. Lisbon

TAP Air Portugal flies Lisbon year-round (Delta adds seasonal service). Lisbon in the fall is one of my favorite ideas for a long weekend: mild weather, golden light and some of the best value in Western Europe. I have written about TAP’s new routes too.

My long weekend: Alfama and the castle on day one, Belém and pastéis de nata on day two and a day trip to Sintra or the coast at Cascais on day three. For a hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon is the grande dame.

6. Porto

This is the big news for this season. TAP’s Porto to Boston route is moving to year-round service starting in winter 2026–27, after operating as a seasonal flight. That makes Porto one of the easiest new long-weekend ideas from Logan.

My long weekend: The Ribeira and the bridges, port tastings across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia and a day in the Douro Valley. The Yeatman, set above the port lodges with views over the city, would be my pick.

7. Madrid

Iberia flies Boston to Madrid year-round. Madrid is a great late-fall city, with long, late dinners, world-class museums and sunny, crisp days.

My long weekend: The Prado and the Retiro on day one, Salamanca shopping and tapas on day two and a slow Sunday at the Rastro market. Rosewood Villa Magna is a beautiful base.

8. Amsterdam

Delta and KLM fly to Amsterdam year-round, and JetBlue flies most of the year but pauses in early January. Amsterdam in November is canals, candlelit brown cafés and museums without the summer lines.

My long weekend: The Rijksmuseum, a canal cruise and an afternoon in the Jordaan. The Pulitzer, spread across a row of canal houses, would be my choice.

Also Worth Knowing

• Rome: ITA Airways keeps Rome on its winter schedule. It is a longer trip for a three-day weekend, but doable if you add a day.
• Germany and Switzerland: Lufthansa flies to Frankfurt and Munich, and SWISS flies to Zurich. Condor also flies Frankfurt, which opens up easy connections onward to cities like Milan.

Seasonal Routes to Save for Next Summer

Several of the most exciting nonstop flights from Boston are summer-only, so do not count on them for a fall escape:

• Nice: Delta’s new nonstop launched in May 2026 and is seasonal.
• Milan: Delta and JetBlue fly it in summer, and Delta plans to go daily in 2027.
• Edinburgh and Barcelona: summer-only.
• Venice: Delta’s new nonstop starts May 7, 2027 and runs through October 29, 2027.

For this fall, I would pick Dublin or Reykjavik for the shortest flight, Porto for something new and Paris or London for a classic. Any of them makes for a very good long weekend.