As Ryanair continues to axe multiple routes to popular holiday destinations across Europe, travel specialists are recommending alternative destinations that offer the same atmosphere – but with fewer crowds and better value.
Experts at MoneySuperMarket warn that holidaymakers may face disruptions after the low-cost airline this year announced significant reductions to its flight network.
Two million seats have already been scrapped across Spain, including Tenerife North, Santiago and Jerez, while all flights to French airports, like Brive, Bergerac and Strasbourg, have been cancelled for winter.
German travellers will also be affected, with Memmingen Airport set to lose 27 flights per week this winter and Berlin facing 76 flight reductions in January alone, while Cologne is expected to see 44 fewer departures.
And in the latest announcement, the Irish airline revealed it will stop running flights to and from the Azores, Portugal’s mid-Atlantic archipelago, from March 29th next year, due to Air Traffic Control charges, a new €2 travel tax and high airport fees.
Alicia Hempsted, travel insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: ‘If news of Ryanair withdrawing some routes has left your holiday plans up in the air, it’s worth exploring alternative destinations that offer similar cultural experiences.
‘There are a range of destinations across Europe that are easily accessible by budget airlines, offering unique cultural attractions that can make for an amazing trip despite the change in plans.’
With further cuts expected in 2026, making some locations less viable for budget carriers, here are three alternative European spots to visit instead.
Experts at MoneySuperMarket have recommended alternative destinations, such as Carcassonne (pictured), that offer the same atmosphere as popular spots caught up in Ryanair’s European route cancellations
In Carcassonne, France, visitors can explore its historic fortress and indulge in its impressive local wine and food scene
Swap: Bergerac, France, for Carcassonne, France
Carcassonne makes an ideal replacement for Bergerac for those still planning to fly with Ryanair.
The fortified medieval city shares a similar charm to Bergerac with its historic fortress, cobbled streets and impressive local wine scene.
And if you’re keen on somewhere even closer in look and feel, the picturesque village of Alet-les-Bains is just an hour’s drive away, with half-timbered houses and the ruins of a 9th-century abbey-cathedral transporting visitors back in time.
Swap: Strasbourg, France, for Monschau, Germany
For travellers missing Strasbourg, Monschau offers a strikingly similar ambience with strong medieval roots.
The historic old town can be reached by flying into Cologne and travelling into the Eifel region by train.
In Monschau, its timber-framed buildings, narrow lanes and riverside setting replicate Strasbourg’s aesthetic – and in winter, the Christmas markets give it the same magical festive feel.
Monschau (pictured) offers a strikingly similar ambience to Strasbourg with strong medieval roots
Visitors can explore the town’s timber-framed buildings, narrow lanes and riverside setting
Krakow (pictured) makes for a great alternative for Brive with its preserved medieval centre and lively market squares
Pictured: Old townhouses in Kazimierz, former Jewish quarter of Krakow
Swap: Brive, France, for Krakow, Poland
Brive might be popular for its markets, museums and artisanal food culture, but Krakow makes for a great alternative.
Visitors can enjoy a beautifully preserved medieval centre, lively market squares, rich museum collections, along with dozens of contemporary food spots, and bars and pubs on every corner.
Krakow’s craft vodka scene almost mirrors the artisanal distillery visitors flock to in Brive, and the city is an easy city to reach from many UK airports.
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