Looking for an extreme day trip, city break or weekend break from East Midlands Airport? Our free flight finder searches published flight schedules to help you discover where you could go.
Choose your travel date and the minimum amount of time you want at your destination. Days & Stays will find possible same-day trips and short breaks from East Midlands based on the available flight schedules.
If a day trip doesn’t quite work, a one- or two-night stay can open up many more destinations. You can compare options, check current flights and explore things to do or places to stay.
No registration or login is required, and you can search published schedules well ahead of your trip rather than being limited to the next few weeks.
Where could you fly for the day?
Where could you fly for the day?Choose your airport and date and we’ll find flights that give you enough time to enjoy the destination and still fly home again.
Direct Flights from East Midlands Airport
East Midlands Airport offers a wide range of day trips and short breaks, though routes and frequencies vary by date and season. We analyse published flight schedules to identify destinations with useful timings, including those offering 8, 10 or 12 hours between flights and routes that work particularly well for weekend trips. Use the Days & Stays Flight Finder above to check the options for your travel date.
East Midlands Airport Flights at a Glance
Our latest analysis of published flight schedules from East Midlands Airport.
8 Shortest Scheduled Flights from East Midlands
The shortest outbound journey times found in the schedules analysed.
Best Same-Day Opportunities
Destinations appearing most often with at least 10 hours between scheduled arrival and return departure.
Best for Weekends
Destinations most often offering at least 10 hours between scheduled arrival and return departure on Saturdays and Sundays.
About these figures: Days & Stays calculates these statistics from published flight schedules for the period shown. Flight times and same-day opportunities are based on scheduled departure and arrival times and may vary by date, season and airline. They do not represent guaranteed availability or actual sightseeing time. Always check current flight details before booking.
Schedules analysed: 26 October 2026 to 24 December 2026 · Last updated: 26 October 2026, 00:12
Where Can You Go for a Day Trip from East Midlands Airport?
The answer changes with the flight schedule. A destination that’s perfect for an extreme day trip on one date may have no suitable same-day return on another.
Dublin is an obvious place to look, but don’t rule out destinations further afield. With an early departure from East Midlands Airport and a late flight home, cities across Europe can potentially become realistic day trips.
Flight time is only part of the equation. Airport transfers matter too, so Days & Stays looks for flight combinations, while our destination guides help you work out how much useful time you’ll have on arrival.
City Breaks & Weekend Breaks from East Midlands Airport
If the flight times aren’t right for a day trip, city breaks and short breaks from East Midlands Airport open up many more possibilities, particularly if you can stay for one or two nights.
Cities such as Barcelona, Prague, Budapest, Paris, Kraków, Berlin and Milan are great choices for a city break or weekend away, with plenty more destinations across Europe to choose from.
The Days & Stays Flight Finder searches published flight schedules for same-day trips and short breaks, helping you discover where you can go with the time you have.
Our destination guides include airport transfers and what you can realistically do once you arrive.
Where Are the Cheapest Flights from East Midlands Airport?
No single destination is always cheapest. Fares vary by date, demand, and how far ahead you book.
Rather than choosing somewhere because it is normally considered cheap, compare the total cost of the trip, including travel to East Midlands Airport, destination transfers, accommodation if required and anything you want to do while you’re there.
Beach, Sunshine or Something Different?
East Midlands Airport isn’t limited to city breaks. Direct flights also serve holiday destinations across Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Italy, and the Canary Islands, as well as Croatia, Bulgaria, and North Africa.
Some routes are seasonal, and others operate only on certain days of the week.
Days & Stays searches all available published schedules, helping you discover seasonal routes and possibilities for both day trips and short breaks.
Not Sure Where to Go?
That’s exactly what the Days & Stays Flight Finder is designed for.
Choose your departure airport, travel date and how long you’d like to be away. We’ll search published flight schedules and show you destinations that could fit your trip, whether you’re looking for a day trip, city break, weekend break or short break.
You don’t need to decide where you’re going first. Start with the time you have available and see where you could go.
No account. No login. Just choose a date and see where you could go.
Where could you fly for the day?
Choose your airport and date and we’ll find flights that give you enough time to enjoy the destination and still fly home again.
About East Midlands Airport
East Midlands Airport (EMA) is in Leicestershire, near Castle Donington and about 14 miles south-west of Nottingham city centre. Its central location makes it a convenient departure point for travellers from across the East Midlands, including Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.
The airport has a single passenger terminal, so getting around is relatively straightforward. East Midlands Airport has no railway station, so most passengers arrive by car, bus, or coach.
For an extreme day trip, we recommend planning your travel to and from East Midlands Airport before booking your flights. Some of the most useful same-day combinations involve an early departure or late return, so check that your airport transport works with both flights.
East Midlands Airport at a Glance
Useful information for planning your trip from East Midlands Airport.
Address
East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Derby, DE74 2SA
Telephone
0808 169 7032
Official website
Visit East Midlands Airport →
Getting to East Midlands Airport
With no railway station at East Midlands Airport, most passengers arrive by car, bus or coach. For a same-day trip, check both legs of your journey before booking, especially if your flight leaves early or you arrive back late.
Driving and Parking at East Midlands Airport
Driving can be convenient for early departures or when travelling with others.
East Midlands Airport offers several parking options, including Short Stay and Mid Stay car parks within walking distance of the terminal, plus Long Stay, JetParks, and Meet & Greet options. Pre-booking can save money, so compare the available options before you travel.
👉 Compare East Midlands Airport parking with Holiday Extras
Bus and Coach to East Midlands Airport
East Midlands Airport is well connected by bus, with Skylink services providing direct connections from Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Loughborough and Long Eaton. Buses arrive and depart from the coach station next to the terminal building.
Several routes operate 24 hours a day, making bus travel particularly useful for early departures and late returns. The Derby, Leicester and Loughborough Skylink runs every 15 minutes during the day and hourly at night, while the Nottingham service runs every 20 minutes during the day and hourly overnight.
For an extreme day trip, it is still worth checking the timetable for your particular travel date before booking your flights, especially if your outbound flight leaves very early or your return arrives late.
👉 See East Midlands Airport bus routes and timetable information
Long-distance coach services also operate to East Midlands Airport from locations across the UK, with coaches using the station just outside the terminal.
Getting to East Midlands Airport by Train
East Midlands Airport does not have its own railway station.
The nearest railway station is East Midlands Parkway, around five miles from the airport. However, depending on where you are travelling from, Derby, Nottingham and Long Eaton can also be useful rail connections, with onward bus services to the airport.
For an extreme day trip, check the full rail and bus journey before booking your flights, especially for early morning departures or late evening returns. Allow enough time to transfer between your train and the airport bus, plus possible delays.
👉 See East Midlands Airport’s train and rail connection information
👉 Compare trains to East Midlands Parkway
East Midlands Airport Hotels
If your flight leaves particularly early, staying near the airport the night before can make the start of your trip considerably easier.
Hotels close to East Midlands Airport include the Radisson Blu Hotel East Midlands Airport, about a mile from the terminal, and the Leonardo Hotel East Midlands Airport, within walking distance. The Holiday Inn Express East Midlands Airport is another nearby option.
Several airport hotels offer packages combining an overnight stay with airport parking, which can be particularly useful for an early morning departure.
Other hotels, guest houses and B&Bs are available around Castle Donington and within a short drive of the airport, so it is worth comparing accommodation and parking costs before booking.
👉 Compare East Midlands Airport hotels and parking with Holiday Extras
👉 Find hotels near East Midlands Airport
Taxi, Drop-off and Pick-up
East Midlands Airport has a dedicated Rapid Drop Off area close to the terminal. For collecting passengers, the Short Stay Car Park provides convenient access to the terminal.
Days & Stays tip: If you’re being dropped off for an extreme day trip, agree on a meeting point for your return before heading into the terminal, especially if your flight arrives back late.
👉 Check East Midlands Airport’s pick-up and drop-off information
Planning Your Trip from East Midlands Airport
Whether you’re planning an extreme day trip or a short break, the flight times are only part of the picture. It’s also worth thinking about how you’ll get to East Midlands Airport, how quickly you can reach your destination after landing, and how much time you’ll realistically have before your return flight.
How Much Time Will You Really Have?
Days & Stays shows the scheduled time between your arrival and return flights, but that isn’t the same as sightseeing time.
Allow plenty of time to leave the airport, travel into the city, and return with time to make your flight home. Ten hours between flights with a 15-minute airport transfer could give you more useful time than 12 hours with a lengthy journey into the city.
Our destination guides include airport transfer information to help you work out how much time you’ll actually have.
Travel Light
For a day trip, a small under-seat bag may be all you need. Travelling without checked luggage saves time and avoids waiting at baggage reclaim.
Check the cabin baggage allowance included with your fare before travelling.
Check Your Travel Documents
You’ll need suitable identification, including on domestic flights. Depending on your airline, this may include a passport, photocard driving licence or another accepted form of photographic ID.
For international trips, check your destination’s passport, visa and travel authorisation requirements before booking.
Allow for Things Going Wrong
Delays matter more when you only have a day, and a cancellation could leave you needing an unexpected overnight stay.
Check whether your flights are on the same or separate bookings, consider appropriate travel insurance and have a plan for disruption.
More help: Read our guide to planning an extreme day trip, including delays, cancellations, travel insurance, separate flight bookings and passenger rights.
Make More of Your Trip
Found a flight combination that suits you? Next, decide what you want to do when you get there.
Things to Do
For an extreme day trip, it’s worth booking popular attractions, tours and experiences in advance. Spending an hour queuing isn’t ideal when you only have a day.
👉 Find things to do with GetYourGuide
Our destination guides focus on places you can realistically visit in the time you have.
Turn Your Day Trip into a Short Break
If the flight times aren’t quite right for a day trip, staying for one or two nights can open up many more possibilities and give you more time to explore.
👉 Find accommodation with Booking.com
Days & Stays covers both same-day trips and short breaks, so don’t rule out a destination just because the flights don’t work in a single day.
Getting Around When You Arrive
Check how you’ll get from the airport to where you actually want to go. Some airports have fast rail or metro connections, while others require a longer bus, coach or transfer.
Our destination guides include airport transfer information where useful, helping you judge how practical a destination is for a day trip.
Extreme Day Trips from East Midlands Airport FAQs
Answers to some of the most common questions about extreme day trips, city breaks, weekend breaks, same-day flights and planning a trip from East Midlands Airport.
Can you do an extreme day trip from East Midlands Airport?
Yes. A number of destinations can be possible as same-day trips from East Midlands Airport when there is an early outbound flight and a sufficiently late return. The options vary by date and season, which is why the Days & Stays Flight Finder searches the published schedules for the date you choose.
Where can I fly from East Midlands Airport and return the same day?
It depends on your travel date. Some destinations can offer useful same-day flight combinations from East Midlands Airport, while others may become possible only on particular days or during seasonal flying programmes. Rather than relying on a fixed list, use the Days & Stays Flight Finder to see which destinations are possible on your chosen date.
What are the best extreme day trips from East Midlands Airport?
The most practical destinations usually combine an early flight from East Midlands Airport, a late return flight and a quick journey from the destination airport into the city. Flight times change throughout the year, so a destination that makes an excellent day trip on one date may offer very little time on another.
Can I find city breaks from East Midlands Airport?
Yes. Days & Stays can help you find city breaks from East Midlands Airport as well as same-day trips. Choose your travel date and how long you’d like to be away, and the Flight Finder will search published schedules for destinations that could fit your trip.
How long should I have at my destination?
We generally look for at least eight hours between the scheduled arrival and departure flights when searching for a worthwhile day trip. Remember that this isn’t eight hours of sightseeing. You still need to allow time to leave the airport, travel into the city and return in good time for your flight home.
How far ahead can I search for day trips from East Midlands Airport?
Days & Stays lets you search available published flight schedules rather than limiting you to the next few weeks. This can help you find seasonal routes and future trip possibilities that aren’t operating right now. How far ahead you can search depends on the schedules currently published by the airlines.
Do I need to create an account or log in?
No. You don’t need to register, create an account or log in to use the Days & Stays Flight Finder. Choose East Midlands Airport, select your travel date and how long you’d like to be away, then search the available published schedules.
Are extreme day trips from East Midlands Airport cheap?
They can be. Low-cost airlines sometimes offer inexpensive fares from East Midlands Airport, particularly if you are flexible about your destination and travel date. Look at the total cost of the trip, including flights, travel to the airport, parking if required, destination transfers and anything you want to book while you’re there.
Do I need a passport for a domestic flight from East Midlands Airport?
Not necessarily, but you will need identification that meets your airline’s requirements. Depending on the airline, acceptable photographic identification may include a passport, photocard driving licence or another document accepted by the airline. For international flights, check the passport and entry requirements for your destination before booking.
What happens if there isn’t a suitable return flight on the same day?
Consider turning it into a city break or weekend away. Staying overnight can make many more destinations possible and may provide better flight times. The Days & Stays Flight Finder can search for both same-day trips and short breaks.
Can I book flights through Days & Stays?
Days & Stays is a travel discovery service, not an airline, travel agent or booking provider. We search published flight schedules to help you identify possible trips and may provide links to third-party booking providers where you can check current fares and availability. Any booking, payment and contract for travel is made directly with the provider you choose.
Does Days & Stays earn commission?
Some links on Days & Stays are affiliate links. If you make a booking or purchase through one of these links, we may receive a commission from the provider at no additional cost to you. This helps support Days & Stays and ThisIsSouthWest.com.
How do I find extreme day trips from East Midlands Airport?
Choose East Midlands Airport, select your travel date and choose a same-day trip in the Days & Stays Flight Finder. We’ll search the available published schedules and show destinations where a day trip could be possible. If you’d rather stay longer, you can also search for a city break, weekend away or short break.
Ready to See Where You Could Go?
Choose your departure airport and travel date and let Days & Stays find the possibilities.
You don’t need to choose a destination first. Search the available flight combinations, see how much time you could have there and start planning your next day trip, city break or weekend away.
Find Your Next Trip ↑Booking information: Days & Stays searches flight schedules to help identify possible trips. Flight times, fares and availability can change. Bookings are completed with third-party providers. Some links are affiliate links and we may receive a commission if you make a booking, at no additional cost to you.
