From Brindisi to Beziers, Trieste to Tel Aviv, I’ve got 26 new holiday destinations from Ireland to tempt you this summer.
Whether you want to get the new ferry to Spain, explore one of America’s Great Lakes, or spend time exploring some of the new Italian cities, we are fortunate to have so many new holiday destinations from Ireland this year. Dublin, Shannon, Cork and Ireland West Airport have all announced new routes.
As well as new routes from Irish airports, Aer Lingus and Ryanair are increasing their summer capacity to many of the holiday hotspots from all Irish airports, and Ryanair have announced its biggest ever schedules from Cork, Shannon and Ireland West.
Read: Eoghan Corry talks travel December 2022
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I have listed 23 new holiday destinations from Ireland below, including the new ferry service from Rosslare to Bilbao. I will be updating this list as soon as any new announcements are made – I believe Aer Lingus may have one more European route to announce! So bookmark or pin this post, and hopefully it will help you with your future travel plans in 2023.
New holiday destinations from Dublin airport:
1. Brindisi, Puglia – Italy
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Aer Lingus and Ryanair announced new routes to Brindisi this summer. Ryanair will commence on the 2nd of May and Aer Lingus on the 27th of May – both are flying on Tuesday and Saturday.
Located in Puglia, in the heal of the Italian boot, Brindisi is superbly located to discover this stunning part of Italy. I visited Puglia a few years ago and can’t wait to return. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Alberobello and Ostuni, the beautiful city of Lecce, and dine in one of the world’s most famous restaurants in Polignano a Mare. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the nearby city of Matera too.
TOP TIP: Ryanair also fly into Bari, so I suggest flying into one airport and flying home the other, to see as much of this region as possible. Brindisi will surely prove to be one of the most popular new holiday destinations from Ireland this year.
Read: Three places you must visit in Puglia
Read: A magical weekend in Matera
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2. Olbia, Sardinia
Aer Lingus will be flying twice weekly to Olbia every Tuesday and Saturday starting on May 2nd, which will compliment Ryanair’s existing flights to Alghero and Cagliari. Olbia is renowned as the gateway to the Costa Smeralda, one of Europe’s top destinations for the rich and famous!
The area is known for its turquoise water and fine-sand beaches so its an ideal summer destination, however the historical centre has some cultural sights, and is popular with foodies and shoppers alike.
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3. Kos – Greece
Aer Lingus and Ryanair announced new routes to Kos this summer, flying every Tuesday and Saturday from the 2nd of May. There is something to suit everyone in Kos, from relaxing beach resorts on the north coast to buzzing towns on the south coast.
The capital, Kos Town, boasts Roman ruins and plenty of historical sights, as well as great restaurants and night life. The sophisticated harbour is at the heart of this town, which is a great place to people watch and enjoy some al fresco dining.
Kos is just 40 x 80 kilometres, so it is easy to visit most of the highlights. You also also take a day trip to Bodrum in Turkey – it is only 20 minutes by ferry from Kos Town, and costs just €25. Kos is looking likely to be one of the best value new holiday destinations from Dublin this year.
Read:
Read: All Inclusive family offer to Kos
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4. Tel Aviv – Israel
EL Al, Israel’s national airline, is flying direct from Dublin to Tel Aviv on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from March 26th. The flight time isapproximately six hours with both economy and business class available.
As well as 14km of coastline, you can expect vibrant nightlife and a wide selection of dining options in this cosmopolitan city. Of course the chance to visit the holy city of Jerusalem will be another big draw – it is just one hour from Tel Aviv.
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5. Cleveland, Ohio – USA
Aer Lingus will fly direct to Cleveland for the first time – four-times weekly from the 19th of May. We will also see a return to Hartford Connecticut in March, and an increase in services to Boston, New York, Chicago, Washington and Seattle.
Cleveland is situated in the heart of America’s Mid West, and is ideally located to explore Lake Erie – one of America’s great lakes. Enjoy the many walking and hiking trails that surround the Forest City and make sure to check out the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
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6. Trieste – Italy
Ryanair will fly from Dublin to Trieste every Wednesday and Saturday from the 29th of March.I visited Trieste over 20 years ago and was delighted to hear that this service has been introduced.
Trieste is a beautiful city in its own right, with a historical square overlooking the sea, a fabulous yacht-lined marina, a sandy beach, and a cosmopolitan city centre.
However, its unique location is what attracts holidaymakers most. It is surrounded by Slovenia and is perfectly placed to explore the colourful towns of Piran and Portoroz, as well as Lake Bled, which is just 90 minutes away. Trieste is also a popular cruise port so expect to see cruise offers cropping up from here.
Read: How to choose the right cruise.
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7. Antalya – Turkey
Sun Express will commence a new service to Antalya on the Turkish Riviera every Tuesday and Sunday from 28th of May. This will compliment its existing service to Izmir, as well as the year round services to Istanbul and Bodrum with Turkish Airlines and Ryanair respectively.
This has proven to be a hugely popular with Irish holidaymakers, (it was previously served by Turkish Airlines), due to its white sandy beaches, yacht-filled marinas and lavish hotels. Popular resorts include Alanya, Side and Belek – which is popular with golfers, but there are plenty of traditional towns and historical sites to be explored here too.
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8. Bergen – Norway
Norwegian airline Widerøe will fly Thursdays and Sundays from Dublin to Bergen from April 27th. Bergen is a World Heritage City that is renowned for its architecture and iconic Bryggen harbour district, however. most visitors come to Bergen to see the Norwegian fjords.
You will find several fjords close to Bergen, and some can be seen on a day trip from Bergen, however with active holidays one of the trends for 2023, I have no doubt that holidaymakers will choose Bergen for a longer holiday this summer.
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9 & 10. Cluj and Iasi – Romania
Ryanair announced new services to Cluj and Iasi, following the suspension by Blue Air last year. These will compliment the existing services to Bucharest, Sibiu and Suceava, also served by Ryanair.
The university city of Cluj-Napoca is the unofficial capital of the Transylvania region and boasts vibrant nightlife, while Iasi is known for its cultural scene, as well its location close to the border of Moldova.
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New holiday destinations from Shannon airport:
11. Naples – Italy
Ryanair will fly direct to Naples from Shannon airport every Thursday and Sunday from the 26th of March, which will compliment its existing service from Dublin airport.
This will be hugely popular for summer holidays to the Amalfi Coast, as well as long weekend breaks to Sorrento, Positano or Amalfi. This handy guide will help you plan the perfect holiday to explore this beautiful region.
Read: The ultimate guide to the Amalfi Coast
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12. Porto – Portugal
Ryanair will fly direct to Porto from Shannon every Wednesday and Sunday from the 26th of March, which will compliment its existing service from Dublin airport.
I loved our trip to Porto and would highly recommend Porto for a city break. As well as being home to a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is packed with colourful buildings, delightful streets, and has a great food and wine scene.
Check out my guide to Porto to see why it is one of the best city break destinations for 2023.
Read: 30 top city break destinations in Europe for 2023
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13. Beziers – France
Ryanair will fly twice-weekly to one of France’s oldest cities for the first time this summer. Flights will commence on the 27th of March, just in time for Easter holidays, and should prove to be one of the most interesting new holiday destinations from Shannon this year.
According to Lonely Planet, Beziers is Languedoc’s most underrated city. It has a historical centre that is built on a hilltop – I’m liking the sound of it already! It’s small size will suit those looking for new city break destinations, as well as holidaymakers who want to explore the nearby towns of Carcassonne and Montpelier, and the beach resorts on the Languedoc coast.
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14 & 15. Liverpool and Newcastle – UK
Ryanair will fly twice-weekly to Liverpool from Shannon this summer, which will compliment the existing services from Dublin and Ireland West Airport, and fly thrice-weekly to Newcastle to compliment the existing services from Dublin.
These huge football cities will surely attract lots of sports fans, but the home of the Beatles also attracts Irish holidaymakers looking to connect with family and friends.
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16. Chicago, Illinois – USA
United Airlines will operate a new daily service from Shannon to Chicago from May 26th. This should have a large impact on Irish visitors to America’s Mid West and will be warmly welcomed by tourism businesses in Ireland too.
The Windy City is one of the largest cities in the U.S and is renowned for its impressive skyline and eclectic music scene, but is also a huge draw for culture vultures, food lovers and sport fans. Its location is also ideal for holidaymakers looking to explore the American Mid West.
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* Since this post was published, new services to Brest ( Emerald Airlines ) and Burgas ( Ryanair) have also been announced and will commence in May.
New holiday destinations from Cork airport:
19. La Rochelle – France
Ryanair will commence its service to to La Rochelle from Cork on the 4th of June. The twice-weekly service will compliment its existing flights from Dublin airport.
We visited many years ago and loved its lively Vieux Port (old harbour), car-free historical town centre and its great value restaurants and hotels. It also serves as a gateway to explore many of France’s wine regions.
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20. Rome – Italy
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Ryanair will continue its existing winter service to Rome from Cork, and fly twice-weekly to Fiumicino airport every Monday and Friday. This will compliment the existing services from Dublin with Aer Lingus and Ryanair, making is one of the top city break destinations for 2023.
Rome is always a great choice for a city break. There are ancient wonders at every corner, amazing shopping on the Via del Corso, and let’s not forget the food. We visited recently and fell in love with Rome all over again.
Read: Top things to do in Rome
Read: Where to stay in Rome, my top picks of 3, 4 and 5-star hotels
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21. Seville – Spain
The newly announced flights from Cork to Seville were a welcome surprise, and compliment the existing flights from Dublin. Ryanair will commence the service on the 1st of June and fly twice-weekly on Mondays and Thursdays.
The capital of Andalucia is having a moment. As well as mouth watering tapas and wonderful wine, you can expect a medieval centre that is packed with an eclectic mix of architecture, where many palaces have been converted to luxury hotels.
The world’s largest Gothic cathedral is in Seville, which houses Christopher Columbus’ tomb, and there are many more sights to see here.
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22. Venice Treviso
Ryanair will commence a new twice-weekly service to Venice Treviso from Cork on 28th of March, to compliment the existing services from Cork to Marco Polo airport. There are also flights from Dublin airport to Venice with Aer Lingus and Ryanair – this should lead to some great value airfares this summer.
The unique floating city of Venice has to be visited at least once in a lifetime. There are so many iconic sights, that simply wandering around its streets and canals will captivate you. However, sipping a latte on St Mark’s Square and taking a gondola ride through the canals have to be done too!
Read: Top things to do in Venice and where to stay
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23. East Midlands – UK
Anyone for Alton Towers? Ryanair will commence a new service from Cork airport to East Midlands every Thursday and Sunday from the 30th of March.
The UK’s largest theme park is just 45 minutes drive from East Midlands Airport and the legendary Sherwood Forest is just an hour away. East Midlands is the gateway for Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.
Read: 10 unique family breaks in the UK
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Ireland West, Knock airport:
24. Lanzarote – Spain
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Ryanair will be flying weekly to Lanzarote from Ireland West airport from March 28th.Lanzarote is a great destination for family holidays, but also suits couples and friends looking for luxury hotels, duty free shopping and sightseeing. This new service will undoubtedly prove very popular with holidaymakers from the West of Ireland.
Read: Why Lanzarote is my favourite Canary Island
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25. London Heathrow
The introduction of the new Aer Lingus daily service from Ireland West to London Heathrow opens up a realm of possibilities for Irish travellers. As well as being one of the most convenient airports to visit central London, travellers also have the opportunity to connect seamlessly to over 80 destinations around the world.
You can book directly on the Aer Lingus website from Knock to many of Ireland’s most sought after destinations including New York and Washington, and also on the British Airways website to long haul favourites such as Bangkok, Cape Town and Sydney.
TOP TIP: Compare prices on both websites – you may pick up a bargain! Daily flights are available from Ireland West to Heathrow from March 26th.
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Of course London is a superb city to visit in its own right. Take in the sights, treat the kids to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, or visit London’s most talked about virtual concert, Abba Voyage. I saw this with my daughter recently, it is a must see for Abba fans!
Read: Top 10 holiday destinations from Ireland West Airport in 2023
Read: Top Tips for visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour, London
Read: Top things to do in London with kids and where to stay
Ferries
Ferry travel is set for a bumper year too. Stenaline are doubling their sailing frequency and tripling their passenger capacity on their Rosslare to Cherbourg service. They will have 12 sailings every week on the shortest route between Ireland and France. However, we have a new destination from Ireland too….
26. Rosslare to Bilbao
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Brittany Ferries brand new ship, Salamanca, will cruise from Rosslare to Bilbao twice-weekly for the first time this summer. The journey will take approximately 30 hours and cabins are compulsory on the sailing. Pet-friendly cabins will also be available.
I had the pleasure of visiting Bilbao a few years ago. We spent 48 hours in this beautiful city before embarking on a road trip through Rioja to San Sebastian. I have no doubt this new route will be warmly welcomed by Irish holidaymakers looking to explore the Basque Country.
Read: 48 hours in Bilbao
Read: Discovering there is more to Rioja than wine
Read: A short break in San Sebastian
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Northern Ireland:
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New routes have been announced from Northern Ireland too. Ryanair will operate four new services from Belfast International airport to Budapest in Hungary, Cardiff in Wales, and Mallorca and Valencia in Spain.
Emerald Airlines’ will operate flights to Newquay and Jersey from Belfast City airport, and Lufthansa will operate the only direct flight between Northern Ireland and Germany when it commences its service to Frankfurt on April 23rd.
A new service from Derry to Heathrow with Loganair will commence on the 6th of May.
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I hope these new holiday destinations from Ireland will help you with your travel plans this year. I will be adding to the list as soon as any new routes from Ireland are announced, so bookmark or pin this post for future reference.
While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, place note descriptions are subject to change. Some of the links in this post contain affiliate links where I receive a commission if a booking is made, but at no additional cost to you.
