20 One-week Vacations to Take Between Jobs

The most direct way to get to Torres del Paine is by catching a connecting flight to El Calafate from Buenos Aires. You can fly into Santiago, but you've got quite a drive ahead of you before you'll reach Torres del Paine National Park (read: about 32 hours).

What To Do

Torres del Paine is well worth the travel time. The area is incredibly diverse—you'll find glaciers, lakes, hiking, and desert all within a few hours of travel time.

What to Expect for Airfare

Peak season is between December and March, meaning airfare is going to be at its most expensive. Starting in April, a round-trip ticket will dip below $1,000. 

Now, you may want to plan a day trip or two, but Saint Petersburg is the perfect place to immerse yourself in another world—and pick up some major knowledge to drop in conversation with your new coworkers. July and August are the busiest months for travel to Russia,and you many not want to go in winter, when temperatures can dip below -50 degrees Fahrenheit. 

​What To Do

Things you absolutely cannot miss: Winter Palace, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, and White Nights (an international arts festival featuring ballet performances) if you're traveling in late June or early July.

What to Expect for Airfare

You can find airfare under $500 in October and November, and prices can reach upwards of $1,300 in the summer months. 

If the beach is your ideal spot to unwind, consider Malta for your in-between jobs getaway. A trip to Malta will certainly set you back a bit, but the airfare is really the biggest cost.

What to Do

The food here is exceptional. Don't leave without trying the Lampuki Pie, Kapunata, or Bigilla, all local specialties. When you get tired of the beach (if that even happens at all), there's plenty to explore inland: the Megalithic Temples of Malta, the Blue Grotto, Ħaġar Qim (ancient ruins dating back to 3200 BC). History buffs, this is the place for you.

What to Expect for Airfare

Expect to spend upwards of $1,200 for a last-minute booking. If you manage to plan ahead a bit, airfare can drop to $600.

Most destinations on the Dalmatian Coast are mostly classified as summer vacation spots, but Split has a lot to offer during the winter months. 

What to Do

Things not to miss: Diocletian's Palace, the historic port of Hvar, and the Croatian National Theater. Adventure travelers, there's plenty of sailing to be had while in Split. 

What to Expect for Airfare

The best times to visit are during the shoulder months: March and November. Winters weather can be hard to predict, but you can look forward to a mild vacation no matter when you visit. When it comes to airfare, expect to shell out around $800 for a round-trip ticket right before or after peak season.

A week in Paris will fly by—there's enough culture, shopping, food, and monuments to be seen to send anyone's head spinning. 

What to Do

Put these on your itinerary: there are all of the usual suspects (the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, and Disneyland Paris), but don't miss the Latin Quarter, the Catacombs, and the Camp de Mars. And the shopping—best to play it safe and bring an extra bag.

What to Expect for Airfare

Airfare dips to a low during the fall and winter months (aside from Christmas when the city is truly a sight to be seen), when you can grab a round-trip ticket for under $350. Airfare starts to climb come spring.

One week immersed in the island lifestyle will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to take on a new job. Madeira—an archipelago of four islands off the northwest coast of Africa—is for anyone looking to completely relax seaside. 

What to Do

What to see and do: paraglide at Madeira, drink wine at Funchal, and go hiking in Machico. Oh, and spend entire days lounging at the islands' many beaches.

What to Expect for Airfare

For the best airfare deals, look to visit during off season (between September and early December, and late January through April) and you can catch airfare as low as $700 round-trip.

Ljubjana—Slovenia's capital city—is the perfect place for nature lovers who also want to do a bit of shopping, sightseeing, and castle-spotting.

What to Do

The Triple Bridge and Tivoli City Park are two incredibly scenic destinations you've likely seen on Instagram. While both are worth a visit, make sure and take in the views at the Ljubljana Castle, take a hike up Mount Saint Mary, and pay a visit to the Slovenian Railroad Museum. Also consider taking a day trip to Lake Bled, a 45-minute drive from Ljubjana, where you can find more castles and watersports or travel 40 minutes southwest to Postojna Cave for some exploring.

What to Expect for Airfare

November and January are the best time to visit, if you're on a budget, considering you can find round-trip airfare for right around $600. Go during prime time (August) and you'll pay almost three times as much.

Iceland's Ring Road makes it easy to navigate a week-long journey through this ethereal destination. The entire highway loops around the coast of the country, meaning you can check out the black sand beaches, mountains, and national parks in the span of a couple of days. 

What To Do

You'll find waterfalls around every corner in Iceland, and the homes are photo-worthy too, tucked as they are under towering mountains or in the middle of vast fields of volcanic rock. Don't miss snorkeling between two tectonic plates at Thingvellir National Park, seeing the Northern Lights at Ion Hotel, riding an Icelandic horse outside of Reykjavik, and trying some of the local delicacies (puffin and fish stew).

What to Expect for Airfare

Summertime (May through August) is tourist high-time, and airfare can be more than $1,000. Go during the off-season (October-March) and you can catch a killer deal: $400 round-trip and under.

The history in Granada is palpable—every building, landmark, and street has a story. Plan on taking a couple of day trips if you're looking to spend a full week in this southern city: we suggest Seville, Malaga, or Madrid, if you're looking for a couple of days away.

What To Do

The Alhambra is No. 1 on most traveler's lists when heading to Granada—and for good reason. The Moorish complex is an Instagram story waiting to happen. Also make sure to eat plenty of tapas, visit the gardens of Generalife, hike the Sierra Nevada, and catch a soccer game at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes

What to Expect for Airfare

You can get a round-trip ticket for around $600 during the off season (July through December). Once peak season hits (January through April), airfare skyrockets to more than $1,000. Be warned: May through November can get quite rainy.

Bali (officially one of the world's best islands) is all about the beaches, so if lounging on the sand for seven days is just what you need, look to this Indonesian island. 

What to Do

There are a lot of meditation and yoga retreats that take place on Bali. Aside from the beaches, make sure to explore the local markets in resort towns like Seminyak, Sanur, and Nusa Dua, and go bird watching at West Bali National Park.

What to Expect for Airfare

The dry season—April to October—is the best time to visit, but it'll cost you: airfare can creep to over $1,500. The rainy season (October to March) is great for deals (think: $600 round-trip), but you'll most likely have to deal with intense rainfall.

While you could easily spend an entire week getting to know Germany's capital (and it's amazing nightlife), there are plenty of day trip opportunities, too: the beach region of Wannsee, Spreewald (a town featuring a series of canals), and historic Dresden, to name a few.

What to Do

Berlin is perhaps best known for its arts scene, which was heavily influenced by the creation (and demolition) of the Berlin Wall. There are galleries all around the city. You also can't miss the the Bradenburg Gate, Grunewald forest, and the Wall's famous Checkpoint Charlie. If you're down for a night spent dancing, hit up Tresor or Berghain.

What to Expect for Airfare

Winter can be rough with its freezing temperatures, but if you're willing to bring an extra suitcase for winter layers, you can catch a real deal (sub-$500 round-trip). You can find the best weather May through September, but airfare sits right around $1,500.

There's more than enough in Amsterdam to fill seven days, including some 8,000 beautiful buildings constructed before the 19th century.

What to Do

The best things to do in Amsterdam include Hortus Botannicus (one of the world's oldest botanical gardens), Our Lord in the Attic (a canal house with a secret chapel inside), the 47-hectare Vondelpark, and the Anne Frank House.

What to Expect with Airfare

Summertime (June through August) is tourist season, meaning airfare is at its highest (around $1,500). You'll find mild weather and better deals if you visit between September and November (airfare sits around $600).

Kos is all about the beaches, so if you're looking to completely disconnect with a drink in hand and your toes in the sand, this is your place.

What to Do

Aside from having some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Kos is home to spectacular hiking. Check out Paleo Pili if you're looking for a relatively easy climb with great scenery waiting for you at the end.

What to Expect for Airfare

There are times of the year that airfare can spike to more than $3,000 for a round-trip ticket (June, July, and August). Look to visit in early spring (April, May) or fall (September, October) when you can catch airfare around $800.

In Krakow you can experience relatively untouched medieval architecture firsthand. The well-preserved "Old Town" is circled by more modern destinations, making it the perfect stop for a traveler who wants the best of both worlds.

What to Do

The cathedrals and castles in Krakow are best seen in person—the architecture and history can't be topped. Taking a bicycle tour through Tyniec, a historic village on the Vistula River known for its famous Benedictine abbey, is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

What to Expect for Airfare

Fall and spring are the best times to visit—the weather is delightful and the crowds of tourists are nowhere to be found. If you're lucky, you can find round-trip tickets for under $500, though winters (when fares are cheapest) are cold. The summer is festival season in Krakow, but airfare will set you back more than $1,000.

Aside from the amazing food that's around every corner in Hanoi, there are plenty of temples, waterways, and museums to explore.

What to Do

In between eating the amazing street food, take a nighttime cruise along Halong Bay, rent a motorcycle, and check out the local markets.

What to Expect for Airfare

Hanoi has four solid seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter—so make sure and consider the temperature and weather when planning a trip. As expected, winter is when you'll find deals on airfare (between November and February you can get a round-trip ticket for less than $500) and summer is the most expensive time to travel to Hanoi (expect to pay upward of $1,400 if you're going June through August).

There's a reason Santorini landed on our World's Best Islands list. But don't just listen to us—see it for yourself. 

What to Do

Make sure to fit in a couple of volcano hikes, the famous blue-roofed buildings in Oia, and the island's "secret" hot springs.

What to Expect for Airfare

Santorini is busiest during the summer, so shoot for early fall to get the best deals (under $600, sometimes). Go during peak season and expect to pay close to $1,400.

Milan is a great place to shop, sure, but it's also an amazing place for architecture and design nerds. You can spend an entire week exploring the frescoes, piazzas, and archways.

What to Do

Don't miss the Milan Cathedral, shopping at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (which is one of the world's oldest shopping centers), and the Santa Maria delle Grazie, which is home to the Da Vinci's The Last Supper.

What to Expect for Airfare

April, May, September, and October are the best months to visit Milan on a budget, when airfare is around $600.

Located about four hours northwest of Bucharest, this is another destination where you'll want to plan some day trips. The affordable hotels make it the perfect home base for unwinding after long days exploring. 

What to Do

Sibiu is a preserved medieval town, meaning the history is going to be the highlight of your visit. Don't miss the Bridge of Lies—built in 1859 and once thought to be able to tell when people were lying—the ASTRA National Museum Complex, and the "Big Square," which gets particularly gorgeous when it's lit up at night.

What to Expect for Airfare

Know that it can get quite hot here during the summer—the best season to visit is fall. Airfare will dip to $1,100, which may seem like a lot, but compare it to high-season prices (upwards of $2,000 for a round-trip ticket), it's not so bad.

The long flight is well-worth the ability to explore Tokyo, though one week is almost not enough time to fully experience it.

What to Do

Temples, temples, temples. And when you get tired of visiting temples, take a break to check out a few Shinto shrines. And, of course, the shopping and food is unreal. Make sure to visit the Tsukiji fish market.

What to Expect for Airfare

We suggest visiting Tokyo between September and November in order to catch the stunning fall colors. You can also catch airfare for $700 around this time. During high season, expect to shell out up to $1,500. 

Turin—the capital city of Piedmont in northern Italy—is most known for its cuisine and baroque buildings.

What to Do

You've got to see the Royal House of Savoy, which is one of the area's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Catch a soccer game at the Juventus Stadium, spend an afternoon in the Piazza Castello, and hit up the Museo Egizio, which features ancient Egyptian relics.

What to Expect for Airfare

Tourist season is in full swing during July and August, so consider March, April, and May, when airfare dips below $1,000.