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Inspiring short breaks

Great escapes to exciting places

Short Breaks

If you'd like to escape for just a few days, look no further than our magnificent selection of short breaks in the Great British Isles and Europe. From a short cultural getaway immersing yourself in the history of medieval Bruges, to a long weekend discovering the outstanding beauty of the Great British Isles, our varied collection of short break holidays mean that no matter how little time you have to spare, you always have time for an exciting getaway. We believe that you shouldn't have to compromise on quality just because you're short on time, so we strive to ensure that our short break itineraries are packed with unforgettable excursions, carefully chosen hotels and many delicious meals.

A short break with Great Rail Journeys puts the world within easy reach; we take care of all arrangements in advance, from travel to accommodation to meals and excursions, so that you can relax with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that every aspect of your holiday is taken care of before your departure. All of our tours include the services of a professional Tour Manager, who will be on hand to guarantee that your time away is as enjoyable and relaxing as possible, and will happily assist you with anything from travel advice to restaurant recommendations.

An escorted rail holiday is a perfect way to experience a destination in a short amount of time, as it makes the journey a part of the adventure. From the moment your tour departs you can sit back and relax, taking in the scenic views as they roll past your window, and socialising with fellow, like-minded passengers.

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Our customers love our Short Breaks tours

Keukenhof Tulips, Canals & Amsterdam in Springtime

13/Apr

Phillip Boulton

“very efficiently run tour excellent tour manager brilliant hotel all guided tours were well organised and interesting just the right amount of free days

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German Christmas Markets of the Rhine

10/Jan

Ian

“A magical pre-Christmas trip, organised and delivered to Great Rail Journey's usual high standards! The crew, cabin, facilities and food on the Amadeus Cara were fantastic, and the views as we cruised the Rhine gave us some amazing memories. We did get a little 'Christmas market overload' at times, but...

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Harz Mountains Christmas Markets

26 Dec 2025

Brian

“Beautiful historic towns and the best Christmas Markets.

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Norwich & the Norfolk Broads

14 Oct 2025

Mr Peter Rawling

“A really well planned, paced and organised trip with an excellent leader and good accommodation and catering - the perfect, short break getaway.

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Highland Adventure

19/Apr

Anne Mills

“Enjoyable holiday. Carrbridge Hotel comfortable and cosy, with pleasant staff; food generally good, but needed a little more care and finesse in its cooking and choices. Interesting excursions, especially The Strathspey Railway and The Culloden Battlefields. Unfortunately, The Jacobite Steam Train was not running, so, although a trip on this...

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Bavarian Christmas Markets

25 Dec 2025

Neil

“Generally a very good short holiday. Hotel in Nuremberg , central and convienent

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Explore Yorkshire

08 Nov 2025

Christine M

“I enjoyed this holiday. The hotel in Harrogate was rather 'corporate' ( right next to the Conference Centre), but it was clean and comfortable and the food was lovely- Yorkshire specialities , and generous portions . It was also central to Harrogate, and walking distance from the station. Our Guide,...

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Short Breaks

17 results matching: Short Breaks