Travellers are increasingly choosing to visit several European cities in a single holiday, with a new trend known as “trip-maxxing” gaining popularity among those looking to pack more culture, nightlife and sightseeing into one journey.

Rather than spending a week in one destination, trip-maxxing involves creating multi-city routes that connect several places through relatively short and affordable journeys. New research has ranked the best routes across Europe based on nightlife, cultural attractions, travel time, accommodation costs and the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites nearby.

Ten routes made the list, with the top five offering a mix of major capitals and less-visited cities.

The highest-ranked route runs from Berlin to Prague, Vienna and Budapest, scoring 28.8 out of 40. Berlin received the strongest score for nightlife, while its history, cultural attractions and relatively affordable accommodation added to its appeal.

Prague can be reached from Berlin in less than five hours by bus. Visitors can explore its Gothic Old Town, Prague Castle and the historic Charles Bridge before continuing to Vienna.

The Austrian capital offers a different experience, with elegant imperial architecture, coffee houses, museums and cultural landmarks such as the Kunsthistorisches Museum and Vienna State Opera.

The journey ends in Budapest, less than four hours from Vienna. The Hungarian capital is known for its thermal baths, ruin bars, Danube views and landmarks including Chain Bridge and Fisherman’s Bastion.

The second-ranked route follows the same path but replaces Vienna with Bratislava. Berlin, Prague, Bratislava and Budapest scored 28.1 overall and received the highest budget score in the ranking.

Bratislava offers a quieter stop, with a historic Old Town, Bratislava Castle and a growing selection of independent restaurants and wine bars.

The third route connects Berlin, Prague, Wroclaw and Kraków. With total travel time of about 11.7 hours, it was among the fastest routes in the ranking. Wroclaw offers historic squares, Cathedral Island and its famous bronze gnome statues, while Kraków combines medieval architecture, food and nightlife.

Another route, from Amsterdam to Dortmund, Berlin and Prague, scored 27 and topped the culture category. Amsterdam’s museums and canals are followed by Dortmund’s industrial heritage and cultural revival before the journey continues east.

The fifth route begins in Frankfurt and continues through Berlin, Prague and Vienna. Although it takes around 13 hours in total, the journeys are spread across several days, allowing travellers to experience four very different European cities in one trip.

An abandoned twin-engine aircraft that has been sitting at Seville Airport for at least eight years is being put up for public auction, with bids starting at just €10.

The Piper PA-23 Apache was legally declared abandoned after repeated attempts to locate its owner failed. Spain’s airport and air-navigation manager Aena is now seeking a new owner for the aircraft, although the winning bidder will not be able to fly it away.

The auction price is set at €10, with an additional €0.50 deposit required. The unusually low starting price has attracted public interest since the auction was announced, with Aena receiving numerous enquiries from potential buyers.

Aena said the aircraft has been at Seville Airport since at least 2018. Airport officials made several attempts to contact the owner and published notices in Spain’s Official State Gazette three times to give the owner an opportunity to claim the plane.

No one came forward, leaving the aircraft eligible for auction.

Any individual, company or institution can submit a bid, provided they follow the procedures outlined in the auction’s terms and conditions. The deadline for submitting offers is set out in the tender documents, while the bids will be opened at Seville Airport at a later date.

Despite the aircraft’s aviation history, the new owner should not expect to use it as a means of transport.

Aena told Euronews Travel that the Piper PA-23 Apache is in poor condition and “cannot fly”.

The aircraft was first introduced in the 1950s by Piper Aircraft Corporation and was the American manufacturer’s first twin-engine production aircraft. Built with an all-metal design, the plane could carry up to four people and was considered an affordable option for its era.

The aircraft’s current condition means that the €10 starting price is unlikely to be the final cost for anyone hoping to restore it. Transport, storage, restoration and disposal costs could all add significantly to the expense.

Still, the auction offers the chance to acquire an unusual piece of aviation history for a fraction of the price of even the cheapest working aircraft.

For the eventual winner, the Piper Apache may become a display piece, a restoration project or an aviation-themed curiosity. One thing is certain: despite beginning its next chapter at an airport, this particular aircraft will not be flying its new owner home.

Greek airspace recorded its busiest day on record on Saturday, July 18, as air traffic controllers managed 5,082 scheduled flights, marking a new milestone for the country’s aviation sector during the peak summer travel season.

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) said the record was achieved within the ATHINAI Flight Information Region (FIR) and HELLAS Upper Flight Information Region (UIR), surpassing the previous daily high of 4,944 flights recorded on August 10, 2024.

The latest figure also exceeded another milestone reached earlier this month. On July 4, Greek airspace handled 4,925 flights, which had already overtaken the previous record established in August 2025, when 4,916 flights were managed in a single day.

According to the HCAA, air traffic controllers safely coordinated all aircraft movements while complying with national, European and international aviation regulations. The authority said the record-breaking traffic levels were managed without compromising operational safety, highlighting the capacity of Greece’s air navigation system during one of the busiest periods of the year.

The surge in air traffic reflects strong international demand for travel to Greece, one of Europe’s most popular summer tourism destinations. The country experiences a sharp rise in flight activity during July and August as millions of visitors arrive for holidays across its mainland cities and islands.

Air traffic through Greek airspace is also supported by transit flights connecting Europe, the Middle East and other international destinations, making the country’s airspace one of the busiest in the region during the summer months.

The HCAA said current flight-planning data indicates that traffic volumes are expected to continue rising throughout August and into the first half of September. If those forecasts materialise, additional daily records could be set before the end of the peak travel season.

The steady increase in aircraft movements highlights the continued recovery and expansion of the aviation industry, with airlines adding more services to meet strong passenger demand. Airports across Greece have also experienced increased passenger numbers this summer as tourism continues to support the country’s economy.

Managing more than 5,000 flights in a single day places significant demands on air traffic control operations, requiring careful coordination to maintain safe separation between aircraft while minimising delays.

The new record comes after several years of sustained growth in Greek aviation. Since the previous record was established in 2024, flight activity has continued to climb, with each successive peak reflecting rising tourism and expanding airline schedules.

With airlines maintaining busy summer timetables and bookings remaining strong, aviation authorities expect high traffic levels to continue over the coming weeks, reinforcing Greece’s position as one of Europe’s busiest air travel hubs during the holiday season.