Let’s face it business travel isn’t what it used to be!
With Zoom calls replacing cross-continental flights, the idea of popping over to Europe or another country for a one-day meeting might sound a bit retro. But sometimes, you just need to be in the room: for a pitch, a deal, or a handshake that seals something important. And if you can pair that necessity with a bite of culture, a dash of leisure, or a decent glass of wine, then why not?
Enter the “extreme business day trip”: a whistle-stop return journey to a European city that starts with a 5am flight out and ends with you back in your own bed by midnight. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but with the planning, right mindset (and a portable charger), it can be surprisingly rewarding.
Travelling from London, here are three European cities that offer a perfect blend of business practicality and just enough pleasure to make it all feel worthwhile. Are you game for the challenge?
Amsterdam: Business Meets Breezy Canal Culture
Why It Works
Amsterdam is arguably the ideal city for an extreme business day trip. It’s compact, efficient, and incredibly well-connected. A choice of Flights on budget and not-so-budget airlines from London take just over an hour, and you can be through Schiphol Airport, on a train, and into the city centre in under 30 minutes. Because Amsterdam has such good public transport It’s a dream for anyone trying to cram a full day of meetings into a 12-hour window.
The city is a major European business hub, it’s home to global HQs, fintechs, creative agencies, and legal firms, particularly around the Zuidas financial district and the tech-friendly Amsterdam Science Park. Plan your day well and you can really cram a lot in with very little travelling.
Business-Friendly Logistics
- Earliest flight in: London to Amsterdam – around 06:00
- Latest return flight: Amsterdam to London – around 21:45
- Transport: The NS train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal takes just 18 minutes, and trams or bikes can get you anywhere else quickly.
- Meeting spots: Book a table at Zoku, a hybrid hotel-co-working space with excellent views, or hold informal meetings in the stylish Hoxton Amsterdam lobby.
Pleasure, Squeezed In
Let’s be honest: even the best client meeting won’t beat an hour by the canals. With some savvy scheduling, you could:
- Take a canal-side lunch at Café de Jaren
- Squeeze in a 30-minute stroll through the Jordaan district
- Or, if you’re really efficient, pop into the Rijksmuseum or FOAM photography museum for a culture hit
Is It Worth It?
Absolutely, especially if your meeting is in central Amsterdam. The city’s size and transport efficiency mean you can get a lot done with minimal stress. Plus, the food’s good, Dutch coffee is always better, and the city exudes a kind of organised creativity that makes even business feel enjoyable.
Paris: Fast-Paced Deals with a Croissant on the Side
Why It Works
Ah, Paris, the city of light, style, and let’s not forget, serious business. To make it different, take the Eurostar from St Pancras and you will be in Paris in just 2 hours 20 minutes. The Eurostar is less hassle than the airport and you can at least enjoy a decent breakfast on board. It’s entirely feasible to leave London after sunrise and be sipping your first French espresso in the 8th arrondissement by mid-morning.
Paris is a key player in everything from luxury fashion and banking to tech and pharmaceuticals, with hotspots like La Défense and Station F, the latter being Europe’s largest start-up campus.
Business-Friendly Logistics
- Earliest train in: Eurostar departs at 05:40, arrives 09:17
- Latest train back: Eurostar leaves at 20:13, arrives in London at 21:39
- Transport: The Metro is quick and relatively intuitive, or grab an Uber if you’re short on time.
- Meeting venues: Consider Station F’s co-working lounges or go more elegant with a breakfast meeting at Café de Flore (iconic, if a bit indulgent).
Pleasure, Squeezed In
Paris isn’t a city you can conquer in a few hours, but you can certainly:
- Eat a world-class lunch (head to Le Grand Colbert or Frenchie to Go)
- Walk along the Seine from Pont Neuf to Notre-Dame
- Or sneak a 20-minute visit to the Musée d’Orsay, which is small enough for a meaningful dash-through
Is It Worth It?
It’s a stretch—but doable. Unlike Amsterdam, Paris’s size and traffic can eat into your time. But the Eurostar’s city-centre-to-city-centre service is a game changer. If your meeting is near Gare du Nord or central Paris, and you plan well, it’s a stylish and surprisingly manageable blitz across the Channel.
Frankfurt: Business First, Sausage Second
Why It Works
If you work in in finance, law, or pharmaceuticals, Frankfurt is your business city. Germany’s financial capital is home to the European Central Bank, countless international banks, and a typically German, well-oiled infrastructure that seems tailor-made for serious meetings.
Though Frankfurt lacks the romance of other European capitals, its efficiency and directness make it an ideal business base. The bonus? It’s surprisingly easy to fly in and out within a day, thanks to frequent flights from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and beyond.
Business-Friendly Logistics
- Earliest flight in: London to Frankfurt – around 06:30
- Latest return flight: Frankfurt to London – around 21:50
- Transport: The S-Bahn (train) from the airport to the city centre takes just 15 minutes. Taxis are fast and reliable, but not always necessary.
- Meeting venues: Many business hotels near the Messe (trade fair grounds) and central station offer top-notch meeting facilities.
Pleasure, Squeezed In
Frankfurt isn’t all boardrooms and banking. You can:
- Wander the historic Römerplatz and see what little remains of old Frankfurt
- Visit the Goethe House if you’re into literature
- Or settle in for a quick bratwurst and apple wine in Sachsenhausen, the old town’s foodie quarter
Is It Worth It?
For finance and trade professionals, absolutely. Frankfurt’s airport and city infrastructure are set up for maximum efficiency, and while it may not deliver as much in the way of leisure, it’s perfect for quick-hit meetings and a no-nonsense return. If you can squeeze in a bit of sightseeing, consider it a bonus.
Can Extreme Business Travel Really Work?
Is it really worth flying, training, or sprinting your way across Europe for just one day of business? Let’s weigh a few things up.
The Pros
- Face-to-face matters: In a world of remote working, meeting someone in person still builds trust faster than any Zoom call. A handshake, a shared lunch, or just seeing their environment adds context and connection.
- No overnight costs: No hotel means one less receipt to file and one more evening at home.
- It feels like a win: There’s a certain satisfaction to pulling off an international meeting and being back in your own bed the same night.
The Cons
- It’s exhausting: The 4am alarm, the queuing, the dashes through passport control… It’s not exactly restful.
- Delays happen: A single hiccup, a train strike, flight cancellation or delay, a slow security queues can derail your entire plan.
- No room for error: You need everything to go right. And this is something out of your control.
Tips for Making It Work
- Travel light : Just a backpack with essentials. No checked baggage.
- Book flexibly: Especially for return journeys. Trains and flights with cancellation cover are worth the premium.
- Check strikes and holidays: France and Germany are particularly prone to transit disruption.
- Schedule early meetings: Aim for a 10am start to give yourself breathing room.
- Build in downtime: A 45-minute café stop or short walk can be more restorative than a full lunch.
Final Thoughts: One Day, Two Purposes
There’s something almost romantic about the extreme business day trip. It’s a bit mad, mildly heroic, and deeply satisfying when it all goes to plan. If you pick the right city, a place that is efficient, compact, and culturally rewarding, it can be more than just productive. It can be genuinely memorable.
So the next time someone says, “Could you come to Paris for a quick chat?”, you might just find yourself saying, “Sure, I’ll be back before midnight.”