United launches 5 new flights to European destinations

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The time has come!

The spring break shenanigans are over, Memorial Day festivities are just a few weeks away, so you know what that means…

Summer!

Our well-deserved PTO is stacked and ready to be cashed in for an epic trip abroad.

We all know that Europe is never a bad decisionbut the question always remains: where should I go?

United Airlines makes that decision much easier for the indecisive people (like me!) who need a boost to narrow down their options and go for it.

From Iceland to Italy and countless beautiful locations in between, here are 5 destinations you can fly to as United prepares for launch 5 new routes for a late spring break or a kickstart to summer.

Share your time in the medical field 🇭🇷

Here’s a first: A groundbreaking flight will take Americans to one of Croatia’s best beach destinations, for travelers hoping they won’t feel walled through the summer crowds of Dubrovnik.

Splitlocated on the Dalmatian coast, is anything but spotty.

In fact it is one of Croatia’s liveliest and most vibrant coastal citiesa mix of sun-drenched beaches, Roman ruins, island-hopping excursions and a postcard-worthy Old Town that feels as magnetic as Dubrovnik – but without so many elbows in the ribs.

There’s no doubt that it’s popular, but a little harder to achieve – until now.

United is about to launch its first flight on April 30, 2026, from Newark (EWR), but hey, at least you can start the trip strong and feel safe while doing so!

Based on real-time voting on our Traveler Safety Index, safety in Split is currently ranked at 93/100:

Bari: discover a cheap coastal city on the rise 🇮🇹

Rome, Venice, Florence and the Amalfi Coast. Oh well, throw in Naples while we’re at it…

There is one name you don’t often encounter on travellers’ trips Bari, an inexpensive whitewashed port city with stunning views of the turquoise Adriatic Sea.

But it’s not just the incredibly beautiful coastal panorama that will enchant you; it is one of the most beautiful old parts of the country.

Keep in mind the cheap prices across the board, which means you can double your day with cappuccinos, finishing off with pizza and wine in the evening.

Once again, travelers will start their adventure in Newark (EWR) and fly non-stop to Bari’s Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) from May 1, 2026.

Travelers currently rate safety in Italy at 91/100, so you can enjoy your trip worry-free:

Glasgow: ditch the winter willies for a Scottish summer ���

Whether it’s England, Wales or Scotland, Britain is a phenomenal summer destination as the doom and gloom subsides and sunny skies open up for more enjoyable explorations across the country.

Naturally, Scotland is one of the most timeless countries of them allwith beautiful cities like Edinburgh, Sterling and of course Glasgow, which is perhaps the most modern of them all, but still feels unmistakably European.

Travelers can now fly direct from – you guessed it – Newark.

We won’t tell you how, when or what to eat, but we will say that a pub crawl here, alone or with a guided tour, is an absolute must, as is visiting the region’s dazzling castles.

United is to launch the only direct flight to Glasgow from EWR with daily flights from May 8, 2026.

Travelers currently rate safety in Great Britain at 89/100:

Santiago de Compostella: Spain’s unsung cultural city 🇪🇸

If you fancy a Spanish holiday but don’t want to deal with the “Karens” of Barcelona, ​​Madrid and countless island paradises, Santiago de Compostela is the perfect place for endless tapas, ancient stone street scenes and long wine evenings.

This inexpensive medieval town is one of the country’s last remaining hidden gems when it comes to a major city.

Barcelona can earn you triple figures any day, while this treasure trove of Old World charm doesn’t need a beach to wow you or sticker shock to prove it’s a worthwhile destination.

The centuries-old architecture speaks here.

It’s the Spain you never knew you wanted – very different from the overland tourist megacities.

You can fly direct to Santiago de Compostela with 3 weekly flights from Newark (shocking at this point) from May 27, 2026.

Travelers currently rate safety in Spain at 96/100:

Reykjavik: the most alien island in Europe

Despite its mainstream popularity in recent years, I’m not ashamed to say it Iceland is my favorite country of all the more than 40 countries I have traveled through.

To be honest, I’m afraid to go back because I went there twice before it revoked its hidden gem status, but nothing changes its status Interstellar landscapes and the world famous Blue Lagoon.

We’re not here to sugar-coat Iceland – it’s not difficult to visit, as Icelandair’s flagship flies from numerous US cities.

But what keeps travelers coming back isn’t convenience; it’s the chance to experience a place that feels like another planet, where black-sand beaches, steaming geothermal pools and lava-scarred terrain make even the bleakest weather feel cinematic in places like Vik And Myvatn.

Whether you have a Lord of the rings Fanatic or not, it always feels like Bilbo Baggins shows up in such a way that you no longer care what you spend because you are in such a unique destination.

But guess what: this new route is not of Newark.

What makes this new flight special is not its location, but the fact that it is the ‘only service on this capital-to-main route with reclining business class seats’.

Travelers can fly from Washington DC (IAD) to Reykjavik (KEF) from May 21, 2026.

Travelers currently rate safety in Reykjavik at 95/100:

Take this quiz now to find your perfect match!

Sam Sears

Sam, our Senior Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego, has visited 44 countries and written more than 1,500 articles with an emphasis on sharing his own travel experiences and highlighting lesser-known gems.