Where Can You Fly From Exeter Airport? Holiday Ideas & Destinations from Devon

If you live in or around Exeter, East Devon, Teignbridge or Mid Devon, you are incredibly lucky: you have a friendly, well-connected airport right on your doorstep. While many people automatically think of driving to Bristol, Heathrow or Gatwick for their holiday, you might be surprised just how many sunshine escapes, city breaks, cruises and special experiences you can enjoy starting from Exeter Airport.

Here’s a guide to the different types of holidays you can enjoy from Exeter, from classic beach breaks and Greek island getaways to Lapland adventures, Caribbean departures and longer journeys that begin with a short local flight.

Where can you fly from Exeter Airport?

From Exeter, you can fly to destinations across:

• Spain and the Canary Islands
• Greece and Cyprus
• Turkey
• Portugal (Algarve)
• The Channel Islands and Isles of Scilly
• Amsterdam (for worldwide connections)
• Ireland and UK cities

You can also travel much further afield with just one stop via key hub airports.

Why start your holiday at Exeter Airport?

For many local travellers, the biggest stress of going on holiday is not the flight, but the long motorway journey to a larger airport.

Flying from Exeter can completely change the experience:

• Shorter journey from home
• A calmer, more straightforward airport experience
• Easier travel with children or older relatives
• A smoother start and end to your trip
• “Doorstep to departure lounge”: You start your holiday close to home rather than with hours on the motorway.

Time and again, I hear the same feedback: “Flying from Exeter just makes the start of the holiday feel calmer.”

Classic sunshine escapes: Spain, Canary Islands & Portugal

Pretty Street in Faro, Portugal

For many Devon families and couples, a holiday means sun, sea and time to unwind. Exeter offers a strong choice of flights to Spain, the Canary Islands and Portugal.

Spain
Alicante and Malaga operate year-round with Ryanair, while Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca run seasonally with Ryanair and TUI. These destinations are ideal for beach holidays, family resorts and easy-going breaks with plenty of dining and activity options.

Canary Islands
Lanzarote and Tenerife run year-round with TUI, with Gran Canaria available in cooler months. These are reliable choices for winter sun, with varied landscapes, walking routes and coastal towns.

Portugal (Algarve)
Faro operates from spring through to late October with Ryanair. The Algarve offers sandy beaches, cliffside views, golf courses and excellent food, making it a consistent favourite.

Greek island holidays from Exeter

Taverna, Agni Bay, Corfu

The Greek islands remain one of the most popular summer options, with flights to Corfu, Crete, Kos, Rhodes and Zante.

Each island offers something slightly different:

• Corfu and Zante suit relaxed, family-friendly holidays
• Crete and Rhodes offer a mix of beaches, culture and historic towns
• Kos is ideal for exploring, cycling and combining beach time with local experiences

Choosing the right island and resort can make a big difference, depending on whether you prefer something lively, peaceful or more exploratory.

Turkey & Cyprus: great value sunshine

Fethiye Oludeniz Turkey

If you’re looking for good value alongside comfort, Turkey and Cyprus are both strong options.

Turkey (Dalaman region)
Known for beautiful coastlines, clear water and a wide choice of resorts, from family-friendly hotels to more high-end options with excellent facilities.

Cyprus (Paphos)
Combines beaches with history, scenic coastal areas and a relaxed atmosphere. Works well for both couples and families who want a balance of relaxation and exploring.

Both destinations often offer more space and facilities for the price compared to other Mediterranean resorts.

Closer to home: Channel Islands & Isles of Scilly

Old Town Beach, St Marys, Isles of Scilly

Some of the most enjoyable trips from Exeter are closer to home but feel completely different.

Channel Islands (Guernsey & Jersey)
With year-round flights, these islands offer coastal walks, historic sites and great local food. Ideal for short breaks and slower-paced trips.

Isles of Scilly
Seasonal flights with Skybus open up a peaceful, unspoilt destination with clear waters, sandy beaches and a relaxed pace of life.

Lapland, ski trips & Caribbean departures

Exeter also offers a range of seasonal and specialist trips.

Lapland
Flights to Enontekiö with Transun include day trips and short breaks, with snow activities, wildlife experiences and festive travel options.

Ski holidays
Winter flights to Chambéry provide access to French Alpine resorts, making ski trips more accessible from the South West.

Caribbean fly-cruise
Selected departures to Barbados with P&O Cruises allow you to fly from Exeter, join your cruise in the Caribbean and return home with ease.

City breaks & UK connections

Not every trip needs to be a long holiday. Exeter also offers excellent options for shorter breaks and travel within the UK.

• Amsterdam with KLM (year-round)
• Dublin and Belfast with Aer Lingus
• Edinburgh, Manchester and Newcastle with Loganair

These routes are ideal for weekends away, visiting friends and family, or combining city breaks with nearby countryside.

Travel further: connecting flights from Exeter

One of the biggest advantages of flying from Exeter is how easily you can connect to the rest of the world.

Flights to Amsterdam with KLM and to Dublin with Aer Lingus provide access to global flight networks.

From these hubs, you can travel to:

• North America
• The Caribbean
• Asia
• Africa and the Middle East

This means you can start your journey locally and still reach destinations worldwide with just one connection.

How to choose your next holiday from Exeter

With so many options, a few simple considerations can help narrow things down:

• Travelling with children or older relatives? Look for shorter transfers and family-friendly resorts.
• Limited to school holidays? Book early and focus on destinations with reliable weather.
• Prefer quieter locations? Consider Menorca, parts of Cyprus or the Channel Islands.
• Want strong value and facilities? Turkey and some Canary Island resorts are good options.
• Planning something bigger? Consider long-haul travel via Amsterdam or Dublin.

As a Devon-based travel specialist, I spend a lot of time helping clients make the most of Exeter Airport — often finding options they didn’t realise were possible.

Ready to let your next holiday start in Exeter?

Exeter Airport may be modest in size, but it offers a wide range of travel opportunities. From Mediterranean holidays and Greek islands to winter ski trips, Lapland experiences, Caribbean cruises and worldwide travel via connections, there is far more choice than many people expect.

If you are based in the South West and would like your next holiday to start closer to home, working with a local expert can help you find the right destination and make the most of what Exeter offers.

About the author

Clare Payne is an experienced independent travel specialist based in Devon, working with clients in Exeter and across the South West. She has a particular focus on complex, tailor‑made travel, from multi‑centre itineraries and long‑haul adventures to luxury cruises and special occasion escapes, and also looks after everything from family holidays and weekend breaks to business travel. By taking time to understand each client’s priorities, Clare brings expert advice, personal service and meticulous organisation to every booking, so her customers can travel with confidence and simply enjoy the journey.

https://www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/clare.payne

clare.payne@travelcounsellors.com