You may not believe it as an enamoured newly arrived expat, but there will come a time when you itch to get out of Berlin for a few days. Whether it’s the long stretches of grey skies, the sometimes grim concrete cityscape, or just the press of big-city life, you can escape it for a few days without too much expense. Thanks to low-cost carriers, cities across Europe, from Lisbon to Tallinn, now make for realistic weekend destinations. If you’re too environmentally responsible to fly – or too last minute – you’ll still find a wealth of interesting destinations within reach. When considering manageable weekend breaks by car or train, an important thing to remember is just how far east Berlin is; the Polish border lies only an hour away, Prague is closer than Frankfurt, and many of the capitals of the old Eastern Bloc are nearer than major cities of western Europe. Heading eastward has the added advantage of lower prices. Among German cities, Leipzig, Dresden and Hamburg best lend themselves to mini-breaks. The Baltic coast is another popular and rewarding destination within easy reach. Prague, about four and a half hours away by train or car, lures plenty of Berliners at weekends.