Nowhere does a city break quite like Europe. From the ancient ruins dotted throughout Athens to the pulsing nightlife of Berlin, there’s a city somewhere across the continent for everyone, no matter what you’re after.
They do vary quite a lot in affordability, though. That’s why Quotezone, a travel insurance company, has analysed everything from the price of a beer, a meal and a hotel to the cost of tourist tax and public transport to create a European Budget Holiday Index, and the results are in.
Ranking as the most affordable of Europe’s most visited cities is (drum roll, please) Warsaw! The Polish capital does not have a tourist tax, and boasts the most affordable hotel room options at just €45.60 per night.
In second place it was Zagreb, where a beer is just €3, and in third place it was Istanbul, where a meal costs as little as €8.65 and a public transport ticket 51 cents. Now those are some bargains.
Unsurprisingly, London, Amsterdam and Paris aren’t quite so budget-friendly. Meals in the UK capital are the most expensive on the list, at around €23.25, whereas Amsterdam’s hotel stays have the highest average cost, at €121.91. Have a read of the full ranking below.
These are the best budget European city breaks for 2024
- Warsaw, Poland
- Zagreb, Croatia
- Istanbul, Turkiye
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Madrid, Spain
- Athens, Greece
- Vienna, Austria
- Berlin, Germany
- Rome, Italy
- London, UK
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Paris, France
City breaks in Europe
Whether you’re after some outside-the-box travel ideas or underrated city break ideas, you can bet we’ve got a list for that. Keep an eye on our Europe hub for the latest on travel to the continent.
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Plus: Here’s how Ibiza and Majorca’s new alcohol ban will affect tourists.
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