With flight prices currently on the rise, short-haul city breaks are likely to be one of Europe’s biggest travel trends this summer as holidaymakers swap costly long-haul escapes for cheaper, easier getaways.
Now, in the latest City Costs Barometer by the UK’s Post Office Travel Money, it has been revealed which European cities offer the best, and worst, value for travellers once they arrive in the destination.
In its largest comparison yet, the annual report analysed the cost of 12 everyday tourist items for two people across 50 cities. Giving travellers a snapshot of what a city break could actually cost, items include consumables like a cup of coffee, a bottle of beer, a can of Coca-Cola or Pepsi, a glass of wine, and a three-course evening meal for two with house wine.
Transport costs were incorporated, such as a return airport bus or train transfer, and a 48-hour travel card. It also included the price of a sightseeing city bus tour, a top tourist heritage attraction, a top museum, and a top art gallery. Finally, the report added the cost of two nights’ accommodation in a three-star hotel for two people.
Where a city sits on the ranking “matters less than how prices feel once you’re there and how much you intend to spend on certain things”, the report said. Accommodation usually makes the biggest difference and “even small changes” in hotel prices can “shift the overall cost” of a short break.
“In cheaper cities, you’ve got more freedom to decide as you go. In more expensive ones, a bit of planning helps keep costs under control.”
Which are the cheapest city breaks in Europe for 2026?
Some European cities are “noticeably cheaper once you arrive”, said the report. “Eating out costs less, public transport is affordable and certain attractions can cost less than you expect. That can mean doing more, staying out longer and immersing yourself in what the city has to offer without constantly checking prices and limitations.”
According to the barometer, Eastern Europe dominates the best value chart once again, with eight of the top 10 places for some of the cheapest European city breaks.
For the first time, Sarajevo is named Europe’s best value city break for 2026, costing £248 (€287) for the barometer’s 12 items. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital city is joined in the top five by Bucharest, Tirana, Belgrade, and Trenčín.
With its low overall cost driven by affordable accommodation, cheap public transport and good value attractions, Sarajevo is “perfect” for travellers seeking “strong culture, history and food without high prices”, the report said.
For a variety of things to do and well-priced food and drink, Bucharest in Romania is “the place to book”. With costs remaining low across accommodation, meals and transport, this keeps it “firmly among the cheapest city breaks this year”.
In “newly popular” Albania, Tirana has “everything you need” for a laid-back city break, the report said, while Belgrade in Serbia “ticks all the boxes” for nightlife, food and riverside walks “without big-city prices”.
Rounding off the top five, Trenčín in Slovakia offers a “quieter alternative” to larger capital cities and is perfect for visitors who “fancy a slower pace with plenty of walking, historic centres and very low everyday prices”.
Top 10 cheapest European city breaks
- Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: £248/€287
- Bucharest, Romania: £258/€299
- Tirana, Albania: £263/€304.50
- Belgrade, Serbia: £265/€307
- Trenčín, Slovakia: £272/€315
- Riga, Latvia: £278//€322
- Lille, France: £289/€334
- Vilnius, Lithuania: £289/€334
- Strasbourg, France: £319/€369
- Podgorica, Montenegro: £332/€384.50
Which are the most expensive city breaks in Europe for 2026?
At the other end of the value scale, Oslo is the most expensive European city break for 2026, costing £734 (€850) for the barometer’s 12 items.
Norway’s capital is joined in the top five most expensive ranking by Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Geneva, and Barcelona.
“Higher accommodation prices and more expensive eating out tend to push prices up overall,” said the Post Office Travel Money report.
Top 10 most expensive European city breaks
- Oslo, Norway: £734/€850
- Copenhagen, Denmark: £671/€777
- Edinburgh, Scotland: £668/€773.50
- Geneva, Switzerland: £644/€746
- Barcelona, Spain: £641/€742
- Dublin, Ireland: £611/€707
- Amsterdam, Netherlands: £609/€705
- Cork, Ireland: £602/€697
- Venice, Italy: £580/€672
- Madrid, Spain: £580/€672
Read the full article here
