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By Anna Prendergast, Condé Nast Traveller
Spending time in any city can be one of the most effective ways to tap into that country’s culture. Whether it’s a whirlwind weekend or a fortnight of getting to know a new neighbourhood, city breaks offer a full-bodied, in-at-the-deep-end immersion that beach resorts and remote country hotels seldom can. But that cultural crash course can come with a price tag, and hidden ones at that; flights from London to Venice sell for as low as £11, but it’s one of Europe’s most expensive cities for accommodation and food. So we’ve broken down some of the latest data on the cheapest city breaks in Europe for 2023, from a coastal cosmopolis to a snow-capped ski city.
Athens, Greece
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This year’s Post Office City Costs Barometer ranked Greece’s historical capital as the cheapest location for an autumn city break in Europe, and noted that priced have dropped by 15 per cent since 2021. Hotels in Athens is particularly good value, with plenty of small, family-run and boutique bedrooms. According to the survey, two nights at a three-star hotel for two guests average £89 – but super-central One Three One is steps away from Monastiraki Flea Market and goes as low as £52 per night, while guests will find balcony views of the acropolis at Hotel Adonis, which has a rooftop terrace and costs as low as £83 for a double room (breakfast included).
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Lisbon, Portugal
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Several budget airlines fly from London to Lisbon (Ryanair, Easyjet, Wizz Air, Tap Air Portugal), and while the pretty Portuguese capital is known for its award-winning restaurants, travellers can still dine out on a dime – after Athens, it’s the cheapest city for a three-course meal (averaging around £40). On the move, you’ll get change from a two-euro coin when buying coffee or a mandatory pastel de nata from Pastéis de Belém, a beer costs around €2 (putting London’s £6 pints to shame) and a €0.50 Viva Viagem card can save you up to half off tram journeys. For a place to stay, there are plenty of affordable hotels in Lisbon. We love Hotel 1908, where smart rooms in one of the city’s most iconic buildings can be booked from £104 per night. Or you can save further by opting for an Airbnb.
Klagenfurt, Austria
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When return flights from the UK to Klagenfurt are cheaper than a one-way train ticket from London to Birmingham, it seems rude not to (and as far as I’m aware, Birmingham doesn’t benefit from an Alpine backdrop and Mediterranean climate). Klagenfurt is one of Austria’s most affordable cities to visit (main courses are around €6; the farmers’ market on Benediktinerplatz is a great place for local bargains), and its spectacular setting on the eastern bank of Lake Wörthersee makes it one of the most scenic, too. June is the cheapest time to go, before the summer crowds and wild swimmers descend on the waterfront.
Kaunas, Lithuania
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Vilnius has long been topping lists of the cheapest places to go on holiday, but Kaunas to the west is even less expensive, and earlier this year was named as one of 2022’s European Capitals of Culture for its music, art and theatre. Its yearly CityTelling Festival hosts a wide variety of performances and exhibitions that place the city’s Jewish heritage centre stage, and access to most events is free, while four-star hotel rooms are as little as €60 a night. For the best views of the Baltic city, a funicular up Aleksoto Hill will cost just a couple of euros. The best bargain in town? Spurginė’s €0.75 spurgos (or doughnuts).
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Riga, Latvia
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According to the Post Office, Riga is one of the cheapest cities in Europe, coming in a close second after Dublin for culture and Athens for accommodation. Wind your way through the narrow alleyways of the charming Old Town, find €2 samsas for lunch at the central covered market located in converted Zeppelin hangars, watch free live music in Dome Square and see striking architecture such as the House of the Blackheads (€6 entry) and the medieval Swedish Gate. But one of the most underrated ways of seeing Riga is on the water – rent a paddleboard for just €15 on the banks of the Daugava River.
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Berat, Albania
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Like Puglia’s trulli or Chefchaouen’s all-blue buildings, Berat’s unforgettable white Ottoman houses are totally unique in their collective existence and visual impact. The simple, traditional rooms inside also provide a super-affordable way to stay here, as many are guest-houses or independently-run hotels, such as Hotel Vila Aleksandar or Hotel Mangelemi, both around £35 per night. Head up the steep cobblestoned streets to see the 13th Century Berat Castle (entry is free) and take in the ‘town of a thousand windows’ from the top.
Brașov, Transylvania, Romania
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A cheaper alternative to Bucharest (which is still, by European standards, incredibly good value), Brașov is surrounded by the scenic Carpathian Mountains. A cable car up to the top of Mount Tampa costs just 20 lei (£3.55) for aerial views of the brick-red rooftops, whilst local tour operator Walkabout provide a free walking tour every morning at 10.30am, setting off from the fountain in Piata Sfatului. Pick up local delicacy kürtőskalács (a spit-roasted, sugar-covered ‘chimney cake’) to maintain your energy levels from the stall nearby.
Sofia, Bulgaria
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Not only did Bulgaria take the lead (side by side with Turkey) as cheapest all-round destination in Europe in the Post Office’s Holiday Money Report 2022, but the country is also home to some of the world’s cheapest ski resorts. Sofia, the capital, is just over 10km away from the Vitosha Mountains which provide impressive winter conditions for snow bunnies and cost a fraction of the price of resorts in France or Italy. Wine and Bulgarian beers are notoriously cheap, and downtown Sofia is known for its high-energy party atmosphere. Entry to clubs is seldom more than €10, with live DJ sets and late-night events at Maze or Culture Beat (which also has a great summer terrace for cocktails).
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Izmir, Turkey
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Despite the British pound tanking in recent weeks, it has remained strong against the Turkish lira (at time of writing, £1 would buy you ₺21), so travellers to Turkey can get great value for money. On Turkey’s Aegean coast, Izmir has resisted the price hikes of Istanbul and tourist traps of Ankara whilst preserving its 8,500-year-old Kemeraltı bazaar and ancient Roman agora. The historic sites and architectural relics coexist with cosmopolitan culture and traditional cuisine – try pide on the pier or baked potatoes with a choice of toppings at Atıştır Café. An hour out of town is Ephesus, an ancient city built by the Greeks and well worth a detour.
Tbilisi, Georgia
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Whilst the transcontinental city of Tbilisi is the most expensive place to live in Georgia, by European standards it’s exceptionally affordable for holidaymakers. A cascade of new hotels have opened in the last few years, such as the lovely Guest House Lile with double rooms from £21 per night (if you book through booking.com, you can even get a free transfer from the airport). Foodies should book a table at Barbarestan, a family-run restaurant with authentic recipes and local ingredients, where you can eat for around £40 each.
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