16 of the best value city breaks in Europe – Times Travel

Europe is full of potential when it comes to city breaks, and budget-friendly ones at that. We’ve looked at the likes of Expedia and Booking.com to see where you can go for less than £300 per person. Various factors are relevant. Flights — and not to an airport 50 miles away — shouldn’t break the bank, and nor should a good-quality hotel. You’ll want to dine without stressing out about finances, and to dine well; transport should also be affordable. Free attractions or walking tours help no end, as does a non-euro currency offering value. Most crucially, you want genuine allure: beauty, culture, cool, even the odd beach. Combine all of that, and you’ll be laughing all the way to the bureau de change.

Main photo: Market Square in Krakow, Poland (Getty Images)

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Ortakoy Mosque in Istanbul (Alamy)

1. Istanbul, Turkey

According to the Post Office’s 2022 Holiday Money Report, a 37 per cent price fall has seen Turkey become one of the world’s cheapest destinations. During a long weekend in captivating Istanbul*, you can further economise via an Istanbulkart transit card. These discount every tram, metro, Bosphorus-crossing ferry or funicular ride as you tick off tourist attractions: multi-domed mosque Hagia Sophia, opulent Topkapi Palace and the vaulted Grand Bazaar’s pipe or pottery markets. Istanbul also offers some of Europe’s most affordable dinner options: a meal for two people frequently costs just £15.  

Where to stay Wholly normal for hopelessly hip Sub Karakoy is an anonymous 1980s block turned sharp design hotel — and has modest rates to boot.

Tirana’s New Bazaar area (Alamy)

2. Tirana, Albania

Each year, the Post Office also directly compares on-the-ground costs — drinks, evening meals for two with wine, three-star accommodation, sightseeing and transport — on city breaks in 40 destinations in Europe. Regularly up there with the best value is Albania’s capital city. A true hidden gem, mountain-framed Tirana* has interesting museums in former communist bunkers, mural-dotted boulevards and a good clubbing scene, while the Dajti Ekspres cable car (£5.50 return) ascends one of those peaks for breathtaking country views. You can eat filling Balkan cuisine for a song — a pound usually buys two triangular, cheese or beef-filled bureks — and sip cups of coffee for about 60p.

Where to stay Hotels are similarly economical, typified by the central, four-star Mondial and its rooftop swimming pool.

Krakow Old Town (Alamy)

3. Krakow, Poland

Poland’s second city is perfect for a cheap city break filled with sightseeing. Among the many must-see spots are its Wawel Royal Castle, one of the world’s first Unesco world heritage sites, and St Mary’s Basilica, where each hour is marked by a trumpet call. Try also to fit in time for people-watching on Market Square; even there, a plate of pierogi dumplings and a pint of Pilsner should bring change for a tenner. Shuttle buses for sober day-trips to Auschwitz begin at €4 for a return; otherwise you could just wander past palaces and bars in the old, narrow-laned heart of Krakow*.

Where to stay Typifying Krakow’s affordability, the classy Grand has 65 antique-filled rooms, a Viennese café and a piano restaurant. 

Café life in Lisbon (Getty Images)

4. Lisbon, Portugal

Occasionally, western Europe can be cheap too. In 2022, the Post Office surprisingly ranked sun-soaked Lisbon* as its second-best value city, aided by low accommodation prices: a two-night stay in three-star digs will now typically set you back £115. Budget travellers can accomplish two things by eating petiscos (Portugal’s take on tapas) in taverns: not just saving dosh, but fuelling themselves for walks up the city’s seven hills to miradouros — azulejo-tiled viewpoints. Bouncing atop baroque cobbles, wooden trams are €3 per ride; 40-minute trains serve Cascais’s sandy beaches and free-to-roam Parque Marechal Carmona, where peacocks strut about.

Where to stay Allied with art exhibitions and regular live music, pistachio-green Brown’s Central Hotel has 84 cool, contemporary rooms.

Bucharest city centre (Getty Images)

5. Bucharest, Romania

Considering both flights and accommodation, another study proclaimed Romania’s capital Europe’s cheapest city break. That’s good news for clubbers, creatives or hipsters bound for the “new Berlin”, as Bucharest* is frequently tagged. Yes, it can sometimes be gritty and traffic-choked — but then comes a gorgeous green space, a vegan café serving perfect pizzas, a sky bar or a winsome old Orthodox church hiding in plain sight. You’ll also find the world’s second largest administrative building, with only America’s Pentagon outstripping the oh-so-communist Palace of the Parliament for unsubtle size. Dinners, routinely scoffed on garden or pavement terraces, are easily limited to £10 per person.

Where to stay The blindingly coloured, “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” bedrooms at Vilacrosse Boutique Inn are available at reasonable rates.

Cathedral Square in Vilnius (Alamy)

6. Vilnius, Lithuania

Low-cost flights from London almost seem an affront to the Lithuanian capital’s grand, flamboyant architecture. You’ll discover that in the walkable Old Town, which is on Unesco’s lists, but just as snap-worthy and suited to a romantic getaway is Trakai Island Castle, a fairytale fort with red, witch’s-hat turrets. Cool — think coffee bars and a strong street-art scene — and cosmopolitan, Vilnius* is also a fascinating food destination as its Baltic cuisine combines fare typical of northeastern Europe with Nordic influences. Hence the tasting menus at funky fine-dining haunt Ertlio Namas, which should be far dearer. Eat there after wandering bohemian Uzupis, a self-declared “republic” in the city’s east.

Where to stay There are spacious, soft-hued rooms at the gorgeous 15th Avenue.

Guadi’s Casa Batllo in Barcelona (Alamy)

7. Barcelona, Spain

Yes, that Barcelona*. Various factors render the avant-garde Catalonian capital and its Gaudi confections unexpectedly conducive to a parsimonious weekend. Multiple airlines fly direct from the UK, driving down flight prices. Metro lines connect to the airport and everything is within walking distance if you don’t mind a decent stride. Many museums open for free once a month. The sandy beach isn’t subdivided into clubs with entry fees. Numerous purse-friendly restaurants, from Asian tapas to brilliant bistros, dot the city; so too does a stellar line-up of well-priced hotels, spanning the chic&basic chain, independent stays in well-to-do Eixample or bigger, rooftop-pool affairs.

Where to stay In the latter category is Hotel Motel One, set beside Ciutadella park, not far from the Gothic Quarter.

Bratislava’s Blue Church (Getty Images)

8. Bratislava, Slovakia

Common around the Slovak capital, zemiakove placky are fried, garlicky potato pancakes which are sold for just a euro or two. Goulash here is correspondingly reasonable, and a pound buys most pints of beer. Flights can be as cheap as £15; such stupendous value is wonderfully at odds with the grandeur of Bratislava*. Draped along the Danube like a sleeping cat, its winding, patisserie-peppered old town and cheerfully hued Blue Church (officially the Church of St Elizabeth) seduce visitors below a rectangular castle complex. An equally good look-out point is the riverbank’s futuristic UFO Tower, to whose 95m-high observation deck you can travel by speedy lift for roughly £5.

Where to stay Bratislava’s many permanently moored “botels” are terrific value. The Dunajsky Pivovar throws in a pool and private brewery for good measure.

dunajskypivovar.sk

St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia (Getty Images)

9. Sofia, Bulgaria

One of Europe’s oldest cities, Sofia* is built on top of now-excavated Roman ruins. Despite the rotundas and arched streets, Bulgaria’s capital remains criminally underrated, even among eastern European city breaks. Those who do visit find a beguiling place where functional, sombre Soviet blocks overhang gilded golden churches, and where nodding your head means no while shaking it indicates yes. That’s near-impossible to remember after glasses of rakia, a fiery fruit brandy, which traditionally follow dinners. Talking of which, expect to spend no more than £10 each on three courses with wine, even if eating steps from gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral — one of the world’s biggest church buildings.

Where to stay Expect candles, exposed brick and imaginative lighting at the central R34 Boutique Hotel. 

Fisherman’s Bastion in Budapest (Alamy)

10. Budapest, Hungary

If its synthesis of classical architecture, great nightlife, glamorous cafés, glorious Danube bridges and thermal baths doesn’t already add up to a perfect city break, then Budapest* has another ace to play: it’s easily done on a budget. Many sights in Hungary’s capital are free to visit: Fisherman’s Bastion and its river-facing terraces, the food-focused Great Market Hall or Heroes’ Square. Others, such as the scenic rooftop of St Stephen’s Basilica, cost a pittance. With hearty goulash lunches, forward-thinking dinners and late-night drinks making little additional dent on your finances, splashing out £15 to enter the Insta-famous Szechenyi Baths should be palatable.

Where to stay Below the main fortress, as its name suggests, lovely Hotel Castle Garden has its own wellness centre. 

Sarajevo Old Town (Alamy)

11. Sarajevo, Bosnia

Sarajevo* has emerged from its war-torn years looking remarkably good. That’s particularly true of the atmospheric, charming original centre, which hosts coppersmith workhouses and homely teahouses. Those, along with a mixture of churches and mosques, underline how multicultural Bosnia’s capital is — as does a local cuisine with Balkan, Turkish and Mediterranean elements. Engagingly small, the hilly city is constantly cobbled, making comfy shoes essential. The choicest hill is Vidikovac, a trudge up which should conclude in sunset-watching and dinner at the bargain namesake restaurant. Trams cost about a euro per ride and it’s only twice that for on-the-go lunches involving a cevapi, or Bosnian kebab.

Where to stay Inside a central, Austro-Hungarian-era building, the modern, minimal Hotel Colors Inn throws in free breakfasts.

Ljubljana’s city centre (Getty Images)

12. Ljubljana, Slovenia

Summer’s the best time for a thrifty short break to the capital of Slovenia. It’s when ​​a number of free festivals are held on open-air streets stages — events such as the Ana Desetnica street-theatre festival from June’s end, a July jazz festival and Nights in Ljubljana* Old Town in August. You’ll also find cafés set up on leafy riverside terraces, and parties in old sugar factories. Pretty, compact and car-free (save for electric taxis) — under its “Vision of Ljubljana 2025” project — the city is easy to stroll or cycle using free-to-hire bikes, though you’ll probably want to fork out €4 for a return funicular ride up to its lofty medieval castle.

Where to stay Behind its art deco exterior, Hotel Cubo serves great food next to the old town.

Café life on Mnisikleous in Athens (Alamy)

13. Athens, Greece

Meet the Post Office’s cheapest city break of 2023. Exceptionally affordable when it comes to dining, with three-course, wine-supplemented evening meals costing less than £20pp in total, Greece’s capital also abounds with free attractions. There’s no charge to amble around dreamy Plaka, where flowering creeper plants garland pastel-shade buildings, nor the café-lined steps of Mnisikleous. Equally complimentary are trips to see superlative street art, vintage window shopping on hip Protogenous or even local-led walking tours (although tipping is common). Factor in lots of cheap rental accommodation and you should be able to afford the Athens* must-see: the hilltop Acropolis citadel, a wonder of ancient temples and gateways. Multi-site tickets including six other archaeological sites offer the best value at €30.

Where to stay As its name suggests, the Acropolis View overlooks that main sight — and is only a short walk from the airport-connecting metro.

Eating currywurst with french fries in Berlin (Getty Images)

14. Berlin, Germany

Germany’s capital has lots of cheap accommodation. Cool hostels proliferate, while NH operates a series of attractively priced mid-range hotels. Also affordable is eating, with ubiquitous currywurst sausages and doner kebabs — both of them invented in Berlin* — costing nearer €5 than €10. Sightseers will further rejoice at how many free-to-visit wartime sights are in walking distance of one another, from Checkpoint Charlie and Brandenburger Tor to the Reichstag (book ahead) and the Holocaust Memorial. Gratis too is the East Side Gallery, a graffiti-strewn portion of the Berlin Wall, and large Tiergarten park. Pay just €4 to climb the latter’s Victory Column for stupendous views.

Where to stay Handily situated, the NH outpost on Potsdamer Platz offers free wi-fi and clean, modern rooms.

15. Warsaw, Poland

One of Europe’s eternal underdogs, the capital of Poland is a surprisingly attractive, exciting destination to visit — and wonderfully affordable. Aided by its use of zloty, not euros, it’s a place where you can spend £8.50 on a superb dinner or £4 for a pint of craft beer. Ubers are also terrifically cheap, while most attractions are within walking distance of one another, past handsome neoclassical buildings. The most fun day out is also the cheapest: Warsaw* is strung along Poland’s longest river, the Vistula, and has a series of ferry-accessed urban beaches where locals gather on summer days. Some have hammocks and waterfront bars; others football or volleyball courts.

Where to stay On the trendy Śródmieście Południowe neighbourhood’s northern fringes, No.4 Residence* pairs Vistula views with retro decor in 22 spacious, colourful apartments featuring kitchenettes.

16. Naples, Italy

Italy isn’t known for budget breaks, but then Naples* has always done things its own way. Despite being a gateway to the decidedly pricey Capri and Amalfi coast, this is a city where value abounds. Raw, relentless and romantic, it’s also one of the most thrilling (and unevenly paved) places you’ll ever walk. Look one way and there’s an 18th-century palazzo hiding in plain sight; another, below washing lines, some stellar street art. Naples is also the home of pizza, with good ones for £6; equally economical is a three-day Campania Artecard (£28), which includes admission to Pompeii and Herculaneum plus 50 per cent off other regional attractions and public transport.

Where to stay In the emerging working-class neighbourhood of La Sanità at Borgo Vergini: an arty B&B set around a typical, tranquil Neapolitan garden courtyard.

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