The beautiful city crowned cheapest party hotspot in Europe - with £2 pints and return flights from £25

Daily Mail​

15-05-2025

If your dream break is about kicking back and partying a little harder than you might ordinarily then there's plenty of great European cities where you can dance till dawn...but one remains much cheaper than the others, according to new research.
While staying up all night in a glamorous destination is nothing new, there's now a name for it - 'noctourism'.
The travel term defines the rise in breaks that are dedicated to seeking out the world's best party spots, with European cities amongst the most popular places to go.
A recent study puts Prague at the top of the list of destinations that promise the best nightlife, when factors such as food and drink prices, safety and venue density per square kilometer - making bar crawls easier - all considered.
The study by Casinova revealed the top ten party destinations in Europe ahead of this summer and found that the Czechia capital won hands down.
Already established as a popular stag party destination thanks to low-cost flights from destinations across Europe - with flights from around £25 - the city has worked hard to make its nightlife a more sophisticated affair in recent years.
Prices for a tipple remain lower than many of its European city break counterparts, with the average price of a drink just £1.96, compared to £6.75 in London.
There's also a diverse array of venues in a small area, with 266 bars and clubs spread across just 496 square kilometres. And safety scores high too, notching up 75.51 on the index.
In second place was another eastern European hotspot, but one that's lesser known than Prague.
The compact city of Plovdiv in Bulgaria has an average drink price of £2.18, and although it's small, it's mighty, with 16 venues across just 101.98 square kilometres.
Dining out is also hugely reasonable, the research found, with a meal costing on average just £6.54.
Taking the third spot is Madrid, which has the most venues - 357 - of any that make the list.
A night out in the Spanish capital isn't always cheap - an average meal out costs £12.17, but drinks are still much cheaper on average than in rival cities such as Paris and London - costing £2.84.
For those still looking to get away this month, a lesser known city in Poland could be the answer to a cut-price half-term break for British families, according to new research.
May half-term is looming and prices typically soar during the early summer break - but there are bargains to be had.
Digital marketing agency Ink Digital says looking east to Central Europe could lead to big savings, with the city of Poznan, Poland's fifth largest city coming in as the cheapest destination for a family of four.
A week's holiday costs £2,186 in the historic metropolis, which was once Poland's capital city.
Beyond Poznan, three other Polish destinations appeared in the top five cheapest destinations.
At the other end of the price spectrum, a mini-break in US cities - including New York, Chicago and LA - proved the most expensive for families, with a trip for four to the Big Apple in late May costing on average £7,643.
Other Polish cities also fared well when it comes to keeping costs low for the May half-term, which typically crosses the final week of May and the first week of June.
Tourist favourites Warsaw (£2,459), Krakow (£2,499) and Wroclaw (£2,959) also made the Top ten - all of which are on the low cost flights map from the UK.
Big Apple, big costs: New York may be a favourite but families visiting during May half-term will pay in excess of £7,000 for a hop across the Pond
On the ground, Poland is easy on the wallet too; the research found food more affordable than in other European destinations, with a three-course dinner for two as low as £33.
Getting around is also a relative bargain; local transport is cheap with one-way tickets under £1 and taxi fares often below £1 per kilometre.
For those determined to get some May sunshine, Portugal also ranked as one of the cheaper places to holiday for families, with Gaia, Braga and Porto all taking spots in the top ten.
Those who enjoy a tipple might also find Portugal favourable, with its beer and wine prices making the top 20 destinations for lower alcohol costs.