Beautiful European city with £2 beers is just three hours from the UK

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

Europe's best value cities have been ranked for 2025 and there's one beautiful hotspot that has amazing food, drinks and views - and a nightlife that's just as brilliant
Brits looking for a dose of travel inspiration may want to bookmark a trip to one of Europe's best value city breaks.
Not only has Lisbon has come fifth in new rankings of budget-friendly breaks, but the Portuguese capital is already a firm favourite with tourists looking for great food, a vibrant nightlife, gorgeous views and of course, plenty of culture.
According to new research from Post Office Travel Money, which compared 38 cities, you won't need to break the bank to visit the hotspot. A two-night weekend break - including a 3* hotel stay, three-course meal and sightseeing - comes in at an average of £292.27.
Foodies may also get plenty of bang for their buck, as the study found that the average cost of a bottle of beer was £1.93 - and a 175ml glass of wine was the same. In fact, it would cost you more to opt for Coca-Cola, which came in at a cost of £2.19.
For those wanting to enjoy a three-course meal, again you won't need to make a big dent in the budget as the average cost was £46.68 for two people, including a bottle of house wine. In fact, it was the cheapest three-course meal out of the 38 cities that were compared in the study.
Of course it's worth noting that the total cost of the break doesn't include flights, but the good news is that Lisbon is a popular destination so there are plenty of direct routes available with the likes of easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways and more, with a flight time of just under three hours.
According to Skyscanner, the cheapest month to fly is October when you can find return fares from £59 per person, although it's worth noting that this won't necessarily include any hand luggage (you'll need to check the exact details with the airline you're booking with).
There's so much to see and do in Lisbon, whether you're planning to sample heaps of the local cuisine, take in sunset views from a wine bar, or simply spend a few hours wandering along the cobbled streets (just be warned to wear sturdy shoes as it's a hilly city!).
For those who want a dose of culture and history, the city doesn't disappoint. Highlights include the Botanical Gardens in the Principe Real district which are packed with exotic plants, or the 12th century Lisbon Cathedral that's the city's oldest church. Meanwhile Castelo de Sao Jorge looks like something out of a storybook, perched on a hilltop in the Alfama district and overlooking the breathtaking landscape that surrounds Lisbon.
If you're planning a longer trip, then you may want to make the 40-minute bus journey to the Belem district to visit the beautiful Jeronimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Looking for more city break ideas? The full top 10 best value cities in Europe were:
Riga, Latvia
Vilnius, Lithuania
Warsaw, Poland
Podgorica, Montenegro
Lisbon, Portugal
Lille, France
Gdansk, Poland
Krakow, Poland
Porto, Portugal
Zagreb, Croatia