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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Europe's 'best value city' is stag and hen do hotspot with £22 Ryanair flights
Europe's best value cities have been revealed for 2025 and there's one that you'll definitely want on your radar for a city break packed with culture, great food and bargain prices Brits looking for a bargain break are in luck, as Europe's best value city breaks for 2025 have just been revealed. Topping the list is stag do and hen do favourite Riga, which had the cheapest overall cost for food, accommodation and sightseeing at 12 attractions, with a weekend break coming in at £252.63 according to research from Post Office Travel Money. The Latvian capital beat out 38 cities, with prices down 15 per cent year on year. In fact that means you could snap up a two-night weekend break at 3* accommodation for £123, and enjoy a three-course evening meal for £65.95. Although the research doesn't take into account the cost of flights, there are ways to add in your travel without having to make a big dent in your budget - in fact, you can find direct flights from the UK with Ryanair from £21.99 each way (although take note that this won't include an extra cabin bag, you'll need to pay extra). Riga has already long been a firm favourite with Brits after a fun city break where you can get plenty of bang for your buck. Throw in the countless bars, restaurants and clubs that make up its brilliant nightlife, and it's not difficult to see why this is such a hit with stag and hen parties. For those who want a dose of culture, the city delivers. Spend your days sightseeing at landmarks such as the iconic House of the Blackheads, wander through St Peter's Church, and while away a few hours on the cobbled streets that make up the picture-perfect Old Town. According to the Post Office research, a sightseeing bus tour will set you back £21.90, or you can opt for a 48-hour travel card for £7.01 to use public transport and do your own exploring. Foodies won't be disappointed in the city either; Riga Central Market is full of local vendors serving up classic Latvian cuisine, not to mention it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site if you're looking to tick some off the bucket list. For those who want a tipple after a day of exploring, a bottle of beer comes in at an average of £3.50, while a 175ml glass of wine will set you back £4.38. Europe's top 10 best value cities Riga, Latvia Vilnius, Lithuania Warsaw, Poland Podgorica, Montenegro Lisbon, Portugal Lille, France Gdansk, Poland Krakow, Poland Porto, Portugal Zagreb, Croatia Laura Plunkett, Head of Travel Money at Post Office, said: "Although city break holidaymakers need to keep a watchful eye on exchange rates, the real challenge will be the cost of accommodation in the cities Britons are considering. Successive City Costs Barometers have found big swings in hotel costs depending on how many rooms are available in peak months. "This year is no different and rising – or falling – hotel prices can have a big impact on city break costs. For example, Vilnius lost its top spot in the latest chart because the cost of accommodation has risen by over nine per cent since last year, while it has fallen over 20 per cent in Riga in the same period. When the cost of two nights' accommodation is excluded, Vilnius remains cheaper for British visitors at around £111 compared with nearly £130 in Riga."
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful European city with £2 beers is just three hours from the UK
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
Time Out
20-05-2025
- Time Out
The underrated Baltic capital just named Europe's best-value city break
Travelling is more costly than ever, so minimising your spending wherever you can is always handy. A solid way to do that is to pick a budget destination, and handily, we've got a brilliant list of Europe's best-value destinations right here. But you can never have too much inspiration, can you? Post Office Travel Money has just released their own ranking of Europe's cheapest (and most expensive) places, analysing 12 common costs in 38 different countries to produce its annual City Costs Barometer. (It's worth noting all of this is based on travellers from the UK). Topping the ranks is Riga, the charming Latvian capital where a trip (which includes two nights' three-star weekend accommodation, a three-course meal for two with a bottle of house wine, return airport transfers, a 48-hour travel card, sightseeing bus tour, top heritage attractions, as well as some other factors) costs a mere £252.63. So, what is there to get stuck into in Riga? Well, the city is brimming with culture – check out the Latvian National Opera and Ballet, which are both housed in a dazzling neoclassical building, or have a wander around the city's lovely, UNESCO-protected Old Town. Once you've soaked all that up, head to Rozengrals for an authentic medieval meal, and then stop by the quirky Black Magic Bar for some wacky concoctions, or Skyline Bar for a stunning city view. However, Riga was far from the only eastern European city to be spot-lit. In fact, the region dominates this list, with Vilnius and Warsaw following close behind as Europe's cheapest city breaks right now. Read on for the top 10 best-value cities in Europe and have a look at the report in more detail here. These are Europe's best-value city breaks, according to the Post Office Riga, Latvia Vilnius, Lithuania Warsaw, Poland Podgorica, Montenegro Lisbon, Portugal Lille, France Gdansk, Poland Krakow, Poland Porto, Portugal Zagreb, Croatia
Time Out
20-05-2025
- Time Out
The UK city break destination that is the most expensive in western Europe (and it's not London)
Think London prices are extortionate? Well, you'd be correct. But a new report has revealed that there's one UK city that actually ranks above the capital as one of the most costly places on the continent for a city break. For its City Costs Barometer 2025, Post Office Travel Money did some number crunching and revealed that the combined cost of different tourist expenses in Edinburgh is higher than any other city in western Europe. The most costly part of staying in the Scottish capital is the accommodation. According to data from the average price for two nights in one of the city centre's three-star hotels is £399. That's for the ten cheapest en-suite rooms available between June 6 and 8. Edinburgh's 48-hour public transport pass is also more expensive than most other European cities at £22, it's 'top tourist heritage attraction' Edinburgh Castle costs £19.50 to enter and a simple filter coffee will set you back £3.50. Add the average price of a glass of wine, a return airport bus, a three course evening meal and a sight-seeing bus tour and in total, a trip to Edinburgh amounts to £601.50. The report also highlighted that costs tend to escalate during peak season, such as when the Edinburgh Fringe is on, and with the city's incoming tourist tax, it could be set to get even more spenny. Across Europe as a whole, Edinburgh emerged as the third most expensive to visit, trumped only by Copenhagen and Oslo. London placed 26th with a total cost of £525.40. and a bunch of affordable places to eat and wallet-friendly hotels, too.
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
City break destination most expensive in western Europe - and it's not London
The total average price of accommodation and other typical tourist expenses is higher in the Scottish capital than other cities in the region, according to a new report Edinburgh has been named the priciest city break destination in western Europe, according to a recent report by Post Office Travel Money. The study revealed that the average cost of accommodation and typical tourist expenses is higher in the Scottish capital than other cities in the region. This includes a hefty £399 for a two-night stay in three-star city centre accommodation. The figure was calculated based on the average price of the 10 cheapest ensuite rooms available on for stays from June 6 to 8. Accommodation costs in Edinburgh skyrocket even further during the school summer holidays and the August festivals. Airbnb warned last November that Edinburgh's strict enforcement of new regulations on accommodation is "highly restrictive", causing rents and hotel prices in the city to "soar to record highs". A licensing scheme for short-term let accommodation was introduced across Scotland in October 2023 due to concerns about the impact on long-term rent prices. Other items that are more expensive in Edinburgh than most other tourist destinations include a 48-hour public transport pass (£22), entry to its top tourist heritage attraction, Edinburgh Castle (£19.50), and a cup of filter coffee in a cafe or bar (£3.50). Edinburgh has topped the list as the priciest western European city, beating others even with free entry to its "top museum" and "top art gallery" – the esteemed National Museum of Scotland and National Galleries of Scotland. Shoppers found themselves coughing up an eye-watering £601.50 for a standard basket of goods in Edinburgh. This staggering sum is more than twice as much as one would shell out in Lisbon (£292.27), deemed the most affordable western European city analysed in the study. Significantly, the report didn't factor in the price of travel costs such as flight fares. The comprehensive survey examined prices spanning 38 cities all over Europe, discovering that eastern European destinations offer the best bang for your buck. Leading the way for value was Latvia's capital Riga, with a total spend of just £252.63, closely tailed by Lithuania's capital Vilnius at £254.32. On the flip side, Norway's Oslo was the heftiest hit to the wallet across the whole of Europe, setting you back £636.20. Focusing on the UK, Cardiff emerged as the 17th most costly with expenditure of £374.90, whilst London placed 26th with a total cost of £523.40 and Edinburgh trailed behind at 36th. Laura Plunkett, the head of Post Office Travel Money, advised: "Although city break holidaymakers need to keep a watchful eye on exchange rates, the real challenge will be the cost of accommodation in the cities Britons are considering." Highlighting the unpredictable nature of lodging expenses, she noted how prices tend to see "big swings in hotel costs depending on how many rooms are available in peak months". She continued, saying: "Vilnius lost its top spot in the latest chart because the cost of accommodation has risen by over 9% since last year, while it has fallen over 20% in Riga in the same period." A representative for VisitScotland, the Scottish Government's tourism body, emphasised that Edinburgh boasts "a variety of experiences and accommodation options to suit a range of budgets". The spokesperson pointed out that VisitScotland is actively persuading the tourism sector to "consider the importance of providing great quality services and hospitality that offer value for money". Additionally, she mentioned: "We are currently creating an accommodation monitor using data from tourism and events industry sources. This will help clarify performance and price competitiveness in the accommodation sector going forward." Lowest-priced cities 1. Riga £252.63 2. Vilnius £254.32 3. Warsaw £277.39 4. Podgorica £281.70 5. Lisbon £292.27 6. Lille £293.26 7. Gdansk £297.08 8. Krakow £300.24 9. Porto £304.66 10. Zagreb £310.56 Most expensive cities 1. Oslo £636.20 2. Copenhagen £628.64 3. Edinburgh £601.50 4. Venice £591.12 5. Berlin £587.65 6. Amsterdam £582.79 7. Geneva £570.04 8. Dublin £568.34 Article continues below 9. Barcelona £561.90 10. Florence £561.86
