City trips can be one of the most effective ways to experience a country's culture. Let it be a whirlwind weekend or a fortnight to discover a new neighborhood, city stays offer a full-bodied and deep immersion that resorts and remotely country hotels rarely can. But this cultural crash course can come at a price, and hidden prices at that; flights of London has Venice sell for less than £20, but it's one of the most expensive cities in Europe for accommodation and food. So we've analyzed some of the latest data and mined editors' insights into cheap city breaks in Europe for 2024, from a coastal cosmopolis to a snow-capped ski town.
In 2024, La Poste published new data ranking affordable urban stays in Europe. Below are some of the cities in their study, including Lisbon, Athens and Riga. The full list from the Post Office is as follows:
- Vilnius, Lithuania
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Lille, France
- Krakow, Poland
- Athens, Greece
- Riga, Latvia
- Budapest, Hungary
- Bratislava, Slovakia
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Warsaw, Poland
Below, we've also included some of our favorite, perhaps a little lesser-known, affordable European city breaks, like Klagenfurt in Austria and Berat, Albania. Getting off the beaten path is a wonderful way to make your money go further – while exploring a less crowded part of the continent.
What is the cheapest European city to vacation in?
In 2024, the Lithuanian capital Vilnius won the title of cheapest city stay in Europe thanks to its affordable gastronomy, cheap transport and cheap flights.
What is the most expensive city in Europe?
Ranking of Post Office data published in 2024 Amsterdam as the most expensive city break in Europe for another consecutive year.
Note: You will notice that some wonderful European cities are missing from this list, namely kyiv. It was tragically affected by the war in Ukraine and should be avoided until it is safe to visit. Until then, find out. how to help the Ukrainian people nowand see how you can support your travel choices.
