According to an annual study, Athens offers the best value for money European autumn city break for Brits.
The Post Office Travel Money City Costs Barometer compared tourist costs in 20 European cities named as the top choice by Britons planning a city break, with Athens taking the top spot ahead of Lisbon (second) and Krakow in Poland (third). The most expensive city in the ranking is Amsterdam.
It is the first time in the barometer’s 15-year history that a city in Western Europe has beaten an Eastern European city to first place.
According to an annual study – the Post Office Travel Money City Costs Barometer – Athens offers Brits the best value for money autumn city breaks in Europe
The Post Office Travel Money City Costs Barometer compared tourism costs in 20 European cities, which were named as the top choices by Britons planning a city break. Second is Lisbon
The ranking is based on an analysis of 12 typical tourism expenses, including dinner for two with wine, drinks, two nights’ accommodation in a 3-star hotel, sightseeing and city transport.
At £207, Athens was by far the cheapest. Lisbon came second at £218 – although the cost of two nights’ accommodation has increased from £73 in September 2021 to £115 now – Krakow third at £219, Riga fourth at £220 and Budapest fifth at £221 Job.
Other good value cities include Prague (£249, 6th), Madrid (£299, 7th), Berlin (£317, 8th), Dubrovnik (£318, 9th) and Rome (£347, 10th place). ).
“Madrid, Berlin and Rome are established city break destinations, making their debut in the top 10,” said Post Office Travel Money.
Kraków took third place in the ranking, which was topped by a western city for the first time in 15 years
Amsterdam is bottom of the chart, with Post Office Travel Money explaining that its position is due to accommodation prices in the city doubling
Analyzing why Amsterdam was bottom (£593) and Venice just above in 19th place (£457), it commented: “Both have been hit by a shortage of hotel beds, which has led to sharp increases in accommodation prices.
“Although the cost of meals, drinks, sightseeing and transport in Amsterdam has risen by just four per cent year-on-year, the cost of two nights in three-star accommodation has doubled to £403. Accommodation costs in Venice have increased by a third this year and barometer costs have risen by 20 percent overall.’
The study found that housing prices rose more than 20 percent year-on-year in 15 of the 20 cities surveyed.
Post Office Travel Money charts the Barometer’s top 10 fall city breaks
Rising accommodation costs are the main reason city break prices are higher overall this year, Post Office Travel Money said, noting that only Athens (down 15 percent) and Krakow (down one percent) saw overall costs fall a city trip.
The research also found large differences in meal costs.
A three course dinner for two with a bottle of house wine cost from £38.96 in Athens to £41.04 in Lisbon and £139.53 in Stockholm.
On the bright side, the cost of eating out has fallen in half of the cities surveyed. The largest declines were in Kraków (-20 percent), Vienna (-13.9 percent) and Berlin (-12.8 percent).
Research by Post Office Travel Money found that accommodation prices in 15 of the 20 cities surveyed were up more than 20 percent year-on-year
Post Office Travel Money said its research over the past few years has “consistently found that cultural attractions are one of the main incentives for city breaks,” adding, “However, as with other Barometer commodities, the cost of visiting heritage sites is.” and museums and galleries varied dramatically. Dublin offers the best value for money at just £6.93 as entry to the leading museum and gallery is free. In contrast, culture is most expensive in Dubrovnik, where it costs £57.28 to visit a museum, gallery and heritage site.”
Nick Boden, Head of Post Office Travel Money, said: “According to our latest research, more than two in five of those planning to travel abroad will take a city break, making it the most popular type of overseas holiday for the fifth year running. However, Brits need to be aware that rising prices in Lisbon are typical of what we have found across Europe, fueled by sharp increases in accommodation costs.
“Established favorites like Paris, Amsterdam and Venice may be top choices among holidaymakers we surveyed, but they’re also expensive destinations and those willing to move to a city with a lower cost of living can stash their pounds a lot more. Athens and Lisbon are half price and offer sunny autumn climates and low prices. Our advice to travelers is to do your homework and check prices before booking.”
