With flight prices currently on the rise, short-haul city breaks are likely to be one of Europe’s biggest travel trends this summer as holidaymakers swap costly long-haul escapes for cheaper, easier getaways.
Now, in the latest City Costs Barometer by the UK’s Post Office Travel Money, it has been revealed which European cities offer the best, and worst, value for travellers once they arrive in the destination.
In its largest comparison yet, the annual report analysed the cost of 12 everyday tourist items for two people across 50 cities. Giving travellers a snapshot of what a city break could actually cost, items include consumables like a cup of coffee, a bottle of beer, a can of Coca-Cola or Pepsi, a glass of wine, and a three-course evening meal for two with house wine.
Transport costs were incorporated, such as a return airport bus or train transfer, and a 48-hour travel card. It also included the price of a sightseeing city bus tour, a top tourist heritage attraction, a top museum, and a top art gallery. Finally, the report added the cost of two nights’ accommodation in a three-star hotel for two people.
Where a city sits on the ranking “matters less than how prices feel once you’re there and how much you intend to spend on certain things”, the report said. Accommodation usually makes the biggest difference and “even small changes” in hotel prices can “shift the overall cost” of a short break.
