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.”
You can check out the full research at postoffice.co.uk.