Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Vilnius tops locations for a bargain city break, according to study

Typical costs in 37 European cities were analysed for the Post Office research.

Vicky Shaw
Friday 10 May 2024 19:01 EDT
The Post Office looked at the typical costs of various city breaks for holidaymakers, with Vilnius ranked as the least expensive (Peter Byrne/PA)
The Post Office looked at the typical costs of various city breaks for holidaymakers, with Vilnius ranked as the least expensive (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Archive)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Holidaymakers looking for a bargain city break may want to consider heading to Vilnius, a study suggests.

The Lithuanian capital overtook last year’s winner, Lisbon, according to the Post Office, which compiles the city costs barometer.

Typical costs in 37 European cities were analysed for the research.

The low prices we found for meals and drinks in Lisbon and Athens make these cities strong contenders for a bargain break

Laura Plunkett, Post Office

The Post Office said the strengthening of sterling over the past year helped to keep the cost of city breaks down in many of the countries it looked at.

Its study is based on April exchange rates and it calculated the typical cost of  two nights’ three star weekend accommodation, an evening meal for two, a range of drinks, sightseeing charges and city transport.

The cost for a trip to Vilnius was put at £237. Amsterdam was the most expensive city in the research, with a typical cost of £669.

The Post Office also found other locations where tourists may be able to find value.

Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at Post Office said: “It’s important to remember that the cost of meals and drinks need to be added to the spending budget as city break holidays rarely include these items.

“Over the course of two or three days, these can make a big difference to holiday costs and the low prices we found for meals and drinks in Lisbon and Athens make these cities strong contenders for a bargain break.”

For people looking for a break closer to home, Cardiff topped the UK capitals looked at by the Post Office, with a cost of £409.

The cost of a Belfast break was put at £629, making it more expensive than Dublin (£579) for the first time in the Post Office’s 17th annual cost comparison.

The price of a getaway in Edinburgh was calculated to be £602.

In London, the price of a break was put at £524, with competitive accommodation charges helping to keep the price down, according to the Post Office.

Here are the five cheapest cities, with the typical cost, according to the Post Office research:

1. Vilnius, £237

2. Lisbon, £264

3. Lille, £278

4. Krakow, £279

5. Athens, £289

And here are the five most expensive cities:

1. Amsterdam, £669

2. Belfast, £629

3. Edinburgh, £602

4. Helsinki, £587

5. Venice, £582

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in