Athens ranked cheapest location in Europe for city break
Athens has been ranked the cheapest location for a city break on the continent, ahead of traditional budget-friendly eastern European destinations.
Analysis of a dozen typical tourist costs for UK visitors in 20 popular cities by Post Office Travel Money found prices in the Greek capital have fallen by 15% since 2021.
The bill for expenses including two nights’ hotel accommodation for a couple, meals, attraction tickets and local transport fares, came to £207, compared with £218 in the runner-up, Lisbon.
Both cities were ahead of eastern destinations typically renowned for low prices, such as Krakow in Poland (£219), Riga in Latvia (£220) and Budapest in Hungary (£221).
It marks the first time in 15 years of the Post Office running its analysis that a city in western Europe has been found to be the cheapest.
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Nick Boden, the head of Post Office Travel Money, which accounts for a quarter of UK foreign exchange transactions, said: “Established favourites like Paris, Amsterdam and Venice may be top choices among the holidaymakers we surveyed but they are also expensive places to visit, and people who are prepared to swap to a city with a lower cost of living can make their pounds stretch much further.
“Athens and Lisbon are half the price and offer a sunny autumn climate as well as low prices. Our advice to holidaymakers is to do their homework and check prices before booking.”
Standout low prices in Athens include £38.96 for an evening meal for two with wine, £89 for two nights’ accommodation in a three-star hotel and £7.79 for a 48-hour public transport pass.
More than two in five of those planning
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