Want a cheap city break? Try Riga - top 5 cheapest (and most expensive) destinations revealed
The Latvian capital, as well as Vilnius, in Lithuania, have been named the cheapest weekend destinations in the latest Post Office City Costs Barometer.
A weekend in Riga now offers the best value at £252.63, closely followed by Vilnius which came out at £254.32. Both are less than half the price of a break in Oslo, currently the most expensive city at £636.20.
The latest figures reflect the total cost of 12 tourist staples, including two nights' accommodation, meals, and transport, using data and exchange rates in May 2025.
Amsterdam, previously the most expensive city in the report, has seen costs drop by 12.9% to £582.79 (in 2024 this was £684). It is still the fifth most expensive destination though, largely driven by rising hotel rates and dining costs according to the Post Office Travel Money report.
Eastern Europe dominates the rankings for cheap holiday destinations, with seven of the top 10 most budget-friendly spots found there. Riga, Warsaw, Podgorica, Gdansk, Krakow, and Zagreb all feature in the charts alongside Vilnius.
Latvia’s capital, Riga, clinched the top spot this year thanks to a 15% drop in local costs. It edged out Lithuania's Vilnius, which held the runner-up position after hotel prices there began to climb.
Portugal remains the go-to for affordable Western European breaks. Lisbon and Porto both rank in the top 10, with Lisbon holding firm as the fifth cheapest city overall. The Portuguese capital remains a haven for foodies on a budget - a three-course meal for two with wine costs just £46.68 in Lisbon, compared to £64.18 in Vilnius and a staggering £173.08 in Oslo.
Lille also performed strongly for France, ranking as the sixth cheapest destination and undercutting several Eastern European alternatives on total spend.
To find the best value, Post Office Travel Money compared the cost of 12 typical tourist items. The "basket" includes drinks like coffee and beer, an evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine, two nights' three-star weekend accommodation, sightseeing, and city transport.
These totals don't include flights or the cost of travel insurance, so it's worth checking out our 5 tips for finding cheap flights to keep your total trip cost down.
At the other end of the scale, Scandinavia remains the most expensive region, with Oslo and Copenhagen taking the top two spots for the highest overall spend. However, UK staycations are also feeling the pinch - Edinburgh and Belfast both rank in the top 10 most expensive European cities, proving pricier than traditional heavyweights like Amsterdam and Venice.
The highest prices for dinner and wine are found in Oslo (£173), Geneva (£156.56), and Copenhagen (£154).
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.”
A stronger pound has helped British travellers, with prices dropping in half of the cities analysed compared to the previous year. Sterling has gained ground against almost every European currency, with the notable exception of the Polish zloty.
For those staying closer to home, Cardiff is the best-value UK capital, costing significantly less than its neighbours at £409 for the weekend.
In a surprising shift for 2026, Belfast (£629) has become more expensive than Dublin (£568.34) for the first time in the report's history. Both cities, along with Edinburgh (£601.50), are now more expensive for a weekend break than London, which averages £524.
(Figures are based on the May 2025 Post Office City Costs Barometer, using contemporary exchange rates for a weekend trip.)
Cheapest Europe city breaks
| Rank | Cheapest European Cities | Total Barometer Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riga, Latvia | £252.63 |
| 2 | Vilnius, Lithuania | £254.32 |
| 3 | Warsaw, Poland | £277.39 |
| 4 | Podgorica, Montenegro | £281.70 |
| 5 | Lisbon, Portugal | £292.27 |
| 6 | Lille, France | £293.26 |
| 7 | Gdansk, Poland | £297.09 |
| 8 | Krakow, Poland | £300.24 |
| 9 | Porto, Portugal | £304.66 |
| 10 | Zagreb, Croatia | £310.56 |
Most expensive Europe city breaks
| Rank | Most Expensive European Cities | Total Barometer Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oslo, Norway | £636.20 |
| 2 | Copenhagen, Denmark | £628.64 |
| 3 | Edinburgh, Scotland | £601.50 |
| 4 | Venice, Italy | £591.12 |
| 5 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | £582.79 |
| 6 | Geneva, Switzerland | £570.04 |
| 7 | Dublin, Ireland | £568.34 |
| 8 | Barcelona, Spain | £561.90 |
| 9 | Florence, Italy | £561.86 |
| 10 | Nice, France | £540.09 |
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