A new study of the best, affordable European cities for a mini-break has revealed Prague is the top city for a fun, affordable visit in 2024 – with an average beer costing only $2.53 per pint. Tourist favorite Budapest comes in second and Rome in third – while Barcelona is the only non-capital city in the top ten. The index study analyzed affordability and enjoyability factors across Europe’s most populated cities to narrow down what the best has to offer in 2024
According to a new study, Prague has been named as the top choice for spending a weekend away in Europe. The study by NoDeposit.Guide analyzed various affordability and enjoyability factors in cities across Europe, culminating in creating the best experience when escaping to somewhere new for the weekend in 2024. The study looked at the average number of the following attributes available in the city, as well as their average visitor ratings: hotels, tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, and pubs, which the cities have on offer.
In addition, the study also considered the average cost of hotel stays, the average meal cost, the price of public transport around the city, and the average cost of domestic and imported beer. The above factors were all collated to form an index to rank the best cities across Europe to enjoy a weekend getaway – providing the top picks for people seeking affordable vacation inspiration this year.
#1 Prague, Czech Republic
Prague has taken the top spot as the best affordable destination in Europe for a mini break. The city achieved an overall index ranking of 81.19 out of 100 – ahead of all other cities in the study.
The city ranked highly across the factors considered, including having many hotels, with 2,469 available on TripAdvisor. This equates to 9.15 out of 10 compared to the other cities in the study. Plus, the average cost of a two-night hotel stay is estimated at only $234pp (based on two people sharing) – meaning costs can be kept low when booking a trip.
If that’s not enough to entice you to the Czech city, the average price of a meal with a pint of beer is only $13.50, as found by the study, meaning your money can go further while enjoying all the city has to offer.
#2 Budapest, Hungary
Budapest places second on the list with an impressive index ranking of 78.69 out of 100, as found by the study.
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The capital is a great city break choice for anyone looking to party – according to the study, Budapest has the highest average bar ratings across Europe. The average rating achieved an index score of 10 out of 10 – equating to 4.54 out of 5 in TripAdvisor reviews across the 159 bars available.
When it comes to ways to fill your days in the city, you’ll never be short on things to see and do. The study found that Budapest boasts a commendable average review score of 4.72 out of 5 stars across its 1,711 tourist attractions (as found on Trip Advisor) – achieving an index score of 8.92 out of 10 for attraction ratings compared to other European cities.
#3 Rome, Italy
The study found that ‘when in Rome’, you will surely have a memorable trip as the city ranked second on the list of the best affordable European city destinations this year – with an incredible index score of 77.05 out of 100.
Rome achieved a perfect score of 10 out of 10 for the number of hotels available in the city, topping every other city analyzed in the study – and achieved an average of 4.02 stars across the city’s 8,192 hotels on TripAdvisor.
Rome is not short on things to do either – whether you want a trip ideal for socializing or prefer a quieter trip, taking in the city’s breath-taking culture.
The number of bars in the city scored an index rating of 9.46 out of 10, and similarly, the number of attractions attained 9.27 out of 10 – ranking Rome second and third in Europe on these factors, respectively.
#4 Barcelona, Spain
Coming in fourth in the ranking is Barcelona, which is the only non-capital city making it into the top ten. Beating the country’s capital, Madrid, which placed fifth, Barcelona achieved an overall index ranking of 75.69 out of 100 for its traveller experience.
Another city famous for its nightlife and, as identified by the study, a firm favorite among visitors. The number of bars available in the city scored an impressive 8.28 out of 10 in the index and a further 8.09 out of 10 based on their average TripAdvisor reviews.
However, for foodies looking to explore local and international cuisine – Barcelona offers an incredible selection of eateries. The city scored an impressive index rating of 8.89 out of 10 for its number of restaurants – equaling an incredible 1,493 to choose from.
#5 Madrid, Spain
The Spanish capital, Madrid, rounds out the top five affordable European cities to spend a mini break this year – gaining an overall index rating of 73.40 out of 100 in the study.
As found by the study, visitors would not be short on options for places to eat and drink. Madrid scored impressive index ratings of 8.91 out of 10 and 8.51 out of 10 for the number of restaurants and number of bars available to explore.
A trip to the city shouldn’t break the bank either. It is easy and affordable to get around with the average cost of public transport coming in at only $1.64 (per one-way ticket) – allowing plenty of access to the city’s incredible 2,245 tourist attractions available to explore (8.21 out of 10 index score).