The cheapest place in Europe for a city break revealed

The G-spot of Europe is also the top spot for a short-haul city break, according to new research released today

Vilnius is the cheapest city break this autumn, according to new data released today.

The average price of a city break (flights and accommodation) to Lithuania’s capital costs just over £80 from September 2018 to March 2019, according to data compiled by TravelSupermarket – a saving of 195 per cent compared to city break favourite Dubrovnik.

In a bid to attract younger travellers, Vilnius tourism bosses have branded the city as the “G-spot of Europe”. “Nobody knows where it is, but when you find it – it’s amazing,” ran the tagline.

The city secured its top spot in TravelSupermarket’s best value city break index thanks to cheap living costs. A three course meal at an average restaurant costs £15.65, and it’s just £2.68 for a pint of local beer.

Eastern European cities were well represented in the best value index, with Bratislava in Slovakia taking second place. TravelSupermarket adds that a city break to Bratislava was almost half as cheap as a break to weekend favourite Budapest, costing just over £103.

Separately, the data found that the cheapest place to buy a beer in Europe is Bulgaria’s capital Sofia, at just £1.14 a pint.

Turin in Italy followed in third place on the index, and France’s Lyon came in fourth.

Krakow in Poland took fifth place in the best value city break index, but it also took prime position as Brits’ favourite short-haul city break for the first time – knocking Amsterdam off the top spot.

TravelSupermarket reports that there has been a 221 per cent spike in Krakow searches year on year, followed by a 102 per cent increase in searches for Istanbul for an autumn/winter city break.

There are also five German cities in the index, with Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Dusseldorf all appearing. Four of them were ranked in the latest top 20 most liveable cities in the world, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit.

At the other end of the spectrum, Dubrovnik (£292.66), Helsinki (£289.72) and Bruges (£265.80) ranked as the most expensive city breaks this autumn/winter.

Icelandic capital Reykjavik also came in as a pricey city break. The research found that a three-course meal in an average restaurant in the city cost 776 per cent more than in Istanbul.

Eastern European cities are “great places to treat yourself,” says Emma Coulthurst, travel expert for TravelSupermarket.

“Picking a less popular destination can save your wallet and you will also have the city more to yourself.”