Cheapest city breaks in Europe

The allure of the city break is undeniable. It’s the chance to immerse yourself in a different culture and sip cappuccinos on historic, sun-drenched squares. 

Best of all, a weekend escape doesn’t have to break the bank. We compared the annual average cost of a return flight and a two-night hotel stay for the urban destinations most-loved by holidaymakers. 

From wine tasting in France to soaking up year-round sunshine in an underrated Mediterranean gem, we reveal five of the cheapest European city breaks for 2024. 

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Kraków, Poland

Video: Take a tour of Europe's best city

The cheapest and the best, according to visitors – Poland’s second-biggest city took joint-top spot (alongside Valencia) in our recent survey of the best European city breaks. 

It won’t cost much to explore its beguiling medieval old town: a jumble of churches and grand palaces, with Europe’s largest market square at its heart. 

Make sure to visit the Kazimierz neighbourhood. Largely rundown during the Communist era, the historic Jewish quarter (with its restored synagogue and 19th-century cemetery) is now a creative hub filled with art galleries, quirky shops, vintage shops and trendy cocktail bars. 

Looming above the city are the fortified towers of the Wawel Royal Castle, where Polish kings and queens were crowned. Inside you’ll find original Renaissance frescoes, gold gilt furnishings and the Polish crown jewels. 

Kraków’s good-value dining was awarded the full five stars, with comfort food – from Pierogi dumplings to the obwarzanek, a ring-shaped pretzel sprinkled with seeds – taking centre stage. A slap-up, three-course meal for two with a bottle of wine costs around £63.

Don’t miss a sobering trip to nearby Auschwitz: the site of Nazi Germany’s most lethal concentration camp. 

See which holiday giant we recommend in our survey of the best and worst city break providers

Bordeaux, France

It may be famous for its full-bodied wines (which can be sipped at rock-bottom prices at kitschy cafés), but this vibrant port city has plenty of highlights that don’t involve a hangover. 

The majestic neoclassical squares and elegant avenues of the Old Center – a UNESCO World Heritage site – are crammed with more than 300 listed buildings. 

The golden triangle lies at its centre, where you’ll find upscale cafés and luxury boutiques. Make a beeline for the Cathedrale Saint-Andre with its freestanding belltower and gothic royal entrance. 

Elsewhere, the riverfront esplanade – its quays lined with 18th-century mansions and lush public gardens – is one of the prettiest walks in Europe. 

Not surprisingly, Bordeaux scored five stars for its food and drink – and there are plenty of delicacies to sample alongside a glass of red, whether it's steak frites or the local custard-filled tart, traditionally flavoured with vanilla and rum. A night at a three or four-star hotel averages just £82 – less than half the price of Paris.

Don’t miss the ultra-modern Cité du Vin museum, its interactive displays covering 2,000 years of local winemaking. Your €22 ticket includes a free glass in the rooftop bar. 

Prague, Czech Republic

Known as ‘the City of a Hundred Spires’, the Czech capital’s myriad of streets brims with well-preserved, time-warp buildings and colourful Baroque architecture. 

Take a stroll along the river Vltava, which is crossed by a succession of bridges – including the landmark statue-lined Charles Bridge. 

Imposing Prague Castle, which was the seat of the Czech government for more than 1,000 years, dominates the skyline on the left bank. Highlights include the sinuous vaulted ceiling of the Vladislav Hall and the gothic St Vitus cathedral.

Prague may not be the shoestring destination it once was, but dining out is still famously inexpensive. Enjoy local classics (such as goulash and schnitzel) with a fresh half-litre of draught Pilsner Urquell at Prague’s longest – and loveliest – beer hall, Lokal.

Don’t miss the hourly parade of mechanical figures on the Old Town Hall’s astronomical clock – the oldest still in operation. 

Budapest, Hungary

The Hungarian capital is two cities for the price of one: Buda – a medieval, hilltop citadel painted in ochre, peach and cream – and Pest – a more modern affair created for an imperial age. Separated by the Danube, they united in 1873 to become the co-capital of Austria-Hungary. 

A spa day costs a small fortune in London; not so in Budapest. Szechenyi is one of Europe’s largest spa complexes with wedding cake columns and sun-terrace tiers. Alternate between its 16 pools – each heated to a different temperature – before enjoying a relaxing massage. 

For nightlife, the city’s ruin bars are quirky and inexpensive. Szimpla Kert, set in a crumbling, abandoned factory, is its oldest and most famous. It also holds a farmers market every Sunday, where producers showcase their finest meats, cheeses, honeys and jams.

Don’t miss a visit to the Royal Palace to see its collection of glorious Gothic altarpieces dripping in gilt. 

Valletta, Malta

Malta’s walled capital is not only located on a hilly peninsula between two of the Mediterranean’s finest natural harbours, it also enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine a year. 

Its tiny grid of narrow, well-preserved cobbled streets – full of quaint shops and cafés – is very walkable and easy to navigate. Stroll the 1km length of Republic Street to see Valetta’s main sights (rated four stars by visitors). 

St John’s Co-Cathedral – with its lavishly frescoed and gilded Baroque interiors – is not to be missed. Caravaggio’s brutal depiction of the beheading of John the Baptist, the largest of all his paintings, hangs in the oratory. 

Hotels are a bargain £74 a night and Valetta’s street-food scene will help you keep your holiday spending in check. Tasty local dishes such as rabbit stew, fresh swordfish and pea-filled pastries can be enjoyed on the city’s side streets – a foodie walking tour is the best way to experience them.

Don’t miss cruising the Grand Harbour on a dgħajsa, a traditional wooden water taxi, to enjoy Valletta’s fortifications from a different perspective.

Book a city break to Kraków, Prague or Budapest with Which? Recommended Provider Jet2 Holidays.