Debrecen, a city in Hungary's Northern Great Plain region, has been named Europe's cheapest destination for a pint of beer, with a lager costing as little as 79p. This is more than six times cheaper than the average price in London, where a pint now costs £5.90.
According to price comparison site Skyscanner, return flights from Luton Airport to Debrecen can be as low as £23, with a journey time of under three hours. The city's affordability extends beyond beer, offering attractions such as the Reformatus Nagytemplom cathedral, a museum of Hungarian culture, a zoo, and a theme park.
In contrast, the UK has seen significant price rises. Office for National Statistics data shows the average price of a pint of draught lager in pubs rose by 12.1% between August 2022 and August 2023, from £4.12 to £4.65. Even Derby, deemed the UK's cheapest city for a pint at £3, cannot compete with Debrecen's prices.
Other European destinations offering cheap pints include Lanzarote, where beers start at £2, the Algarve with pints from £2, and Zagreb at £2.44. Travellers are advised to avoid peak seasons for the best deals.
