Sarajevo has been named the cheapest city break in Europe for 2026, according to the Post Office Travel Money City Costs Barometer. The Bosnian capital offers a weekend away for just £248, including three-star accommodation, meals, drinks, transport, and sightseeing.
The report surveyed 50 destinations, with eight of the top 10 most affordable cities located in Eastern Europe. Following Sarajevo are Bucharest (£258), Tirana (£263), Belgrade (£265), and Trenčín (£272). All five are now accessible via direct flights from the UK.
In Western Europe, Lille (£289) and Strasbourg (£319) were the best value, ranking seventh and ninth respectively. Both are reachable by Eurostar and train. Lisbon dropped from fifth to 16th place due to a 22% price rise compared to last year.
Hotel price increases were a key factor in more expensive trips to Gdansk, Helsinki, Lisbon, Ljubljana, Porto, Prague, and Warsaw. Among UK capitals, Cardiff (£378) offered the best value in 21st place, while Edinburgh (£668) ranked 48th due to high hotel costs.
Scandinavian cities Oslo (£734) and Copenhagen (£671) were the most expensive, nearly triple the cost of Sarajevo. Laura Plunkett, head of Travel Money at Post Office, highlighted Lille and Strasbourg as compelling choices for those preferring surface travel.
