Monday 17 August 2026

• 18 city breaks can be enjoyed on a daily budget of less than £100 per person, including accommodation this September -
• Tirana, Albania, is the best value city break destination -

Trusted travel agency Thomas Cook has revealed where your holiday budget can go the furthest if you’re considering a city break in Europe this Autumn.

The research, analysing cost factors in 51 popular European city destinations, shows there are 18 cities offering a full day of sightseeing, food and refreshments, local transport and accommodation in a mid-range hotel for under £100 a day, per person.

Of all the city breaks that offer exceptional value, Tirana, Albania, comes up top, with an average daily cost of just £51 (or roughly €59) this September. The equivalent break in Amsterdam could cost holidaymakers £305 (approximately €353) a day, meaning savvy travellers could save over £1,200 on a five-day city break simply by choosing their destination wisely.

Tirana, Albania’s capital city, boasts beautiful architecture, a lively café scene and easy access to beaches, national parks and lakes. While Albania has become one of Europe’s fastest-growing tourism markets, it’s still a hidden gem, so tourists can enjoy much quieter sightseeing and all-round great value. In the past year alone, Thomas Cook Albania holidays have seen bookings increase by over 300%.

There is an abundance of three-star accommodation options (116) with an average cost of £27.50 per person, per night in early September - offering holidaymakers great value on what is typically the most expensive part of the trip. Foodies will be delighted by the low cost of eating out, too. The average price of dinner at an inexpensive restaurant is £7, while a coffee (£1.73) and a local beer (£1.31) are also very affordable.

You can also explore the Tirana’s history and culture at affordable prices, with the average cost of paid attractions coming in at under £4. The city's Blloku district, once reserved exclusively for Communist Party elites, is now Tirana's trendiest quarter, packed with café terraces, bars and independent boutiques.

Bucharest, the capital of Romania, comes in as the second most affordable European city break. It earned the nickname, Little Paris when prominent French and European architects were hired to redesign the city's centre. Bucharest now has an eclectic architectural mix, from the Palace of the Parliament, one of the world's largest administrative buildings, to the neoclassical Romanian Athenaeum.

With an average daily cost of just £57 (€66) per person, it’s no wonder searches on the internet are up over 300% in the past year for this up-and-coming destination.

Average accommodation prices are around £27 per person per night and with 176 three-star options to choose from, tourists aren’t short of choices. Eating out is also very affordable, with dinner costing just £10 on average and lunch at a fast-food restaurant costing under £6. 

While paid-for tourist attractions are slightly more expensive than in Tirana, at just under £8 on average, tourists can still get great value for money. A daily bus pass (£1.32) is also inexpensive, offering tourists hassle-free travel around the city. 

Antalya, a city on Turkey's coastline, offers tourists great value too (£67 or €78 a day). This includes affordable accommodation (£31), and the cost of eating out is among the lowest in the study. Both dinner and fast-food lunches can cost as little as £7. 

However, the average cost of tourist attractions is slightly higher than that of other affordable destinations on the list, at £16.45. Budget-conscious visitors can also explore attractions such as Kaleiçi, Antalya’s Old Town and Hadrian’s Gate for free, making it easy to soak up the city's atmosphere without spending a penny.

Poland’s capital, Warsaw, offers great value for tourists too, with an average daily cost of £68. The city’s Old Town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site after it was meticulously rebuilt after WWII. Aside from its historical significance, it boasts a vibrant nightlife and cultural scene. For smart spenders, the city’s top museums and galleries also offer free admission on set days. 

Accommodation costs an average of £35 per person per night, while the average cost of tourist attractions is under £7. Eating out is also affordable, with an average dinner costing just over £9, while lunch at a fast-food restaurant is around £8.

Rounding up the top five most affordable European city breaks is Istanbul, Turkey. Turkey’s largest city boasts incredible architecture, history, and a bustling cultural scene. It’ll cost travellers around £71 (€82) a day to enjoy a full day out in the city. 

Hotels in Istanbul are among the most affordable in the study, costing under £25 per person per night at a three-star hotel on average. Eating out is also affordable, with dinners and lunches costing a roughly £8 and £7, respectively. Getting around the city is also hassle-free thanks to an extensive public transit system; a daily bus pass will cost travellers just £3.40.   

Nicholas Smith, Dynamic Packages Director at Thomas Cook commented:  

“Our research shows British holidaymakers can find great value when planning a European city break and there are amazing experiences to discover beyond the likes of Paris, London and Rome.

“Eastern European and Turkish city destinations consistently deliver affordability and with growing tourism numbers, they won’t remain a secret for long!

“We have also explored which European city breaks deliver on quality of experience, alongside value. You can find out which cities perform the best on both here.”

-ENDS-

Methodology    

For this study, a seed list of popular European city break destinations was created using annual visitor numbers from Euromonitor and cities of growth for Thomas Cook, totalling 51 cities. The data was accessed and compiled between the 11th – 29th of June 2026, including all conversions from GBP to Euro. Each data point consists of the latest research available at a city level from reputable sources and focused on daily rates during early September for an off-peak holiday. 

The under £100 cities were calculated based on all cost metrics. These were then ranked for the lowest costing cities. For a more in-depth methodology including a sources list, please contact one of the below media contacts.

Inquiries: 

Amy Walton, Head of Content

Amy.walton@screamingfrog.co.uk

Laura Pisanello, PR Manager 

Laura.pisanello@screamingfrog.co.uk 

01491 415070      

About Thomas Cook UK

In September 2020, Thomas Cook, one of the most recognisable names in travel, returned as an online-only travel business. It is now part of the Polish-based travel company eSky Group, which owns and operates brands like eSky and eDestinos in 50 markets across the globe. 
 
With ATOL-protected holidays and city breaks, the new Thomas Cook allows customers to design their own trip according to their budget, needs, and specifications. Customers can fly from all major UK airports with direct flights from all major carriers, thousands of hotels to choose from, and add-ons including travel insurance and transfers. Visit: https://www.thomascook.com/