Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, has claimed its position as the best value city for city break enthusiasts. Its costs are over 10% lower than runner-up Lisbon and less than half compared to 18 other cities.
Vilnius city in Lithuania PHOTO: getyourguide. com
According to Forbes, travelers looking for a short vacation in Europe this year have reason to be satisfied. A new report that looked at cities across the continent found that prices have fallen in 60% of destinations.
The report by a British institution compared the prices of city breaks in 37 European cities, both overall and for specific items such as accommodation, meals and cultural attractions. The top 10 is dominated by Eastern European destinations.
Which city in Europe is the cheapest for a holiday?
Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, is the city with the best price. Its costs are over 10% lower than runner-up Lisbon and less than half of 18 other cities.
In second place, Lisbon in Portugal is still the best value city in Western Europe. Despite a 26% increase in the average cost of three-star accommodation, prices remain good for meals, drinks and other tourist goods. Lille in France climbed seven places to third, helped by a 30% drop in accommodation costs.
The most expensive destination
The city of Amserdam in the Netherlands is the most expensive destination in the study. That's despite the Dutch city seeing an 8.3% drop in prices, the ninth biggest drop of all those surveyed. Belfast is the most expensive of the UK capitals, closely followed by Edinburgh.
Vilnius, the cheapest city in Europe
Vilnius is the beautiful, pocket-sized capital of Lithuania. The delicate, pastel-painted old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“You can spend hours wandering through its architectural design, from lavish Baroque civil buildings to Gothic churches. Admire the highly ornate 15th-century rose-stoned St. Anne's Church and the gleaming white neoclassical cathedral in the square of the same name. In front of the building, you will find Stebuklas tile (which translates to “miracle” in English). It marks the starting point of the Baltic Way, a human chain formed on August 23, 1989 by two million people in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – the longest uninterrupted human chain in history – as an act of protest against the Soviet occupation”writes Forbes.
Where to eat cheaply in Vilnius
Budget travelers looking for cheap eats have many options in Vilnius. The city is known for its cantinas – cheap and cheerful restaurants serving Soviet-era cuisine. At Zilvino Restoranas, you can enjoy a bowl of flavorful beetroot soup borscht or šiupininė sriuba (aka hangover soup) for less than three euros.
At Sultiniai you can enjoy sarmales filled with pork called fanadiiai or the much-loved national dish cepelinai made of potatoes and meat dumplings.
