Anna Pagani is no stranger to long journeys. She has spent thousands of euros and countless hours criss-crossing Europe’s train tracks since pledging not to take flights a couple of years ago.
17.05.2024 - 11:27 / forbes.com
Travelers looking for a budget break in Europe this year have something to smile about. A new report that surveyed cities on the continent found costs are down in 60% of destinations.
The UK Post Office’s annual travel money report compares the prices of short breaks in 37 cities across Europe both overall and for specific items like accommodation, meals and cultural attractions.
The top 10 is dominated by Eastern European destinations. Here’s which city came out top as the cheapest on the continent.
Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, has reclaimed its crown as the best-value city. Its costs are more than 10% lower than runner-up Lisbon and less than half those of 18 other cities.
Second-placed Lisbon in Portugal is still the best-value Western European city. Despite a 26% rise in the average cost of three-star accommodation, prices remain good for meals, drinks and other tourist commodities. Lille in France has leapt up seven places to third, helped by a 30% fall in accommodation costs.
Amsterdam is the most expensive destination in the survey. That’s despite the Dutch city recording an 8.3% fall in prices, the ninth-largest drop of all those surveyed. Belfast is the most expensive of the UK’s capitals, followed closely by Edinburgh.
Vilnius is Lithuania’s pretty, pocket-sized capital. The dainty, pastel-painted Old Town is a UNESCO world heritage site. You can spend hours wandering its confection of architecture from lavish baroque civil buildings to gothic churches. Admire the rosy-stoned, highly ornate 15th-century church of St Anne and the gleaming white neo-classical cathedral in the homonymous square.
In front of the building, you’ll find the Stebuklas (translating as “miracle” in English) tile. This marks the starting point of the Baltic Way, a human chain formed on 23 August 1989 by two million people across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania—the longest unbroken human chain in history—as an act of protest against Soviet occupation.
Lithuania became the first republic to declare independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 but it doesn’t hide that side of its history in the capital. The Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights— more commonly known as the “KGB museum” after it was used as the Soviet secret police’s former HQ—is a powerful record of the persecution and mass deportation of Lithuanians by Stalin’s forces. In the basement, you’ll get a harrowing glimpse into the conditions of those imprisoned and tortured.
Budget travelers looking for cheap eats are spoilt for choice in Vilnius. The city is known for its canteens - cheap and cheerful restaurants serving Soviet-era dishes. At Zilvino Restoranas, you can enjoy a bowl of the flavor-packed beetroot soup borscht or šiupininė sriuba (nicknamed
Anna Pagani is no stranger to long journeys. She has spent thousands of euros and countless hours criss-crossing Europe’s train tracks since pledging not to take flights a couple of years ago.
European Waterways, the premier luxury hotel barge cruising company, renowned for curating immersive journeys that unveil the essence of Europe’s captivating regions, is pleased to announce a collection of new and enhanced excursions. These private, tailor-made adventures are designed to elevate guest experiences, offering deeper connections to the rich history, vibrant local culture, and exquisite food and wine of each locale.
The official start of summer is still a few weeks away, and the airline network planners haven't been taking any vacations just yet.
June is officially Pride month, and it's not too late to make travel plans to celebrate Pride in major cities nationwide (or book an LGBTQIA+ cruise). Hotel rates and airfare may be higher this short in advance, but you can save money by using points and miles. We found an array of flight and hotel options that can still be booked with points at a good value. Pride is a wonderful celebration of equality, freedom and sacrifice, and any of these events would make for a fun weekend getaway.
Lie-flat beds have historically been reserved for business and first-class travelers, but Chinese aircraft services provider Ameco has developed a new bed-equipped product called the "Fly-Buddy Hub."
ForwardKeys and ETOA predict a robust summer 2024 for European travel, with a shift in preferences toward urban and nature destinations, highlighting London’s popularity due to the Paris Olympics.
The Paris Olympics are almost here, and Uber is ready to celebrate with a pair of new experiences allowing riders to toast their way through France and ride along the Seine on a free boat tour.
Construction chaos, price hikes and now mandatory QR codes to walk some city streets: As the Olympics loom in Paris, many locals are already looking to escape the Games, and come July, will head to quieter parts of France.
As the world’s most visited country, France is no stranger to welcoming tourists. But even by its own busy standards, 2023 was an absolute record-breaker. However, the dynamic will be slightly different this summer.
Booking a beach vacation along one of Europe’s most attractive coastlines comes with a surprisingly reasonable price tag this year. According to the UK Post Office’s annual holiday money report, costs in this cliff-lined, golden sand destination have gone down compared to last year.
What better time to try new restaurants, bars and shows than springtime in New York City? We’ve said goodbye to the winter cold and the sweltering summer heat is still a few weeks away, making it the ideal season to explore. Whether you’re local or visiting the city from abroad, here are some great venues and experiences to try.
Finally, temperatures are rising, making it enjoyable to stroll through the sunny streets of Paris while visiting some galleries. At least, that’s what Vogue France suggests this May. From the first solo exhibition in France of American artist Gwen O'Neil to the unforgettable works of painter Marc Chagall, the editors of Vogue France have selected these as the must-see exhibitions in Paris (and elsewhere in France), presented in chronological order of their closing dates.