Riga has been named the European city where British holidaymakers will get the most for their money this summer.
The Latvian capital topped the annual Post Office Travel Money City Costs Barometer of 38 European cities following a 15% fall in prices.
Two nights in a three-star hotel averaged £123, and the cost of 11 other typical city break items, such as meals, drinks and sightseeing, came in at £130, making a total cost of £253 for a two-night break.
Meanwhile, prices in Vilnius, which came in second place, rose 7.5% to £254, largely due to the cost of accommodation.
Warsaw (3rd, £277) and new survey entrant Podgorica (4th, £282), the capital of Montenegro, completed the top four cities.
Lisbon, Lille, Gdansk, Krakow, Porto and Zagreb made up the top 10.
Post Office researchers found that costs for tourist items, including a three-course meal for two, a cup of coffee, a bottle of beer, airport transfers, a sightseeing bus tour and a travel card, have fallen in half of the cities surveyed.
Helsinki saw the biggest drop, with prices plummeting 20%, putting the Finnish capital in 21st place in the rankings, up from 34th the previous year.
Oslo was named the most expensive city to visit, with Copenhagen and Edinburgh taking second and third place, respectively.
Venice took fourth and Berlin rounded off the top five after seeing prices rise 20% in the last 12 months.
A lack of three-star tourist accommodation pushed up the cost of two-night hotel stays by as much as 28% in Berlin and 24% in Athens.
However, just over half of the European cities surveyed had more accommodation available, which resulted in lower prices in 20 cities. For example, prices in Amsterdam fell 19.5% last year and 29% compared with 2023. Accommodation pricesfell by 39% in Helsinki, 23% in both Porto and Warsaw, 22% in Vienna and 21% in Paris and Riga.
Closer to home, Cardiff (17th, £375) ranked as the cheapest of the three British capitals surveyed, following an 8.3% drop in prices. Prices fell by just 0.1% in both London (26th, £523) and Edinburgh (36th, £602).
Post Office Head of Travel Money Laura Plunkett said: “Although city break holidaymakers need to keep a watchful eye on exchange rates, the real challenge will be the cost of accommodation in the cities Britons are considering.
“Successive City Costs Barometers have found big swings in hotel costs depending on how many rooms are available in peak months. This year is no different and rising – or falling – hotel prices can have a big impact on city break costs.”
Cheapest cities*
Riga
Vilnius
Warsaw
Podgorica
Lisbon
Lille
Gdansk
Krakow
Porto
Zagreb
Most expensive cities*
Oslo
Copenhagen
Edinburgh
Venice
Berlin
Amsterdam
Geneva
Dublin
Barcelona
Florence
*According to Post Office Travel Money
