Belfast named among most expensive city breaks in Europe according to Post Office study

Belfast has been named as one of the most expensive city break destinations in Europe, according to a new study.

The annual Post Office City Costs Barometer compares common tourist costs in 37 European cities to reveal which destinations offer the best value for money for UK travellers. Its study is based on April exchange rates and it calculated the typical cost of two nights’ three star weekend accommodation, an evening meal for two, a range of drinks, sightseeing charges and city transport.

Holidaymakers looking for a bargain city break may want to consider heading to Vilnius, with the cost of a trip to the Lithuanian capital coming in at £237. Amsterdam, however, was the most expensive city in the research, with a typical cost of £669.

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The cost of a Belfast break was put at £629, making it more expensive than Dublin (£579) for the first time in the Post Office’s 17th annual cost comparison. The Northern Ireland city was the second most expensive city break destination on the list.

The Post Office said the strengthening of sterling over the past year helped to keep the cost of city breaks down in many of the countries it looked at. They also found other locations where tourists may be able to find value.

Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at Post Office said: “It’s important to remember that the cost of meals and drinks need to be added to the spending budget as city break holidays rarely include these items.

“Over the course of two or three days, these can make a big difference to holiday costs and the low prices we found for meals and drinks in Lisbon and Athens make these cities strong contenders for a bargain break.”

The five cheapest European city breaks

Here are the five cheapest cities, with the typical cost, according to the Post Office research:

1. Vilnius, £237

2. Lisbon, £264

3. Lille, £278

4. Krakow, £279

5. Athens, £289

The five most expensive European city breaks

And here are the five most expensive cities:

1. Amsterdam, £669

2. Belfast, £629

3. Edinburgh, £602

4. Helsinki, £587

5. Venice, £582

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