Winter is an ideal time for a budget-friendly getaway, as the lack of warm weather tends to put off sun-seeking holidaymakers.
There are a number of European cities that come to life in winter, with the dark nights and twinkling lights creating magical atmospheres.
With so many amazing places to choose from, savvy travellers will be searching for trips that are kind to their bank balances.
Since 2021 DiscoverCars.com have ranked the best budget-friendly winter getaway destinations to discover which European cities are the best for cheap and memorable winter trips.
To determine the rankings, they analysed a number of factors such as the number of cheap restaurants, the price of the city’s biggest attraction and the average cost of a week-long hotel stay.
For the third consecutive year Krakow, a favourite with British tourists, has been deemed the best budget-friendly winter getaway destination.
Speaking on the outcome of the new rankings, Aleksandrs Buraks at DiscoverCars.com said: “Our latest exploration into the best winter getaway destinations that are budget-friendly proved extremely interesting, producing some intriguing results.
“Overall, it was extremely impressive to see Krakow retain the top spot for the third year running. With the cheapest car rental and hotel prices, it’s easy to see why it remains a go-to option for travellers.”
The top five destinations for a budget-friendly winter getaway were:
1. Krakow, Poland
The gorgeous city of Krakow has claimed top spot for the third year in a row, with the Polish city receiving a score of 38 out of 50.
A popular destination for UK-based travellers, the city proved to be a great budget-friendly option due to hotel costs for a week-long stay (£441.40) and the number of affordable restaurants dotted throughout the city (665).
Flights from London Heathrow to Krakow will set you back £134.80 on average.
2. Prague, Czechia
Following closely behind as the second most budget-friendly winter getaway destination is Prague, with a score of 37 out of 50.
The stunning Czech capital is another favourite of British tourists and is home to a whopping 1,206 affordable restaurants, offering visitors plenty of eateries to choose from. Flights from London Heathrow to Prague Airport will set you back £129.50 on average.
3. Brussels, Belgium
Narrowly behind in third place with a score of 36 out of 50 is the capital city of Belgium, Brussels.
Scoring well for the cost of entry to its most popular attraction, a visit to the Grand Palace is free of charge.
There are 660 affordable food establishments throughout the beautiful Belgian city, and the cost of a flight from London Heathrow costs £98.30 on average – the cheapest anywhere on the list.
Overall, there are 660 cheap food establishments throughout Brussels and the cost of a flight from Heathrow is £98.30 on average – the cheapest in the entire ranking.
4. Paris, France
Perhaps surprisingly the romantic city of Paris comes in at number four, with a score of 33 out of 50 points.
Widely regarded as an affluent and stylish city, France’s capital city is a great budget-friendly option throughout winter due to its cheap flight costs (£102.90 from London Heathrow).
Famous for its spectacular cuisine, there are a mouth-watering 2,546 affordable restaurants for budget-conscious foodies to enjoy.
5. Budapest, Hungary
Rounding off the top five is Hungary’s capital city, Budapest, with a score of 29 out of 50.
Budapest is home to a total of 807 affordable places to eat, and its biggest and most iconic attraction, the Hungarian Parliament Building, is available to visit for £22.34.
The top five most budget-friendly European winter getaway destinations are:
- Krakow, Poland
- Prague, Czechia
- Brussels, Belgium
- Paris, France
- Budapest, Hungary
