European city breaks divide cleanly by daily-cost tier. Here's the honest sort by budget.
€80-€120/day (per person, hotel + meals + transit)
- Sofia, Belgrade, Bucharest: Genuinely budget. Lipscani stays €60-€100.
- Sarajevo: €40-€80 hotels, €5-€10 lunches, the whole trip is value.
- Brașov, Cluj: Transylvania still cheap.
- Kraków: Starting to creep up but still doable at €100/day.
- Budapest: €120/day with restraint.
€120-€200/day
- Lisbon, Porto: Recently more expensive but still under €200.
- Madrid, Seville, Valencia: Spain still good value if you book ahead.
- Athens: €130-€180/day comfortable.
- Istanbul: Currency volatility helps; €100-€150/day.
- Prague, Vienna: €150-€200/day.
- Berlin: €160-€220/day.
€200-€280/day
- Rome, Florence: €200-€280/day comfortable. Premium during high season.
- Paris: €220-€300/day with care; easily €400/day if you don't try.
- London: £180-£250/day comfortable, easily double in central.
- Amsterdam: €230-€300/day.
€280+/day
- Venice high season: €350+/day.
- Santorini: €350-€600/day for caldera-side.
- Dubrovnik high season: €280-€450/day.
- Switzerland anywhere (Zurich, Geneva): €350+/day baseline.
- Norway (Oslo, Bergen): €280-€400/day.
- Iceland: €300-€450/day.
What inflates the budget
- Walk-up hotel rates (book ahead): 30-50% premium.
- Touristy restaurants: €15-€20 cheaper restaurants exist 2 streets off the main strip everywhere.
- Taxi instead of metro: €30-€50/day extra.
- Day-tour packages: Almost always cheaper to DIY.
- Mini-bar and hotel restaurant: 200-300% premium over street alternatives.
How to halve any budget
- Book hotels 3+ months ahead.
- Stay one neighborhood out from the central tourist core.
- Lunch as the main meal (set lunches are 30-50% cheaper than dinner).
- Walk-and-metro instead of taxi.
- Off-season — late October, November, January-February for Mediterranean cities.
For specific budget guides see where money stretches.