Europe 3-Star Traveler Index for 2013: 47 cities by price

All new for 2013 and in its third full year, the 3-Star Europe Index has been updated to reflect current prices in 47 major tourist destinations all over the continent. You’ll notice that the cheapest cities on the list below can be visited for only one-fourth of the money of the most expensive, so choosing where to spend your time can make a huge difference in your overall budget.

Fortunately, most prices were fairly stable through 2012, and hotels (and hostels) are now actually a bit cheaper in many cities compared to the previous year. With inflation generally low and the economy in Europe continuing to struggle, we expect flat prices this year along with more deals on hotel rooms.

Are you a hostel person rather than a hotel person?

If you prefer hostel dorm beds to private hotel rooms then check the Europe Backpackers Index for 2013, which is aimed at budget travelers. The rankings are also quite different in some cases, as cheap dorms are available in some cities where hotel rooms aren’t quite so cheap.

How the 3-Star Traveler Index works

We take a fixed set of typical expenses that every traveler will encounter, and apply them to each of the 47 major European tourist cities. Local prices are obviously a huge component in the final total, but currency exchange rates can heavily influence the total as well. Some cities can be quite affordable one year and a bit pricey the next, even if the only thing that’s changed is the exchange rate.

Note: The 3-star Traveler Index is based on two people sharing hotel rooms and taxis.

Costs for each city

• One night in the cheapest 3-star hotel available with a desirable central location and mostly positive reviews. Hotel prices are per person based on double occupancy, so the full nightly rate is double what is listed for each city here.
• Two 3-kilometer taxi rides per day (one ride paid per person)
• One cultural attraction, such as a popular museum, per day
• Three meals per day using the top end of the range of our “budget meals” for each city
• Three beers (or wine) each day as an “entertainment fund.” Non-drinkers might have dessert and coffee or attend a local music performance instead, so this is a general benchmark that should be proportional for each city.

Related information

>>>18 Cheapest European cities and airports for trans-Atlantic flights

Price of Travel’s European 3-star Index for 2013

From cheapest to most expensive

Exchange rates were calculated in January, 2013

1 – Sofia, Bulgaria (cheapest)

It’s not easy to reach for most travelers and there is a lack of classic and famous sights in Sofia, but those who do reach Europe’s cheapest tourist city can at least stretch their budgets a long way. The city center is quite trendy and nice, with plenty of outdoor cafes and interesting restaurants and clubs, so it’s hardly what you’d expect for the cheapest city in Europe.

• Currency: Bulgaria Leva
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Central Perk Apartments – 29.37
• Transportation: 4.00
• Meals: 24.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 9.00
• Attractions: 5.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: BGN71.37 = US$48.55/day

>>>Sofia prices and weather

2 – Bucharest, Romania

It may be relatively cheap, but Bucharest still isn’t inviting a flood of cultural tourism. The slow-moving build-out of the tourist infrastructure is among the issues that keeps most travelers stopping elsewhere in Romania, but it’s still a favorite stop for many who are touring the region, and at least prices are very low once you arrive.

• Currency: Romanian leu
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Residence Villa Barrio – 65.18/night
• Transportation: 11.00
• Meals: 58.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 18.00
• Attractions: 12.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: RON164.18 – US$50.05/day

>>>Bucharest prices and weather

3 – Budapest, Hungary

An abundance of decent tourist hotels makes Budapest a fantastic bargain compared to other classic cities. As long as you don’t insist on staying right by the river and eating only at touristy restaurants with English menus, this city can be quite a bargain.

• Currency: Hungary Forint
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Central Green Hotel – 4913/night
• Transportation: 1350
• Meals: 3500
• Drinks/Entertainment: 1500
• Attractions: 800
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: HUF12063 – US$54.64.80/day

>>>Budapest prices and weather

4 – Krakow, Poland

By our judgement, Krakow is the best bargain in Europe, with a lovely and tranquil old town center combined with prices that seem weirdly low. There are certainly quite a few expensive (and touristy) restaurants and bars in obvious places, but just around the corner there will be plenty of less obvious places with great food and drinks at half the price.

• Currency: Polish Zlotych
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Saski – 94.54/night
• Transportation: 20.00
• Meals: 31.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 24.00
• Attractions: 12.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: PLN181.54 = US$58.00/day

>>>Krakow prices and weather

5 – Riga, Latvia

A real surprise considering how close it is to Scandinavia, Riga is still very cheap for Europe. This former Soviet area is not the sort of place you end up in accidentally on your way from one city to another, so the remoteness might help contribute to the fact that it’s not terribly well discovered by many Westerners yet.

• Currency: Latvian Lat
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Forums – 11.15/night
• Transportation: 4.00
• Meals: 8.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 5.60
• Attractions: 1.50
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: LVL30.25 – US$58.17/day

>>>Riga prices and weather

6 – Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

One of the more troubled parts of former Yugoslavia, Sarajevo is fighting an image problem with older travelers. It’s a shame because this is one of the most interesting cities in Europe, with a lively and welcoming Muslim old town at its heart. Sarajevo is also quite out of the way for most people, so it’s great that things are very cheap for those who make the effort.

• Currency: Converted Mark (Euro used here)
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Skend Guesthouse – 19.95/night
• Transportation: 4.00
• Meals: 14.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 6.00
• Attractions: 2.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €45.97 – US$61.29/day

>>>Sarajevo prices and weather

7 – Belgrade, Serbia

The low prices have helped Belgrade start showing up on the lists of party cities for weekend breaks with Europeans who live a cheap flight away. This is a large city with a lot of history, and relatively few problems compared to some of its neighbors. Quality is quite high, even in the lower price ranges, so Belgrade is a pleasant bargain for most visitors.

• Currency: Serbian Dinar (Euro used here)
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Balkan-Inn Apartments – 25.00/night
• Transportation: 4.50
• Meals: 14.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 6.00
• Attractions: 3.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €49.96 – US$66.61/day

>>>Belgrade prices and weather

8 – Bratislava, Slovakia

Considering that it’s practically within bicyling distance of Vienna, Bratislava continues to keep a low profile among the traveling set. This is another that is becoming popular with the weekend-break crowd, partly due to its reasonable prices, but also due to the fact that it’s quite international for a former Eastern city.

• Currency: Euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Apartments Blue Danube – 20.97/night
• Transportation: 5.50
• Meals: 16.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 6.00
• Attractions: 4.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €52.47 – US$69.96/day

>>>Bratislava prices and weather

9 – Kiev, Ukraine

Speaking of former Soviet cities that aren’t on the beaten path, Kiev is a long way from all of the popular Western European cities that travelers normally frequent, and this helps give it a frontier quality that will excite some and frustrate others. At least it’s quite cheap for the most part, although good hotels aren’t as cheap as most other things, so you might have to sacrifice quality in order to keep overall costs down.

• Currency: Ukraine Hryvnia
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Bratislava Hotel – 324.40/night
• Transportation: 35.00
• Meals: 130.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 75.00
• Attractions: 10.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: UHR574.40 – US$70.83/day

>>>Kiev prices and weather

10 – Tenerife, Spain

Technically part of Europe because it’s run by Spain, Tenerife is in the Canary Islands off the northwest coast of Africa, and it’s the most popular of them for English-speakers. The mild climate is good pretty much all year round so it’s a popular escape at any time. Fortunately it’s relatively cheap as well.

• Currency: Euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Aparthotel Los Dragos del Sur – 18.50/night
• Transportation: 6.00
• Meals: 20.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 9.00
• Attractions: 5.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €58.50 – US$78.00/day

>>>Tenerife prices and weather

11 – Saint Petersburg, Russia

Another city that seems likely to become more expensive faster than most of the others, Saint Petersburg is drawing larger crowds and becoming more tourist friendly each year. The top attractions here drive the cost up a bit, but are still well worth it. Getting a tourist visa isn’t easy for most, so you can’t just buy a ticket and pop on over. Most people consider it far nicer than Moscow, and fortunately hotels here are quite a bit cheaper as well.

• Currency: Russian ruble
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: GoodNight Hotel – 878/night
• Transportation: 100
• Meals: 570
• Drinks/Entertainment: 420
• Attractions: 400
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: RUB2368 – US$78.33/day

>>>Saint Petersburg prices and weather

12 – Warsaw, Poland

Warsaw is another city that rewards its visitors with reasonable prices, but is still not particularly popular, at least compared to the cheaper and more charming city of Krakow. Things do seem to be getting better and Poland is catching on with travelers looking to push into the east, so the future looks bright.

• Currency: Polish Zlotych
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Novotel Warszawa Centrum – 139.89/night
• Transportation: 20.00
• Meals: 47.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 30.00
• Attractions: 15.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: PLN251.89 – US$80.48/day

>>>Warsaw prices and weather

13 – Prague, Czech Republic

Prague’s main tourist areas have been insanely crowded (especially during summers) for well over a decade now, but the herds keep coming. This is still a great-value city considering what it has to offer, but prices are likely to keep creeping up so there’s no time like the present. Check out our editor’s choice Prague hotels for great locations and very good prices at high-rated properties.

• Currency: Czech krona
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Royal Bellezza Apartments – 665/night
• Transportation: 120
• Meals: 520
• Drinks/Entertainment: 120
• Attractions: 220
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: CZK1645 – US$85.63/day

>>>Prague prices and weather

14 – Istanbul, Turkey

This massive city seems to be gaining more traction even as its prices creep up noticeably. In years to come visitors might have to sleep outside the better neighborhoods to find bargains, but for now Istanbul continues to offer decent value at all price ranges. For the best deals check our list of editor’s choice Istanbul hotels that are all great value with excellent locations.

• Currency: Turkish lira
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Residence – 65.74/night
• Transportation: 8.50
• Meals: 33.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 27.00
• Attractions: 18.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: TRY152.24 – US$86.50/day

>>>Istanbul prices and weather

15 – Dubrovnik, Croatia

As long as a visitor doesn’t insist upon being directly in the heart of the old town, Dubrovnik can be quite affordable, especially for a coastal resort city. This is another that seems likely to get more expensive faster than most of the others on this list. The crowds are especially thick from June through August, so prices shoot up then and availability is limited.

• Currency: Croatian kruna
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Villa Vinka – 147.80/night
• Transportation: 65
• Meals: 150.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 84.00
• Attractions: 60.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: HRK506.80 – US$88.91/day

>>>Dubrovnik prices and weather

16 – Athens, Greece

Athens is another city that can be a relative bargain for the 3-star traveler, with some good and cheap hotels right in the main tourist zones. During summer the city does fill up, so it may not feel so affordable during high season. The recent troubles are keeping some people away, so it might be easier to find bargains this year, particularly with hotels.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Exarchion Hotel – 18.00/night
• Transportation: 4.00
• Meals: 26.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
• Attractions: 8.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €68.00 – US$90.67/day

>>>Athens prices and weather

17 – Zagreb, Croatia

Most travelers to Croatia head to the coast, so Zagreb isn’t really a tourist hot spot. For this reason, the hotel scene tends to be more business oriented, and prices are higher than we might otherwise expect. It’s worth a couple days if you are touring the area, and the old city center is teaming with nice outdoor restaurants with good prices.

• Currency: Croatian kruna
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: City Apartments – 246.38/night
• Transportation: 65
• Meals: 140
• Drinks/Entertainment: 66
• Attractions: 30
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: HRK547.38 – US$96.03/day

>>>Zagreb prices and weather

18 – Naples, Italy

Naples is certainly the cheapest of Italy’s main tourist cities, so it’s a shame that most people ignore it completely. Its reputation of being a bit rough around the edges shouldn’t keep you away, as the main tourist areas are very safe and pleasant. Hotel bargains are also relatively easy to find, and who can resist visiting the birthplace of pizza?

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Correra 241 Lifestyle Hotel – 23.75/night
• Transportation: 7.50
• Meals: 22.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
• Attractions: 9.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €74.25 – US$99.00/day

>>>Naples prices and weather

19 – Ibiza, Spain

This famous party island off of Spain is a pretty good bargain for the budget travel crowd during the season, as long as they aren’t too interested in going into any of the huge nightclubs that charge a fortune at the door and crazy-high prices for drinks once inside. If you are coming to participate in the club scene, you’ll be spending much more than what is listed below.

• Currency: Euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Marfil – 24.50/night
• Transportation: 9.00
• Meals: 23.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
• Attractions: 8.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €76.50 – US$102.00/day

>>>Ibiza prices and weather

20 – Tallinn, Estonia

An interesting city with influences of nearby Scandinavia and its recent Soviet past, Tallinn isn’t too easy to reach and it doesn’t seem to be talked about much, but at least it’s quite affordable so it should appeal to adventurous types who like to see some remaining east/west contrasts.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Dzingel Hotel – 20.40/night
• Transportation: 5.25
• Meals: 32.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
• Attractions: 5.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €77.90 – US$103.87/day

>>>Tallinn prices and weather

21 – Berlin, Germany

Everyone seems to be talking about Berlin these days, for good reason. Fortunately, its hotel scene is expanding rapidly as well, so high quality 3-star rooms are getting easier to find at affordable prices. Check our recommended hotels in Berlin list for some great choices that offer very low rates when they aren’t full up.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: EnergieHotel Berlin City West – 19.50/night
• Transportation: 9.50
• Meals: 32.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
• Attractions: 8.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €81.00 – US$108.00/day

>>>Berlin prices and weather

22 – Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is known for high standards among both hostels and hotels, and its reasonably prices help make it one of the better continuing travel bargains on the continent. The climate also helps make it one of the better spring or autumn destinations, so it’s a nice city-break for many Europeans.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: HF Fénix Urban – 27.50/night
• Transportation: 5.00
• Meals: 25.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
• Attractions: 6.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €82.50 – US$110.00/day

>>>Lisbon prices and weather

23 – Madrid, Spain

Except for the height of the peak season, there are usually plenty of good hotel options in Madrid, which helps keep prices fairly reasonable. Check our Editor’s choice Madrid hotels list for great bargains that are well located and well reviewed. The season here is long as well, which helps spread visitors out beyond July and August (when it’s really too hot to visit anyway).

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hostal Jerez – 28.03/night
• Transportation: 6.00
• Meals: 30.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
• Attractions: 9.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €85.03 – US$113.37/day

>>>Madrid prices and weather

24 – Reykjavik, Iceland

Continuing its remarkable turn-around from an affordability standpoint, Reykjavik isn’t much more expensive for higher-end visitors compared to backpackers, with relatively cheap hotels as long as you avoid the peak of summer. It seems likely that this new pricing structure will hang around for a while rather than be a short post-collapse fluke. Most visitors to Iceland only spend a day or two here before touring the natural beauty of the rest of the island, so even the relatively high prices of the city won’t be a problem for most.

• Currency: Iceland kronur
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: CenterHotel Skjaldbreid – 5650/night
• Transportation: 1200
• Meals: 4400
• Drinks/Entertainment: 2700
• Attractions: 1000
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: ISK14950 – US$116.34/day

>>>Reykjavik prices and weather

25 – Edinburgh, Scotland

Though its abundance of hostels does make Edinburgh a good stop for budget travelers, the choices in nicer 3-star hotels are more limited. The main attractions are also a bit pricey too, and of course during the August festival season you can expect to pay far more for a bed or room if you can find one at all.

• Currency: British pound
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: The Point Hotel Edinburgh – 23.40/night
• Transportation: 5.00
• Meals: 22.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
• Attractions: 12.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: £74.40 – US$118.10/day

>>>Edinburgh prices and weather

26 – Dublin, Ireland

Ireland’s financial crisis appears to be taking the edge off what recently were some extremely expensive hotel prices. During our test period we found quite a few well-located 3-star bargains, so it might be time to consider visiting again after a run-up that put it out of many budget travelers’ budgets.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Jurys Inn Parnell Street Hotel – 29.25/night (including breakfast)
• Transportation: 10.00
• Meals: 31.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 18.00
• Attractions: 8.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €96.25 – US$128.33/day

>>>Dublin prices and weather

27 – Bruges, Belgium

While Bruges showed itself to be a good bargain on the backpackers list, it’s not quite so affordable for the 3-star set. The city has a huge number of hostels, which keeps the dorm-bed prices low, while the nicer hotels don’t compete so viciously. It’s still a lovely stop if you are in the area.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Martin’s Brugge – 37.50/night
• Transportation: 9.00
• Meals: 30.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
• Attractions: 5.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €196.50 – US$128.67/day

>>>Bruges prices and weather

28 – Hamburg, Germany

While Hamburg did legitimately come out quite cheap in this data, it’s really not known as an especially affordable city. The hotel scene can be overtaken by trade fairs and such, so depending on your timing it might be unusually cheap or frustratingly expensive.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Continental Novum – 42.75/night
• Transportation: 7.00
• Meals: 25.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
• Attractions: 10.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €96.75 – US$129.00/day

>>>Hamburg prices and weather

29 – Florence, Italy

Depending on the week you decide to come, Florence is usually a bit cheaper than Milan, but again, the hotels can be full and expensive or empty and reasonable at almost any time. This is another city where if you choose the timing of your visit wisely you can stick to a fairly low budget.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel La Venere – 39.00/night
• Transportation: 8.50
• Meals: 32.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 10.50
• Attractions: 7.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €97.00 – US$129.33/day

>>>Florence prices and weather

30 – Milan, Italy

Much like Hamburg mentioned above, Milan can be a real Jekyll or Hyde with hotel prices at nearly any time of year. During our test period we found great hotels at reasonable prices, which certainly means there are no trade fairs or other events in town. Most other times, Milan can be brutal for the 3-star and up hotel crowd. Choose the week you stay wisely and Milan is very affordable. During trade fair weeks the same room will double or triple in price from the week before.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Eurohotel Milan – 39.50/night
• Transportation: 9.25
• Meals: 26.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
• Attractions: 10.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €99.75 – US$133.00/day

>>>Milan prices and weather

31 – Barcelona, Spain

With good hotel real-estate being harder to come by, Barcelona remains more expensive than Madrid in that department, but quite similar for most other things. During summer the rates jump much higher yet, so those trying to maximize their travel funds should consider a shoulder-season visit. See our recommended Barcelona hotels list for cheap and well located options that are highly rated as well.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Caledonian Hotel – 41.65/night
• Transportation: 5.75
• Meals: 30.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 13.50
• Attractions: 10.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €100.90 – US$134.53/day

>>>Barcelona prices and weather

32 – Munich, Germany

Munich is known as Germany’s most expensive city for tourists, and that can be dramatically higher depending on the season and what happens to be going on in town at the time. There are some slower periods where bargains are possible. During Oktoberfest, prices double or triple from this, so plan for that if you want to join in.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Royal – 37.53/night
• Transportation: 10.00
• Meals: 32.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
• Attractions: 8.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €102.53 – US$136.71/day

>>>Munich prices and weather

33 – Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Luxembourg City is another that is only a bit more expensive for the 3-star traveler than for the backpacker, probably due to better hotel competition and few hostel options. This city seems to be completely overshadowed by the neighboring countries, which is a shame.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Parc Bell-Vue – 49.30/night
• Transportation: 6.40
• Meals: 30.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
• Attractions: 3.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €103.70 – US$138.27/day

>>>Luxembourg City prices and weather

34 – Moscow, Russia

With another large contrast between the backpacker list and the 3-star list, Moscow comes up quite expensive for the traveler who expects Western comforts. The city is crammed with hotels that earn low marks from most visitors, indicating that standards still need to improve greatly for the mid-range tourist to be happy, even if the 5-star visitor is doing fine here.

• Currency: Russian ruble
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Delight 2450/night
• Transportation: 200
• Meals: 870
• Drinks/Entertainment: 360
• Attractions: 320
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: RUB4200 – US$138.93/day

>>>Moscow prices and weather

35 – Amsterdam, Netherlands

The compact nature of Amsterdam’s city center seems to help make it more expensive for the 3-star traveler and the backpacker as well. Its never-ending popularity means that all the accommodation within the main canal rings tends to be expensive, and many who stay outside that zone are not satisfied with where they end up. Choose among our recommended Amsterdam hotels for great locations and great value.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: ibis Amsterdam City Stopera – €49.50/night
• Transportation: 10.00
• Meals: 24.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
• Attractions: 12.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €110.50 – US$147.33/day

>>>Amsterdam prices and weather

36 – Vienna, Austria

Vienna is surprisingly expensive, but it’s worth a visit if you can manage it. Hotel prices here also tend to fluctuate pretty wildly from one week to the next so if you pick a week when not much is going on you might find a cheap hotel.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Suite Hotel 900 m zur Oper – 49/night
• Transportation: 8.50
• Meals: 32.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
• Attractions: 11.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €112.50 – US$150.00/day

>>>Vienna prices and weather

37 – Nice, France

As a major summer destination, Nice comes off as fairly reasonable on our data since we took hotel readings for May. During July and August this would probably be several places farther down this list, and the nearby towns of Antibes and Cannes are far more expensive still.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Brice Hôtel – 49.00/night
• Transportation: 10.50
• Meals: 31.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 18.00
• Attractions: 7.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €115.50 – US$154.00/day

>>>Nice prices and weather

38 – Helsinki, Finland

Perhaps a surprising entry here, Helsinki benefits from the fact that our test data was gathered for May hotel stays, and that’s still considered off-season here. During summer prices definitely go way up, but it’s still interesting to note that reasonable (for this area) prices are available just before the high season.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Scandic Grand Marina – 54.00/night
• Transportation: 12.00
• Meals: 30.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 18.00
• Attractions: 4.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €118.00 – US$157.33/day

>>>Helsinki prices and weather

39 – Copenhagen, Denmark

No surprises to see Copenhagen so far down this list, as it can be a budget-killer regardless of your preferred travel style. As lovely as it is, and as pleasant as the endless summer days can be, just about everything is weirdly expensive all over Scandinavia, and few bargains can be found even in the larger cities.

• Currency: Danish kroner
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Carlton Hotel Guldsmeden – 447.62/night
• Transportation: 65
• Meals: 175
• Drinks/Entertainment: 150
• Attractions: 70
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: DKK907.62 – US$161.79/day

>>>Copenhagen prices and weather

40 – Rome, Italy

Even with its relatively expensive (and very worthwhile) main attractions, Rome can be surprisingly affordable if you pick the right week to visit. During summer finding a good and cheap hotel can be very difficult, so it’s not an eternal bargain, but during spring and autumn there are sometimes great deals to be found. Choose from our recommended Rome hotels for some great bargains with very good locations and high quality.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Selene – 58.05/night
• Transportation: 8.00
• Meals: 32.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
• Attractions: 12.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €122.05 – US$162.73/day

>>>Rome prices and weather

41 – Brussels, Belgium

Another city that can be reasonable or very expensive depending on whether business people or bureaucrats are in town or not, Brussels is usually known for being pricey, but that isn’t always the case. It’s still debatable whether visiting is worthwhile at all, but it’s at least good to know that it isn’t always a budget buster at the same time.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Noga – 62.50/night
• Transportation: 9.00
• Meals: 30.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
• Attractions: 8.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €124.50 – US$166.00/day

>>>Brussels prices and weather

42 – Stockholm, Sweden

Even during May, which is still part of the off-season in Stockholm, hotels are very expensive. And during the high season of July and August things get ridiculous. This is truly a beautiful city filled with beautiful people, but it’s still hard to justify a visit when it’s so much more expensive than the cities above it on this list, most of which have plenty going for them as well.

• Currency: Swedish kronor
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Kungsbron Hotel – 447.40/night
• Transportation: 77
• Meals: 280
• Drinks/Entertainment: 195
• Attractions: 90
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: SEK1102.40 – US$169.08/day

>>>Stockholm prices and weather

43 – Oslo, Norway

As mentioned on our backpacker list, the good news with Oslo is that it’s just a one-day stop for most people who are either on their way to or from the wonderful scenery elsewhere in Norway. The bad news is that pretty much everything here is amazingly expensive, especially alcohol.

• Currency: Norwegian kroner
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Best Western Kampen Apartment Hotel – 352.00/night
• Transportation: 115
• Meals: 190
• Drinks/Entertainment: 210
• Attractions: 80
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: NOK947.00 – US$169.41/day

>>>Oslo prices and weather

44 – London, England

A huge supply of hostel beds helped put London much higher on the backpacker affordability list, but no such surplus of nicer hotels exists, so London takes its usual place as one of the most expensive cities in Europe. Those willing to stay in 1-star or 0-star hotels can find them in London, but prepare to be shocked at how little you get when you go that low. For our editors’ picks for excellent value accommodation see our recommended London hotels page.

• Currency: British pound
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Best Western Victoria Palace – 47.50/night
• Transportation: 8.00
• Meals: 30.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
• Attractions: 12.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: £112.50 – US$178.57/day

>>>London prices and weather

45 – Venice, Italy

Those who don’t mind staying on one of the nearby islands at night can save money while visiting Venice, though they also sacrifice much of the charm that can only be found before or after the huge tour groups set in for the day. This price reflects a good 3-star hotel in the heart of the main island, and it’s a bit surprising that prices aren’t higher. Check our list of recommended Venice hotels for great value and locations.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel San Gallo – 65.00/night
• Transportation: 13.00
• Meals: 39.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
• Attractions: 6.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €138.00 – US$184.00/day

>>>Venice prices and weather

46 – Paris, France

Generally speaking, Paris is at least a little cheaper than many cities on this list, but the hotel scene can be tricky. For a convenient location and very good reviews, it will cost you, though many people are quite happy staying in a mediocre hotel or a bit out of the way. The fact that you can stay in almost any district and quickly get to the main attractions on the Metro seems to open up more options for visitors. During summer things can get quite crowded, however, even as half the locals have fled for the beaches. See our recommended Paris hotels for our editors’ picks for great value, location, and well-reviewed properties.

• Currency: euro
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Agora Saint Germain – 70.00/night
• Transportation: 10.50
• Meals: 31.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 18.00
• Attractions: 9.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €138.50 – US$184.67/day

>>>Paris prices and weather

47 – Zurich, Switzerland

No prizes for guessing this one, especially considering that Zurich also came out on top on our recent survey of world taxi prices. Even then, it’s remarkable how expensive things are in this city dominated by rich bankers and others on expense accounts. Fortunately, Switzerland has plenty of other and better tourist destinations, and even though they also tend to be pricey, at least there are some cheaper options available for those willing to look around or stay a bit out of town.

• Currency: Swiss franc
• Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Bristol Zurich – 77.25/night
• Transportation: 21.00
• Meals: 45.00
• Drinks/Entertainment: 27.00
• Attractions: 17.00
• Daily 3-star Traveler Index: CHF187.75 – US$201.88/day

>>>Zurich prices and weather

Notes on the above data

The hotel prices were all gathered in late March for the exact same early-May dates for every city. A number of the more business-oriented cities had somewhat unpredictable outcomes, with most showing lower hotel prices than expected for our test period. It would be far more complicated to run these tests for each week of the year, so we mentioned these possible aberrations in the descriptions for each city. At the very least, this shows that these cities can be cheap if your timing is good.

For the food and drink prices we took the top-end of our estimates for “budget breakfasts” and so forth. This should allow for plenty of flexibility in choosing dining options in each city, but it does not account for Michelin-star restaurants, as this is a 3-star index rather than a luxury index. The prices for high-end restaurants vary far too much to be meaningful here, so we chose a reasonable and lower standard, that should allow for meals and drinks in hotel restaurants and bars, rather than at the cheapest places in town.

How to use the 3-Star Traveler Index information

The purpose of this index is to get a general sense of typical traveler costs in each city in Europe. As you can see, the cheapest city is over four times cheaper than the most expensive, so this information can help travelers choose destinations on based partly on how far their budget will go in each city.

The hotels chosen for this comparison are all of reasonably high 3-star standards and with good central locations. In many cities you can save a fair amount of money by staying in a 2-star hotel or staying farther from the city center.

Shopping, whether for souvenirs or clothing, is not included in these totals. Generally, souvenir prices will be proportional to the overall index price, but name-brand clothing tends to vary far less from one city to another.

You could use the main index price as a good indicator of a daily budget, per person, for each city, though obviously there are many ways to save or spend more wherever you go.