Valentine’s Day: These Are the Cheapest European Capital Cities for a Weekend Away

A new study has named Skopje in North Macedonia as the cheapest Valentine’s Day weekend getaway out of any European capital.
Including the cost of cinema tickets, wine, a three-course meal, and a hotel stay for two nights, a trip costs $192.99 on average – $25 cheaper than Sarajevo, which ranked second most affordable.
Other top locations include Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Podgorica in Montenegro.

A new study has revealed the cheapest European capitals for a weekend away this Valentine’s Day.

The research, conducted by expert casino analysts SlotsCalendar.com, looked at four different metrics to determine the cheapest European capital cities for a Valentine’s Day getaway.

Using the cost of living site, Numbeo, they calculated the average cost of a three-course meal for two, two bottles of wine, and two cinema tickets in each European capital. They then used Kayak.com to find the average cost of a hotel stay between the 14th – 16th February. The total cost of these four metrics was calculated, and each city was ranked from cheapest to most expensive.

Top 20 cheapest European capitals for a Valentine’s Day weekend

The study named Skopje in North Macedonia as the cheapest location for a weekend stay, costing $192.99. The city is in the Northern region of the country, and for a getaway it’ll cost just $112.53 to stay in a hotel between the 14th – 16th February. In addition to this, dates come cheap with an average cinema ticket costing $5.87 per person, and a three-course meal at a restaurant averaging $28.49. According to Tripadvisor, the top-rated thing to do is visit Lake Matka, which couples can easily get to from the city center.

In second place is Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. An underrated city, here a weekend getaway with dates included costs $218.54. A cinema date costs $5.27 each, and a dinner date will set you back just $26.36 per person, making the city a really affordable date night. There’s plenty of exploring to do around the city too with its historic old bazaar neighborhood Baščaršija.

In third place is Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, costing $239.66. An average bottle of wine costs just $5.15, and a cinema ticket comes out at $5.15 per person. The city is just north of Lake Skadar, so not only do you have cheap restaurant dates ($41.24 per person for three courses), but there’s plenty of nature around to explore.

Ranking in fourth place is Armenia’s capital, Yerevan. A stay will set you back just $262.74 over the Valentine’s Day weekend, with a cinema date costing $6.27, and a three-course meal at a restaurant costing $50.12 each. To stay at a hotel in the city costs just $129.92 for the weekend. According to Tripadvisor users, the Eduard Isabekyan Gallery Yerevan is the top-rated thing to do in the city, with the Yerevan Park, an amusement park, rated second best.

Ranking fifth is Tirana in Albania. Here, a romantic getaway will cost $278.03. The city is surrounded by green mountains and is known for being the greenest capital in Southeastern Europe, so there are plenty of opportunities for nature-based dates. As for a standard three-course meal at a restaurant, it’ll cost just $52.57 each, and a cinema date will cost $8.41 per person on average with a bottle of wine to start or end the evening costing $10.51.

In sixth place is Sofia, Bulgaria, with a weekend getaway costing $284.91. The city is located atop an ancient Roman city, Serdica, and has plenty for couples to explore, but for a more casual dinner date it’ll cost $47.44 each, or, for a cinema date, $8.43 per person.

Next in line is Bucharest, Romania. To visit the city for a weekend getaway it’ll cost just $324.17, with a cinema date costing $8.29 each, or for a cozy night in, a bottle of wine costs $6.43 on average.

Jumping north, Lithuania’s capital Vilnius ranks as the eighth cheapest location at just $329.29, followed by Riga in Latvia at $336.37.

Finishing off the top 10 is Poland’s capital Warsaw, with a Valentine’s Day date weekend costing $336.37 in total.

Commenting on the findings, Viorel Stan, CEO of SlotsCalendar.com said, “February is a month for romance, and nothing screams romantic quite as much as a European getaway.

“Many of the places on this list are hugely underrated. Often, couples choose the more iconic locations like Paris, London, or Rome, which are classics, but can be expensive and are known for being scam hotspots, especially around big events and holidays.

“Additionally, during special occasions like Valentine’s Day, these cities are on the lookout for tourists and will hike up prices for hotels, making it especially pricy. So, if you’re looking for something different, and a bit more affordable, the cities that make this list can be a great alternative.

“And it’s not just couples who should explore. With the rise of people celebrating ‘Galentines’ and ‘Palentines,’ these locations are also a great option for a platonic weekend away with friends. No matter your circumstance, there’s no doubt that a visit to one of the historic cities will make for an exciting excursion with whichever loved ones you choose to visit with.”

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