If your dream break is about kicking back and partying a little harder than you might ordinarily then there’s plenty of great European cities where you can dance until dawn…but one remains much cheaper than the others, according to new research.
While staying up all night in a glamorous destination is nothing new, there’s now a name for it – ‘noctourism’.
The travel term defines the rise in breaks that are dedicated to seeking out the world’s best party spots, with European cities amongst the most popular places to go.
A recent study puts Prague at the top of the list of destinations that promise the best nightlife, when factors such as food and drink prices, safety and venue density per square kilometer – making bar crawls easier – all considered.
The study by Casinova revealed the top ten party destinations in Europe ahead of this summer and found that the Czechia capital won hands down.
Already established as a popular stag party destination thanks to low-cost flights from destinations across Europe – with flights from around £25 – the city has worked hard to make its nightlife a more sophisticated affair in recent years.
Prices for a tipple remain lower than many of its European city break counterparts, with the average price of a drink just £1.96, compared to £6.75 in London.
There’s also a diverse array of venues in a small area, with 266 bars and clubs spread across just 496 square kilometres. And safety scores high too, notching up 75.51 on the index.
Fancy a noctourism break? Party destinations have been rated by gaming platform Casinova on a variety of factors from drink prices to safety – and Prague came out top
The Czechia capital has more than 250 bars in a dense area of the historic city…making bar crawls easy to do
In second place was another eastern European hotspot, but one that’s lesser known than Prague.
The compact city of Plovdiv in Bulgaria has an average drink price of £2.18, and although it’s small, it’s mighty, with 16 venues across just 101.98 square kilometres.
Dining out is also hugely reasonable, the research found, with a meal costing on average just £6.54.
Taking the third spot is Madrid, which has the most venues – 357 – of any that make the list.
A night out in the Spanish capital isn’t always cheap – an average meal out costs £12.17, but drinks are still much cheaper on average than in rival cities such as Paris and London – costing £2.84.
For those still looking to get away this month, a lesser known city in Poland could be the answer to a cut-price half-term break for British families, according to new research.
May half-term is looming and prices typically soar during the early summer break – but there are bargains to be had.
Digital marketing agency Ink Digital says looking east to Central Europe could lead to big savings, with the city of Poznan, Poland’s fifth largest city coming in as the cheapest destination for a family of four.
Drinks in the city remain really reasonable – with average drink prices in at £1.96
Portugal also fared well on costs – with destinations such as Porto (pictured) easy on the wallet – and particularly for beer and wine prices
A week’s holiday costs £2,186 in the historic metropolis, which was once Poland’s capital city.
Beyond Poznan, three other Polish destinations appeared in the top five cheapest destinations.
At the other end of the price spectrum, a mini-break in US cities – including New York, Chicago and LA – proved the most expensive for families, with a trip for four to the Big Apple in late May costing on average £7,643.
Other Polish cities also fared well when it comes to keeping costs low for the May half-term, which typically crosses the final week of May and the first week of June.
Tourist favourites Warsaw (£2,459), Krakow (£2,499) and Wroclaw (£2,959) also made the Top ten – all of which are on the low cost flights map from the UK.
On the ground, Poland is easy on the wallet too; the research found food more affordable than in other European destinations, with a three-course dinner for two as low as £33.
Getting around is also a relative bargain; local transport is cheap with one-way tickets under £1 and taxi fares often below £1 per kilometre.
For those determined to get some May sunshine, Portugal also ranked as one of the cheaper places to holiday for families, with Gaia, Braga and Porto all taking spots in the top ten.
Big Apple, big costs: New York may be a favourite but families visiting during May half-term will pay in excess of £7,000 for a hop across the Pond
Those who enjoy a tipple might also find Portugal favourable, with its beer and wine prices making the top 20 destinations for lower alcohol costs.
It comes after Porto was ranked as one of Europe’s cheapest seaside towns in a Which? survey.
Hotel prices in Portugal’s second city are £93 a night, and Which? members rated it 88 per cent.
Which? said: ‘Perched on the northern bank of the Douro River, Porto’s array of tascas [traditional restaurants], wine bars and pretty Azulego-tiled buildings sits in a maze of cobblestone streets that tumble down the hillside.’
