'Most budget-friendly' city break in Europe is ideal for a summer holiday
Madrid, Spain's capital and a hive of activity, has been crowned as one of the "best budget city break" locations for those looking to escape during the summer. Characterized by its energetic streets, Madrid is also celebrated by Spain's tourist board for its "welcoming and diverse" atmosphere, affirming it as an ideal spot for every type of traveller.
Research by travel insurance gurus at Quotezone pinpoints Madrid as offering one of the most wallet-friendly getaways on the continent, standing out as the sole Spanish metropolis in the line-up and trumping other European hotspots like Athens, Vienna, Rome and Paris when it comes to saving those pennies.
READ MORE: 'Gorgeous' £9 body spray perfume 'just as good if not better than Sol de Janeiro'
The selection was made by weighing up elements critical to frugal globetrotters - think tourist levies, snooze spots prices, cost for nosh and a pint, public transit fares, and how far you'll need to trek from the tarmac.
As visitor taxes hike up elsewhere, Madrid's lack of this surcharge is a notable highlight. The city also scores points for its reasonable food scene.
Despite having its share of swanky eateries, the capital doesn't disappoint when it comes to more modestly priced meal choices, reports the Express.
You won't have to splash out much in Madrid, with an average spend of about €14 (circa £12) for dining delights, the study reveals.
And, for those desiring a bevvy to sip in the sun, the typical price tag for a brew sits at around €3.50, which equates to near £3, albeit a tad steeper than the likes of Zagreb, where a local ale will set you back just about £2.50.
However, in contrast to the average pint price of £5.90 found in London, Madrid's beer comes across as a significant money-saver.
As noted by Quotezone, a single public transport ticket in Madrid costs just €1.50 (around £1.30), representing a budget-friendly way to traverse the bustling cityscape.
Madrid offers a wealth of activities regardless of your holiday preferences; from its vibrant streets lined with a myriad of shops and global cuisine restaurants to bars and a pulsating nightlife.
History buffs will revel in the numerous museums and the plethora of historic buildings that can be found throughout the city.
"Madrid's authenticity is hard to beat," remarked the Spanish tourism board. "It is welcoming and diverse. Madrid is, without a doubt, one of Europe's most interesting cities."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Holiday hotspot branded 'ghost town' as Brits in Spain say it's 'dead' this July
The summer holidays may be in full swing but this one popular destination in Spain has been abandoned by its usual visitors despite being in peak season As summer reaches its peak, many people are heading off on well-earned holidays to soak up the sun and escape their daily routine. One destination that continues to attract large crowds is Benidorm - a long-time favourite among families and popular with stag and hen parties. The Spanish resort remains a top choice for Brits thanks to its affordable accommodation, reasonably priced food and drinks and wide range of activities - not forgetting its famous nightlife. The town usually sees its highest number of visitors between June and August. However, one Brit who relocated to Benidorm has been surprised by how unusually quiet it is this July, the Mirror reports. Harry Poulton, 24, who moved there after his first lads' holiday at 18, described the current atmosphere on the Costa del Sol as being "like a ghost town." On TikTok, Harry expressed his surprise: "Benidorm is a ghost July?! I've never seen it this quiet. Where is everyone?!". In his video, he appears standing along the main strip and comments: "It's the middle of July, look behind me, it's dead. I'm on the Benidorm strip, there's barely any people, this is crazy." "I cannot believe it, this is the quietest, I've ever seen Benidorm," he continued. One holidaymaker currently in Benidorm, took to the comments to reply: "Currently in Benners. Our first trip here and I was expecting carnage. It's full of families." Another agreed with this, saying: "In Benny now, it's packed with families instead of stags and hens". Another user, expressed: "We went in July one year [and it] was all Spanish families around the pool." While a fourth chimed in: "No one has any money. Also the price they charge to go in summer is scandalous." Another comment pointed out: "It's like this every July, August. Shocking but in reality, it's too warm and very expensive." With another adding: "The price has gone up, we came two years ago it was coming up as one of the cheapest places to visit, now it's definitely not. However, once you have been you know it's worth every penny." Yet another person made a statement, saying: "I was there between 8th and 15th and it was a lot quieter than it was two summers ago. The Prices of holidays are going through the roof." Thomas Cook, which evolved from an airline into an online travel agency, suggests that August is the ideal month for a holiday to Benidorm. The company stated: "If you love hot and sunny weather, the best time of year to visit Benidorm would be during August, which is the hottest month in the resort. "The average temperature throughout August is a lovely 25C and has been known to reach around the 30C mark. If you enjoy a refreshing dip in the sea, August is the best month for that too, with the average sea temperature also being a comfortable 25C."
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
David Gray sees Hibs history bid delayed but destination remains the same as gaffer targets club first
The Easter Road squad's flight from Edinburgh was help up as they made their way to Denmark for Midtjylland clash David Gray wants to make more Hibs history by leading them into the European group stages for the first time., writes Scott Burns in Denmark. As a player, he scored the winner in 2016 that took the Scottish Cup back to Easter Road for the first time in 114 years. Now as a manager, he and his squad have their sights set on getting Hibs into the group stages of Europe for the first time. Gray, who will lead his side out against Midtjylland in Thursday's Europa League opening qualifier, acknowledged: 'Well that is the challenge, that's the challenge to the players. 'It's never been done so can we do it. 'Last season we spoke a lot about recreating history in a positive way, we've done a lot of that and I think this is just the next stage for that. 'As I've just touched on, that is one of the genuine goals and ambitions of this group of players in a club and the staff is to try and be the first team to do that. "I think if we can do that, again, it's just something else we can add to the list and then we can keep moving forward. 'We believe we can do it, we believe we've got a squad that's good enough to do it. 'It's going to be tough, we know that, but we've got a fan base, we've got an ownership and we've got the players all pulling in the one direction, all desperate to be successful.' Hibs' journey nearly didn't get off the ground. They had a problem with their plane and had a long delay before it was fixed and they were able to fly to Denmark on Wednesday. Gray stated: 'That is the benefit of coming the night before. Our flight was delayed, everybody knows that. "It changed our scheduling and our arrival time. That is why we put plans in place, so if anything does come up then we have time to react. The boys have prepared, they are ready and Thursday night takes care of itself.' Midtjylland go in as heavy favourites but Gray is confident his team can upset the odds and certainly to keep things alive, going back to Easter Road next week. There will be more than 1,000 Hibs fans in the MCH Arena to cheer on their side. The Hibs head coach added: 'That's the challenge to the players, it's a real tough draw, we know that. 'I think in terms of how well Midtyjlland have done in Europe, you think about the Champions League team, last season they were runner-up in the league narrowly right at the very end of the season so we know they're a very good side. 'They've got Champions League players experienced at the level but we also demonstrated that if we can play to the best of our ability, we're a very good side and that has to be the mindset of the players. 'The game tomorrow night is over two legs so it's not as if we go a goal up in the game early or a goal down for that matter, there's a lot of football to be played over the two games for the complete tie so it's about making sure that the players remember that, they stay calm in the chaos and the enjoy it because this is something that they've all worked hard for, the rewards from last season. 'I keep saying it, these are the rewards from last season, it's a tough tie but one that every player should be looking forward to and certainly come off the pitch with no regrets and if we can do that I'm sure we'll be in a good place.'
The Herald Scotland
5 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Hotel group to enter UK market with Glasgow opening
TFE Hotels' Chief Executive Officer, Antony Ritch, said the strategic expansion marked a "significant milestone" in the hotel group's global growth trajectory, and reinforced its commitment to "bringing flexible, design-led accommodation to culturally rich destinations". 'The UK debut and the establishment of a UK Country Office by Asli Kutlucan, CEO Europe, is a natural evolution of TFE Hotels' global strategy and signals the beginning of an exciting new chapter in one of the world's most competitive hospitality markets,' Ritch said. READ MORE: 'After more than two decade of successful growth across continental Europe, we're also excited to work with partners in the UK to bring the Adina brand to two cities that reflect our values—vibrant, globally connected, and culturally compelling,' he said. 'Europe is a real platform for growth for us as an organisation, and Cambridge and Glasgow as the ideal launchpads for our UK presence, offering strong demand across both leisure and corporate travel sectors.' TFE Hotels was an early pioneer in delivering premium apartment hotels and Australian hospitality in Europe 20 years ago with the launch of Adina, and currently operates apartment-hotels across Germany, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, Hungary, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. The Wellington Glasgow by Adina (Image: TFE Hotels) 'We see the UK as a high-potential market that complements our existing operations,' said TFE's London-based Chief Investment Officer, Andrew Hunter. 'Establishing a presence here enhances global visibility for our brands and allows us to better serve long-haul travellers from Asia – Pacific and North America, as well as intra-European guests seeking premium, apartment-style accommodation.' According to Ritch, TFE Hotels is excited to be entrusted with two beautiful historic UK properties, each with a storied history. 'We're proud to be one of the largest custodians of heritage hotels in Oceania,' Ritch said. 'And we are looking forward to working with our partners to bring part of the same sustainable philosophy to the UK.'
