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Three destinations in Türkiye, Antalya, Istanbul and Mugla, have ranked among Europe's best-value city breaks for autumn 2026, with travelers able to spend a full day in each for €100 or less per person, according to new research from travel agency Thomas Cook.
The study compared costs across 51 popular European destinations, taking into account mid-range accommodation, sightseeing, meals, refreshments and local transport. It identified 13 cities where travelers could cover these expenses for no more than €100 a day during early September.
Antalya came third overall with an estimated daily cost of around €78, while Istanbul ranked fifth at approximately €82. Mugla shared sixth place and also remained below the €100 threshold.
Antalya stood out as one of the most affordable destinations in the study, particularly when accommodation and meals were taken into account.
A three-star hotel costs around €36 per person per night on average, while both dinner at an inexpensive restaurant and a fast-food lunch can come in at under €9.
Paid tourist attractions are comparatively more expensive, averaging €19. However, travelers looking to keep costs down can take in places such as Kaleici, Antalya's historic Old Town, and Hadrian's Gate without paying an entrance fee.
Istanbul rounded out the five cheapest destinations in the ranking, with a full day in the city estimated to cost travelers around €82.
Accommodation was among the least expensive recorded in the study, with a night at a three-star hotel averaging €28 per person. An inexpensive dinner costs roughly €9, while lunch comes to about €8.
Public transportation also helps visitors get around at relatively low cost, with a daily bus pass priced at under €4.
Mugla, another major tourism destination in Türkiye, shared sixth place in the overall ranking, with Thomas Cook calculating that visitors could also stay within the €100-per-day budget.
Tirana took first place overall, with an average daily cost of just €59 per person in September.
The Albanian capital offers three-star accommodation for around €32 per person per night, while an inexpensive restaurant dinner averages €8.50. Paid attractions cost approximately €4.50 on average.
Thomas Cook also reported that bookings for holidays in Albania had risen by more than 300% over the previous year.
Bucharest followed in second place at around €66 per day. Three-star accommodation averages roughly €32 per person, while dinner costs just over €12 and a daily bus pass comes in at around €1.50.
Warsaw placed fourth, at slightly more than €78 a day. Accommodation averages €41 per person per night, while tourist attractions generally cost under €8.
Thomas Cook Dynamic Packages Director Nicholas Smith said the findings showed that travelers did not have to focus only on established destinations such as Paris, London and Rome when planning European city breaks.
“Our research shows holidaymakers can find great value when planning a European city break and there are amazing experiences to discover beyond the likes of Paris, London and Rome.”
Smith added that Eastern European and Turkish destinations were consistently delivering affordability as tourism numbers continued to grow.
The research was compiled between June 11 and June 29, 2026, using visitor data and destinations showing growth for Thomas Cook. Prices focused on daily costs for an off-peak holiday in early September.
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