We get it – money’s tight for a lot of us right now. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the trip you’ve been dreaming about. It’s still possible to book a getaway and escape the daily grind while not completely rinsing your bank balance. City Breaks are ideal – you only need a few days to tick off all the top sights, your room doesn’t need to be luxury – you’ll be out all day anyway – and you can find plenty of cheap foodie finds if you look hard enough.
So, if you want to tick off your travel goals on a tighter budget, have a read of our top 10 tips for city breaks on a budget…
1. Follow the deals
We have great deals on our city breaks, so whether you’re staying local or venturing to cities around the world, you can get the most for your money. If you’re not fussy on dates, just pick the cheapest ones going. Or, keep an eye out for our Deals of the Week to see what’s on offer (sign up to our emails to be the first to know.) If you’re feeling spontaneous, it can also pay to book closer to the time – check out our last-minute city breaks – or our cheap holidays page is always a great place to start.
2. Ditch the bags
We know not everyone uses 25kg of luggage, so pick hand luggage only on your next flight and thank us later. We know the routine, you’ve paid for a bag, so you might as well just throw in all your earthly possessions just because you can – a few extra t-shirts, the dresses you deffo know you don’t need but ‘you’ve got the space’. We’re here to tell you that if you don’t need a bag, don’t pay for one. Why waste your money when you can spend that on the more important things? Some of our trusted airline partners, like TUI Airways, offer flights with a 10kg carry-on bag included anyway, which is very doable for a long weekend away. And ofc, you’ve still got a bag that goes under your seat, too – the serious light-packers can sometimes get by with just that!
So, grab some packing cubes and get creative. We mean socks and underwear in your shoes and make sure you roll your clothes – you’ll be able to squeeze so much more in than you first thought. But if you’re really struggling, then why not add a 15-20kg bag between two of you? You don’t have to add the same sized bag for every passenger, so you can still cut the cost and save by sharing.
3. Get picky with dates
Yes, a long weekend saves on the AL… But Friday-to-Sunday trips, along with bank holiday and peak summer dates, are always the priciest times to travel. If you can switch things up and get away midweek, even just shifting your outbound flight from Friday to Thursday, you’ll likely save some money. Then, think about the season, too. Forget peak prices and pick a shoulder season break to save some pennies – they’re those awkward times between seasons when people don’t usually think about going on holiday. For example, October and the beginning of November are ideal for a city break. The summer tourists are long gone but the Christmas markets haven’t quite started yet – so you can explore the city minus the crowds and get cheaper stays.
4. Location, location, location
It’s no surprise that some spots will be spennier than others. If you can’t afford the big capital cities or classic destinations because everyone’s doing them, try swapping in some lesser-known spots to get a cheaper deal. Think same country but less obvious, like Verona over Venice. Or, go for a complete destination dupe and try Ljubljana – it’s set between the Alps and Adriatic Sea but gives serious Venice vibes.
5. Stay central – yes, really
Hear us out… while staying in the city centre often means more expensive accommodation, it also means you save on pricey public transport. All the top attractions and the best bars and restaurants will be close to the city centre, so if you pick a hotel further out, you could be wasting money AND precious time on taxis, buses and trains to and from all the action. You do the math.
6. Embrace the hostel life
Hostelling isn’t for everyone, but if you’re going to be out exploring more than you’ll be in your hotel room, why spend money on a luxury stay? You can still get private rooms at hostels and book out the smaller dorms for just four people if you’re travelling as a group. Yes, you might have to share a bathroom, but the savings are worth it. If a hostel is a step too far, you can also check out our two-to-three-star accommodation, too.
7. Find the freebies
Budget breaks are all about finding a free activity – or three – to keep the costs down. There are plenty of big sights to tick off but try to avoid the tourist traps. Walking tours led by a local are often free and if you do this on your first day, then you’ll get all the local recs of where to eat and drink with plenty of time to try them. Pick a smaller museum to bag a cheaper entry price – if you’re a student, definitely bring your ID card in case they do discounts – or look out for free events and festivals taking place, plus parks and green spaces are mostly free to explore, too.
8. Street-food snacking
The food and drink are some of the best bits when you’re on holiday – think pastéis de nata in Lisbon and patatas bravas in Barcelona – and you can save big by trading the expensive restaurants for local food markets or street-food stalls. Embrace the local culture and try all the traditional dishes and snacks as you wander around the city.
9. Stay connected with an eSIM
A lot of network providers don’t include EU or international roaming, so you may have to opt into a new add-on or pay for a daily pass while you’re away on your city break. These costs can seriously add up – especially when you’re wanting to keep your Insta story updated on the go. So, an eSIM is a great solution. You can download data packages straight to your phone – no new SIM, no new phone number and you can do it all before you go. Check out our eSIM offer, in partnership with Airalo.
10. Don’t skip the essentials
While you can save money on your hotel room and food, there are some things that aren’t worth scrimping on… Top of this list is travel insurance – buy it as soon as you book your trip to cover you in case things get cancelled or postponed. We know you don’t want to think about not going, but this can save you a lot of money should you need it to use it.
Ready to book your next city break on a budget? Check out our latest deals.
Looking for more articles? You’ll find them on the Inspire homepage.
Author: Rachel Coppenhall (she/her)
Last updated: 10.09.25
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