The best-value European city breaks are to be found in Eastern Europe.

A recent travel money survey by the Post Office in Britain found that the best value by far was the historic Baltic city of Riga, though other eastern capitals took the top five best-value places.

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The annual cost comparison survey measured typical city break costs, including accommodation, eating, drinking, travelling internally and sightseeing, and compared them with the previous year's costs.

As the cheapest city, the Latvian capital cost less than half the price of eight other European cities, including Paris and Amsterdam.

It was followed by Prague, Budapest, Tallinn, Warsaw, Lisbon and then Dublin. Stockholm was the dearest city to visit followed by Copenhagen, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam and London.

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Prague was ranked second most affordable for tourists. Picture: Beyond Travel

While a return bus or train transfer from the airport to the city centre cost $2.07 in Riga, it would set visitors back $27.67 in Stockholm.

Similarly, while one night for two adults in a three-star hotel in Riga cost $77.26, the equivalent in Stockholm cost $167.90.

Over recent years, Dublin has been criticised for its high hotel, meal and drinks prices but this year its prices were 12.3 per cent lower than last year, almost as low as some Eastern European countries.

Edinburgh's prices were 14.5 per cent lower than London.



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Portugal was among the cheapest for eating out in Europe, according to the survey. Picture: David May

In Western Europe the dollar goes furthest in Portugal and Spain, where eating out is the cheapest in Europe. Prices on the Iberian Peninsula have fallen dramatically in the past 12 months in an attempt to woo back UK tourists.

Portugal's recent EU financial bailout was likely to make it even more attractive to visitors.

Post Office Travel Money head Sarah Munro said the price falls were good news for people planning city breaks.

She added: "However, wide variations in costs between competing cities mean that tourists really do need to do their homework before booking."

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