Europe’s best ‘second city’ has been revealed – and you can head there if you’re seeking cheap pints and well-priced meals.
A second city is what is ranked as the next most important or large city after a country’s capital.
While many travellers are lured in by big-name cities such as Paris, Rome or Berlin, often second cities have just as much to offer – and for better prices.
And it’s Novi Sad in Serbia that is the continent’s best second city to visit, thanks to its high-quality restaurants and attractions at affordable prices.
A new study found Europe’s best second cities by comparing the tourist experience in the most populated city in each country to its second most populated city.
The research assessed how each city performed in five categories: accommodation, food, shopping, culture and local attractions, and accessibility (including the destinations and number of airlines served at the nearest major airport).
In each category, multiple factors, such as quality, quantity, and price, were considered.
The study from Radical Storage crowned Novi Sad with the winning title, citing various reasons.
Novi Sad in Serbia is the continent’s best second city to visit, thanks to its high-quality restaurants and attractions at affordable prices
The study crowned Novi Sad with the winning title, citing various reasons
The pretty old town boasts colourful street art, a 17th-century fortress, and even a 700-metre-long beach.
The hotspot has some impressive credentials: it was the European Youth Capital of 2019, and became a Unesco Creative City in 2023.
Alongside this, a majority of attractions (62.6 per cent) and eateries (67.1 per cent) are rated four-star and above, despite the fact that prices are more affordable than the study average.
A main meal per person in an inexpensive restaurant here will cost you just £7.27 (€8.39), whereas the average study cost is £11.79 (€13.61).
The price of beer is low, too – at an average cost of 250 Serbian dinar (£1.86), according to Wise.
Following closely behind is Barcelona, ranked as the best destination for culture and local attractions.
Other cities near the top of the list include Gyumri in Armenia, Cluj-Napoca in Romania and Banja Luka in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In Gyumri, the research found that a hotel room here costs £22 (€25.40), £75.93 (€87.64) below the study average.
The pretty old town in Novi Sad boasts colourful street art, a 17th-century fortress, and even a 700-metre-long beach
The top 10 second cities in Europe Rank City 1 Novi Sad, Serbia 2 Barcelona, Spain3 Gyumri, Armenia4 Cluj-Napoca, Romania5 Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina6 Kutaisi, Georgia7 Kaunas, Lithuania8 Brno, Czechia9 Porto, Portugal10 Graz, Austria
A main meal for one person costs around £7.22 / (€8.32), £4.57 (€5.29) below the study average, allowing for plenty to spend at the few but highly rated shopping locations.
For those on the lookout for an affordable history packed location, entrance fees averaged at £1.50 (€1.73) in Gyumri.
Some of the top things to do include a visit to Abovian Street (preserved from the 19th century) and Sev Bed (an abandoned Russian-imperial fortress).
Another sight is the museum of National Architecture and Urban Life, which has recreated scenes from Armenia’s history.
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Revealed: Europe’s best value ‘second city’ offers holidaymakers cheap meals and pints for less than £2
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