City breaks: Flying out to Warsaw
Warsaw: Best value city break
Friday, 16 May 2008 09:21
Warsaw is the best value destination for a city break.
The Polish capital is the cheapest city for a cultural weekend away – despite sterling buying 22 per cent fewer Polish zloty than a year ago.
A weekend away in Warsaw should cost 75 per cent less than London at £75 - which includes visits to Warsaw's historic art galleries, museums and heritage sites, together with nights at the renowned Polish National Opera, ballet and a symphony concert.
Behind Warsaw, the research by the Post Office revealed, stood Prague (£103.52), Lisbon (£108.15), and Amsterdam (£165.53).
The most expensive destination was London – with activities costing £308.30 – ahead of New York (£260.64), Barcelona (£259.31), Paris (£246.22) and Berlin (£210.86).
Helen Warburton, Post Office head of travel, said: "Although the best value is in the Eastern Europe in Warsaw and Prague, cities with top notch arts attractions, we also looked at St. Petersburg and found it more expensive. A visit to the Kirov Ballet cost even more than a performance by the UK's Royal Ballet.
"While the eurozone has taken a knocking in recent weeks because of the sliding pound, our survey shows culture lovers can get a great deal in its cities, if they know the ropes. Many galleries are free on specific days - or cheaper if visited late in the day."
She added: "Across the Atlantic, New York proved one of the most expensive cultural capitals - ninth in our Cost of Culture table. However, arts lovers who want to benefit from the favourable US dollar exchange rate can halve their costs by substituting New York for Washington DC., which boasts the Smithsonian museums as well as the White House."
The sites in Warsaw suggested by the Post Office includes the Warsaw Rising Museum, the Zacheta National Gallery of Art, Wilanow Palace and the Old Town Square.