10 of the best cities in Europe to enjoy cheap beer

Many cites in Europe are notoriously expensive but there are still some places where you can be served cheaper-than-average alcohol. To find the best deals, avoid Paris, London and Zurich like the plague and head out to some of these European cities instead. From many fun city trips over the years, here are 10 of the best cities in Europe to enjoy cheap beer…

1. Budapest, Hungary – a great city in Europe for cheap beers

Hungary is always a good place to start your cheap beer hunt. In the country’s capital, there’s an eye-watering range of bars and pubs serving alcohol at very reasonably prices. For an interesting experience try the Kaltenberg Sörözö bar. The bar was once a military caserne, a tobacco factory and then a storage cellar. Now the bar is a classy drinking joint with wood-panelled floors and a vaulted brick ceiling. They serve a good choice of home brew beers/lagers as well as bottles of Maisel’s Weisse. Realistically in Budapest you should expect to pay around 500 huf for a beer unless you head to one of the more upmarket bars where they’ll charge a bit more.

2. Prague, Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is famous for its beer, and they will often boast they’re the number one beer-drinking country in the world. You can get a beer/lager pretty much anywhere in the Czech capital and that even includes breakfast cafés. With brands like Budweiser, Staropramen and Pilsner Urquell served at a ridiculously cheap price (prices range $1 to $2.20 for a pint) it’s likely to be a messy one. Easily one of the best cities in Europe for cheap drinks!

3. Porto, Portugal

Porto is one of the cheapest cities in western Europe and the cut-price culture makes this city a very attractive option. If you’re a beer fan then you’re in luck, here locally produced beer is one of the biggest bargains. In certain bars beer in Porto will set you back around €1.50 so not only will the celebrations cost you around half what it would back home but you’ll also benefit from a warmer climate! Make sure you try the most popular beer in Portugal – Super Bock – which originated in nearby Leça do Balio.

• Also check our post on 20 of the most beautiful places to visit in Portugal.

4. Riga, Lativa

Riga is a beautiful Eastern European city that deserves more visitors, although it has become a lot more popular in recent years. Riga has gained something of a reputation for being the new hot spot for partygoers – bars stay open later than most cities in Europe and beers only cost around €3 so it’s a great city in Europe for cheap drinks. Although if you head away from the city centre it will cost you about half this price. The Latvian capital has also benefited from many large-scale restoration projects which have seen the city really come alive.

5. Sofia, Bulgaria

A great city in Europe to find cheap alcohol, Sofia is a fantastic Eastern European city which is over 7,000 years old. The atmospheric Bulgarian capital has plenty to offer visitors including attractive architecture, beautiful churches and very cheap drinks! You can buy a beer in this great city for just €1.50 and if you want to party, its large student population also ensures there’s plenty of lively bars and clubs to choose from.

6. Zagreb, Croatia

The summer holiday favourite is also a great spot in the wintertime. Although be warned it will be much colder and you should be aware of the slippery pavements – especially after sampling some of the local beer! Once you have finished your sightseeing, sneak off to one of the beer halls where you can enjoy some home-made (and very reasonably priced) beer.

7. Malaga, Spain

Spain can be an expensive place to drink and a pint in this European country can cost you as much as €5.20, especially if you’re drinking in Barcelona, Madrid or Valencia. Malaga, however, is the exception. Here you can get a beer for just €2.50 and you can enjoy some winter sun at the same time. The city is not just about cheap drinks, you should also visit Malaga’s historic centre and take a stroll along the harbour.

8. Munich, Germany

The much-loved German city is synonymous with beer drinking and even when the Oktoberfest has finished there’s still plenty of other places to enjoy. Beer in Munich is excellent value and will only set you back around €3.50. Although don’t spend all your time in the pubs, also soak up some culture in one of the many excellent city museums or art galleries.

• We also have a post on 20 of the most beautiful places to visit in Germany. 

9. Naples, Italy

Despite being very beautiful, Italy can also be eye-wateringly expensive. Although for cheap drinks, Naples is the one city in Italy where you won’t pay over the odds. Avoid Milan, Rome and Sorrento (which are the most expensive places to drink) and head to the Southern city instead. In Naples, traditional Italian food is also reasonably priced and a beer will only set you back around €3.00.

10. Brussels, Belgium

There are many popular cities in Belgium to visit and since Colin Farrell’s popular film (‘In Bruges’) Bruges has enjoyed an increasing supply of tourists. Although pretty, don’t expect to find many beer bargains – a beer would cost you €6.00 whereas beer in the capital would surprisingly only cost €3.80. Like the rest of the cities on this list, it’s not just about beer – Brussels is known for its art and boasts over 80 museums. Try visiting the Atomium in Heysel Park and of course, you can’t leave without trying some of their world-famous chocolates.

Although these should keep you going for a while, there are still plenty of other cities in Europe where you can find cheap drinks. Also try Krakow, Warsaw (both in Poland) and Tallin which is sometimes hailed as the ‘new Prague’. Enjoy your search!

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