Bucharest Named Europe's Best-Value City For A Football Weekend

Key Findings

• Bucharest, Romania was named Europe's most cost-effective football city, scoring 10/10, with a total weekend cost of £186.36.
• Prague, Czechia ranked second with 9.7/10, despite a higher overall cost of £207.43.
• Bratislava, Slovakia took third place with 9.3/10, costing £200.13 for the weekend.
• Milan was the cheapest destination overall, with the weekend costing £176.13.
• Madrid was the most expensive weekend researched, at £293.90, scoring 5.3/10.

*The full data set can be found here.

Bucharest, Romania: 10/10

Bucharest took the top spot with a 10/10 Matchday Value Score.

The Romanian capital offers a mix of historic architecture, lively nightlife and cultural attractions, making it well suited to a 24-hour visit. Visitors can explore the Old Town and see the city's defining landmark, the Palace of Parliament.

The weekend centres on FCSB vs Oțelul Galați on 10th October 2026. At £186.36 for the weekend, it offers the best value football trip in the study.

Prague, Czechia: 9.7/10

Just missing out on the top spot, Prague scored 9.7/10.

The Czech capital is already one of Europe's most popular city break destinations. Known for Prague Castle and the Old Town, it also has a strong football culture, with Sparta Prague and Slavia Prague among the city's major clubs.

The trip comes to £207.43 overall, including a ticket to Sparta Prague vs Pardubice on 11th October 2026. The city scores well for food and drink, with a 500ml local beer priced at £2.30, the lowest in the study.

Bratislava, Slovakia: 9.3/10

Bratislava ranked third with a Matchday Value Score of 9.3/10, combining affordable food, drink and travel for a total of £200.13.

The Slovak capital sits on the Danube and combines a compact historic centre with a lively modern city, making it ideal for a short stay. The cost includes a ticket to Slovan Bratislava vs MFK Skalica on 10th October 2026.

Warsaw, Poland: 9/10

Warsaw took fourth place with a Matchday Value Score of 9/10.

The Polish capital combines a historic centre with a modern cityscape and a strong food and cultural scene. The weekend includes a ticket to Legia Warszawa vs Motor Lublin on 6th March 2027.

Although cheaper overall than Prague and Bratislava at £198, Warsaw's higher hotel and beer costs placed it fourth.

Budapest, Hungary: 8.7/10

Rounding out the top five, Budapest scored 8.7/10.

Hungary's capital is well suited to a weekend away, combining historic landmarks, nightlife, and a strong food scene, with the Parliament building a must-see for visitors.

The weekend is slightly more expensive at £214.46, but with a £23 ticket to the Budapest Honvéd vs Újpest derby on 11th October 2026, it offers a strong weekend of rivalry action.

What makes a great-value football weekend?

The results suggest that the cheapest destination overall isn't necessarily the one offering the most for the money.

Milan recorded the lowest total cost in the study at £176.13, helped by a £67 return flight and a £23 football ticket. However, its £17 meal and £5.13 beer were among the more expensive prices recorded, bringing its score down to 7.7/10.

By comparison, Bucharest's winning score came from consistency across every part of the trip. Its £98 flight was not the cheapest, and neither was its £40 match ticket, but it combined these with one of the cheapest hotels in the study, affordable food and relatively cheap beer.

At the other end of the table, Amsterdam ranked last with 5.0/10. Madrid recorded the highest total weekend cost at £293.90 and scored 5.3/10, while Vienna (5.7), Paris (6.0) and Athens (6.3) completed the bottom five.