Europe’s most affordable beer destinations

As spring and bank holidays approach, Brits may be tempted to visit their local beer garden where pints can cost upwards of £7 in major cities such as London and Manchester. The latest ONS figures show the average pint in the UK is now £4.70.

Ferry operator DFDS investigated Europe’s most affordable beer destinations, with the research crowning Porto and Valencia the best cities for those seeking beer on a budget. With the average pint just £1.72, holiday-goers should consider these budget-friendly destinations as the weather warms.

The top 10 cities were as follows:

Rank	City	Country	Domestic Price per 500ml (GBP)	Domestic Price per 500ml (EUR)
1	Porto	Portugal	1.72	2.00
2	Valencia	Spain	1.72	2.00
3	Brno	Czech Republic	1.73	2.01
4	Prague	Czech Republic	1.93	2.24
5	Seville	Spain	2.15	2.49
6	Bratislava	Slovakia	2.15	2.49
7	Bucharest	Romania	2.16	2.51
8	Belgrade	Serbia	2.20	2.55
9	Budapest	Hungary	2.27	2.63
10	Istanbul	Turkey	2.36	2.74

*The data accounts for a 500ml measure of beer. The average UK measure of a pint is typically 568ml.

Please view the full study here: https://www.dfds.com/en-gb/passenger-ferries/press/best-beer-cities-europe

Madrid is named Europe’s top destination for beer, as Belgium and Germany place 7^th and 9^th, according to a new index

Europe is a haven for beer enthusiasts, home to a rich and varied appreciation of the world’s most popular alcohol. From Prague’s Pilsner to Brussels’ UNESCO-worthy beer culture, there’s nothing like tasting local, traditional beer when travelling somewhere new.

To get a taste of what Europe has to offer, Europe travel expert and ferry operator DFDS analysed 70 European cities, 8,000 bars and pubs, scoured social media, and scanned over 40,000 reviews to determine the best cities for beer. The results show the best cities based on beer quality, price, social media buzz, and their bars and pubs.

Find the research in full here: https://www.dfds.com/en-gb/passenger-ferries/press/best-beer-cities-europe

Europe’s 10 best beer cities

Rank	City	Bar & Pub Quality/100	Social Media Buzz/100	Beer Quality/100	Price Rating/100	Weighted Score/100
1	Madrid	72	93	90	87	85
2	Prague	78	91	65	96	83
3	Vienna	92	89	73	61	79
4	Budapest	83	79	46	89	74
4=	Thessaloniki	91	63	67	76	74
4=	Valencia	39	64	92	100	74
7	Porto	69	80	35	100	71
7=	Brussels	59	97	82	43	71
9	Berlin	83	96	42	61	70
9=	Vilnius	82	84	52	61	70
9=	Krakow	93	57	49	80	70

Europe’s best destinations for each type of beer

• After analysing the sentiment of 40,000 beer reviews on Google, Madrid is named the best place for stouts.
• In a shocking result, Madrid beat Dublin, which appears in spot number 10. The Guinness capital was even outranked by another British city, as Glaswegian stouts received higher reviews than those in Dublin.
• The remaining results found ales and pale ales are best in Reykjavik, IPA is top-rated in Lyon, Copenhagen is Europe’s craft beer capital and Vienna has the best lager.

Europe’s best and cheapest beers

• Porto and Valencia offer the best bang for your buck as the average beer costs £1.72 (€2) per 500ml serving. The most expensive was Reykjavik at £8.59.
• Krakow’s pubs and bars are the most loved, averaging high Google ratings and overwhelmingly positive reviews.
• Munich’s beer scene has the most social media buzz with over six million views across #MunichBeer on TikTok.
• Milan has Europe’s finest brews, winning the top spot for its beer quality.
  

The top 3 cities

1. Madrid, Spain

While many may consider Belgium and Germany the gold-standard European beer destinations, the index reveals Madrid tops the chart. It has significant social media attention and boasts quality beers and pubs to support the hype. The research also found that Madrid is home to some of the best stouts in Europe after scanning approximately 40,000 Google reviews.

DFDS also partnered with beer expert and editor of Keg to Differ, Shaun Hill, who says: “Just outside of the main city centre is a must-visit brewery called Fábrica Maravillas. They offer artisan beers, and you get free nuts with every drink, so you find plenty of locals and tourists. My top choice is their FL(IPA) IPA.”

It’s also home to Beermad, a popular craft beer festival in May, as well as smaller beer festivals.

2. Prague, Czech Republic

Prague’s beer scene is full of good vibes and Pilsner. The locals’ go-to is the Pilsner Urquell, a classic Czech beer that many hail as responsible for inspiring other Pilsner recipes.

Shaun says: “When you go to Prague, it’s all about the Pilsner. It’s what all the locals drink, and most places only serve this, which you can get either light or dark. It’s served with a huge head of foam and it’s great. The best place to try it is U Zlatého tygra (The Golden Tiger).”

Samson Pito is another popular choice for those who prefer alcohol-free beers.

3. Vienna, Austria

Ranked as the best European city for lager, the Austrian capital is home to many iconic breweries, including Ottakringer (Vienna’s oldest) and Siebensternbräu (or 7Stern Bräu), which has an exciting range of craft beers.

Austrian beer is held to high quality standards, with strict rules on the use of any artificial flavourings or preservatives. This means that Vienna’s beer is an entirely natural product, guaranteeing an authentic tasting experience. Try the Ottakringer’s Wiener Original, featuring notes of caramel alongside classic malt aromas. Stiegl Freibier 0.0 alcohol-free lager is also the perfect choice if you don’t drink alcohol.