As the chill of winter approaches, those yearning for a budget-friendly getaway are in luck. Travel guru Em (@emsbudgettravel), renowned for her knack at securing getaway deals, has shared her top three picks for winter city breaks that won’t break the bank.
With an impressive track record of visiting 15 countries in 2024 without spending over £200 per trip, she’s divulged her secrets to her 72,000 TikTok followers. “These are my favourite three city breaks for an affordable winter holiday,” she starts off in her latest video.
She describes her first recommendation as a hidden gem and confesses it’s one of her most cherished destinations.
Yerevan, Armenia
First, Em recommends Yerevan in Armenia. She elaborated: “You can find really cheap connecting flights here – I’d recommend combining this city break with an overnight stopover in a city like Milan or Rome. It’s an amazing option if you’re on a budget – the accommodation is so affordable.”
She then showcases her apartment with stunning views of the city’s prime attraction, boasting about the bargain price of just £12 per person per night. She also highlights the metro’s incredible value at only 20p per ride.
“It’s also surrounded by beautiful mountains and scenery and it’s very easy and cheap to take a trip into the countryside, which will most likely be snowy if you visit in the winter months,” Em concludes.
Poznan, Poland
Next up, Em praised the charming Old Town of Poznan in Poland, where she found the food “really delicious and affordable”. Delving into her travel experiences, she added: “There’s loads to do here on a budget, like the Palm House or the largest spa in the country and costs just £16 for a three hour pass.”
She expressed her surprise at the city’s appeal: “I thought it was such an underrated city,” and compared it favourably with more established destinations: “Just as good as some of the more popular city breaks including Krakow or Gdansk, but I found it to be a little bit cheaper too.”
Tallinn, Estonia
Em’s adventures didn’t stop there; she moved on to recommend Tallinn, Estonia, hinting at great flight deals to the Baltic treasure. In awe, she recounted: “It’s probably one of the most picturesque cities I’ve ever visited, and the accommodation is really affordable – we recently paid £21 to stay in an Airbnb in the centre of the Old Town.”
She concluded her trip advice with high praise for the location: “It’s one of Europe’s best preserved medieval cities and every street is so photogenic. I’d say it’s the perfect destination for a snowy weekend away and I’ve also heard it’s got a lovely Christmas market.”
Em’s handy tips were met with gratitude from her followers, with comments flowing in. One said: “Super advice.” While another follower echoed her sentiments: “Tallinn was so good!”
Even locals chimed in, with a TikTok user from Poznan adding: “Greetings from Poznan,” followed by their own insider advice: “Many museums here are for free one day during the week – usually Tuesday or Wednesday.” Whilst an eager fan implored Em: “Please make a video of how to book flights and hotel.”
