Oslo topped the ranking of the most expensive European cities for a short getaway in 2026. According to a study by Post Office Travel Money, a travel basket consisting of 12 standard expenses for two people in the Norwegian capital costs EUR850, which is nearly three times more expensive than in the most affordable city on the list—Sarajevo.
The study took into account basic weekend expenses for tourists: drinks, dinner, airport transfers, public transportation, tickets to museums and galleries, as well as two nights in a three-star hotel. Accommodation and restaurant prices were cited as the main reasons for the high costs in these expensive cities.
Copenhagen took second place among the most expensive cities, with a tourist basket estimated at EUR777. Edinburgh came in third at EUR773.5. Next are Geneva at EUR746 and Barcelona at EUR742.
The top ten most expensive European cities for a vacation are as follows: Oslo—€850, Copenhagen—€777, Edinburgh—€773.5, Geneva—€746, Barcelona—€742, Dublin—€707, Amsterdam—€705, Cork – EUR697, Venice – EUR672, and Madrid – EUR672.
The ranking shows that high travel costs are characteristic not only of traditionally expensive Northern European cities but also of popular mass tourism destinations. Barcelona, Venice, Amsterdam, and Madrid remain in high demand, but overcrowding, high demand for hotels, and restaurant prices are making short trips there increasingly expensive.
For tourists, this means that trip planning becomes more important. In expensive cities, even a small change in hotel or restaurant prices can significantly increase the overall budget. In more affordable destinations, travelers have more freedom—they can stay longer, eat out more often, and choose entertainment spontaneously.
For Europe’s tourism industry, the conclusion is clear: the market for short city trips is increasingly splitting into two segments. The first consists of expensive global brands like Oslo, Geneva, Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Venice. The second consists of more affordable cities in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, where tourists get a similar city break experience for significantly less money.
JSC “Zaporizhzhia Reinforced Concrete Sleeper Plant” (ZRCS) will be converted into a limited liability company (LLC), the company announced in the disclosure system of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC).
The decision was adopted by the general meeting of shareholders on April 20.
ZZBS manufactures reinforced concrete products for railways, including railroad ties and switch beams.
According to NSSMC data for the first quarter of 2026, 20% of the company’s authorized capital is owned by Cyprus-registered Darinor Enterprises and Jonen Capital; stakes of more than 5%, 11.4%, and 10% are held, respectively, by Dnipro City Council deputy Zagid Krasnov and his sons Ruslan and Artem.
Other shareholders include Serhiy Taranenko, chairman of the board of the Dnipro Switch Plant (nearly 10%), Iryna Taranenko (8.9%), and two other individuals, each holding stakes of more than 7%.
The company is part of the Krasnov family’s corporate group (as is the switch manufacturer Dnipro Switch Plant).
The agenda of the general meeting of shareholders held on April 20 also included a review of the 2025 performance results; specifically, it was planned to retain the earned profit of UAH 30 million, allocating it to production development, replenishing working capital, and covering losses from previous years.
In 2025, ZZZSH increased its net revenue by 44%—to UAH 152.4 million—while net profit rose 2.4-fold.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) into China’s economy fell by 10.3% year-over-year in January–April, to 287.69 billion yuan ($42 billion), according to the Ministry of Commerce.
The manufacturing sector attracted 78.9 billion yuan, while the services sector attracted 204.2 billion yuan. Notably, investment in high-tech industries rose by 20.3% to reach 166.3 billion yuan.
Luxembourg more than doubled its FDI (by 110.3%), Switzerland increased it by 60.8%, France by 58.3%, and the U.S. by 24.5%, according to data from the ministry cited by Xinhua News Agency.
In January–April, 20,113 new enterprises with foreign capital were registered in China, which was 6.8% higher than the figure for the same period in 2025.
As reported, FDI for 2025 fell by 9.5% to 747.7 billion yuan.
Revenue from the tourist tax collected by local budgets from January through April 2026 reached 112 million UAH, which is 13.1% higher than the figure for the same period last year, according to the State Tax Service of Ukraine (STS).
A post on the agency’s website notes that the regional leaders were Kyiv, which previously topped the ranking, and Lviv Oblast (22.5 million UAH each). The highest revenues among the regions were also recorded in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast (18.8 million UAH) and Zakarpattia Oblast (10.3 million UAH).
The STU emphasized that revenue from the tourist tax remains entirely at the disposal of local communities, allowing them to independently finance key development projects. The funds are directed toward infrastructure modernization, the development of recreational areas, the financing of information centers for travelers, and the restoration of historical monuments.
The tourist tax is not paid by local residents of the community or individuals renting housing there on a long-term basis; individuals on business trips (provided they have an order or certificate); individuals with disabilities, war veterans, and participants in the cleanup of the Chernobyl accident; children under 18; individuals who have arrived on medical treatment vouchers to sanatoriums; and those registered as internally displaced persons (IDPs).
In today’s environment, every hryvnia paid in tourist tax helps regions maintain economic stability, create new jobs in the service sector, and enhance the competitiveness of domestic tourism.
The tourist tax is paid by Ukrainian citizens, foreigners, and stateless persons as an advance payment prior to temporary accommodation in lodging facilities (hotels, hostels, guesthouses).
Tax agents are business entities that provide temporary accommodation services (hotels, hostels, vacation homes, etc.); they transfer the collected funds to the local budget. A list of such agents is published on local council websites.
The tax rates are set by local councils at up to 0.5% of the minimum wage for Ukrainian citizens and up to 5% for foreigners per day of stay.
As reported, on April 14, the main offices of the State Tax Service in the Khmelnytskyi and Chernivtsi regions signed a memorandum of partnership regarding the administration of the tourist tax with the Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khotyn, Kytayhorod, and Staroushytsia communities.
