Europe is known for its gilded palaces and prices to match. But when you look beyond the popular tourist destinations, and you’ll find the postcard-perfect countryside, cobblestoned streets, and rich culture you’re craving without the hefty price tags. You’ll find places that are quintessentially Europe, places that are cheap to travel to, where the coffee is affordable, but the experiences are rich. If you’re looking for an affordable European vacation, then these destinations should be at the top of your list.
Porto, Portugal
Portugal is a great way to say olá to Europe on a shoestring budget. It gives you all the flavours, colours, and sunshine of southern Europe minus the eye-watering prices you’d pay elsewhere. Visit Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia that offer lively cafes, steep alleyways, colourful Azulejo houses, lively music, and delicious food.
What’s Cheap
Food and drink, including the famous port wine, are much cheaper than other European cities. You can visit museums for free on Sundays and you’ll find pay-what-you-can walking tours run by various tour operators too.
What’s A Little More Expensive
While you can find cheap accommodation in hostels, the prices have risen as more tourists discover this gem.
Budapest, Hungary
Hungary is one of the best the best cheap travel destinations Europe has to offer. Its capital Budapest offers that Baroque and Neo-Gothic opulence that lets you daydream to your heart’s content. Walk the city at night, visit the famous Ruin bars in the Jewish Quarter, and the sobering House of Terror Museum to learn about the country’s troubled past.
What’s Cheap
Budapest is easy to walk around so you won’t spend much money on transport. Eat at local étkezdes like the Róma Ételbár for hearty, inexpensive meals.
What’s Expensive
Hotels in the heart of Budapest in Districts V and VI. Guided tours of the Buda castle and Fisherman’s Bastion.
Brașov, Romania
You’ll see why Romania is frequently mentioned among the least expensive countries in Europe. Head to Brașov, nestled in the Carpathian mountain, featuring some of Europe’s narrowest streets and a vibrant town square. For fans of Dracula, visit Bran castle, home to the infamous Vlad the Impaler. The surrounding mountains offer plenty of great hiking trails. What a lot of people don’t know, is the city has a vibrant metal scene as well, so it’s a great place to catch some local mental bands.
What’s Cheap
Even mid-range hotels are affordable.
What’s Expensive
Luxury hotels and private, guided tours can add up.
Ohrid, North Macedonia
Despite all the treasures North Macedonia holds, this country is untouched by tourism making it one of least expensive countries in Europe. Ohrid is a UNESCO-listed old town overlooking the eponymous lake. Shop on Old Bazaar Street, go on a boat ride, explore its ancient churches, and get some beach time in on the shores of the lake. The years of Ottoman rule have given the food here its own unique flavour, setting it apart from other Balkan nations, making it a true foodies paradise.
What’s Cheap
Prices for accommodation and dining are refreshingly low, making North Macedonia one of the most compelling cheap places to go in Europe for those seeking beauty without crowds.
What’s Expensive
Restaurants in touristy spots like the lakefront. Boat rides can be expensive during high season.
Chișinău, Moldova
Moldova is another European budget-friendly country worth exploring, especially if you’re interest in Soviet history. Unlike the medieval vibes you get in many European cities, the capital city of Chișinău juxtaposes leafy boulevards with brutalist architecture. The Moldovan National Opera and Ballet Theatre is probably the cheapest way to catch a ballet or opera in Europe. You can also enter Transnistria, the country that doesn’t exist or get your fix of medieval Europe by visiting monasteries and the charming town of Struga close by.
What’s Cheap
Inexpensive accommodation is easy to find, and the surrounding vineyards are remarkably affordable compared to Western Europe.
What’s Expensive
Look out for tourist traps in busy areas.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Tourism is really picking up in Georgia, so the best time to visit is now. Straddling Europe and Asia, it’s a place where the two civilizations blend effortlessly creating the unique Georgian culture that tourists have come to love. Tbilisi enchants visitors with its wooden balconies, sulphur bathhouses and hillside views.
What’s Cheap
Generous meals, bold wines and boutique stays remain surprisingly inexpensive.
What’s Expensive
Major heritage sites, museums and protected areas have increased their entrance fees in recent years
The beauty of these destinations isn’t just their affordability. It’s the freedom they offer, the ability to linger over coffee, to book that extra night, to say yes to a spontaneous day trip without calculating every euro. These cheap cities to visit in Europe and least expensive countries in Europe remind us that travel isn’t about how much you spend, but how deeply you experience a place.
Europe can absolutely be done on a budget. You just have to know where to look.
