Skip to Content

These Are The 10 Cheapest European Cities You Can Visit Right Now

Share The Article


If you’ve been following travel-related news lately, you might've noticed that more and more airlines are coming out with their very own direct routes to some of Europe’s dreamiest destinations, driving airfare prices to all-time lows in the process.

For the first time in modern history, we get to travel to the Old Continent and back for as little as $400, but can you make a European getaway truly budget-friendly?

Well, if you choose the right destinations, you can.

View of Budapest

Interrail EU just came out with a ranking of some of the cheapest yet still, visit-worthy cities across Europe, and the ones that made it to the top 5 can all be enjoyed for less than $50 a day!

To Start Off…

Before we get to these surprisingly affordable hotspots, though, I’ll quickly go through the cities that nabbed the No. 6-10 spots – they’re all incredible, but they generally fall in the $50 – $70 a day range:

  1. Český Krumlov, Czechia
  2. Bratislava, Slovakia
  3. Warsaw, Poland
  4. Zagreb, Croatia
  5. Belgrade, Serbia
Aerial view of the bustling Josipa Bana Jelačića Square in Zagreb, Croatia

These are all worth a visit – no doubt about that.

But before you make a final decision on where you’re heading off to next, make sure to read through this whole thing; chances are you’ll find an even better deal.

5. Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina

We’ve always hailed Sarajevo (the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina) as one of the best budget cities in all of Europe, but to truly grasp how much of a great-value destination it really is, you have to come here yourself.

Academy of Fine Arts, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina at night

Interrail EU estimates the daily costs of the average traveler to be a little over $49, and if you really want to stick to a strict budget, you can bring that total down even lower.

Highly-reviewed apartments like this are lent out for as little as $22 (that’s for two people), and considering that the average meal out for one won’t cost you more than $5 – $8, it shouldn’t be difficult to stay within budget.

4. Budapest, Hungary

Hungary just broke its all-time tourism record, and seeing how stunning and reasonably priced its capital is, it all makes sense.

Top view of the Hungarian Parliament Building and Danube river, Budapest

Here, you can indulge in authentic local dishes like goulash and lángos for as little as $4, enjoy a pint of locally brewed beer for $2, and explore iconic attractions like the Buda Castle entirely free of charge – and as someone who’s done all that, I can guarantee the experience doesn’t differ much from what you’d get in pricier hubs like Vienna or Prague.

3. Krakow, Poland

I’ve always had a soft spot for Krakow.

It’s not only home to one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Europe and some of the most jaw-dropping views you’ll ever see in your life, but also a haven for budget-conscious travelers looking to get the most bang for their buck.

St. Mary's Basilica on the Krakow Main Square during the day, Krakow, Poland

Here’s what the average visitor can expect to pay here:

  • A night at a highly-reviewed apartment in the city center – $21
  • Entry to the Rynek Underground Museum – $9
  • A serving of traditional pierogi or bigos – $6
  • A hearty meal at a milk bar – $3

2. Bucharest, Romania

Home to incredible historic landmarks, a thriving nightlife scene, and the heaviest building on Earth (the Palace of the Parliament), Bucharest welcomes all travelers with open arms and amazingly low prices. 

Bucharest, Romania

Tickets to that record-setting Palace? $12.

A serving of covrigi (soft pretzels)? $1.

A cocktail at a local pub or bar? $5.

It really doesn’t get much better than this.

1. Sofia, Bulgaria

In the first place, with estimated daily costs of just a little over $39, is none other than Sofia, hands-down one of the best-kept secrets for budget travelers in Europe.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria

The Bulgarian capital promises all the culture and allure of bigger hubs across the continent for a (very small) fraction of the price – you can’t even find a hostel for $39 a night in places like Paris or London, let alone cover your entire daily expenses.

A sightseeing tour of the local churches (I’m talking iconic places like the Patriarchal Cathedral of Saint Alexander Nevsky, the Saint George Rotunda Church, the Basilica of Saint Sofia, and the Cathedral of Saint Nedelya) will cost you absolutely nothing.

Traditional dishes like banitsa or a shopska salad can easily be found for $2-$3, whereas coffee prices start at just $0.5 (yes, you read that right).

↓ Elevate Your Travel↓

Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!

✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel buddies!


SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS

Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path's latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.