Europe Travel Tips: Ten Best Cheap Europe Destinations
Greetings from Krakow, Poland! A lot of people have asked me which are the cheapest countries to visit in Europe. Of course, there are many cheap Europe destinations, so I’m focusing on the European cities that I really enjoy and the ones I think give you the most bang for your buck. I’m taking into consideration cultural attractions, such as museums, outdoor activities, the cost of eating and hotels. I’m also considering how easy it is to reach these destinations. Most of these cities are served by low-cost airlines so you can travel to Europe cheap. So, today I’m giving you ten of my favorite cheap cities to visit in Europe, in no particular order.
Cheap Europe Destination #1: Krakow, Poland
Krakow is a beautiful, UNESCO World Heritage city. There’s a great town square with St Mary’s church, which is free to enter. There’s the blue altar, cathedrals, a castle, and Krakow also has a DaVinci. An important day trip from Krakow is the trip to Auschwitz and Birkenau, a very moving experience to see the Nazi concentration camps.
What to Eat in Poland: Pierogis are little dumplings stuffed with cabbage, meat, fruit or cheese.
Watch: Ten Things That Will Shock You About Krakow, Poland
Cheap Europe Destination #2: Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is a great city and is also a hub for low-cost carriers from all over Europe and the U.S. It’s very affordable to eat and drink in Lisbon. There are affordable accommodations; I recommend trying apartment stays. Lisbon has some excellent museums and easy access to the beaches. As you walk around Lisbon, you’ll notice lots of the Portuguese blue tiles, Azulejos. Portugal is a great laid-back destination with great prices for budget travelers.
What to Eat in Lisbon: Porco preto, or black pork, is my personal favorite. Sardines are also popular in Lisbon.
Watch: Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Lisbon
Cheap Europe Destination #3: Valencia, Spain
Valencia is an excellent budget destination. We have stayed at some really nice hotels in Valencia for a fraction of what you’d pay in Barcelona, and with a fraction of the tourists. Cool things to see in Valencia include the City of Art and Sciences, a futuristic building where a Dr Who episode was filmed. Valencia has an oceanarium, a science museum, and really cool art deco architecture. Weekdays in the low season can really feel like a budget destination, though, as they don’t bother turning on the lights for everything when it’s slow!
What to Eat in Valencia: Tapas are little savory treats you can eat, or try the pinchos
Watch: What You Should Know Before You Visit Spain
Cheap Europe Destination #4: Tallinn, Estonia
I worked in the Baltics for a number of years, and I always loved when we had a project in Tallinn. I think it’s the prettiest city in the Baltics and there are so many historic buildings like the cathedral, the castle and the Town Hall. You’ll see a lot of Finnish tourists in Tallinn because it’s a very cheap destination from Scandinavia. Of all the cities in the Baltics, Tallinn is probably the most expensive, but it’s still a great value compared to other cities in Europe.
What to Eat in Tallinn: The brown bread, or rye bread, comes with everything.
Watch: What You Should Know Before You Visit Estonia
Cheap Europe Destination #5: Riga, Latvia
Riga is a fun “Las Vegas” style city, with gambling and looser laws, but you also have some really cool stuff to see. Things to see in Riga include several churches and the Occupation Museum.
What to Eat in Riga: Get the cabbage rolls, even better if someone’s grandma can make them for you!
Watch: Five Things You Will Love & Hate About East Europe
Cheap Europe Destination #6: Prague, Czech Republic
Prague isn’t as cheap as it used to be, however it’s still a great “bang for your buck” city. Walking along Charles Bridge, admiring the statues, visiting Castle Hill and the cathedral. Prague has what might be the prettiest square in Europe, and the famous Astronomical Clock. The Jewish Quarter of Prague is also an interesting place to visit. Prague is such a great city, and of course I can’t forget to mention the beer and eating duck.
What to Eat in Prague: Along with great beer, be sure to try duck and dumplings in Prague
Watch: Top Ten Sites in Prague, Czech Republic
Cheap Europe Destination #7: Budapest, Hungary
A bit further down the Danube is Budapest, Hungary. Budapest probably has the coolest parliament anywhere in the world. You can visit the Buda castle on the other side of the river and walk around the amazing, immense buildings of the city. Budapest has many major monuments and museums, including the terror museum, Hero Square, and St. Stephen’s Hand. Eating on the cheap is easy in Budapest, just grab some goulash.
What to Eat in Budapest: Of course, goulash is the traditional Hungarian food.
Watch: Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Budapest, Hungary
Cheap Europe Destination #8: Athens, Greece
There are many more interesting places to visit in Greece, but for consistently cheap flights, Athens is your best bet. One of the most quintessential “wow” moments in travel happens when you see the Acropolis hill and the Parthenon for the first time. That “wow” view is free, too, although you will have to pay to go up the hill. Athens has a ton of interesting museums, like the new Acropolis Museum, or the National Museum.
What to Eat in Athens: Greek food, obviously! Lamb, or dolmades, which is rice and meat wrapped in a grape leaf. Greek food has lot of olive oil and lots of wine alongside!
Watch: Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Visiting Athens, Greece
Cheap Europe Destination #9: Porto, Portugal
Circling back to Portugal again! Porto is another hub for low-cost carriers and has a lot of bars and restaurants in the River District. You can eat very well and very cheap in Porto. You definitely want to visit the port wine caves in Porto and do a port wine tasting, some of which are free. The train station covered in blue Portugal tiles is just gorgeous.
Watch: Top Sites in Porto, Portugal
Cheap Europe Destination #10: Dubrovnik, Croatia
In Dubrovnik, you can walk along the city walls, which is really amazing. The stone buildings look like they are straight out of a TV show, which is probably why they filmed Game of Thrones here. Dubrovnik has a really cool, otherworldly feel to it, and it’s still pretty affordable. Dubrovnik has great seafood, some interesting monasteries you can see, and boat tours to nearby islands.
Watch: Ten Things That Will Shock You About Croatia
So, there you have it. My ten favorite cheap cities in Europe to visit. Not all of them are super cheap, but your dollar will go farther in these places than in other European cities. I consistently return to these places because of their great value, good food, and many things to do.
For more budget travel tips, check out: Budget Travel Tips to Save Real Money While Traveling