Don’t worry if you’ve always wanted to travel to Europe but are afraid your financial account isn’t quite ready. There are dozens of quaint, shockingly inexpensive locations with all the European elegance for a small portion of the cost of every pricey metropolis. Budget visitors will find budget destinations like Ljubljana, Porto, Budapest, and even Berlin to have all the beautiful architecture, Best And Cheapest Places To Visit In Europe, mouthwatering cuisine, and rich cultural diversity of more expensive European capitals.
Here are some of the best places to go on an inexpensive vacation in Europe, along with money-saving advice for when you get there.
most affordable places to visit in europe
Bavaria, Germany
Go directly to Bavaria for a holiday in Europe that would make a storybook happy. Reserve a room in the 14th-century Burg Colmberg, which rises above a little settlement on a rocky precipice. It provides a unique assortment of chambers nested within a labyrinth of uneven passageways, concealed stairways, and comfortable lounging areas. Make time to tour Hohenschwangau, the castle where “Mad King” Ludwig II resided, and don’t miss the picture-perfect Neuschwanstein Castle, which is magnificently located atop a mountain. The latter is a tiny hilltop in the valley below, a mere heap of battlements. Its homeliness and history more than make up for what it needs in the meticulously designed pomp and circumstance of Neuschwanstein, which Ludwig II never lived to see completed.
Puglia, Italy
Puglia, the “heel” of Italy, is known for its signature building, the prehistoric trullo, a cylindrical dwelling painted white with a gray stone roof fashioned like a cone. In the UNESCO-protected town of Alberobello, where entire neighborhoods are formed of buildings, there is no higher concentration of trulli. The local entrepreneur behind Trullidea has restored dozens of the abandoned ones and rents them to tourists. For less money than a tourist-class hotel in town, you may live like a local in a rental trullo, which is excellent in the sweltering summers and has warm interior heating in the winter. Would you like a taste of life on the Amalfi Coast before wealthy individuals and celebrities arrive? Though surprisingly off the tourist radar, Puglia’s forested Gargano Peninsula is popular with sun-loving Italians.
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest, the capital of Hungary, has all the beauty of more well-known European locations at a significantly lower cost. The city offers plenty of reasonably priced lodging, dining options, and nightlife in addition to picture-perfect sites like the Hungarian Parliament Building and Fisherman’s Bastion. It might be reasonably priced to visit the city’s well-known thermal spas, some of which date back more than a century and have stunning architecture.
Andalusia, Spain
Take a self-guided driving excursion along the Pueblos Blancos route to escape the crowds at the famous beaches of the Costa del Sol. From the Moorish hamlet of Arcos de la Frontera across the Sierra de Grazalema to Ronda, a labyrinth of medieval alleyways perched above a 500-foot valley, lies this succession of clifftop, whitewashed settlements. Consider spending time in the neighboring Andalusian capital of Seville to have some traditional tapas, see the stunning architecture, and witness flamenco dancing.
Berlin, Germany
Berlin boasts modern architecture, a thriving restaurant and art scene, and a mysterious Cold War past. It’s hardly surprising that the city has developed into the cultural hub of central Europe given its eclectic, East meets West edge. It’s where intelligent tourists and creative types keep returning to. Start your journey to Berlin in the trendy Mitte (literally, “middle”) area, close to important locations like Potsdamer Platz and the Reichstag.
Bath and the Cotswolds, England
The most picturesque Cotswold villages are Chipping Campden, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Bourton-on-the-Water—these quaint villages are like something from a fairy tale. The small towns are dotted with taverns and inns, but Bath, a charming city with Roman roots, is our recommendation for lodging because of its wide range of options. See Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge, the Royal Crescent, and the ancient Roman baths while you’re there. The best part is that Bath is a quick weekend getaway from London—it takes less than two hours by rail.
Istanbul, Turkey
While the leading state-run museums in Istanbul may have expensive admission fees, the Great Palace Mosaic Museum, located next to the Arasta Bazaar and just behind the Blue Mosque, only charges 60 Turkish lira, or about $4. The Palatium Magnum, the Great Palace constructed between the reigns of Constantine the Great and Justinian I, once had a spacious courtyard with charming mosaic scenes depicting hunts, myths. You can even travel between the continents at a reasonable cost by riding the boat.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Explore the architectural masterpieces created by the extraordinary local genius Jože Plecnik, who brought his knowledge of Secessionist Art Nouveau from Vienna to his hometown through Prague, reinterpreting it uniquely. Similar to Gaudí in Barcelona, Plecnik meticulously planned every detail of his structures, even the Pegasus door handles at the National and University Library’s entry. From the central market to the two flanking spans of the famous Triple Bridge in Ljubljana to the café-lined embankments of the Ljubljanica River, Plecnik created much of the town. In addition, the city has a great selection of reasonably priced eateries, and you can spend a day at the adjacent Lake Bled by taking a public bus (for a nominal cost).
The Dalmatian Coast, Croatia
Choose the walled medieval settlement on the Adriatic island of Korcula, rumored to be Marco Polo’s residence, instead of the overexposure-prone island of Hvar. Being more of a day-trip destination, Korcula sees a significant decrease in tourists by sunset, leaving those who stay to unwind in the cafés and meander around the little lanes. Split boasts the only downtown that was genuinely constructed from the remains of an ancient Roman palace, even though every old city in Europe has an Old City historic quarter.
Emperor Diocletian built a sumptuous mansion on the Croatian coast to mark the end of his reign as leader of the empire’s eastern sector after abdicating in 305 A.D. In the 1,700 years that have passed, the people of the area have settled on the ruins of his massive construction, the structures have evolved into medieval town dwellings, and the emperor’s mausoleum has become a church.
Paris, France
Do you want to eat delicious French food on a budget? Make a midday indulgence choice; many cafés and restaurants have lunch menus that are less priced. And it’s never a bad idea to have a picnic in Paris. Visit a market to browse the (usually) wide selection of cheese and wine or get a tasty yet straightforward crepe from a vendor. You may consider purchasing a Paris Museum Pass to visit the City of Light’s most famous museums and sites. You may skip the ticket line and enter popular tourist destinations, including the Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle, Panthéon, Louvre, Musée Rodin, and more, for a single charge (which varies based on the number of days you purchase). What a win-win situation.
County Clare, Ireland
The Burren, a strangely eroded limestone landscape where prehistoric slab tombs perch on the rocky flatlands like miniature houses of cards, the dramatic Cliffs of Moher rising more than 700 feet from the crashing Atlantic waves, and Doolin, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it village that has become a popular destination for traditional Celtic music are all worth seeing instead of the tour bus-clogged Ring of Kerry. Local pubs make the ideal evening destination for substantial Irish cuisine that is typically reasonably priced, as well as live music if you’re lucky.
Rome, Italy
More than 900 churches in Rome are free to enter and feature magnificent artwork and architectural designs by famous artists and builders, including Raphael, Bernini, Caravaggio, Bramante, and Pinturicchio. And that’s only a small selection of the artists that call Santa Maria del Popolo, a seldom-visited church, home. Not only are the Spanish Steps, the cheap countries to visit in europe, Trevi Fountain, and Rome’s well-known piazzas free to visit, but several museums also have free entry days; for more information, see their websites.
Porto, Portugal
You’ll realize why Porto, in northern Portugal, is one of Travelscanvas readers’ favorite European towns once you visit. In Porto, tourists may enjoy port wine, take in the city’s stunning Art Deco architecture, and explore the pedestrian-friendly area on foot without breaking the bank. In addition, the journey to the Douro Valley, a charming wine region beside the Douro River, is worthwhile.
