Dreaming of a European vacation but worried your pockets aren’t deep enough? Although it’s true that many places are upscale, cheap European holidays are possible to find. It’s all a matter of knowing which cities to visit and how to travel cheap in Europe.
We’ve outlined some of the most affordable cities to visit in Europe, along with what makes them so cheap.
Cities with the Cheapest Flights from US/Canada
Of course, flight prices are always fluctuating, but since airfare is typically one of the most significant expenses in many European itineraries, it’s worthwhile to examine which cities are the cheapest to fly into from North America.
Do note however, that just because these cities have some of the cheapest flights, they are not necessarily the cheapest overall. It is worthwhile to take these cities into consideration as perhaps they would work into your itinerary as your gateway to Europe, or maybe the flight savings would be substantial enough that you could afford a city that otherwise you might think is too expensive.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik is one of the cheapest and closest European cities for American and Canadian travelers. WOW Air and Icelandair both have hubs here, and with round-trip prices often under $500 USD a person from the United States, you’ll have plenty of money left in your pockets to get out of the capital city and enjoy the Icelandic Outback with its waterfalls, hiking trails and geothermal springs.
There are plenty of things to do in Iceland — the capital itself is surprisingly cosmopolitan as well with trendy restaurants, nightlife and interesting attractions throughout.
Paris, France
While accommodations and attractions in Paris can be quite pricey, this major hub city boasts some of the cheapest flight prices from the east coast of the United States (think Newark and JFK airports). Even if spending your vacation in Paris isn’t in your budget for other reasons, the city can be a great gateway into Europe and a good first stop before jumping off into more affordable waters.
From there you could take a train to a neighboring country or even find a cheap flight to another European city using a budget carrier like Ryanair. Although, we wouldn’t blame you if you spent all that money you saved on cheese and wine in Paris.
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London, England
London is home to one of the busiest airports in the world, Heathrow, and as such travelers can often catch a good deal on one of the many flights that come in and out of Britain’s capital each day. Like Paris, the city can be incredibly expensive once you are there, but with bargain flights you may be able to balance it out and still tick a visit to Big Ben off your bucket list.
Once there, save money by purchasing a city pass or making the most of a number of free attractions the city has available such as the British Museum, the National Gallery, Hyde Park and watching the Changing of the Guard.
Venice, Italy
We frequently see summer flights to Venice under $500 USD a person. The city is perfectly situated for exploring Italy and Southern Europe, and is also a good launching point into traditionally more affordable Eastern European destinations. Therefore, it’s worth considering booking tickets to Venice as a part of your budget-friendly European holiday.
One of the best ways to experience the city is by wandering its streets and canals and losing yourself in Venice’s unique landscape. The city is fairly small and mostly walkable, which is a great way to explore on a budget as you won’t have to shell out anything for transportation.
You’ll find the iconic gondola rides to be quite expensive, but you can get out on the canals in a traghetto for a more budget-friendly tourist trap alternative.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is another good option for affordable flights from North America, with flights from both the east and west coasts sometimes falling in the $400 USD range. Denmark’s capital is beautiful in its own right, featuring a charming historic city center with palaces and castles throughout.
If you are into fine dining, the city is also home to one of the world’s most famous restaurants, Michelin-starred Noma, as well as a number of other high-end gastronomic delights. For a bit of a different experience you can see the city by booking a canal tour or renting bikes and cycling around. Spending Christmas in Copenhagen is also a magical experience.
The city is also a good gateway to exploring other parts of Northern Europe, so take advantage of those cheap flights and see what sorts of adventures you can find in the region!
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Brussels, Belgium
We’ve seen flights to Brussels for under $400 USD from North America and there are certainly plenty of reasons to consider planning a trip to the Belgian capital.
Accommodations and food can be pricey, but the city does have a number of free things to do. For example, you can enjoy the great outdoors in Promenade Verte, a massive urban green space, window shop like a local at one of the city’s many flea markets, or join a free walking tour that will take you past all the most famous sites such as Manneken Pis, the Grand Palas and the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.
If we were you, we’d certainly spend all the money you saved on fine Belgian chocolate.
Cities with the Cheapest Attractions
These cities may not be the cheapest to get to or known for budget hotels and restaurants, but once there you’ll find a host of affordable attractions that will help you save money on your European vacation.
Rome, Italy
Rome may not be the first place you think of when it comes to cheap holiday destinations in Europe, but the city has some great deals for travelers. Flights and lodging can be quite expensive, but you can often find good prices by traveling in the off-season. And once you get to Rome, many of the most popular attractions are free or very cheap.
A good way to save money in Rome is by purchasing the Roma Pass that provides cheap or no-cost entry to museums and other attractions, as well as free travel on various forms of public transit for three days during your visit.
Porto, Portugal
If you are looking to enjoy plenty of good wine during your trip, Porto may be just what you are looking for. This coastal city in Northwestern Portugal is the best place in the world to sample port wine.
They offer their own tourist card to help visitors save money. The Porto Card gives its holders free and reduced admission to many of the city’s museums, as well as restaurant discounts and unlimited free public transit.
In addition, many of the city’s museums are free on Sunday mornings, so if you’d like to take a stroll around the Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis, hold out for the weekend and save some cash to spend on a bottle of port.
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Madrid, Spain
Our favorite way to experience Madrid is to ramble the streets and enjoy the city’s stunning architecture. Wandering the city’s many plazas thankfully costs nothing and makes for quite the enjoyable day. Most of the biggest attractions are within two miles of each other, so you’ll rarely need to pay for transportation if you stay in the center.
During the weekdays, you can get your fill of local food by enjoying the “Menu del Dia,” which are lunchtime menus that allow you to experience Spanish traditional cuisine without a steep price tag. With a few money saving tips, enjoying Madrid can cost very little, making it simple to have a budget-friendly Spain vacation.
Cheapest Beach Vacations in Europe
You won’t have to empty your wallet completely to enjoy some fun in the sun with these picks of the best places to enjoy an affordable beach vacation in Europe.
Valencia, Spain
One of the most affordable destinations on the Mediterranean Sea is the colorful city of Valencia. The city is easily accessible from the hub cities of Barcelona and Madrid, but prices are much cheaper than either. You’ll find a vibrant museum culture, plenty of beaches for lounging and a few quirky festivals throughout the year, making it a top-notch destination if you’re looking to save a buck in Western Europe.
The city is famous for its beaches that are known for being clean and beautiful (although sometimes quite busy). Some of the best beaches to check out include Las Arenas Beach, Playa de Malvarrosa and Patacona Beach — all of which are quite easy to reach from the city center.
Albania
Often overlooked, Albania is one of the cheapest countries in Europe. Despite how affordable it is, the country remains somewhat off the beaten path, so you’ll have many of the attractions to yourself. The country is known for its castles and archaeological sites, and has both mountains and beaches, offering a little of everything for those who enjoy the outdoors.
Albania’s southern coast is stunning and perfect for a summer beach vacation with soaring peaks, azure seas and the softest white sand you could hope for. The best part is the beaches are rarely crowded with tourists since it’s not yet a popular tourist destination.
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Bulgaria
Bulgaria is another of the most attractive options when considering an affordable European holiday and is a must-visit destination for 2019. Tourists will find prices to be reasonable and there is no shortage of things to do. Make sure to explore the capital, Sofia, and Plovdiv with its interesting museums and historic architecture.
For nature lovers, stay in a mountain lodge at a price that won’t break the bank, explore the Rila Mountains and visit the Seven Rila Lakes. But be sure to leave time to head to Sunny Beach, which is one of the cheapest beach resort areas in Europe. You’ll be wondering why you didn’t know Bulgaria had such beautiful beaches!
Cheapest Overall
These cities amount to what is usually the best overall deal for travelers. We’ve included many Eastern European cities on our list because typically your dollar will go further as you move farther east. In general, visiting Eastern Europe is one of the best ways to save money on hotels and food, which are usually the areas that most eat into your budget.
You’ll find drastic price differences when you compare some of the hub cities of Eastern Europe with their counterparts in Western Europe.
Bratislava, Slovakia
Slovakia has been one of my favorite trips to date. Years ago I camped on the lake shore in the capital, paying just a few dollars a night for the experience with not another tourist to be found.
To really experience Slovakia, book a train to the eastern part of the country where the High Tatras mountains are waiting for nature lovers. The city of Kosice is the perfect little European city to spend a few days. Slovakia has a wealth of affordable museums and architecture, as well as cheap street food, beer and wine.
Berlin, Germany
One of the cheapest cities in Europe, Berlin is a charming city with old world charm, monuments and museums, not to mention delicious and hearty German food that we’re nearly always craving. So, if sauerkraut and bratwurst are calling your name, you won’t find a cheaper way to get your fix than by booking a flight to Berlin.
In addition to being affordable to reach from North America, we’ve found Berlin to be one of the cheapest European cities to fly into from major Asian cities like Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok. Once on the ground, accommodations, food and attractions in Berlin are usually cheaper than you’ll find in other German cities.
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Prague, Czech Republic
For years Prague would have topped nearly everyone’s list of the cheapest holiday destinations in Europe. Even though prices have been rising in recent years, it’s still one of the better deals on the continent and it’s possible to find good prices, especially if you travel in the off-season.
Many of the most popular attractions have a very small entrance fee and cheap options for local food and drinks are available in abundance. If you’ve seen and done everything there is in the capital, head out to Cesky Krumlov for a weekend or longer — you’ll find your money will go even further in this romantic little town. For the very best deal, visit in winter, but make sure to pack your parka.
Athens, Greece
High season for Athens is summer, but if you visit in the shoulder or off-season, the Greek capital can be one of the better deals in Europe. Much of the city is walkable, so you can avoid factoring transportation into your budget. The city also has a number of free and cheap attractions such as free walking tours, museums and affordable street food.
Athens is known for having tons of hotels offering affordable rooms, but like many places accommodation prices can increase if you book last minute, so regardless of what time of year you plan to visit, book your accommodation well in advance to save.
Overall Greece can be done on the cheap if you plan ahead and avoid summer. Grab a gyro from a street stand outside your $50 USD a night hotel and set off to see what you can see on foot in this ancient city and you’ll understand why we’ve included it on our list.
Istanbul, Turkey
Affordable hotels and many cheap restaurants and street eats make Istanbul a good choice for your affordable European holiday. A number of tour operators offer tours in and outside of the city and the prices are good, especially when compared to the rest of Europe.
Turkey is also one of the most affordable destinations in Europe for those looking for a beach vacation, making it an attractive summer option. On top of that, the city has a vibrant market culture with the Grand Bazaar and the spice market both selling many interesting wares for an affordable price.
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St. Petersburg, Russia
The Dollar-Ruble exchange rate is very favorable right now, which means your money will go further on a trip to Russia’s most European city. While there, take a stroll down the city’s most famous street, Nevsky Prospect, where you can appreciate the impressive historic architecture and visit Kazan Cathedral for free.
Dvortsovaya Ploshad, the city square where Nevsky Prospect meets the river, is an impressive remnant of Russian Imperial times and is a great place for people-watching with the Winter Palace and Hermitage as your backdrop.
Booking your flight and accommodations well in advance can also help you save money, as this will easily be the most expensive part of your trip to Russia. Do note that many nationalities (including the United States) have very high visa fees to travel to Russia, so you should certainly factor this into your decision before booking your tickets.
Moscow, Russia
Russia’s capital, with its onion-domed cathedrals, numerous interesting museums and world-class theaters, is a charming destination that is drastically cheaper than Western Europe. Food is cheap and many of the main attractions are quite affordable or free. Accommodations are also quite reasonable for a city of its size, especially if you plan well in advance.
Even without the current favorable exchange rate, Moscow is an affordable destination. While there you can spend your time visiting some of the country’s most iconic sites such as St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin in Red Square, or catch a show at the famous Bolshoi Theatre.
Warsaw, Poland
Poland’s sprawling capital city has a varied landscape with architecture from many different time periods representing the city’s long and often chaotic history. Soviet-era apartment blocks sit intermingled with modern skyscrapers and Gothic churches.
The Warsaw Old Town has been restored after it was heavily damaged in the Second World War and is home to the royal castle, Market Square and a monument to the city’s symbol, the Warsaw Mermaid. Prices in Poland are overall more affordable than most of Western Europe, making Warsaw a great place to plan your European holiday if you are looking to save money.
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Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is a dream for those who travel on a budget, with tons of free attractions, very affordable accommodations and delicious but affordable food. The city is noted for its beautiful architecture, pristine green spaces and plethora of historic sites.
Public transportation is well-organized and affordable, with the option of buying an unlimited travel pass for up to 72 hours that also gives you free entry into several museums and the Lukas Thermal Baths. You can explore many of the main attractions on foot, and free walking tours are also available.