Traveling to Europe can be costly, but if you get creative and avoid tourist hotspots like London and Paris, you might be able to avoid exorbitant prices and score some savings. To determine the top cheap European vacations, US News took into account average hotel pricing, flight deals, available vacation packages, economical attractions, and overall accessibility, as well as user votes. Please submit your vote below to help us select the ranking for next year.
Porto
This inexpensive resort in northwest Portugal is becoming increasingly popular, so visit while it is still affordable. Right now, the train from Porto to Lisbon costs as little as $25 one way. Several famous sights, like the Dom Luís I Bridge, Sé do Porto Cathedral, and Jardins do Palácio de Cristal, offer free admission. Meanwhile, if you want to drink good wine on a cheap, tickets for City Lovers Tours’ wine walking tour cost roughly $40.
Prague
Aside from the trip, you would not have to spend a lot of money to visit Prague. Explore the city’s top sites, like as Old Town Square, the Charles Bridge, and Petrín Hill, on a free walking tour. You may be able to find five-star hotels for less than $350 a night here, as well as lots of solid three- and four-star options at much lower rates. Furthermore, the city is recognized for being one of the cheapest places in Europe to drink, with wine and beer averaging a few dollars per drink at numerous establishments.
Valencia
Valencia has many lovely beaches but is less crowded than major Spanish towns such as Barcelona. It is also much more inexpensive. The city has a wide variety of free activities, such as sunbathing on the beach, meandering through Plaza del Ayuntamiento, visiting the Museum of Fine Arts, and weaving through the Central Market, the crown gem of one of Europe’s oldest food markets. Furthermore, if you plan your vacation carefully and want to visit several other Spanish cities, you can frequently find flights and train lines from Barcelona or Madrid to Valencia for less than $100 round trip.
Budapest
Hungary’s capital is a slam dunk for budget travelers in more ways than one. Several of Budapest’s greatest sights, including Heroes’ Square and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, are free to enter. You can also expect eating to be inexpensive, with coffee and drinks averaging approximately $2 apiece and multicourse meals, including a bottle of wine, around $20 or less per person. You’ll also discover fantastic rates at the city’s best hotels all year (rooms at four- and five-star resorts start at less than $200 per night). Using the money you save on housing, purchase a day pass to one of Budapest’s famous thermal spas.
Athens
If you’re a foodie on a budget, Athens, Greece, should be at the top of your European bucket list. For a low price, you may get delicious meals including Greek salad, fresh seafood, and spanakopita. These savings will allow you to spend less than $200 per night at chosen four- and five-star hotels. Plus, with many of the city’s key attractions within a mile of one another, walking will save you a lot of money on public transit and taxis.
Istanbul
Due to a favorable exchange rate, Istanbul is extremely economical for Western travelers. Many of the city’s most important religious landmarks, like as the Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque, and Hagia Sophia Mosque, are free to enter. Admission to other popular attractions, including as the Topkapi Palace Museum, is often less than $25 per person. And, with dinners ranging from 30 to 150 Turkish lira (approximately $2 to $10), you have plenty of money to spend on souvenirs or your accommodation.
Dubrovnik
For those seeking for a low-cost European trip, you’re in luck. Dubrovnik, located in southern Croatia on the famous Dalmatian coast, is a historic city known for its centuries-old stone fortifications, delectable cuisine, and stunning baroque design. It is also an excellent destination for budget travelers. With the handy Dubrovnik Pass, which is offered in one-, three- and seven-day increments, travelers can enjoy free entrance to several of the city’s main attractions and complimentary transportation on all city buses. Spare your pocketbook further by going in September or October when summer throngs have left and accommodation rates have plummeted.