Budget Travel Guide

Best Budget Destinations in Europe

33 destinations starting from $16/day. Average budget cost: $45/day.

33

Destinations

$16

Cheapest/day

$45

Average/day

Europe is the classic travel destination, and it does not have to break the bank. Eastern and Southern Europe — think Lisbon, Budapest, and Athens — offer excellent value. Budget airlines connect the continent cheaply, and free walking tours are available in every major city.

Europe Destinations Ranked by Budget Cost

#1KIV

Chisinau

Moldova

$16

budget/day

Mid-range

$47/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Eat at local canteens for $2-3 per meal — Moldovan food is hearty and cheap

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#2SKP

Skopje

North Macedonia

$17

budget/day

Mid-range

$54/day

Best months

Apr, May, Jun...

Top tip: Eat kebapi and tavche gravche at local restaurants for $2-3 per meal

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#3TIA

Tirana

Albania

$17

budget/day

Mid-range

$55/day

Best months

Apr, May, Jun...

Top tip: Eat byrek (stuffed pastry) and qofte for $1-2 at local bakeries

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#4SJJ

Sarajevo

Bosnia and Herzegovina

$21

budget/day

Mid-range

$65/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Eat cevapi at Bascarsija for $2-3 — the iconic Bosnian dish

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#5SOF

Sofia

Bulgaria

$22

budget/day

Mid-range

$65/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Eat at local mehanas (taverns) for $3-5 meals with huge portions

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#6BEG

Belgrade

Serbia

$22

budget/day

Mid-range

$69/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Eat pljeskavica and burek at local joints for $2-3

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#7OTP

Bucharest

Romania

$22

budget/day

Mid-range

$71/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Eat at local restaurants — a full meal with soup costs $3-5

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#8VNO

Vilnius

Lithuania

$22

budget/day

Mid-range

$73/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Eat cepelinai (potato dumplings) at local restaurants for $3-5

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#9RIX

Riga

Latvia

$28

budget/day

Mid-range

$83/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Eat at Lido — a self-service chain with hearty Latvian meals for $4-6

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#10TLL

Tallinn

Estonia

$28

budget/day

Mid-range

$90/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Walk through the medieval Old Town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site, free to explore

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#11KRK

Krakow

Poland

$29

budget/day

Mid-range

$83/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Walk the Main Square and Wawel Castle grounds for free

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#12GDN

Gdansk

Poland

$30

budget/day

Mid-range

$83/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Walk the beautifully rebuilt Long Market and waterfront for free

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#13WAW

Warsaw

Poland

$32

budget/day

Mid-range

$93/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Eat at milk bars (bar mleczny) for $2-4 meals

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#14BUD

Budapest

Hungary

$37

budget/day

Mid-range

$111/day

Best months

Apr, May, Jun...

Top tip: Visit the Szechenyi thermal baths for $20 — worth it

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#15OPO

Porto

Portugal

$38

budget/day

Mid-range

$103/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Eat francesinha sandwiches at local spots for $5-8

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#16PRG

Prague

Czech Republic

$40

budget/day

Mid-range

$116/day

Best months

Apr, May, Jun...

Top tip: Walk across Charles Bridge and through Old Town for free

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#17ZAG

Zagreb

Croatia

$40

budget/day

Mid-range

$103/day

Best months

Apr, May, Jun...

Top tip: Walk the Upper Town and Dolac Market for free

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#18LJU

Ljubljana

Slovenia

$42

budget/day

Mid-range

$111/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Walk the compact car-free old town and Triple Bridge area for free

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#19LIS

Lisbon

Portugal

$44

budget/day

Mid-range

$126/day

Best months

Apr, May, Jun...

Top tip: Eat at tascas (local taverns) for $6-10 meals with wine

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#20ATH

Athens

Greece

$46

budget/day

Mid-range

$126/day

Best months

Apr, May, Jun...

Top tip: Get a combined ticket for Acropolis and 6 other sites ($30)

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#21BER

Berlin

Germany

$47

budget/day

Mid-range

$140/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Eat doner kebabs and currywurst from street stands for $3-5

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#22BCN

Barcelona

Spain

$55

budget/day

Mid-range

$157/day

Best months

Apr, May, Jun...

Top tip: Walk La Rambla and the Gothic Quarter for free

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#23FCO

Rome

Italy

$55

budget/day

Mid-range

$157/day

Best months

Apr, May, Jun...

Top tip: Visit the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps for free

View flights & details
#24VIE

Vienna

Austria

$55

budget/day

Mid-range

$157/day

Best months

Apr, May, Jun...

Top tip: Visit museums on first Sundays for free entry

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#25DBV

Dubrovnik

Croatia

$57

budget/day

Mid-range

$150/day

Best months

May, Jun, Sep...

Top tip: Visit in shoulder season (May or October) for 40-50% lower hotel prices

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#26DUB

Dublin

Ireland

$64

budget/day

Mid-range

$184/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Walk through Temple Bar and along the Liffey for free

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#27HEL

Helsinki

Finland

$66

budget/day

Mid-range

$164/day

Best months

Jun, Jul, Aug...

Top tip: Visit Suomenlinna Fortress by public ferry (included in transit pass)

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#28AMS

Amsterdam

Netherlands

$71

budget/day

Mid-range

$197/day

Best months

Apr, May, Jun...

Top tip: Rent a bike ($10-12/day) — the best way to see the city

View flights & details
#29CDG

Paris

France

$73

budget/day

Mid-range

$203/day

Best months

Apr, May, Jun...

Top tip: Buy a carnet of 10 metro tickets for savings

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#30CPH

Copenhagen

Denmark

$73

budget/day

Mid-range

$220/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Get a Copenhagen Card for free transport and museum entry

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#31LHR

London

UK

$84

budget/day

Mid-range

$223/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Most major museums (British Museum, Tate Modern, National Gallery) are free

View flights & details
#32BRN

Bern

Switzerland

$95

budget/day

Mid-range

$218/day

Best months

May, Jun, Jul...

Top tip: Buy groceries at Migros or Coop instead of eating out

View flights & details
#33KEF

Reykjavik

Iceland

$97

budget/day

Mid-range

$240/day

Best months

Jun, Jul, Aug

Top tip: Cook your own meals — groceries at Bonus supermarket are half the price of eating out

View flights & details

Cost Comparison Table

#DestinationBudget/DayMid/DayComfort/DayBest MonthsCurrency
1Chisinau, Moldova$16$47$102May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepMDL
2Skopje, North Macedonia$17$54$124Apr, May, Jun, Sep, OctMKD
3Tirana, Albania$17$55$128Apr, May, Jun, Sep, OctALL
4Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina$21$65$144May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepBAM
5Sofia, Bulgaria$22$65$149May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctBGN
6Belgrade, Serbia$22$69$152May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctRSD
7Bucharest, Romania$22$71$160May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepRON
8Vilnius, Lithuania$22$73$165May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepEUR
9Riga, Latvia$28$83$189May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepEUR
10Tallinn, Estonia$28$90$202May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepEUR
11Krakow, Poland$29$83$188May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepPLN
12Gdansk, Poland$30$83$177May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepPLN
13Warsaw, Poland$32$93$205May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepPLN
14Budapest, Hungary$37$111$250Apr, May, Jun, Sep, OctHUF
15Porto, Portugal$38$103$225May, Jun, Jul, Sep, OctEUR
16Prague, Czech Republic$40$116$260Apr, May, Jun, Sep, OctCZK
17Zagreb, Croatia$40$103$215Apr, May, Jun, Sep, OctEUR
18Ljubljana, Slovenia$42$111$230May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepEUR
19Lisbon, Portugal$44$126$278Apr, May, Jun, Sep, OctEUR
20Athens, Greece$46$126$280Apr, May, Jun, Sep, OctEUR
21Berlin, Germany$47$140$303May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepEUR
22Barcelona, Spain$55$157$348Apr, May, Jun, Sep, OctEUR
23Rome, Italy$55$157$353Apr, May, Jun, Sep, OctEUR
24Vienna, Austria$55$157$348Apr, May, Jun, Sep, OctEUR
25Dubrovnik, Croatia$57$150$335May, Jun, Sep, OctEUR
26Dublin, Ireland$64$184$390May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepEUR
27Helsinki, Finland$66$164$327Jun, Jul, Aug, SepEUR
28Amsterdam, Netherlands$71$197$398Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepEUR
29Paris, France$73$203$435Apr, May, Jun, Sep, OctEUR
30Copenhagen, Denmark$73$220$465May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepDKK
31London, UK$84$223$475May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepGBP
32Bern, Switzerland$95$218$430May, Jun, Jul, Aug, SepCHF
33Reykjavik, Iceland$97$240$490Jun, Jul, AugISK

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