You’ve seen the TikToks. A girl in a sundress stands on a cliff in Santorini, claiming she’s "traveling on a budget" while sipping a €15 cocktail. Honestly? It’s a lie. If you want the real cheapest places to travel to in europe, you have to look past the blue domes and the Eiffel Tower.
The map has shifted. In 2026, the old budget hacks don’t always work. Prague isn't the "dirt cheap" secret it was in 2005, and even Budapest is feeling the squeeze of inflation. But if you’re willing to hop on a bus or fly into a secondary airport, you can still find coffee for a buck and a bed for the price of a movie ticket.
Let's get into the actual numbers.
The Balkan Bargain: Why Albania and Bulgaria are Winning 2026
If you aren't looking at the Balkans, you're basically burning money.
Albania is having a massive moment right now. It used to be this mysterious, closed-off place, but now it’s the darling of budget travelers. Why? Because you can get a room in Tirana or Berat for about €30 a night. If you’re really pinching pennies, hostels are still hovering around €10.
I spoke with a backpacker recently who spent a week in Sarandë. She was shocked. Dinner—we're talking fresh seafood, wine, the works—cost her less than €15. In Paris, that gets you a baguette and a judgmental look from the waiter.
Then there’s Bulgaria. Sofia is consistently ranked as one of the most affordable capitals on the continent. You can grab a pint of local beer for about €2. Public transport? Basically pocket change. A single trip on the Sofia metro is roughly 1.60 BGN, which is less than a dollar.
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What about Romania?
People overlook Romania. Big mistake. Bucharest is a "city of contrasts," which is travel-writer speak for "it's got gritty bits but also incredible 19th-century palaces."
You can find decent Airbnb stays for €25 a night.
- Food: Hearty sarmale (cabbage rolls) will set you back maybe €8.
- Transport: The train from Bucharest to Brașov (to see Dracula's castle) is only about €10.
- Vibe: It feels like the Europe people imagine—medieval, cobblestoned, and mysterious—without the Disney-fied prices of Rothenburg.
The "New" Central Europe: Poland and Bosnia
Poland is the ultimate "value for money" destination. It’s not "cheap" in a way that feels broken; it’s just high quality for a low price. Kraków is the crown jewel here. You can walk through the Wawel Royal Castle grounds for free, and then hit up a "Milk Bar" (Bar Mleczny) for a massive plate of pierogi for under €5.
Kraków accommodation is still a steal. A mid-range hotel in 2026 is sitting around €60, but you can find solid guesthouses for €35.
And then there is Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Honestly, it’s one of the most soulful cities in Europe. It’s tucked into a valley, surrounded by mountains. You can grab a burek (savory pastry) for €2 and wander the Bascarsija bazaar for hours. Flight prices to Sarajevo have actually dropped recently—KAYAK data shows round-trip fares are down nearly 36% compared to last year. It’s the definition of a hidden gem.
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Portugal: The Last Westward Exception
Most of Western Europe is a wallet-killer. London, Paris, Zurich? Forget it. But Portugal is the weird, wonderful outlier.
While Lisbon has gotten pricier because of the digital nomad boom, it’s still significantly cheaper than Madrid or Rome. You can still find a pastel de nata for €1.20. If you head north to Porto or south to the Alentejo region, your money stretches way further.
In Porto, you can get a "Francesinha" sandwich (it’s a beast, look it up) for about €10 and it’ll keep you full until the next day. A bottle of decent Vinho Verde at a supermarket? €4. Seriously.
Quick Cost Comparison (Daily Budget)
| Destination | Budget Level (Hostels/Street Food) | Mid-Range (Boutique/Sit-down) |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | €35 | €85 |
| Albania | €30 | €75 |
| Poland | €45 | €100 |
| Portugal | €55 | €120 |
| Switzerland | €180+ | Why are you even here? |
The Art of the Cheap Flight in 2026
To find the cheapest places to travel to in europe, you have to rethink how you fly. Don't just search for "London" or "Rome."
Airlines like Wizz Air and Ryanair have massive hubs in places like Budapest and Warsaw. Sometimes it’s cheaper to fly from the US to London Gatwick (the cheapest entry point, often around $230 one-way) and then take a €20 flight to Sofia or Riga.
Also, watch out for the "Eurozone" tax. Countries that don't use the Euro—like Poland (Złoty), Hungary (Forint), and Romania (Leu)—usually offer better bang for your buck because the exchange rate favors the Dollar or the Pound.
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Things Most People Get Wrong
One: They think "Cheap" means "Dangerous."
Totally wrong. Ljubljana, Slovenia is one of the safest cities on earth, and while it’s not as cheap as Bulgaria, it’s still way more affordable than Austria next door.
Two: They travel in July.
If you go to the Albanian Riviera in August, you’re going to pay double. Go in May or September. The water is still warm, the crowds are gone, and the prices for hotels in Sarandë drop by 40%.
Three: They ignore the Baltics.
Lithuania and Latvia are incredible. Vilnius was recently named one of the best-value cities in the world. It’s clean, it’s green, and the beer is world-class. You can get a three-course meal in Riga with wine for under €25 if you avoid the main tourist square.
Actionable Steps for Your Budget Trip
If you're ready to book, do these three things right now:
- Check Open-Jaw Flights: Search for a flight into one city (like Budapest) and out of another (like Bucharest). This saves you the time and money of doubling back.
- Download Bolt: Forget Uber in Eastern Europe. Bolt is the king here and usually half the price of a local taxi.
- Eat the "Menu del Dia": Even in the cheaper countries, lunch is the best deal. Look for "Meniu Zilei" in Romania or "Dania Dnia" in Poland. You'll get a soup, a main, and sometimes a drink for a fixed low price.
Stop waiting for a "better" time to go. The prices in these Eastern European hubs are rising every year as they get more popular. 2026 is the year to see them before they become the next Dubrovnik.