Most Visited Countries in Europe

Millions of people visit these European countries every year — but, which are kind to your pockets and which will deplete your life savings?

The most visited country in Europe also earns the top spot for the world. In fact, European countries account for some of the most popular destinations in the entire planet. But, should you follow the masses and vacation where everyone else is going?

We’d say, talk to your wallet. Contrary to what many people think, not every place on the continent is expensive. In fact, some of the most coveted spots happen to be relatively gentle on your pockets. Need more help making a decision? Here are Europe’s most visited countries — and how much it costs to visit them.

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10. Netherlands

Utrecht canals and architecture in the summer

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Yearly visitors: 16.07 million

Average daily cost: $185

With famed canals, museums and an enviable café culture, Amsterdam attracts visitors from all over the world. But if you want to save money on a trip to the Netherlands, consider heeding the call (really, more like a plea at this point) of the people who live in the capital and go elsewhere.

The country has plenty of amazing destinations like the Hague and Utrecht, which are cheaper and don’t have as many tourists as Amsterdam.

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*Yearly visitors are based on 2022 numbers from Statista. Average daily budgets are calculated with Budget Your Trip.

9. Portugal

Yellow vintage tram on the street in Lisbon, Portugal.

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Yearly visitors: 22.25 million

Average daily cost: $144

Truly one of the best places to visit on Earth, Portugal is a practically perfect country. Gorgeous beaches? Check. Great food? Check. Impressive castles? Check. Good traditional music? Check. Cheap high-quality wine? Double check.

Most importantly, Portugal is one of Western Europe’s most affordable spots. Go ahead and enjoy all the Port wine, cod fish and cheese you want — the bill will still be manageable.

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8. Austria

Gloriette pavilion and Neptune fountain in Schonbrunn park, Vienna, Austria

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Yearly visitors: 26.21 million

Average daily cost: $156

The center of one of the continent’s most powerful empires in recent history, Austria is filled with imperial palaces and important cultural institutions. It’s also crossed by the Alps and filled with more well-preserved Medieval villages than you’d have time to visit. Oh, and the capital, Vienna is continuously voted as the most livable city in the world.

Yet despite all this, Austria manages to keep its cost to a reasonable daily average. Use the money you save to splurge on a night enjoying a performance at the Vienna State Opera.

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7. Greece

Skyline of Oia, traditional white architecture with windmills, greek village of Santorini, Greece.

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Yearly visitors: 27.84 million

Average daily cost: $164

An important trade point between Europe, Asia and Africa, Greece’s influence in ancient and modern Western history is undeniable. This is a main part of what draws 27.84 million visitors to the country every year (compare that to the population of 10.64 million people).

The other part is the hypnotizing allure of the peninsula’s long, jagged coastline and its thousands (literally) of islands spread around the Mediterranean Sea. Tourists enjoy some of the most breathtaking beaches and azure water on Earth while trying a cuisine rich in olive oil, cheese and fish.

Yes, it really is almost heaven, and you can visit for an average of just $164 per day.

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6. Germany

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Yearly visitors: 28.46 million

Average daily cost: $161

Germans have a reputation for being rigid and somewhat cold. But while we admit that there are much warmer cultures out there, no one can deny that Germany is really freaking cool. People are both concerned with preserving history and being irreverent to traditions, with medieval city centers and landmarks that date hundreds of years often near underground clubs where we’re almost sure vampires love to hang out.

Beer flows more freely than water here and trains are always on time, so we’ll forgive the people for not being touchy-feely.

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5. United Kingdom

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Yearly visitors: 30.74 million

Average daily cost: $187

If you’re on a budget, the U.K. is probably not the destination for you. The British Pound is one of the strongest currencies on the planet, which makes a trip here expensive for almost every other nationality.

That said, if you’re willing to take from your savings or if you have money to burn, the country makes for an incredible trip. Go see London, even if it’s for a few days and then head out to less-frequented, more affordable spots. And don’t limit yourself to just England either. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are also great places to visit.

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4. Italy

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Yearly visitors: 49.81 million

Average daily cost: $177

We’re convinced it is physically impossible for an Italian dish to taste bad. That’s reason enough to book a flight to Italy as soon as you finish reading this.

Also, Italy was the heart of the Roman Empire, which means ruins, museums and more history than you could absorb in a lifetime. It’s crossed by multiple mountain ranges, has a long coastline and is relatively affordable. Pro tip? Get out of the usual Big Three (Rome, Florence and Venice) and head into small towns that don’t get as much tourism. The experience will be even better and the trip will be less expensive.

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3. Turkey

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Yearly visitors: 50.45 million

Average daily cost: $34

Straddling Eurasia, many people don’t think of Turkey as part of Europe. But given that a chunk of the country is in the continent, we’ll include it in here. Most travelers touch down in Istanbul, which straddles the physical and cultural line between Europe and Asia.

The city is as exciting as you’d imagine, with chaotic bazaars, food good enough to make you cry and iconic landmarks like the Hagia Sophia. Often mistaken for the capital (which it isn’t), Istanbul is also a great jumping-off point to other parts of the country like the popular Cappadocia or the Mediterranean resort town of Bodrum.

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2. Spain

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Yearly visitors: 71.66 million

Average daily cost: $159

Like neighboring Portugal, Spain crosses off basically every item of the list of things you’d want from a travel destination: Mountains, beaches, ancient ruins, good food, museums, music, wine, etc., etc. And while it’s a bit more expensive than its neighbor, it’s still a fairly uncostly country to visit.

We can’t really say that one region of the country is more beautiful than the other, but Andalucia has a special spot in our hearts because of the concentration of Spanish-Arabic art and architecture that it boasts. It also tends to be cheaper than the north.

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1. France

Simiane la Rotonde village and lavender. Provence, France

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Yearly visitors: 79.40 million

Average daily cost: $246

France is the most visited country, not just in Europe, but in the entire world. We probably don’t even need to explain why. After all, the nation is known for its wine, cheese, bread and desserts, which many people (us included) argue are the best on the planet.

Sure, French people don’t have the reputation of being the friendliest or most gracious hosts to international visitors, but we promise learning a few French sentences improves your experience a lot. Plus, we don’t mind dealing with rudeness when we’re holding back tears while looking at Impressionist masterpieces in Paris, smelling lavenders in Provence or standing over the vineyards of Bordeaux.

This won’t be a cheap vacation but, if you do it right, it’ll be worth every penny.

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For more on affordable European countries, check out “Cheapest Countries in Europe for an Affordable Vacation.”