20 Best Cities to Visit in Europe on the Cheap

You don’t have to go bankrupt to enjoy a grand Eurotrip if you visit these cheap European cities.

Where to Go for Cheap Travel in Europe

Europe can cost a lot of money as a travel destination. Cities like Stockholm, Paris and London are so expensive, even Europeans complain about them.

But that doesn’t mean cheap travel isn’t possible on the continent. There are plenty of places that offer beauty, history and good food without breaking the bank.

These are the best cities in Europe for surprisingly cheap travel.

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20. Ljubljana, Slovenia

Best budget stay: ibis Styles Ljubljana Centre

Best cheap attraction: The Dragon Bridge is a free attraction that provides some of the coolest photo ops in the city.

Note: This list comes from U.S. News and World Report's 2023-24 report.

Visiting Ljubljana on a Budget

The Slovenian capital remains an underrated and overlooked gem. With terracotta rooftops, stone bridges that cross the Ljubljanica River and a castle on a hill, this is storybook Europe at its finest.

Ljubljana’s relative lack of fame works for budget travelers, as prices are much cheaper here than in other places that compare in beauty. A great way to see everything without spending a lot of money is to buy the Ljubljana Card, which provides entrances to several attractions, public transport, bike rental and even a river cruise.

19. Galway, Ireland

Best budget stay:Salthill Hotel

Best cheap attraction: If you can find transportation to it, there is no entrance to the wild and beautiful Connemara National Park.

How to Visit Galway on a Budget

Ireland’s second city may be relatively small, but it packs a punch and doesn’t ask you to pay much for it. The Galway City Museum, the Galway Cathedral and St. Nicholas’s Collegiate Church are free to enter. This means you’ll have more money to spend at the pub at night.

If you have a car or know someone who does, don’t skip taking a drive along the Wild Atlantic Way, which will give you unprecedented views of the Emerald Isle’s coastline.

18. Split, Croatia

Best budget stay: Central Square Heritage Hotel

Best cheap attraction: The Fortress of Starigard can be reached by hiking uphill for about an hour. At the top, there are incredible panoramic views, and the experience will only set you back about $4.

Visiting Split on a Budget

Split is one of Croatia’s most popular cities, yet it remains fairly affordable. The best thing to do is visit the Old Town, where cobblestone streets meet the ruins of Diocletian’s Palace. What makes the center so unique is that what’s left of the Roman palace has become a central part of city life, rather than being cordoned off. It’s also free for you to explore and enjoy as much as you want.

Other free and amazing activities include hiking the Marjan Hill and watching the sunset over the Adriatic Sea.

17. Zagreb, Croatia

Best budget stay:Canopy by Hilton Zagreb City Centre

Best cheap attraction: Go on the hunt for amazing street art, which is so noteworthy that the city has started a Street Art Museum project.

How to Visit Zagreb on a Budget

Even though Dubrovnik gets more attention, Zagreb is the perfect place for those looking to beat the crowds. Free attractions include the Dolac Market, a local favorite and a great place to find souvenirs, and the Zagreb Botanical Garden. At the garden, you’ll find numerous native and non-native species as well as a stunning arboretum.

Luckily, accommodations in the center are far from costly. This also means you won’t have to spend much money on transportation to get to sites like the Stone Gate and the Zagreb Cathedral.

16. Berlin, Germany

Best budget stay:Capri by Fraser Berlin

Best cheap attraction: Every Wednesday at 1 p.m. between September and June, the world-famous Berlin Philharmonic performs free shows that are open to the public.

Visiting Berlin on a Budget

If you needed another reason to think that Berlin is the coolest place in Europe, here it is. The capital city isn’t content to have world-class museums, countless historical attractions, more parks than you could visit, interesting architecture and possibly the continent’s best nightlife. It also has to offer all of this at a great price.

Several main attractions are free. This includes the iconic Brandenburg Gate and the somber Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. The Topography of Terror, a museum housed in former Nazi headquarters, is also free. Another popular place to enjoy without having to pay is the East Side Gallery, where street artists have found a perfect canvas on what’s left of the inner Berlin Wall.

15. Vienna, Austria

Best budget stay:Hotel Schani Wien

Best cheap attraction: For about $6, you can go up the South Tower of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and get amazing views of Vienna.

Visiting Vienna on a Budget

Another European capital to make it to the list, Vienna is like Berlin’s less loud, more refined older sister. You won’t get to go to the city’s famed Opera House for cheap, but there are plenty of other activities that travelers with limited budgets can enjoy.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the most popular free attraction. Cultural institutions like the House of Music and the Museum of Applied Arts also have discounted prices for specific dates and times. For food, look for restaurants with a set menu, or mittagsmenu, which typically costs about $12. Those with a sweet tooth will be happy to know that enjoying a famous sachertorte and coffee is an inexpensive local pastime.

14. Reykjavik, Iceland

Best budget stay: Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel

Best cheap attraction: Take a free walking tour to get the lay of the land with a local guide.

Visiting Reykjavik on a Budget

We're not going to lie to you — Iceland isn't the cheapest destination on this list by a long shot, but there are ways to visit Reykjavik without completely blowing your travel budget. First and foremost, visit during the offseason months of September, October, February and March for cheaper accommodations while still being able to see the northern lights.

We also recommend a hike up Mount Esja for some of the best views in the area or a walk or bike ride along the city's coastline.

13. Granada, Spain

Best budget stay:Hotel Anacapri

Best cheap attraction: The 19th-century Carmen de los Martires offers free admission. It has six large gardens, all done in different styles, including one imitating Alhambra’s famous Nasrid Gardens.

Visiting Granada on a Budget

The main reason people visit beautiful Granada is to see the Alhambra. Sadly, the palace is not what we’d call cheap. But at around $36, it’s also not impossible, especially since this is simply the most beautiful Islamic palace in Spain.

For budget travelers, the good news is that pretty much everything else in the city is cheap. Enjoy drinks and tapas for under $5, walk around the pretty Andalusian city, and visit parks and gardens to see other examples of Moorish architecture.

12. Malta

Best budget stay: Solana Hotel & Spa

Best cheap attraction: If you're visiting in the summer, hit the beaches and go swimming.

Visiting Malta on a Budget

Night view of Valletta Old Town with Cathedral of Saint Paul

Like most European destinations, a visit to the island's ornate churches is always worth your time because they're free.

But most museums are also quite inexpensive, and if you plan on visiting a bunch in one trip, you can get the Malta Pass, which offers heavily discounted rates.

11. Corfu, Greece

Best budget stay:Cavalieri Hotel

Best cheap attraction: Indulge in olives and olive oil. Corfu has around 2 million olive trees, which means that this healthy and nutritious food is abundant and cheap throughout the island.

Visiting Corfu on a Budget

Kerkyra, capital of Corfu island, Greece

Corfu is located on the Ionian Sea. As such, it is closer to Italy and Albania than it is to the Aegean Greek Isles. With two Venetian fortresses, a grand palace, imposing mountains and a long shoreline, there are plenty of (cheap and free) things to do on the island.

Most of your time will be spent walking around and sunbathing, so you’ll save money while enjoying the island. There are also several churches and monasteries to visit, most of which are free of charge. Food in all of Greece is deliciously affordable, so you’ll get to relish in the Mediterranean diet while having money left over for all the souvenirs you could want.

10. Tallinn, Estonia

Best budget stay:Palace Hotel Tallinn

Best cheap attraction: The famed Dome Church is free and open to the public whenever services aren't taking place; however, a donation is highly recommended.

Visiting Tallinn on a Budget

Most people would never believe it possible to find a Baltic capital on a ranking of cheap European destinations. But Tallinn likes to surprise. It’s kind of its thing.

Woefully underrated and under-visited, those in the know can take advantage of the city’s relatively inexpensive prices. Enjoy the Medieval Old Town, visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and spend time at the Kadriorg Park, which dates back about 300 years.

9. Seville, Spain

Best budget stay:Hotel Baco

Best cheap attraction: Plaza de España is Seville’s most important attraction. You can tour the semi-circular building and the square for no cost at all.

How to Visit Seville on a Budget

There is no town in Andalusia that isn’t breathtaking. So when people say Seville is the crown jewel of the Spanish region, you know it’s something special.

The best part about the city is it's accessible to all kinds of travelers, including those who have to mind their budgets. Most of the best things in the city are free, including the Plaza de España, which virtually defines the city. Other free attractions include the Inquisition Museum and the Palacio de los Marqueses de Algaba. At the latter, you’ll see fine examples of Mudejar architecture, the Christian-Islamic mix that defines the region.

8. Lisbon, Portugal

Best budget stay:Hotel Real Palacio

Best cheap attraction: Lisbon has more than 30 miradours, or viewpoints that offer beautiful vistas over the city. Most of them are completely free to visit and are a popular spot for locals.

How to Visit Lisbon on a Budget

Hills and coastline define the topography of Lisbon, the cheapest Western European capital. This is a city that really checks all the right boxes. It has amazing food, friendly people, beautiful architecture, unique music, great weather and many parks. And it offers them all at bargain prices.

The cheapest way to see the city is by foot, but you can get a Lisbon Card if you’re planning on using public transportation a lot. Many of the things to do in the city are free, since attractions mainly involve walking up and down the hills, taking in views and appreciating the Portuguese azulejos that transform the facade of buildings into works of art.

7. Dubrovnik, Croatia

Best budget stay: City Hotel Dubrovnik

Best cheap attraction: Walk through the Pile Gate to explore Dubrovnik's famous, walled Old Town.

How to Visit Dubrovnik on a Budget

View of the old Town of Dubrovnik in Croatia

While the architecture within Old Town can't be missed, it's important to get outside and walk along the coastline or to the top of Mount Srd for breathtaking views of the water from above.

Of course, "Game of Thrones" fans will be tempted to spend the typical $50 on a GoT Tour, but there are several self-guided tours available online that won't cost you a thing.

6. Istanbul, Turkey

Best budget stay:Turk Art Hotel

Best cheap attraction: The Archaeology Museums is a cluster of museums that contains one of the largest collections of classical sculptures and art. The group is made up of the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient and the Museum of Islamic Art. The entrance fee to each museum is about $3.50.

Visiting Istanbul on a Budget

A city famously straddling between Europe and Asia, Istanbul is a living museum. Walking around the city will allow you to see incredible landmarks like the Roman Hippodrome and the Egyptian obelisks for completely free. Even better, the emblematic Hagia Sophia Mosque and the Blue Mosque are also free.

Food is very cheap and very good, so most of your money will probably go towards buying beautiful decorations, clothes and items at the city’s many markets.

5. Athens, Greece

Best budget stay:St George Lycabettus Hotel

Best cheap attraction: Aristotle’s Lyceum, where the Greek philosopher once held his Peripatetic School, is free and open to the public.

How to Visit Athens on a Budget

Once a center for an empire that continues to define Western culture, Athens is surprisingly inexpensive. The city invites all to rejoice in its numerous ruins, with many metro stations displaying archaeological findings for commuters and travelers.

Food and accommodations are also affordable, so you don’t have to feel guilty about splurging on Greek food. This also gives you more leeway to visit the Acropolis, whose entrance costs about $25.

Take advantage of the city’s many hills to wander through neighborhoods, get a glimpse at how locals live and get a bird’s eye view of the city. We recommend Strefi Hill, where you’ll also find one of the best outdoor basketball courts in the world.

4. Budapest, Hungary

Best budget stay:Roombach Hotel Budapest Center

Best cheap attraction: Walk up the whimsical Fisherman’s Bastions for free and get a panoramic view of the city center, including the astonishing Parliament building.

How to Visit Budapest on a Budget

Budapest’s beauty is free for anyone to gawk at. This is particularly true along the Danube River, where anyone can simply walk about and take in the sight of the Buda Castle and the Parliament Building. It is also a perfect place to catch a sunset. Another cheap but worthy attraction is the Memento Statue Park, where for about $6 you can see all the communist statues that have been taken down and gathered in one place for those interested in seeing them.

The Hungarian capital also has reasonably priced food and drink, so you can try Hungarian wine and goulash without even thinking about the cost.

3. Valencia, Spain

Best budget stay:Hotel Valencia Center

Best cheap attraction: Any of the city’s beautiful sandy beaches are worth a visit.

Visiting Valencia on a Budget

Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain

Valencia is a thrilling mix of modern and Medieval architecture. While it is certainly a famous destination, it’s not as famous as we think it should be. Not only will you get all the best of Spain, including the delicious jamones, cheap wines and Moorish architecture, but you will also find extensive public beaches.

If you’re on a tight budget, you can spend time at the Central Market, or visit Valencia Cathedral and the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

2. Prague, Czech Republic

Best budget stay:Mosaic House Design Hotel

Best cheap attraction: At the turn of every hour every day, the Astronomical Clock at the Old Town Hall provides a free animated show to anyone in the Old Town Square.

Visiting Prague on a Budget

With storybook beauty, Prague is a city you visit simply to see it with your own eyes. The top things to do include walking on Charles Bridge, going up Petrin Hill and spending time at the Old Town Square. And none of these attractions charge anything.

Accommodations, drinks and food are also very cheap, so budget travelers can experience the picturesque city just as much as more affluent travelers. We recommend spending most of your time just walking about town, drinking Pilsner Urquell and understanding for yourself why Prague is considered one of the best places to visit in Europe.

1. Porto, Portugal

Best budget stay:HF Ipanema Porto

Best cheap attraction: Porto residents and travelers head to the public Crystal Palace Gardens to get magnificent views of the Douro River and Porto.

Visiting Porto on a Budget

If Porto beats every other city in Europe — even Lisbon — as the best budget destination, it’s because it's beautiful almost to the point of absurdity. Like the rest of Portugal, it’s also very cheap.

Most of the tourist area centers around the Douro River, where you can stroll about, catching street performers or capoeira groups doing their thing as large crowds gather around to watch. Thank Europe for its open container laws, buy a $3 bottle of wine — we promise it’ll be one of the best you’ve ever tasted — and sit by the edge of the river to take it all in.

You can also walk about looking for photo ops with azulejos, the country’s famed blue tiles. Or take advantage of the free entrance to the city’s main attractions, like the Porto Cathedral and the Dom Luis I Bridge.

Honorable Mention: Glasgow, Scotland

Best budget stay:Ambassador Hotel

Best cheap attraction: The Gallery of Modern Art is one of Scotland's most popular museums and is free of charge.

Visiting Glasgow on a Budget

The George Square in the Center of Glasgow

While this Scottish city didn't make the list of top 20 cheap travel destinations, we had to include it because it's one of the most affordable in the entire United Kingdom.

Glasgow also provides free admission to some of its most important places of interest, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the Gallery of Modern Art.

Honorable Mention: Bucharest, Romania

Best budget stay:Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town

Best cheap attraction: Herastrau Park, Bucharest’s largest park, is a popular spot with locals for picnicking, reading, people-watching, or simply lying on the grass and enjoying the sun.

Visiting Bucharest on a Budget

Another European city that we had to include, Bucharest is beautiful, cheap and free of crowds. You won’t have to pay much to see the confluence of history and modernity that make the city pulse with an exciting energy.

For around $2, you can visit the Curtea Veche Palace, whose former resident, Vlad the Impaler gave rise to the myth of Dracula. The Soviet-era Palace of Parliament, the second-largest administrative building in the world, will only set you back $10. Food, beer and accommodations are also extremely cheap.

Honorable Mention: Belgrade, Serbia

Best budget stay:Hotel City Savoy

Best cheap attraction: The Belgrade Fortress is the city’s most iconic landmark. The entrance fee is less than $5.

Visiting Belgrade on a Budget

The Serbian capital was once the heart of Yugoslavia and an important city for the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Austrian empires. Like many former Soviet nations, Serbia is relatively cheap compared to Western European countries, yet packs a heavy load of history.

You’ll find that accommodations, food and transportation are very affordable. U.S. News and World Report points out the Church of Saint Sava as a perfect budget travel attraction. You can see one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world for free.