The short answer
The cheap places to travel in Europe right now sit mostly in the east and the Balkans. In the 2026 Post Office City Costs Barometer, Sarajevo, Bucharest, Tirana, Belgrade and Trenčín were the five cheapest of 50 cities, and a two-night city break for two in Sarajevo cost roughly a third of the same trip in Oslo.
- Cheapest city overall: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (about $329 for two people, two nights, excluding flights).
- Cheapest beach country: Albania, where Tirana ranked third and the Riviera undercuts Italy and Croatia.
- Cheapest on the euro: Riga, Latvia (6th) and Vilnius, Lithuania (7th).
- Best value for a December trip: Vilnius and Riga topped the Post Office Christmas market ranking in 2025.
- Paperwork for Americans: ETIAS is still not running as of October 2026, so no pre-travel authorization is needed yet.
£248
Sarajevo city-break basket, cheapest of 50
£734
Oslo, the priciest city surveyed
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Cheapest cities located in Eastern Europe
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Foreign arrivals to Albania in 2025
In this article
If you are hunting for cheap places to travel in Europe, the honest answer in 2026 is that the bargains have moved east. Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Venice still look great on a postcard; however, they now sit near the top of every cost ranking, while the Western Balkans, Romania, Poland and the Baltic states deliver old towns, coastlines and food scenes at a fraction of the price.
This guide uses the most recent hard data we could find, mainly the Post Office City Costs Barometer, an annual UK study that prices the same basket of tourist spending in 50 European cities. We converted its pound figures to dollars so US travelers can compare quickly, and then we added what Americans actually need to know before booking: entry rules, currencies and when prices drop.
Pro tip. All dollar figures below use the European Central Bank reference rate published October 15, 2026 (about $1.32 per pound). Exchange rates move, so treat them as ballpark numbers rather than quotes.
Which Are the Cheapest Places to Travel in Europe in 2026?
The cheapest European cities for tourists in 2026 are Sarajevo, Bucharest, Tirana, Belgrade and Trenčín, according to the Post Office City Costs Barometer 2026, published May 26, 2026. Eastern Europe took eight of the top 10 places, and the only Western exceptions were Lille and Strasbourg in France.
The basket covers two nights in a three-star hotel for two people, a three-course dinner with wine, coffee, beer, soft drinks, airport transfers, a 48-hour transit card, a sightseeing bus tour and entry to a top heritage site, museum and art gallery. In other words, it reflects a realistic weekend, but it leaves out flights.
| Rank | City, country | Basket for two (GBP) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina | £248 | $329 |
| 2 | Bucharest, Romania | £258 | $342 |
| 3 | Tirana, Albania | £263 | $348 |
| 4 | Belgrade, Serbia | £265 | $351 |
| 5 | Trenčín, Slovakia | £272 | $360 |
| 6 | Riga, Latvia | £278 | $368 |
| 7 (tie) | Vilnius, Lithuania | £289 | $383 |
| 7 (tie) | Lille, France | £289 | $383 |
| 9 | Strasbourg, France | £319 | $423 |
| 10 | Podgorica, Montenegro | £332 | $440 |
| 16 | Lisbon, Portugal | £358 | $474 |
| 19 | Athens, Greece | £373 | $494 |
| – | Paris, France | £575 | $762 |
| – | Amsterdam, Netherlands | £609 | $807 |
| 50 | Oslo, Norway | £734 | $972 |
Notably, the gap is huge. For the price of one weekend in Oslo, you could almost cover three in Sarajevo. Even Lisbon, long the go-to bargain in Western Europe, fell to 16th after a 22% jump in tourist prices, while Prague and Warsaw both saw increases of more than 20%, so older “cheap Europe” lists that lead with those cities are now out of date.
10 Cheap Places to Travel in Europe, Ranked for Value
The best budget destinations in Europe combine low daily costs with enough to see that the trip feels like a splurge. We ranked the picks below by value for a first or second Europe trip from the US, using the 2026 cost data where it exists and official sources for everything else.
1. Albania (Tirana and the Riviera) – Best cheap beach country
Albania is a small Balkan country on the Adriatic and Ionian seas, and it is the closest thing Europe has to a Mediterranean coast at Eastern European prices. Tirana ranked third-cheapest in the 2026 barometer; moreover, the country has two UNESCO World Heritage sites that most Americans have never heard of.
- City basket: £263 (about $348) for two nights for two in Tirana.
- Go for: Ksamil and Sarandë beaches, the Butrint archaeological park, and the Ottoman-era towns of Berat and Gjirokastër.
- Momentum: foreign arrivals reached 12.47 million in 2025, up 6.6% on 2024, per INSTAT, Albania’s statistics office.
- Currency: Albanian lek; cards work in cities, but carry cash for the coast.
2. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Cheapest city in Europe
Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, took first place in its very first year in the barometer. Expect Ottoman bazaars, Austro-Hungarian boulevards, strong coffee culture and sobering 1990s history, all at the lowest basket price of any city surveyed.
- City basket: £248 (about $329).
- Pair it with: Mostar, a day trip south, for its rebuilt Old Bridge.
- Currency: convertible mark (BAM); Bosnia is outside the EU and the Schengen Area.
3. Bucharest, Romania – Best big-city bargain inside the EU
Bucharest, Romania’s capital, came second overall, which makes it the cheapest EU capital on the list. In addition, Romania became a full Schengen member on January 1, 2025, so overland trips to Hungary or Bulgaria no longer involve passport lines.
- City basket: £258 (about $342).
- Go for: the Palace of the Parliament, Old Town food halls, and a train ride to Brașov and Transylvania.
- Currency: Romanian leu (RON).
4. Riga and Vilnius – Cheapest cities on the euro
Riga (Latvia) and Vilnius (Lithuania) are Baltic capitals with medieval and baroque old towns, and they are the cheapest euro-zone cities in the 2026 ranking. For Americans, that means no extra currency to juggle if you are combining them with Western Europe.
- Riga basket: £278 (about $368); two nights in a three-star hotel alone came to £140.
- Vilnius basket: £289 (about $383), although prices rose more than 10% year on year.
- Add-on: Tallinn, Estonia, is a short bus ride north of Riga and completes the Baltic loop.
- Currency: euro.
5. Belgrade, Serbia – Best for nightlife on a budget
Belgrade, Serbia’s capital, sits where the Sava meets the Danube and ranked fourth in 2026. Its riverside bars and late dining culture make it the value pick for travelers in their 20s; however, Serbia uses the dinar and sits outside the EU, so plan cash and roaming accordingly.
- City basket: £265 (about $351).
- Go for: Kalemegdan Fortress, the Skadarlija dining street and river clubs in summer.
6. Poland (Kraków, Gdańsk, Warsaw) – Best value for Christmas markets
Poland still beats Prague and Vienna on price, even though Warsaw tourist costs climbed more than 20% in the latest summer barometer. In the Post Office winter study, Gdańsk, Warsaw and Kraków all undercut Prague and Vienna by a wide margin for a Christmas market weekend.
- Christmas break for two (2025 study, incl. UK flights): Gdańsk £586, Warsaw £589, Kraków £674 versus Prague £901 and Vienna £926.
- Go for: Kraków’s Old Town and Kazimierz district, Gdańsk’s waterfront and Wrocław’s market square.
- Currency: Polish złoty (PLN).
7. Montenegro (Kotor and Podgorica) – Best Dubrovnik alternative
Montenegro is a small Adriatic country that uses the euro without being an EU member. Podgorica, the capital, rounded out the top 10; meanwhile, the real draw is the Bay of Kotor, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979.
- City basket (Podgorica): £332 (about $440).
- Go for: Kotor’s walled old town, the island churches off Perast, and Durmitor National Park inland.
- Note: coastal prices climb sharply in July and August when cruise ships arrive.
8. Trenčín, Slovakia – Best under-the-radar pick for 2026
Trenčín is a castle town in western Slovakia and one of two European Capitals of Culture for 2026, alongside Oulu in Finland. Despite the title, it ranked fifth-cheapest in the barometer, which makes it an easy add-on from Vienna or Bratislava.
- City basket: £272 (about $360).
- Go for: Trenčín Castle and the cultural-year program through December 2026.
- Currency: euro.
9. Lille and Strasbourg, France – Cheapest picks in Western Europe
Lille and Strasbourg prove that France can be affordable outside Paris. Both made the top 10, and each basket came in well under half the Paris price, so they suit travelers who want Western Europe without the capital-city bill.
- Lille basket: £289 (about $383) versus £575 (about $762) in Paris.
- Strasbourg basket: £319 (about $423).
- Go for: Flemish-style squares in Lille; Strasbourg’s half-timbered Petite France and, in December, its Christmas market.
10. Lisbon and Athens – Still cheaper than Paris, but rising
Lisbon and Athens remain cheaper than most Western capitals; still, both are getting pricier. Lisbon ranked 16th after a 22% rise, and Athens ranked 19th after a rise of more than 12%, so book them for weather and food rather than rock-bottom prices.
- Lisbon basket: £358 (about $474).
- Athens basket: £373 (about $494).
How Much Does a Budget Europe Trip Cost?
A budget Europe trip in the cheapest cities costs roughly $165 to $220 per day for two people, before flights, based on the 2026 barometer baskets. We simply halved each two-night basket, so the figure includes a three-star hotel, one sit-down dinner with wine, local transit and three paid attractions.
| Destination | Per day for two (approx.) | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sarajevo | $165 | Cheap hotels and meals |
| Tirana | $174 | Low restaurant and transit prices |
| Riga | $184 | Hotels around £70 a night |
| Podgorica | $220 | Higher hotel rates than the Balkans average |
| Lisbon | $237 | Fast-rising tourist prices |
| Paris | $381 | Hotels and attractions |
Consequently, a solo traveler using hostels or guesthouses, eating street food and skipping paid attractions can spend well under these numbers. On the other hand, the transatlantic flight is usually the biggest single cost for Americans, so it pays to fly into a large hub such as London, Paris, Frankfurt or Vienna and then connect on a low-cost carrier or a train.
For example, a 10-day loop of Riga, Vilnius and Warsaw, or of Tirana, Kotor and Sarajevo, can cost less on the ground than four nights in Paris. That is why many budget travelers now use Western Europe as the arrival gateway and spend most of their nights further east.
Do Americans Need ETIAS for Europe Yet?
No, Americans do not need ETIAS yet. As of October 2026, the European Commission says the European Travel Information and Authorisation System is still not in operation and no applications are being collected; the EU will announce a start date several months before launch.
ETIAS is an online pre-travel authorization for visa-exempt visitors, including US citizens, on short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. When it does launch, the fee will be €20, up from the €7 originally planned.
What changed at the border in 2026?
The big change is the Entry/Exit System (EES). It started in stages on October 12, 2025, and it has been fully operational since April 10, 2026. Instead of a passport stamp, border officers now register non-EU travelers’ fingerprints and a facial image the first time they enter one of the 29 participating countries, so allow extra time at your first Schengen airport.
Which cheap places to travel in Europe are outside Schengen?
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro are outside the Schengen Area, so days spent there do not count toward the 90-in-180 limit. Therefore, mixing Balkan stops with Schengen countries is a common way to stretch a longer trip. Albania goes further: according to its foreign ministry’s visa rules as summarized on Wikipedia, US citizens may stay up to one year visa-free.
Watch out. Entry rules change with little notice. Before you book, check the US State Department’s country page and the official EU ETIAS site, and ignore third-party sites that claim to sell ETIAS approvals today.
Meanwhile, currency is simpler than it used to be. Bulgaria adopted the euro in 2026, which brought the euro area to 21 of 27 EU states, according to the European Central Bank. Poland, Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic still use their own currencies, as do the non-EU Balkan states.
When Is the Cheapest Time to Travel in Europe?
The cheapest time to travel in Europe is the off-season, roughly November to March outside the holidays, followed by the shoulder months of spring and fall. Hotel rates in beach regions such as the Albanian Riviera and the Bay of Kotor peak in July and August, so even a few weeks either side can make a noticeable difference.
Cheap places to travel in Europe in December
For a December trip, the Baltics win. In the Post Office Christmas markets study published November 15, 2025, Vilnius came first at £509 for two (including UK flights), followed by Riga at £555 and Bratislava at £568, while Copenhagen was the most expensive at £1,056. The 2026 edition usually lands in mid-November, so check for updated numbers before you book.
Cheap places to go in Europe in summer
In summer, Albania and Montenegro give you sea and sun at lower prices than Italy, Greece or Croatia. However, book coastal stays early or aim for June and September, because the same places get crowded and pricier in high season. Alternatively, Baltic cities stay comparatively mild and affordable through July and August.
How to Travel Europe on a Budget: 8 Tips That Work
The fastest way to travel Europe on a budget is to cut the two biggest costs, flights and beds, and then let cheap local food do the rest. These tactics work for solo travelers, couples and families alike.
- Fly into a hub, then go low-cost. Price an open-jaw ticket into one big airport and out of another, then use regional airlines, buses or trains to reach the Balkans and Baltics.
- Base yourself east. Spend most nights in the cheaper cities in the table above, and keep pricey capitals to short stopovers.
- Book three-star or guesthouse rooms. Rooms are a big share of any trip budget, so this is where savings add up fastest.
- Use public transit passes. 24- to 72-hour passes in cities such as Riga, Warsaw and Bucharest are usually cheaper than taxis and rideshares.
- Pay in local currency. When a card terminal offers to charge you in dollars, decline; dynamic currency conversion often adds a markup.
- Use a no-foreign-fee card. Similarly, a debit card with low ATM fees helps in cash-heavy countries such as Albania and Bosnia.
- Pack carry-on only. Low-cost European airlines charge for larger bags, so a well-packed carry-on keeps fares low.
- Travel in the shoulder season. Finally, April to early June and September to October usually bring lower rates and fewer crowds.
For packing ideas that keep you within carry-on limits, see our list of carry-on travel essentials, and for booking tactics, our guide on how to find cheap flights covers fare alerts and flexible dates.
Our verdict
The best cheap places to travel in Europe in 2026 are Albania for beaches, Sarajevo and Belgrade for rock-bottom city breaks, Riga and Vilnius for euro-zone value, and Poland for winter markets. In short, fly into a big Western hub, then spend most of your nights in the east, where the same budget buys roughly twice the trip.
Above all, budget around the data rather than the hype: Lisbon, Prague and Warsaw all got noticeably more expensive this year, while Bucharest, Tirana and Trenčín still deliver real bargains.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest country to visit in Europe?
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania are among the cheapest countries to visit in Europe in 2026. Sarajevo ranked first and Tirana third in the Post Office City Costs Barometer 2026, with two-night baskets for two of about $329 and $348 excluding flights. Romania and Serbia follow closely, with Bucharest and Belgrade in second and fourth place.
What is the cheapest place to travel in Europe from the US?
For Americans, the cheapest overall trip is usually a flight into a large hub such as London, Paris or Frankfurt, then a low-cost connection to Eastern Europe or the Balkans. Ground costs in Sarajevo, Bucharest, Tirana or Riga run roughly half of Paris prices, according to 2026 Post Office data, which usually outweighs the extra connecting fare.
How much should I budget per day for Europe?
In the cheapest European cities, plan on roughly $165 to $220 per day for two people, excluding flights, based on 2026 Post Office city baskets that include a three-star hotel, dinner with wine, transit and attractions. Paris works out closer to $380 per day for two. Solo backpackers using hostels can spend considerably less.
Do US citizens need ETIAS to visit Europe in 2026?
No. As of October 2026, the European Commission says ETIAS is not yet in operation and is not collecting applications. When it launches, the fee will be 20 euros and it will cover visa-free stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The EU has said it will announce the start date several months in advance.
Which European cities are cheapest for Christmas markets?
Vilnius and Riga were the cheapest European cities for a Christmas market break in the Post Office 2025 study, at about 509 and 555 pounds for two people, including flights from the UK and two nights in a hotel. Bratislava, Gdansk and Warsaw followed, while Copenhagen was the priciest of the 15 cities compared.
Is Eastern Europe cheaper than Western Europe?
Yes, by a wide margin. Eastern European cities took eight of the ten cheapest spots in the 2026 Post Office City Costs Barometer, while Oslo, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Geneva and Barcelona were the most expensive. Lille and Strasbourg in France are the main Western exceptions, both landing in the cheapest ten.
