Whether you’ve been to Europe before or not, sometimes you might find yourself with plenty of time but not plenty of money. If you’ve got at least two weeks and hopefully closer to four weeks, you can still have an amazing experience in some of Europe’s greatest cities on a small budget. If you’ve visited London, Paris, or Rome before, you’ll be happy to know that you can visit many other cities while spending half or even less per day.
The itinerary suggestions below are perfect for two quick weeks. If you have more time this is still a great itinerary to use as a starting place, and you’ll find other places you’ll want to add along the way if you have more time. We use our Europe Backpacker Index to show the price comparisons of the cities suggested. Each of those prices is a typical day’s expenses for someone on a ‘backpacker’ budget. If you prefer 3-star hotels you’ll spend at least a bit more per day, but if you are sharing a cheaper hotel room it can still be shockingly inexpensive. By the way, for your first trip to Europe you probably want to choose England, France, or Italy, and save the cheap ones for your next trip.
Note: This article was last updated in August, 2022.
Best four cheap European cities to visit together
- Berlin, Germany
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Budapest, Hungary
- Krakow, Poland
Each of the cities listed above is strong enough to be the highlight of almost any trip, and fortunately they are relatively close together so they work really well as a group. On the map they sort of form a box, so skipping one is easy, and there are plenty of side stops and trips possible in between for shorter or longer stays.
A version of this itinerary can also be found on my new best Europe itineraries for first-time visitors article.
Best cheap and gorgeous small town to add to your trip
- Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
You may not yet have heard of Český Krumlov, but either way you are in for a treat if you can add 2 or 3 nights to your trip. It’s located just 3 hours south of Prague by bus or train, and it’s an excellent contrast to the large cities on the list. Better still, it’s incredibly cheap, and a favorite of almost all who visit.
Getting there and back
While none of these cities is among the cheapest in Europe to fly into, at least 3 of them have cheap enough flights that it’s worth flying directly into one of them.
Of the four cities, Berlin will have the cheapest inbound flights from almost anywhere, and Krakow usually only has cheap flights from within Europe. Check flights from your city into each of these cities to see which one will be your cheapest option.
In many cases you can save the most money by buying a one-way ticket into one of them and a one-way ticket back out of another of them, but you have to price them out to see. Keep in mind that if you buy a round-trip ticket it means most of a day and about US$50 to $70 to get back to that first city, so an “open jaw” ticket might still be a better deal even if it’s US$100 more.
Getting between the cities
There’s little doubt that the most enjoyable way to get between these cities (and most European cities) is by train, but you do have two other main options to consider, namely, flights and buses.
Trains
With the exception of Berlin and Prague, which are about 5 hours apart, these cities are about 7 to 10 hours apart by train, and therefore perfect for overnight journeys. If you are the type who sleeps well enough on trains, this method is ideal because you save a night in a hotel or hostel, and you still have all day to see the sights. Taking daytime trains obviously means more scenery, but some of them are quite a bit more expensive than the night trains.
Flights
Europe is loaded with low-cost airlines and even though trains are more enjoyable and obviously infinitely more scenic, these cities are all far enough apart that flying between them probably makes sense for most people. With the exception of between Berlin and Prague, it will save time to fly. When calculating the amount of time it takes to fly from one city to another it’s important to add in the time it takes to get to the airport (including the time it takes to get to the airport bus or train) as well as the time you have to arrive in advance to safely get through security. In other words, a one-hour flight usually takes around 5 to 6 hours from one hotel to the one in the next city.
Buses
Rarely discussed in most circles, many don’t even know that most European cities have comfortable and cheap long-distance bus service between them. They aren’t as comfortable as trains, but often they are astonishingly cheap, especially if you find a promotional price. There is a system in Europe called Eurolines that coordinates international bus service between major cities all over the continent. Sometimes they have amazing specials, but not always. It’s worth checking them and then also Googling ‘bus from Berlin to Krakow’ to see any other options. If you’ve got more time than money, buses will be your cheapest option and most of them have wi-fi these days as well.
4 Best cheap European cities that are easy to travel between
Below you’ll find the four best cities to use as the foundation of a cheap and wonderful trip to Europe. It’s recommended to spend at least 3 nights in each city, even if you think you are in a hurry.
Berlin, Germany
2022 Backpacker Index: US$64.56/day
Berlin isn’t such an obvious tourist city, but it’s absolutely the kind of place where either you love it, or you’ve never been there. Everyone can find something to enjoy about it, partly because it’s especially trendy and dynamic lately as a new hub of European and world culture, picking up where London and Paris left off.
One challenge is that Berlin is a huge and spread-out city, so it’s important to choose where you stay wisely. Most budget travelers will prefer the former East Berlin section around Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg, which is where most hostels are as well as the best and cheapest nightlife and shopping. Check our list of recommended cheap Berlin hotels for a place to start.
What to see and do in Berlin
Start with the Berlin Free Walking Tour on your first morning, and you’ll have enough ideas for what to do for the rest of your stay from that alone. Being honest, the Reichstag (capital building) is a bit disappointing from the inside, although the city does have a handful of great museums clustered together that appeal to many. The Berliner Dom (cathedral) is well worth a visit and you’ll get some great photos from out front.
But mainly Berlin is about exploring the weird and funky neighborhoods for food, shopping, and nightlife. Fortunately, most of it is quite cheap as well. Probably the most famous food to try is currywurst, which is usually a paper tray containing a sliced up hot dog coated in a curry-flavored ketchup. I’m not really a fan, but you should try it, especially after a few beers.
Prague, Czechia
2022 Backpacker Index: US$53.95/day
You may not realize that most large cities in this part of Europe were practically flattened during WWII and then rebuilt just after. Fortunately, Prague is one where the historic center survived mostly intact, and it remains one of the continent’s most beautiful and interesting. The downside is that the city center is almost always packed with other tourists, so you might have to work around them a bit.
Prague is also fairly compact, with most things walking distance from each other. The city is also quite cheap still, at least compared to Western Europe, although hotel prices can seem high if you want to stay in the middle. Check our list of recommended cheap Prague hotels for some really good ones only a quick and cheap tram ride away.
What to see and do in Prague
Aside from the famous clock in the town square, Prague has a few other very worthwhile checklist attractions. The Prague Castle is one of the largest and most incredible in Europe, and the Charles Bridge and its statues feels like you should have to pay to cross it. As with most European cities, it’s wise to start with a “free” (tips-based) walking tour on your first morning in town. The Prague ones are excellent and in a couple hours you will have seen most of the famous landmarks while hearing the interesting stories behind them. Even a US$10 equivalent tip per person is a great bargain, but tip whatever you feel good about.
There is plenty more to fill a few days, plus you can catch a cheap classical concert in one of the many venues offering them, or just indulge in cheap and excellent beer like everyone else.
Budapest, Hungary
2022 Backpacker Index: US$30.45/day
Though it’s in the heart of part of Europe that isn’t known for being well off, Budapest is quite a grand city that makes it feel rather rich. Still, it’s among the cheapest European cities, and it offers very good value. Even if the castle up on the Buda side of the river isn’t a stunner, and that the parliament building on the Pest side is a copy of the one in London, this is an attractive city with a feel of its own.
Budapest is also compact enough that budget travelers can stay in the cheap hotels and hostels a bit inland on the Pest side, and still walk everywhere while sightseeing. The Free Budapest Walking Tour covers highlights on both sides, and is a great introduction.
What to see and do in Budapest
During daylight hours, Budapest has the standard selection of monuments and museums in addition to its castle complex, but separates itself from other big cities with its abundant hot springs and spas. Tourists can easily mix with locals and take a dip at a modest fee in one of the unique facilities spread around town.
At night, however, Budapest really comes into its own, with some of the most interesting nightlife in Europe. Head for what are known as “ruin pubs” on the Pest side in the old Jewish Quarter to quaff cheap drinks in converted courtyards that each has its own weird vibe.
Krakow, Poland
2022 Backpacker Index: US$30.72/day
When you hear that Krakow is among the very cheapest cities in Europe you might not expect much. But in reality, Krakow is also one of Europe’s loveliest and most pleasant cities, with quite a lot to do. At its center you’ll find about 30 square blocks of a historic medieval town, surrounded by a peaceful park, and with an enormous cafe-lined town square at its heart.
For those who like hearty portions of meats and sausages, Krakow is wonderful, but there are also many Italian and other international cuisines, including many vegetarian options, so something for everyone. Hotels just on or near the central square are reasonable, but you can stay for a lot less by going a few blocks away.
What to see and do in Krakow
As in many other cities, taking the Krakow Free Walking Tour is a great way to get oriented on your first day so you’ll know what you want to explore more deeply. You can also cover many of the main central sights on that tour, which leaves time for day trips and hanging out. Sad though it may be, a half-day trip to nearby Auschwitz is something you’ll never forget, and there is a fun salt mine attraction not far away as well.
In the evening you’ll probably find out why Krakow is very popular with the weekend party and stag-do crowds. You can sip affordable wine at one of the cafes on the square, but it might be more fun to do a pub crawl through the varied drinking establishments in the nearby Jewish Quarter. It’s easy to find a .5L beer for around US$1.50, so getting carried away is common.
Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
2022 Backpacker Index: US$40.47/day
With a population of only about 13,000 people, Český Krumlov will be an extremely welcome stop in between Prague and Budapest, or Prague and Vienna or Salzburg. This well preserved town was forgotten and almost abandoned in the later years of Communism, and it wasn’t rediscovered and renovated until well into the 1990s. Since it’s still a relative newcomer to the tourist scene, it isn’t yet “touristy” even though it’s very tourist friendly.
There are almost no chain hotels or restaurants of any kind, so staying here will be a very local experience. Better still, hotels and food here are much cheaper than even in Prague, so the value is outstanding. The historic town center is small enough to walk through in less than 10 minutes, yet you can still get nice hotels in its heart starting at around US$50 per night. As of 2022 the hostels in Český Krumlov are closed so we had to use hotels for the Backpackers Index, which makes the index price artificially higher than it should be. In other words, if you visit this town you’ll find it to be pleasantly affordable.
What to see and do in Český Krumlov
Český Krumlov does have an impressive castle perched above the compact town center, and you’ll definitely want to tour at least part of it. But really the main reason to visit the town is to slow down and appreciate being outside of Europe’s large cities for 2 or 3 days. Those other four cities are always busy and crowded, while this one is gentle and lovely, although you will be surrounded by quite a few other tourists.
As with the other cities on the list, there is a highly recommended free walking tour in Český Krumlov, which is a great place to start. That tour will also show you and explain all of the other worthwhile nearby sights, but I won’t blame you if you just prefer to grab a seat at one of the cheap restaurants with outdoor seating on the main square, and relax over a few delicious and inexpensive beers for a while.
Additional photo credits: Berlin by Philippe AMIOT on Flickr, Prague by POldi♬24 on Flickr
Hello Roger!
Going through your posts made me realise the time and effort you have taken to reply all the queries.I genuinely appreciate that and thanks in advance.
I’m planning my first Euro trip from India this May for 4 weeks and my budget is around 3500$ excluding the flights.Could you suggest me an itinerary?I want Belgium,Netherlands and Germany to be included in the itinerary for sure.
Nani,
I’m happy to try to help. If you have 4 weeks I would try to find about 9 cities to visit, or perhaps only 7 or 8 if you aren’t in such a hurry. Your budget might be a bit stretched in those countries in four weeks, and each time you move from one city to another it adds to the cost, so I think going slower might be better. I can’t suggest 9 cities for you, but I can start you out with some and also encourage you to have a look at my article on suggested Europe itineraries for first time visitors.
In the Netherlands you obviously want to go to Amsterdam and I would spend 3 days there. In Belgium my favorite town is Bruges, but the historic center of Brussels is also worth a look. Brussels is more of a business and government city so I recommend people go there in the morning and spend half a day looking around the Grand Place (main town square) and then head to Bruges for the night and another day or two. You could also visit Antwerp and/or Ghent, but honestly those cities will look a lot alike and they have fewer tourist things to see and do.
In Germany you definitely want to visit Berlin. Have at least a scan of my article on where to go in Germany and I think you’ll get other ideas. If you are going for four weeks you’ll still have time to spend and I would suggest going to Prague and perhaps also Budapest and/or Krakow. Not only are those wonderful cities to visit, but they are also unusually cheap so you can extend your budget a bit.
I would also suggest going to Paris if you haven’t been there before. It could be a good place to start, and you can then get to Amsterdam by train in a bit over 3 hours. Paris is a stunning city with great sights and amazing food, not to mention a very diverse culture. London is another one not to miss, but it’s also very expensive. I hope this helps. I’m happy to answer other questions you have as you are putting your plans together. -Roger
Roger,
Firstly, Thanks for such a genuine info throughout the site.
I am solo backpacker (25 Y) from India, and after reading your replies to various comments above, I have planned my First Euro Trip in mid April 2018 like this – (more interested in nightlife…)
Delhi, India-Amsterdam (3days)-Brussels,Bruges(2days)-Berlin(5days)-Prague(3days)-Cesky krumlov (2days)-Vienna(2days)-Krakow(2days)-Budapest(6days)- Back to Delhi, India.
I just want to know whether the flow is okay or need some modification?
Deepak,
Your plan looks quite good and you will be visiting many of Europe’s best nightlife cities. From Amsterdam to Berlin the train takes about 6 hours and it’s almost 7 hours from Brussels to Berlin, so if you could start in Brussels and then to go Amsterdam and then Berlin it would be a bit more efficient, but only a bit more. The other minor thing is between Vienna and Budapest the train is about 2 hours and 20 minutes, but between Vienna or Budapest and Krakow the train takes a bit over 8 hours. If you went Vienna to Budapest and then Krakow you’d only have to do one of those long train trips, but if you do Vienna to Krakow to Budapest you’d have to do two of them. Or you could fly. Personally, I love riding the trains, but after about 7 hours it starts to get old and flying can be a better option. Aside from that it looks fantastic. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Roger,
Thank you for your suggestion. I have another questions
1) Is it easier and cheaper to take train for the entire trips compare to bus ride?
2) I’m thinking of Oct or Nov trips. If you could suggest, which one is the best time to travel?
Nabila,
From Salzburg to Vienna the train will be much faster than a bus. For the other stops the bus and train are usually about the same speed. The trains on those routes are more comfortable, but the buses there are pretty comfortable as well, and usually cheaper. Aside from the Austria train trip, I would compare both options and if the bus is cheaper with good connection times, it might be a better choice.
Europe starts getting fairly chilly in November and the daylight hours start getting short, so if you can go in October I would choose that. October will feel cool to people from Malaysia, and November would feel cold. Go as early as you can. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Dear Roger,
I’m planning 14-16 days trip to Europe. Will be flying from Malaysia to Istanbul. So Istanbul will be in and out place to other cities by plane. I’ve been to Greece, Bosnia & Croatia before so this trip I’m thinking of Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Salzburg and Istanbul.
1) How do you recommend the length of stay, transportation and the best route to travel?
2) Is it to compact if I add additional place to go?
3) I’m Muslim (to add: wearing scarf), is it difficult to find a vegan/halal restaurant in each cities?
Nabila,
I’ll be happy to try to help, and Malaysia is one of my favorite places anywhere.
1 – I’d plan on 3 nights in each city, which should work out very well with 14 to 16 days and 5 cities. Istanbul is a great city to fly in and out of, but the transport connections on the ground from there are very slow, so you’ll have to fly in and out of Istanbul to the other cities as well. Fortunately, cheap tickets are usually easy to find, and the airport connection to the city is fairly fast and affordable as well. I think I would visit Istanbul and then fly to Prague. From there take the trains to Salzburg then Vienna and then Budapest, and fly from Budapest back to Istanbul. If it turns out that one of those flights seems unusually expensive, you can change the order a bit and it would still work. For flights in and out of Istanbul it’s important to be careful of which airport you are using. There is a smaller airport called Sabiha Gokcen International Airport that has some cheap flights to Europe, but it’s almost two hours from the city center and about as long to the other airport as well.
2 – I wouldn’t add another stop, and the 5 that you are planning are each amazing.
3 – As you probably know, there are quite a few Muslim immigrants living in each of those cities, so there will definitely be options available for halal that shouldn’t be hard to find. As for vegan options, that might be a little tricky if you are strict. There are increasing numbers of Indian visitors to Europe and since nearly all of them are vegetarians, there is fairly high demand for vegetarian choices. But since very few Indians are vegan, you might have to seek out local places near universities and such, where the vegan lifestyle is growing in popularity. I think if you Google it for each city you’ll have plenty of good choices, but just walking around looking might be a challenge. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi, I truly appreciate the time and energy you have given for providing very descriptive information regarding Europe. I’m travelling from India mostly in April with my husband and the itinerary I’ve decided upon is Vienna to Budapest to Berlin to Prague to Cesky Krumlov to Salzburg to Vienna. Can you recommend where to use buses or trains and other details required. This is my first trip to Europe. We both intend exploring ourselves.
Reema,
I’m happy to try to help. You will be better off on trains on most of your legs, and you could actually do the whole thing on trains if you wanted to. However, from Prague to Cesky Krumlov and then to Salzburg, the buses actually provide better service. The train station in Cesky Krumlov is on the edge of town, yet the long-distance buses stop a short walk from the main square. The buses and trains take about the same amount of time, and the buses run more frequently, so I’d do the bus. From Cesky Krumlov to Salzburg you will probably want to take a shuttle rather than a bus. The cost is a bit higher, but it goes directly there and will even pick you up. For the other legs the trains will be great. Buy your tickets online as far out as you can (hopefully at least a few weeks) for the best prices and most options. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger! Greetings from Cebu!
We have this itinerary for a Euro trip in May:
D1 Milan – Venice
D2 Venice – Rome
D3 Rome – Vatican City – Arezzo
D4 Florence – Pisa – Genoa
D5 Genoa – Monaco – Grasse – Nice – Cannes – Avignon
D6 Avignon – Paris
D7 Paris – Reims – Luxembourg
D8 Luxembourg – Trier – Koblenz – Frankfurt
D9 Frankfurt – Bonn – Cologne – Amsterdam
D10 Amsterdam – Zaanse Schans – Amsterdam
D11 Amsterdam – Brussels – Paris
D12 Paris – Versailles – Paris
D13 Paris
Is this too hectic? What cities do we skip and what do you recommend instead?
Thanks a lot’
Linnor,
Yes, it’s far too hectic, unless your plan is to stay on the train the entire 13 days. If that is all the time you have, you should choose 4 or 5 total cities, hopefully ones that are fairly close together. Your current plan is similar to if someone was to visit the Philippines like this:
D1: Cebu
D2: Boracay and Palawan
D3: Manila
D4: Cebu
Can you see how a plan like that would end up being too fast to enjoy what they are there to see? Once you cut your list down it will be easier. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Greetings.
To begin with I would like to appreciate your inputs they seem to be great. I am a first time traveller to europe from Mumbai,India along with my group of guys of 5. We are planning a 10 day tour in the month of September 2017. Kindly provide us with the best of options, where we boys can enjoy, with terrific night life an fun. It will surely be a backpacking tour and our budget is 1000 euros excluding flights.Please help us out. Thanking you.
P.S. We are all vegetarians
If possible for you please provide an awesome itinerary.
Aditya,
Since this is your first trip to Europe, I’d really recommend trying to spend less in a few of the best cities, rather than focusing only on a few cheaper cities. Getting by on €100 per day for one adult and a few kids won’t be easy, however. And each time you go from one city to the next, it adds the transportation expenses. So in 10 days I think I’d do 3 cities, for 3 or 4 nights each.
Even if you went to Paris or London or Rome, you wouldn’t be able to do much when you got there on your budget. So I think probably going to the best of the cheaper cities is the best option. As mentioned in the article above, those are Prague, Budapest, Krakow, and Berlin. Krakow is the cheapest and Berlin is the most expensive of the four. In any of these cities you should be able to find a little apartment rental that would probably work better than a hotel and be cheaper as well.
My advice is to choose 3 of those 4 cities. Prague is the most beautiful of them, and Budapest is actually a bit similar, so it may not be worth going to both. Finding vegetarian food will be easy in Berlin and Prague, and a bit more challenging in Krakow or Budapest, but still not too difficult. You should be able to find Indian restaurants in any of these cities, in case that appeals to you. All of those cities have good nightlife. Berlin is famous for it, and Budapest has these very interesting places called “ruin pubs” which are large (and very cheap) bars and entertainment complexes that are in the courtyards of older buildings. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
I finally have our trip narrowed down and booked. We will spend 4 days in Vienna, 3 days in Budapest, 3 days in Prague, 4 days in Munich, 3 days in Venice, 3 days in Florence, and 4 days in Rome. June 21-July 16. Now I would like to plan a daily itinerary and thinking of adding possible day trips from those locations that would be must sees. Is there a web site that you would recommend or any suggestions that could help me pre plan?
Ann,
For Europe trips like this I’m a huge fan of the Rick Steves guidebooks and ebooks. He really does an excellent job of giving you the best options in an entertaining style rather than ALL the options in more of a catalog format. Most of the information is on his website as well.
Free options include the Lonely Planet website, Frommers.com, and I quite like wikitravel.org since it has most of the information all on one page. Have a wonderful trip. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I am planning a 9 Day trip to Europe. I shall be travelling from India. Since this will be my first EU trip, I am looking for some pocket friendly destinations. Looking forward to your suggestion.
Cheers,
Varun
Varun,
Most of my best suggestions are in the article above. One tricky thing is that if you are going all that way to Europe for the first time, you want to make sure you are visiting very worthwhile cities. I can give you a list of cheap cities that also don’t have many interesting sights, which aren’t worth visiting. If you are doing a 9-day trip I’d suggest either 3 or 4 total destinations. Really I’d suggest 3 stops, but if that isn’t enough for you then doing 4 quick stops could be okay.
For me, the best of the relatively cheap cities are Prague, Budapest, and Krakow. You can visit Prague from Berlin or Vienna, but those others are a bit remote. Honestly, if you could afford Paris for 3 days, I think it would be worth the extra little splurge. Paris is such an amazing city that I’d rather go there for even 2 days rather than spending 4 or 5 days in Belgrade, Serbia, for example.
If you prefer to skip Paris (and London), I’d say the best 3 cities that are among the cheaper ones are Berlin, Prague, and Budapest. Each is a world-class destination with plenty to see. Prague and Budapest do have some similarities, so you might instead do Berlin, Prague, and Vienna or Salzburg or Munich. Those are all very different from one another. I hope this gives you some ideas. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I’m planning a 2 week Europe trip end of august and I really want to try and get to Croatia, possibly Poland, Barcelona and Ibiza and some of Italy if I can? I am happy to fly to save time. What would you recommend?
Thank you in advance.
Kim,
First off, if you are working with 14 days, you should really try to limit the number of places you visit to 4 or 5. The main issue is that each time you switch cities you lose most of that day in transit. In my opinion, 3 nights in most cities is ideal as it allows you 2 full sightseeing days and then 1 in transit to the next place. And of course, the longer it takes between places, the more of that transit day you’ll lose. Poland is a long way from all of your others, so that could be tricky. Maybe you can do 3 nights in Krakow, which is the best place to sample Poland, but it might be better on a future trip.
You could spend a week in Croatia and then a week in Italy. There is even a ferry going between the two, although the ports in Italy aren’t close to the main tourist cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice.
Another issue is the timing. All of August is completely packed at all southern European beach areas, and that includes the ones in Croatia. Hotels and guesthouses will be very expensive in August, but back to modest rates in September (many Europeans have all of August off). So you could potentially visit some cities such as the ones I mentioned in Italy in August, and if your trip goes into September you could visit the beaches. Ibiza is crowded and very expensive in August as well, so that would be another to consider for September.
I’m happy to help more, but I think you need to figure out the places you are most interested in going and once you narrow that list down, the planning of how to get between them will be fairly obvious. Keep in touch and let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger