The 13 Best-value cities in Europe for budget travelers in 2023
This site – PriceofTravel.com – is perhaps known for our annual publication of our Global Backpacker Index, which compares over 130 destinations around the world and ranks them from cheapest to most expensive. The most popular part of that is our Europe Backpacker Index, which ranks 54 destinations from cheapest to most expensive with much greater detail than our Global list.
If you look at the Europe Backpacker Index linked above you’ll see a long list of cities (from cheapest to most expensive) and obviously the majority of them don’t make this list. Having lived in Europe and visited nearly every corner of the continent a few times, I can tell you that many places are not really worth your time, even if they are shockingly cheap. The list below only contains the absolute highlights and fortunately many of them are still amazingly inexpensive.
Updated for 2023
We did a 2022 version of this list as COVID restrictions were easing and almost everywhere seemed like a bargain, but our 2023 update unfortunately has prices way up in literally every city on the list. We rank them using our Backpacker Index as described above and most of these places are still WAY cheaper than cities in the US, Canada, or Australia, but inflation has hit Europe like most of the rest of the world and things are now reflecting that.
13 Best-value destinations in Europe for 2023 (listed cheapest to most expensive)
1 – Budapest, Hungary (cheapest)
Traditionally, Krakow (see below) is the cheapest entry on this list, but Budapest is even a bit cheaper in 2023 thanks in part to a weak Hungarian currency. When you visit you’d never expect this place to be a cheapskate’s paradise because it’s gorgeous and filled with large and super impressive classical buildings, in addition to the amazing and famous parliament building that you see in most photos.
The Castle Hill sights are worth a good chunk of time, as are the highlights in downtown Pest, across the river. You’ve also got the many spas based around hot-water springs that tend to be very affordable and unique. Some may not like the paprika-heavy local cuisine, but for those who do it tends to be filling and cheap. The trick to getting good value here is to stay and eat most of your meals away from the river, which is mostly lined with high-priced touristy places. And the nightlife in the ‘ruin pubs’ will be as unforgettable as it is affordable.
- Daily Backpacker Index: US$38.21/day
>>>Check hotel deals for Budapest
>>>Budapest prices and travel tips
2 – Krakow, Poland
While Kraków may not be the easiest city to reach on a standard Europe tour, it offers great rewards for budget travelers who make the trip. With a compact and richly historic city center, this is a destination that offers the best of classic Europe (castles, towers, palaces, town squares, cathedrals) without the massive crowds you get in Prague and elsewhere, all at prices that are still shockingly low.
Kraków also has a great tourist infrastructure with an abundance of affordable quality hostels and budget hotels, along with cheap bars, cafes, and restaurants. Those looking for a place to relax for a while on a hectic tour of the region will find this to be a fun and budget-friendly stop. Beers for under US$2.50 per pint are hard to find in most of Europe’s top cities, but pretty easy to find here. Don’t forget a half-day visit to nearby Auschwitz while you are here.
- Daily Backpacker Index: US$41.03/day
>>>Check hotel deals for Krakow
>>>Krakow prices and travel tips
3 – Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Speaking of hard to reach, Sarajevo is also unfortunately remote, but again, the fact that so few package tourists have found the place means that it’s incredibly cheap and still wonderful. The setting between two mountain ranges means that the city is photogenic from pretty much every angle, and the interesting local architecture only adds to the appeal.
The unusual attraction in Sarajevo is the pedestrian-only historic Old Town and its large Muslim quarter. It’s one of the friendliest and most interesting mixes of people and customs you’ll find anywhere in the world, which helps make it popular with Arabians and other Muslims that are less visible in Europe. The low prices on food and hotels are just a bonus, and alcohol is also cheap and free-flowing, just steps from the central mosque. There is train service to Sarajevo, but the trains are pretty slow. It’s often easier, cheaper, and just as fast to take the long-distance buses from major cities nearby instead.
- Daily Backpacker Index: US$47.95/day
>>>Sarajevo prices and weather
4 – Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
If you’ve never heard of Český Krumlov then you aren’t alone. It’s a small town in southern Czech Republic of about 14,000 residents, and it was mostly in ruins after decades of Communist neglect, but it’s been scrubbed and rediscovered by tourists looking for something different. The setting in between a lazy, serpentine river and beneath a 13th Century castle is simply stunning, and everything is within modest walking distance.
As lovely as it is, it’s the low prices and good quality that you might remember most. This is a town where you can enjoy a filling meal of local favorites for around US$4, while seated at one of the restaurants directly on the main square. A local beer will be around US$2.00 per half liter almost anywhere in town, so bargain hunters don’t have to scour the back alleys for happy hours. Hotels in the town center start at well under US$50 per night for something that would cost double or triple that in major European cities. As of 2023 there are still no hostels open in Český Krumlov, and that makes the city look more expensive on the Backpacker Index than it really is. In other words, this place is about as cheap as Krakow or Budapest as long as you can find a decent hotel deal.
- Daily Backpacker Index: US$48.24/day
>>>Český Krumlov prices and weather
5 – Vilnius, Lithuania
Vilnius makes the Best Value list here as a placeholder for Riga and Tallinn as well, as all three of the Baltic capitals offer high quality at suspiciously low prices. Tallinn and Riga are both cruise ports so they can feel a bit touristy in places, but Vilnius is landlocked so it feels more authentic and also even a bit cheaper.
The challenge for all three of these cities is that they are hard to reach unless you are on a tour of the area already. If you can find a cheap flight and are looking for a lovely and cheap place to spend a long weekend or even a week, then Vilnuis is worth a look. Great meals for under US$5 and quality local lager for well under US$2 per half pint are pretty much everywhere you look, since there is almost no exploitation of “rich” tourists here, yet.
- Daily Backpacker Index: US$55.77/day
6 – Istanbul, Turkey
Absolutely one of the world’s great and historically significant cities, Istanbul had been getting more expensive in recent years, but the Turkish Lira has been in a freefall for years now and it’s back to being cheap. Overflowing with exotic-feeling temples, markets, cathedrals, and other sights, this is a huge metropolis that is changing rapidly and yet it’s still quite unlike the rest of Europe, partly due to the fact that it famously straddles Asia as well.
After a few years of minor turmoil, Turkey seems stable again and they’ve just had an election that was deemed to be fair. Not everyone loves what has been happening, but at least you should be able to visit without worrying about large protests and crackdowns, although it is always wise to keep an eye on the news. The rest of the country is also quite nice and cheaper as well. Antalya is a worthwhile Mediterranean city that it usually out of the spotlight with protests and so forth.
- Daily Backpacker Index: US$56.35/day
>>>Check hotel deals for Istanbul
>>>Istanbul prices and travel tips
7 – Athens, Greece
Athens isn’t as cheap as it was in the 1990s, but in its favor it has dramatically cleaned up its act since the Olympics, and it still surrounds a few of the world’s most impressive tourist attractions on the Acropolis. The country had struggled with a financial crisis about 10 years ago, and fortunately that appears to be behind them so tourists are welcome and having a good time.
Also in Athens’ favor is that it’s not difficult to see the main sights in only a few days or even less, and then take the metro down to the port of Piraeus to hop on a ferry to one of its holiday islands. Santorini is the most famous of the nearby Greek islands and the most crowded as well. It’s probably better choosing Rhodes or one of the other islands that doesn’t get overrun with cruiseship crowds. This is a cheap and easy way to inject a bit of culture into a trip that will otherwise be about downing pints on a sunny beach.
- Daily Backpacker Index: US$59.30/day
>>>Check hotel deals for Athens
>>>Athens prices and weather
8 – Prague, Czech Republic
It’s definitely true that Prague isn’t nearly as cheap as it used to be, and that it’s also amazingly crowded if you follow the main tourist routes between the top sights, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t continue to be a relative bargain. Hotels in particular seem expensive here, though an abundance of affordable hostels helps a lot, including reasonable private rooms for those who aren’t partial to dorm beds. Choose from our recommended hotels in Prague list for great prices at the highest rated hotels in the city.
The beer, as you’ve certainly heard, is excellent, and it’s consumed by the locals in frightening quantities. Usually at under US$2.50 per pint to this day, the fact that it was US$0.50 per pint 12 years ago doesn’t mean that it’s still not a bargain now. Try to steer away from the tourist restaurants with big English signs out front and you’ll be able to get hearty local meals for very little as well. The public transportation system here is quite good so you can save a good chunk of money by staying away from the tourist center and still be able to cheaply go back and forth in a short time.
- Daily Backpacker Index: US$62.94/day
>>>Check hotel deals for Prague
>>>Prague prices and travel tips
9 – Lisbon, Portugal
Upon arriving in Lisbon people are often shocked at how different it is from the large cities in Spain, and also that it’s even a bit cheaper than Madrid and Barcelona as well. This historic port city is stunningly situated on 7 hills (like so many other cities) overlooking the port area, so it’s similar to San Francisco in that there’s interesting contrasts no matter which direction you are looking.
Another interesting thing about Lisbon is that it’s loaded with fiercely competitive hostels which somehow all rank very high on the various Best Hostels in the World lists. The fact that Lisbon is hard to combine with other cities on a European tour is the main reason why it’s not far more popular. Hotels and food here are also excellent bargains by European standards, and you’ll be impressed at how lovely and organized things are in that price range. The train service from Spain consists of an overnight train from Madrid, so it’s better for most people to fly, or perhaps look into the long distance buses if you are coming from western Spain.
- Daily Backpacker Index: US$71.59/day
>>>Check hotel deals for Lisbon
>>>Lisbon prices and travel tips
10 – Berlin, Germany
It’s more than a little surprising that this many years after German reunification, Berlin continues to be more affordable than Munich or Hamburg. The key seems to be the fact that almost half the city used to be East Berlin, and the tens of thousands of communist-era buildings still offer cheaper rents and more flexibility compared to West Berlin. This means that cheap hostels are dotted between weird bars and trendy galleries, with prices that are still influenced by their former incarnations.
Except perhaps for the Brandenberg Gate monument, Berlin lacks famous checklist attractions similar to the Eiffel Tower or Roman Colosseum, but first-time visitors generally love the place anyway. Berlin has an edge and a spirit that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. It’s also very English-language-friendly, more so than the rest of Germany, so you can just speak in English to locals (as long as they are under 60 or so) without having to ask if they speak English or not. It’s similar to Amsterdam and the Scandinavian capitals in that way and it makes visiting and getting around much easier.
- Daily Backpacker Index: US$75.49/day
>>>Check hotel deals for Berlin
>>>Berlin prices and travel tips
11 – Bruges, Belgium
Even though it’s firmly in a traditionally expensive corner of the continent, Bruges can actually be quite affordable, and there’s no shortage of old-world charm to go along with that. Thanks to a large number of hostels, this compact Medieval city has room for thousands of backpackers and budget travelers, and as long as you avoid the busiest months of summer you’ll actually have little trouble keeping costs down.
This is another town where all the main sights could be taken in on a 2-day stay, but due to its relative affordability, the relaxed atmosphere, and the large tourist infrastructure, this is a good choice for a chill-out stop on a longer European tour. Bruges looks a lot like Amsterdam because it was also a major trading city during the 17th Century when all of those gorgeous canalside buildings were constructed. Fortunately, Bruges is much cheaper than Amsterdam and much less crowded as well.
- Daily Backpacker Index: US$86.99/day
>>>Check hotel deals for Bruges
>>>Bruges prices and weather
12 – Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh is new to this “best value” list mainly because the British Pound feel in the wake of the Brexit vote and it continues to be fairly low in 2023. You’ll probably want to start in London (see below), which is also unusually cheap these days, and Edinburgh is the best second stop in Britain for most people.
The center of Edinburgh is compact enough to be able to see most of the sights on food, especially if you are staying near the Royal Mile or nearby in the New Town (which is still very old). This was always a fabulous city, but now that it’s cheaper than it has been in many, many years, it’s also a fabulous bargain within Europe.
- Daily Backpacker Index: US$94.93/day
>>>Check hotel deals for Edinburgh
>>>Edinburgh prices and travel tips
13 – London, England
London needs no introduction and we don’t really need to tell you why you should want to come here. The reason it’s now on the “best value in Europe” list is that the currency has dropped since Brexit and in 2023 it’s still quite low by recent historical standards. They have had some inflation as well in recent years (like almost every other country), but at least the place won’t feel insanely expensive like it did in 2015 or so.
Visiting London on a tight budget can be challenging if it’s your first time, but it’s definitely possible if you do a bit of research. Staying in neighborhoods that aren’t packed with other tourists helps because most locals are not rich and the restaurants and pubs have to charge reasonable prices in order to stay open. You can ride the Tube for about £6 per day with an Oyster card as it has a maximum daily charge and the rest of your rides are all free, which helps a lot if you are staying a bit away from the main sights.
- Daily Backpacker Index: US$122.18/day
>>>Check hotel deals for London
>>>London prices and travel tips
Hi Roger
Your inputs are valuable. I’m planning a trip to Eastern Europe in September. And I request you to please help me with it. I’m not looking for a fancy trip, but it will be on a shoestring budget. Plus I think I will be there for 12-15 days. So plz guide accordingly. Thanks 🙂
Deepshikha,
I’m not sure what kind of help you are looking for. If you have 12 to 15 days I would recommend doing 4 or 5 cities, and 4 might even be better because going between cities is rarely cheap. I’d say the most interesting of the cheaper cities in Eastern Europe are Krakow, Prague, Budapest, and Cesky Krumlov. Berlin is also relatively cheap and very worthwhile. Let me know if you have any specific questions. -Roger
My wife and I are both seniors and living in Asia. We are looking for cities which are not expensive and NOT hot during months from May to August. We would like to rent a room where we can cook and our rent does not come out expensive. Nice weather and good places in the city to walk around. Not hopping cities. Any suggestion?
Jack,
This is a tricky one, which is probably why you are asking. In order to find a place that is NOT hot in the summer months you need to either go up in elevation or find a beach, and even most beaches are going to be pretty hot. Your best bet is probably one of the old colonial hill stations. I spent a month a few years ago in the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia, and it fits what you are looking for except that it’s more a collection of small tourist towns than one city. The other issue is that is can rain a lot, although usually for only an hour or so each day. The temperatures are the same almost every day of the year. Another is Dalat in Vietnam, which is lovely and more of a larger town. There are some hill stations in India and probably elsewhere in southeast Asia. I’d suggest Pokhara in Nepal, but those months can be VERY rainy there, so it won’t be pleasant. Those are the only options that come to mind, and I hope that helps at least a bit. -Roger
Iam very pleased with our details. As you described the places and what to find in them. I will go for a mix of cities( architecture) and natural places in croatia. So my plan would be like this
Prague 3 nights
Vienne 2 nights ( reach by train)
Budapest 3 nights ( by train)
Bosnia 2 nights ( by bus)
Split 2 nights ( by bus)
Plitvice 1 night ( by bus or car)
Zagreb to home! ( by bus)
Is this plan sounds ok?
Plz suggest website to book trains and buses and economical hotels for a comfortable stay in all the places.
I would be grateful if you suggest me places to go internally and any ideas for internal transport in all the places as I am not keen on driving in europe.
Thank you!
Hi roger, I am amazed with your answers and your detailed explanations It is helping so many travelers and plz help me out in this.
I and my wife are planning to travel eastern Europe for a period of two weeks in may end. we want to spend time together and mostly prefer scenic beauties rather than activities.
As per my idea I think I can cover 6-7 places in that time(big cities 3 nights and smaller ones 1 or 2 nights). The places I would like to prefer are Delhi->Prague->Vienna->Budapest->Bosnia->(Dubrovnik->Split->Zadar)->Plitvicka Jezera->Zagreb(not for sight seeing)->delhi
Kindly suggest how many days I should ideally spend at each place? If you find its too hectic.. Plz suggest places to omit… what are the best possible connections to go in a economical way (means of travel etc)
It would be a great help to have your valuable suggestions.
Rahul,
I enjoy helping people with this so it’s nice to hear that people appreciate it. Prague, Vienna, and Budapest are all huge cities with lovely architecture, but if you are referring more to natural scenery you won’t find much in any of those.
As for scenery, I would definitely include Plitvice Falls National Park, as you’ve mentioned, and probably also Lake Bled and perhaps the karst hills in Slovenia. Ljubljana is a really nice small city, and Slovenia is home to a lot of the finest scenery in that region. Sarajevo is a lovely city as well, with a very scenic location. As for Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik, I don’t think I’d go to all three. I’ve yet to make it to Zadar, but I’ve been to Split and Dubrovnik and was struck by how similar they are. Split is larger, cheaper, and easier to reach, while Dubrovnik feels more like a theme park and is often overrun by cruise ship passengers. Photos of Zadar look a lot like the other two, so I’d probably just go to Split or maybe Zadar, and save the hassle of getting to Dubrovnik and dealing the with crowds and high prices.
My standard advice is to spend 3 nights in each place you visit, but that really applies more to larger cities than national parks. For Plitvice, for example, it’s ideal to get there one day and spend the entire next day (or most of it) in the park. If you are driving you can even make it to Zagreb or another city that same day.
From Prague to Vienna to Budapest you definitely want to take the trains. Starting in Budapest the trains going south are quite slow, so buses are often better because they are cheaper, have more departures, and are just as comfortable. Especially in Croatia, the bus service is far better than the train service. But at some point you might want to hire a car and drive. Again, Plitvice Falls is only served by a few buses a day, and yet it’s very easy to drive to because it’s in a very quiet area and the roads are very good. There is even a major highway between Plitvice and Split, so you could even outrun a bus. I think your idea to spend a day or so in each natural area sounds good, although that works best if you arrive the evening before. I hope this helps. I’ll be happy to help more if you have other questions. -Roger
Hey, your responses are so helpful! I’ve been planning my honeymoon trip for mid-Feb – March, and I’ve been taking notes. :p
On my list are Paris, Venice, Prague, Athens, and Edinburgh (a little all over the place) It’s a 15 day trip so it would be really helpful if you could guide me on the best way to go about it.
Emkay,
February will be quite chilly in Prague and Edinburgh, but they are both very nice so you might be happy there anyway. Since you have 15 days I would suggest planning on visiting exactly 5 cities. The 5 cities on your list are all very far apart so you’d need to fly between each of them. That can be done, and flights shouldn’t be too expensive, but it’s not very efficient. Each flight would require about 6 or 7 hours from the time you leave one hotel until you reached the hotel in the next city, and most of that is unpleasant since it’ll be airport shuttles and security lines and all that.
Instead I would recommend choosing 5 cities that are all within 5 hours or so of each other by train. Doing one flight in there would still be okay, but I think you’d be really sick of airports if you flew from all of them.
If this is your first trip to Europe I’d recommend Paris, and especially for a honeymoon. Spend 4 nights there and then fly to Venice for 1 or 2 nights. It’s small enough that you can see it in a day or two. Then you can take a train to Florence for 3 nights and then another train to Rome for 3 nights. Then you could fly to Athens or Prague if you liked. Another option would be to take a train from Paris to Nice and then another train to Venice, and skip flying altogether. Something like that would be far more enjoyable because train travel is stress free and the views are usually nice. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi David
Thank you very for your response, My choice of travel destination is Definately leaning towards Italy. As I would be traveling solo can you recommend any affordable tour groups that I can join in those towns. I do know it’s quite easy to navigate Rome and Venice on your own. Also would air bnb be the most affordable for accommodation vs hotels. Also would weather at beginning of September still be pleasant? Booking trains would you advise that I book them all before I depart my country of origin. In your opinion does the following sound reasonable ; 5 days Rome, 2 days Florence ‘, 1 day Naples , 2 days Sorrento , 1 day Venice .i would like to make my trip 16 days in your opinion would you increase any days in the cities I mentioned it alternatively advise any other cities/ towns to visit that are en route. One more question if it’s the train that I’m taking from inventive down to Rome is it cheaper to get a taxi or uber to my accommodation ? Please advise .
Many thanks
Regards
Asmat
Asmat,
It’s my pleasure and I’ll try to answer your questions in order…
There are free (tips-based) walking tours in nearly all of the cities you’ll be visiting (maybe not in Sorrento) and they are excellent for solo travelers looking for a bit of company. If our list doesn’t show one then Google the name of the city and ‘free walking tours’ and you might find one.
Usually airbnb or apartments in general are better value for couples or groups. In Italy, and in most of Europe, you can often find single rooms that are built for solo guests and are still comfortable. Those will usually be your cheapest option. Apartment rentals often have more remote locations than hotels as well, but it’s worth a look before you book.
The early September weather should be nearly perfect, and nicer than July or August.
If you book your trains online from the official Italian rail website you can get rather cheap tickets if you book at least a week or two in advance, or sometimes longer. For local or suburban trains such as the one from Naples to Sorrento, you can just buy tickets when you get there because the price is always the same.
Rome is large and packed with sights, but it’s also quite hectic. I don’t think I’d spend more than 4 nights there, and 3 could even be enough. And I recommend doing Naples as a day trip from Sorrento, which is much nicer if less historic. That way you aren’t changing hotels every day. Venice in 24 hours is good, and 3 or 4 days in Florence might be better as it would give you time for side trips to Pisa, Siena, or the hill towns.
I haven’t used Uber in Italy so I’m not sure about rates there. If they are offered they are usually cheaper than normal taxis, and it’s easier to use as well because many taxi drivers won’t speak much English. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi there, I am looking to travel either in August or September. I am yet to decide where. In your opinion is it safe to travel to Lebanon and Indonesia. Also do you know of affordable tours for someone that is first time traveling to Lebanon. Which other towns would you recommend in these 2 countries to visit besides Beirut and Bali . My traveling style is to learn other cultures. The other country I’m interested in is Italy , interested in visiting Rome,Florence, Sorrento, Venice .. How would you route your trip and what is the most affordable way to trAvel from one city to another.
Many thanks
Regards
Asmat
Asmat,
I’ve yet to visit Lebanon myself so I’m far from an expert on it. It sounds like things are pretty quiet there at the moment, but of course there have been incidents every few years. As for Indonesia, I’d say it’s very safe. While it’s true there have been one or two hotel bombings in the last few years, it’s a huge country spread over thousands of islands and most of it is extremely peaceful. I’ve been there several times since the famous Bali bombing and I’ll go again and again.
Most of my experience has been in Bali though, and if you want something a bit similar but more old school you could go to Lombok. Jakarta itself doesn’t get very good reviews from visitors, but many other towns on the island of Java look very nice. If you are even a bit unsure I think you are best off going to Italy instead.
Speaking of Italy, it’s best to either start in Venice and then take trains down to Florence, Rome, and then Sorrento (via a change in Naples), or start in Rome and then do Sorrento before going north to Florence and Venice. The trains there are fast (between cities) and reasonably priced. If you buy your train tickets at least a few weeks in advance they will be quite cheap. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi,
I live in wales and I am looking to book a short trip (may be a long weekend) somewhere in Europe. I am a female and i plan to travel alone. i have been doing some research but the more i look up places the more confusing it gets. I am looking to explore a new place and spend some time alone, something relaxing and calming. this is the first time i will be travelling alone, so i need the place to be safe and English speaking… and budget friendly.
Am i asking for too much? Any suggestion?
Thanks,
B
Bee,
That is not asking too much at all. I’m just checking which European cities have cheap flights from Cardiff, and there are some good ones. The cheapest appears to be Berlin, which might be perfect for you. It’s really an interesting and exciting place, and it’s very safe. Better still, it’s probably the southernmost city where you can literally just go around speaking English without asking “Do you speak English” at the beginning of every conversation. The city is known for its nightlife, but it’s also got a huge park (the Tiergarten) at its core. I’d recommend staying somewhere in the former east, probably in the Mitte or Prenzlauer Berg districts, which have surprisingly cheap hotels (and hostels) considering the quality.
Munich also has cheap flights from Cardiff and it’s more relaxing, but also a bit more expensive (and less interesting). Flights to Barcelona are only a bit more expensive, and it’s a beautiful city. But English isn’t as widely spoken unless you are at a chain hotel or tourist attraction.
Now I’m seeing even cheaper flights into Faro for the Algarve and Malaga for the Costa del Sol. Both of those are pleasant beach areas and English is widely spoken in many large pockets of both.
Lastly, Amsterdam also has fairly cheap flights from Cardiff (and most other British airports). It’s another city where you can literally just walk around speaking English the whole time and you’ll be exactly like every other tourist and half the locals. Nearly all signs are in English as well. It’s more expensive than the others when you are there, but still not outrageous. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
@George
Do you suffer from inferiority complex dude or what?
Why do you have to throw such comment out of no where for Albania?
I don’t know where you are from but Albania is safer than most of western Europe.
I was there for 2 weeks each in 2015 and 2016 and in the last year it was full of foreign tourists.
Out of all countries mentioned here I think Albania is the cheapest in prices.
Help! I want to take my daughter on a trip. I want to go at the end of May for a month. We are interested in history, meeting people and seeing new places. We’ve never been out of North America. I don’t know where to take her. Any suggestions. I’d like to keep it as inexpensive as possible so we can afford to stay a month.
Dee,
I’ll be happy to try to help. This is a bit of a tricky request, partly because I’m unsure how many places you’d prefer to visit in that month. If you wanted to visit just one place you could rent an apartment for a month in almost any city and the cost would be reasonable because a monthly rental will be much cheaper than nightly hotel prices, and you can also do some of your own cooking. London is still quite expensive for monthly rentals, but you could get a modest place in Paris for cheaper than hotel rooms in a series of other cities. Berlin would be quite a bit cheaper than Paris.
Another challenge is that the cheaper cities such as Krakow, Budapest, and Prague, are a little more difficult if you only speak English. Things will still be easy enough, but it would take a few days to adjust, where a city like Paris or Berlin or Rome is easier because so many people in the tourism industry speak fluent English.
If you want to string together a group of cheaper cities then I’d highly recommend you focus on the ones near the top of this article. Krakow and Budapest are both really great cities filled with history and interesting sights, and daily costs there are much lower than any large city in the US, for example.
Let me know more about what you have in mind and I’ll be happy to offer more suggestions to help you figure out a good plan. -Roger