These Are The Top 5 Cheapest Cities To Visit In Europe For 2025 According To Experts
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Dreaming of cobbled streets that look frozen in time, medieval castles that put Walt Disney’s most fantastical creations to shame, and all that amazing culture you can’t access in the sprawling American suburb you call home?
Europe is calling, and if you plan on taking that call this year, you might as well not break the bank while doing it.
Forget an overpriced Amalfi, Santorini, Mallorca, and the like: you can get as much authentic a cultural getaway, and for a quarter of the usual price, going to these 5 alternative European spots instead, as handpicked by travel experts at Time Out.
Starting with a hugely-underrated fairytale town in Central Europe that looks almost too pretty to be believed:
Český Krumlov, Czechia
A small city in southern Czechia, only 2h30 from Prague, Český Krumlov is essentially a mini version of the capital, without the bustling crowds and the annoying British and German partygoers:
Centered around a hilltop castle, it has its fair share of picture-perfect, narrow pathways lined with colorful houses, leading either to the scenic riverfront or equally charming medieval squares home to inviting cafes that just exude Old World charm.
The castle itself is a must-visit, dating back to the 13th century, and with elements of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque. If you’re climbing to the very top of the highest tower, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the red-roofed townscape.
The best part is Český Krumlov is extremely affordable to visit! With a one-bed Airbnb averaging $99, and a pint of beer costing only $1.89, it is Europe’s fifth most economical city break.
Zagreb, Croatia
The national capital of Croatia, Zagreb is often overlooked by tourists heading straight for the Dalmatian Coast, where the coastal resorts of Split and Dubrovnik are, but it shouldn’t be so easily crossed out of your itinerary.
Yes, it is inland and thus does not have any beaches, but it has its very own well-preserved medieval-era center, with a twin-towered cathedral that seems to be perpetually under renovation and a host of beautiful Austro-Hungarian buildings.
Tkalčićeva Street is the place to go for dinner due to its big choice of traditional restaurants and laid-back bars, and if you want to see something truly unique, make sure the Museum of Broken Relationships is on your to-do list.
As the name indicates, you’ll be making your way through artifacts relating to relationships that are no longer, be it of the amorous kind or friendships, and you might find yourself shedding a tear or two.
Tickets are only US$5.34, or the equivalent in euros, and that’s not the only inexpensive thing about Zagreb: an Airbnb bed will set you back by $66, and a one-dish meal is roughly $10.27 in a local, no-frills eatery.
Porto, Portugal
Forget Lisbon: if you’re looking to experience authentic Portuguese culture, gorge on those delicious custard tarts for under $2, and marvel at stunning azuleijo-clad churches without the latter’s soaring prices, Porto is where you should go.
A francesinha lunch in downtown Porto, down by the idyllic Douro riverside, backed by the brightly-painted houses of the Old Town, will set you back by roughly $10.27––similarly to Zagreb––and based on Time Out estimates, you’ll be spending $103-a-night on accommodation.
That might seem like Porto should be placed far lower on this ranking, but the higher cost of accommodation is offset by the affordable food, the walkability, which largely eliminates transportation costs, and the cheap museum tickets.
Climbing the spiral Clérigos Tower for a unique panorama of the Porto skyline, you’ll be spending only $10.29.
Kaunas, Lithuania
Vilnius, Lithuania is already a super offbeat destination for Americans going to Europe, let alone Kaunas, the country’s second-largest city after the capital, so this one is for the hardcore enthusiasts of culture.
A visit to Kaunas, a former European Capital of Culture, entails exploring its postcard-ready center, where pedestrian-friendly, leafy streets are bordered by cafes and medieval edifices, paying the ornate Cathedral Basilica a visit, and browsing through art galleries.
Time Out suggests you check out Mykolas Žilinskas Art Gallery, where you’ll be greeted with an expansive collection of contemporary European art––allow us to go further and suggest something even cooler: the Atomic KGB Bunker Museum.
We believe it needs no further explanation, so whether you’re well-versed in your Soviet History or you simply think visiting a Cold War-era bunker is a nice story to tell friends, this is something you shouldn’t miss out on while in Kaunas.
Oh, and if you’re thirsty for some Lithuanian beer after all that walking, you should know that’s an average $3.81 for a pint in a centrally-located bar, while staying the night in private accommodation will run you up $76.
Tirana, Albania
The undisputed winner, Tirana is the weird, exciting-all-the-same capital of Albania, a Mediterranean gem that’s quickly rising in popularity as an alternative to jam-packed Italy and Greece.
Like Croatia’s Zagreb, it isn’t coastal, and its primary appeal is the oddly-fascinating, communist-era heritage that’s left Tirana with both rows upon rows of Brutalist buildings and littered with bunkers, some now converted into museums, like Bunk’art 1.
The city’s vibrant restaurant and cafe scene is also unmatched in Europe, with Blloku concentrating a number of pizzerias, family-run Albanian diners, and shisha bars, and there’s just no beating Tirana when it comes to, hem, unusual attractions:
From the climbable pyramid at its very center, located right next to a glitzy new mosque, to the manmade Artificial Lake, a popular hangout area for locals in the scorching summer months, if the Albanian capital doesn’t find its way to your heart through food, it will through its alluring quirkiness.
Prices: $50 for an Airbnb stay, $3.70 for a pint of beer, judging by Time Out data, and if we’re adding contributions from Numbeo, meals are an inexpensive $10.49.
A bargain!
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
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