Traveling Europe can be surprisingly affordable if you don’t mind skimping on certain luxuries and avoiding the west in favor of the cheaper nations of the east.
The continent has plenty on offer that won’t break your bank account, but you have to know where to look.
If you’re strapped for cash and want the best bang for your buck, here are 8 of the best value destinations in Europe.
Note: The prices listed here are approximate and may fluctuate considerably during high seasons or festival times. The approximate daily travel budget is the lowest one can spend while eating modestly, staying in budget accommodation and rarely splurging on luxuries.
Albania
Albania is a good budget alternative to the more expensive Mediterranean countries of Italy or Greece. With a rich architectural and cultural heritage derived from its close contact with Greece, Rome, the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires and Italy, Albania has plenty of historical sites to keep you busy, as well as some terrific beaches. The official currency of Albania is the lek, and the exchange rate between it and other major world currencies should be enough to draw hoards of international backpackers.
Accommodation:
Hostel dorm bed in Tirana: from $10
Hostel private rooms: $14-$15
Budget hotel rooms: $25
Transport:
One-way ticket on local transport: $0.30
Regional bus ride: $1-$2 for short rides, $5-$10 for longer trips
City taxi ride across town: $3.50 during the day, $5.75 at night
Regional train: Tirana-Vlorë (5.5 hours) $2; Tirana-Pogradec (4 hours) $3.30
Meals:
Street meal: $2
Meal at budget restaurant: $3-$5
Three-course meal at mid-range restaurant: $10
Drinks:
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught): $1.30
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle): $2
Cappuccino: $1.30
Albanian coffee: $0.50
Approximate daily travel budget: $30-$35 a day.
Bulgaria
When Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007, the dual-pricing system that once made foreigners pay considerably more than locals for accommodation and museum admission fees was abolished. Prices have risen since then, but food, drink and transport costs are surprisingly inexpensive compared with Western European countries. Bulgaria has a long list of attractions that remain seldom visited by foreign tourists, so get there now while the prices are low and the crowds are scarce.
Accommodation:
Campsite: $6.50 per person.
Room in a private home: $8-$20, depending on location.
Hostel dorm bed in Sofia: $8-$15
Budget hotel room (outside Sofia): single rooms from $13.50, doubles from $27.
Midrange hotel: single room $25, double room $40.
*Most hotels offer discounted weekend rates (usually Friday to Sunday night). Some top-end Sofia hotels offer discounts during August.
Transport:
City buses, metro: $0.75 per journey
City taxi: $0.40-$0.70 per kilometer
2nd-class round trip train Sofia/Varna: $25
Regional buses: Roughly the same as the train.
Meals:
Street food and sandwiches: $0.50-$2.
Simple meal at a cheap café: $2-$5
Soups/salads at restaurant: $1.50
Typical restaurant meal: $4-$10 for several courses.
Drinks:
Liter of beer from convenience store: $0.50-$0.80
Liter of beer in bar: $1-$2.50
Wine in restaurants: $1.40-$2.50 a liter for homemade wine, $4-$8 for a typical bottle, $8-$14 for the best.
Local vodka: $2
Shot of raki: $1-$2
Coffee: $1
Approximate daily travel budget: At least $33 per day.
Lithuania
Did you know Lithuania once enjoyed an empire that stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea? Or that it was the first Baltic state to win its freedom from the Soviet Union, initiating changes that ultimately led to its collapse?
In addition to the irresistibly affordable costs of traveling in Lithuania, the country has a little-known and colorful history, as well as the most attractive capital city on the Baltic.
Accommodation:
Hostel dorm bed in Vilnius: $10+
Private room in budget hotel: $15+
Private room in mid-range: $25+
Private room in four-star hotel: $40
Transport:
City buses: $0.75
City taxi: $0.75 starting tariff, then $0.75 per km.
Regional buses: as cheap as $9.50 per 100 km.
Meals:
Meal at inexpensive local restaurant: $4.50-$7
Three-course meal at mid-range restaurant: $9.50-$15.50
Drinks:
Domestic beer (0.5 liter bottle) from convenience store: $0.88
Draught beer in bar: $1.50-$2.50
Cocktails: $4
Regular-sized cappuccino: $2.00
Approximate daily travel budget: $35+
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