In this article, we will look at the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Europe. You can skip our detailed analysis to go directly to 5 Cheapest Cities to Visit in Europe.
Overview of the European Tourism Sector
Tourism in Europe is bouncing back to its pre-pandemic levels after suffering a steep decline. According to data from the United Nations World Travel Organization, tourism in the region dropped by 20% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to Q1 in 2019. However, the percentage change in worldwide tourist arrivals to Europe was only 9% lower between January and June 2023 than in the same period in 2019. According to a report by CBI, an agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Europe and the Middle East rank among the top regions with the highest tourism recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. European countries are expected to return to their pre-pandemic tourist arrival levels between 2024 and 2025. The recovery, however, differs for different regions. You can also take a look at the 30 Cheapest Places To Visit In The World.
Tourist arrivals to Europe touched 91% of their pre-pandemic levels by July 2023. This was primarily because of the increasing demand for intra-regional travel. Instead of booking long-haul flights, Europeans were inclined to vacation in their neighboring European countries. This allowed the tourist influx rate of the Southern Mediterranean region to go 1% above its pre-pandemic rates.
Despite an increasing number of Europeans preferring intra-continental vacationing, EU residents alone spent around €474 billion on tourism in 2022, as per statistics by Eurostat. A majority of them, capped at around 53%, spent the money on trips abroad. Around 88% of the total tourism expenditure occurred on trips to European countries, and 82% on trips to countries in the European Union. On average, Europeans spent €952 on foreign trips and €275 on domestic trips in 2022. You can also look at 15 Cheapest European Countries to Visit in 2024.
Platforms Making Tourism Accessible
Several online platforms help travelers draw out the best possible travel plan for their trip. Some of these include Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE), Booking.com (NASDAQ:BKNG), and Tripadvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRIP). Let’s discuss them in detail below.
Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) uses travel fare aggregators and metasearch engines to inform aspiring travelers. On April 22, the company reported that it is expanding its partnership with Klarna to the US. The collaboration will allow Expedia users to use Klarna’s flexible payment options when booking flights and accommodation for their trips. Users can pay through the Pay in 4 or Pay Now options. The expansion to the US came after the joint venture’s success in Sweden, UK, Germany, and Finland.
Booking.com is a similar platform to Expedia, that is operated by Booking Holding Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG). On April 24, Booking.com announced a partnership with Whimstay, Inc. to make affordable travel more accessible for all. The collaboration will expand Whimstay’s last-minute vacation rental options to Booking.com’s portfolio of accommodations to bring users diverse living options.
One of the most well-known travel booking platforms is Tripadvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRIP). In March, the company announced the closure of its Plus subscription program to focus on benefits provided to its free members. The Plus subscription program was initially meant to offer additional perks and discounts to members for an annual fee of $99. However, the company revised its program to facilitate free offerings for its members.
Now that we have looked at Europe’s tourism industry and companies facilitating it, let us look at the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Europe. You can also look at the 25 Cheapest Cities to Visit in Asia and the 25 Cheapest Cities to Visit in Africa.
25 Cheapest Cities to Visit in Europe
Our Methodology
In order to compile a list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Europe, we followed a consensus approach. After consulting ten online travel expert sources, we generated a list of the cheapest European cities for tourists. To narrow our list to the 25 cheapest European cities, we considered the round-trip package rates for each city as the primary metric. We individually searched for the cheapest round-trip package for each city on Kayak, and arranged our list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Europe in descending order of their round-trip cost.
Please note that the round-trip package includes airfare (with a minimum of one and maximum of two layovers) and a 3-star accommodation for one week (5 nights). The departure destination of each flight is set to John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, USA. The package is based on the travel cost of one adult traveler, and meals are not included in it. We have only considered packages that have a rating of 7 and above. The rates for each package represent the time this article was written, as of 2024. It is important to note that these rates are subject to change at different times of the year. These numbers thus present a moderate calculation of the cost of travel to each of these European cities.
25 Cheapest Cities to Visit in Europe
25. Belgrade, Serbia
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,661
Belgrade ranks 25th on our list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Europe, with a round-trip cost of $1,661 for one adult traveler as of 2024. Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, offers remnants of Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Austrian, and Serbian empires in its constructions and culture.
24. Klagenfurt, Austria
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,437
Klagenfurt is the capital of Carinthia, an Austrian province located south of the country. Klagenfurt is known for its buildings and cathedrals dating back to the 15th century. It ranks 24th on our list.
23. Porto, Portugal
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,331
The cost for one round-trip to Porto, Portugal, costs 1,331 as of 2024, including airfare and accommodation, ranking the city on our list. The Pao de Acucar Hotel in Porto offers the most affordable three-star housing in the city with an 8.2/10 rating. The coastal city is known for its baroque architecture, ornate buildings, cobbled streets, and port wine production.
22. Vienna, Austria
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,328
Vienna is Austria’s capital and a popular tourist destination due to its significance in arts and architecture. The city was once home to Beethoven, Sigmund Freud, and Mozart, and is now known for its contemporary constructions and Imperial palaces.
21. Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,295
One round-trip to Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic costs $1,295 for one adult traveler as of 2024. The city’s Pension Nika offers the most affordable housing, with an overall rating of 8.3/10. The aesthetically pleasing city offers Gothic, baroque, and Renaissance elements in its architecture and culture.
20. Izmir, Turkey
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,208
The Turkish city of Izmir overlooks the Aegean coast and ranks 20th on our list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Europe. The city holds archaeological remnants of Greek, Roman, and Ottoman influences, making it a popular tourist destination.
19. Prague, Czech Republic
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,145
Prague is the famous capital of the Czech Republic, divided in the center by the Vltava River. Also known as the City of a Hundred Spires, Prague is lined with vibrant baroque buildings and Gothic architecture. The city’s Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, and Astronomical Clock are popular tourist destinations.
18. Valencia, Spain
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,131
The Spanish town of Valencia is the province’s capital of the same name and is known for its architectural wonders. It is also known as the City of the Holy Grail, and houses the largest fish and orange producing markets in Europe.
17. Split, Croatia
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,128
Split is another Croatian city that ranks on our list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Europe. One round-trip cost to Split is $1,128 to Zagreb, but less if you decide to visit Zagreb and Split together. The distance between the two cities is around 408.5 kilometers, and it takes about 3 hours 58 minutes by car, according to the fastest route by Google Maps.
16. Zagreb, Croatia
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,095
The colorful northwestern city of Zagreb is the capital of Croatia. It is known for its distinct Austro-Hungarian architecture, Gothic buildings, and churches dating back to the 13th century. A round-trip cost to Zagreb costs $1,095 for one adult traveler’s airfare and accommodation. Hotel Tomislavov Dom is one of the city’s most affordable three-star accommodation options.
15. Granada, Spain
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,060
You can visit the Spanish city of Granada for $1,060, including airfare and accommodation at the three-star Hotel Saylu. Cradling the Sierra Nevada mountains, Granada is lined with remnants of the Moorish occupation, especially the Alhambra, which dates back to the 8th century.
14. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,045
Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is an aesthetically pleasing city located in the warmth of the surrounding Dinaric Alps. The city is a prominent cultural center in the Balkans, and ranks 14th on our list with a round-trip cost of $1,045 for one adult traveler as of 2024. Hotel BN International offers the most affordable three-star accommodation in Sarajevo.
13. Warsaw, Poland
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,043
Warsaw is the metropolitan capital of Poland and the country’s largest city. You can visit the city for a week for $1,043 as a solo traveler by staying at the Best Western Hotel POrtos, the most affordable three-star accommodation in the city.
12. Kaunas, Lithuania
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,040
Kaunas, Lithuania ranks 12th on our list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Europe, with a round-trip cost of $1,040 for one adult traveler as of 2024. The city’s Hotel Metropolis offers the most affordable three-star accommodation.
11. Seville, Spain
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,029
Seville is the capital of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and is also its largest city. Located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, the city is famous for its cathedrals, temples, and other architectural wonders. You can plan a week-long vacation to the city for about $1,029.
10. Brașov, Romania
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,001
With a round-trip cost of $1,001, Brașov, Romania, ranks tenth on our list. Pensiunea Mury offers the most affordable housing in the city, bringing its airfare and accommodation costs to $1001. Located in the Transylvania region of Romania, the city is famous for its Gothic and Saxon architecture and baroque buildings filled with colors.
9. Athens, Greece
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $986
Athens is the capital of Greece and the center of ancient Greece, which was once the most powerful civilization in the world. The city is dotted with artifacts from ancient Greece, including the Acropolis of Athens and the Parthenon. The Acropolis Museum and National Archaeological Museums are also popular destinations.
8. Istanbul, Turkey
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $983
Istanbul, the most popular city in Turkey, ranks eighth on our list with a round-trip cost of $983. This transcontinental city touches Asia and Europe, and has much to offer, ranging from the awe-inspiring sights of the Bosphorus Strait to the cultural and architectural remnants of Ottomans, Romans, Byzantines, and even the Egyptians.
7. Riga, Latvia
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $953
Riga, Latvia, ranks seventh on our list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Europe, with a round-trip cost of $953 for one adult traveler. Riga is the capital of Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea, and has a landscape of the River Daugava.
6. Lisbon, Portugal
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $904
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, known for its coast landscape and hilly terrain. The city offers numerous tourist spots, including Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, and Castelo de S. Jorge. You can travel to the city as a solo traveler for $904 by seeking accommodation in the Be Lisbon Hostel Intendente, the most affordable 3-star housing in the city.
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Disclosure: None. 25 Cheapest Cities to Visit in Europe is originally published on Insider Monkey.
