We often hear the phrase “traveling abroad takes money” which is partly true, but it’s not always like this.
In fact, it is much more affordable to plan a 4-5 day trip abroad than a three-day trip somewhere in Greece.
There are many factors that make a trip “expensive”. The airplane tickets, the accommodation and of course the cost of an area, i.e. prices in restaurants, cafes etc.
But there are destinations where you don’t have to spend a fortune and it’s proof that nowadays anyone can travel with minimal savings, because there are plenty of options.
And if you want to plan a trip on a low budget, read below three destinations that deserve your attention.
Three low-cost destinations for trips in Europe
Warsaw, Poland
Warsaw is the beautiful capital of Poland and it’s worth putting on your bucket list.
It combines the Old Town with its cobbled streets and colourful houses with the new modern city with its huge skyscrapers.
The food is delicious with the Polish pierogi standing out. They are dumplings with several choices of filling. My favorites were with minced meat. In Polish cuisine you will find dishes with plenty of meat and of course lots of soups.
Airplane tickets to Warsaw ranges from 70-100€ round trip depending on the time of year you choose to travel. If you’re in a nearby country, you can get even lower prices by train or bus. For example, the bus from Warsaw to Vilnius (Lithuania) cost just €10.
Regarding accommodation, in Warsaw you can find very cheap hotels, but also apartments, which start from 30€/night. For those who want to keep the budget even lower, there are hostels starting from 10€ per night.
Budapest, Hungary
One of our favourite budget destinations is Budapest.
The capital of Hungary has become quite popular in recent years, so I don’t know how much longer it will be considered a “budget” destination, as I visited twice, once in 2021 and once in 2024, and I already saw a huge difference in prices.
But you can find very affordable restaurants, and also street food options, such as delicious Lángos for 3-5€, and chimneys for 2-4€.
Airplane tickets is pretty cheap. In 2024 you can find flights for 50€ round trip per person, as many low-cost airlines fly to Budapest.
As well as being a budget destination, Budapest is ideal for a romantic weekend, as you can enjoy a cruise on the Danube for €10 per person, stroll around the Fisherman’s Bastion and Buda Castle and of course admire the impressive Hungarian Parliament that stands beside the river.
Bucharest, Romania
One of the most low-budget travel destinations in Europe is undoubtedly Bucharest, the capital of Romania.
The hotels and flights are quite affordable, and you’ll also find very cheap dining options in the city centre.
Bucharest is a small city and the sights are all close by, so you can easily see all of them in one day. On the second day, I recommend buying a day-pass to the famous Therme Bucharest Spa and spend a full day of relaxation. The spa includes 10 pools, 6 saunas, 4 wet saunas and 16 water slides.
In short, Bucharest is an economical place to spend a weekend without spending a lot of money, try delicious food and enjoy the famous spa. If you want to stay a little longer, I would suggest planning a trip to Transylvania, to Brașov and the famous Dracula’s Castle.
As you can see, you can travel without spending a fortune. Which place would you choose?
