Europe offers an abundance of destinations for all tastes and interests - from coasts with sandy beaches to winding mountain trails to destinations whose history dates back more than a thousand years.
Unfortunately, many of these destinations – especially in popular countries like France, Germany and the Netherlands – will stretch your budget to the max. When you're looking for the cheapest European countries to visit, you'll naturally need to think outside of the popular destinations and head to lesser-known tourist spots.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria often tops the list cheaper countries to visit in Europe – and for good reason. For starters, Bulgaria remains largely undiscovered by tourists, except for those who come in the summer for a bargain holiday by the Black Sea. Even then, accommodation, flights and entertainment will still cost you a fraction of what you would pay in Western Europe. But in the off-season, prices drop considerably and you can ski, eat and travel around the country for a tenth of the cost you would in Western Europe.
One of the most interesting parts of Bulgaria is the countryside. The castles, villages and hiking trails there (Central Balkan National Park) are at the top of the list of places worth visiting, as it will cost you very little to visit. While it is Sofia the first stop for many tourists are smaller towns such as Plovdiv, home to more than 200 archaeological sites, much cheaper to explore.
Hotels in Bulgaria are especially good outside of the summer season, and many include not only free breakfast, but also free transportation.
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Romania
Romania is also considered one cheapest destinations in Europe, especially if you go to the Carpathians on hiking trails or to explore the countryside. Also a visit Brasov, home to Dracula's 14th-century Bran Bran Castle, can be very affordable if you book a day trip or don't mind slow train connections from Bucharest. Trains in Romania are not always in the best condition, but they are safe and very cheap.
Some of the most beautiful buildings in Bucharest – including the 15th-century Old Town, Revolution Square and Romania's Arc de Triomphe – are either free or very cheap to visit. In warmer weather, renting a bike can be a great way to explore smaller towns or take a stroll in the city centre.
The prices in the restaurants are mostly reasonable, and the meals are plentiful and filling. Local specialties such as Sarmala (cabbage rolls), cozonac (sweet bread) or mama league (polenta usually served with sour cream and strong cheese) are cheap, often sold at street food stalls, and are a great way to get a quick introduction to traditional Romanian food.
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Poland
The largest cities in Poland - Krakow and Warsaw - they are not always cheap, so avoid visiting in the summer. The spring months (especially March and April) are ideal for traveling to urban Poland. The weather is warming up, prices are still low, and castles and palaces that were closed in winter are reopening.
The most famous Polish destinations - including the camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, salt mine Wieliczka and Schindler's Factory - they are much less frequented in the off-season, so you won't waste time waiting in line. Many other attractions around the country are very cheap and accessible, including the tower of the Old Town Hall with a wonderful view of Krakow, the castle Teutonic Order from the 13th century in Malbork and ancient forests Bialowieza.
Although trains are not always very cheap in Poland, you can get almost anywhere by bus. Long-distance buses like Flixbus are comfortable, offer free Wi-Fi and take you to even the smallest cities in Poland.
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Montenegro
In July and August, the coast of Montenegro is full of tourists. If you go to coastal Budva or cities Herceg Novi, skip the summer months. Instead, head inland for rugged mountains, glacial lakes and cities. For example Black Lake, a mountain lake surrounded by verdant forest, is a stunning hiking and swimming destination and completely free to enjoy. Ada Bojana, a small island away from the expensive coastal towns, is a prime kitesurfing destination and a lovely summer destination with very affordable prices.
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Ukraine
Most international tourism is focused on Kyiv and day trips not far from the city. Tours in Chernobyl and an abandoned city Pripyat, are cheaper in winter, as the temperatures in this area are unforgiving and most tourists do not want to deal with ice and snow. Early spring, autumn and winter are cheaper times to go to the Black Sea coast, although most tourists visit the area in the summer to enjoy the beaches and hot weather.
Overnight stays represent a higher cost when visiting Ukraine. Since the tourist season is not long, hotel prices hardly change throughout the year, especially not in the biggest cities. A resort town Odessa on the northwestern coast of the Black Sea and Kyiv they are slightly cheaper in the off-season (late autumn and winter), but the rest of the country is very affordable all year round.
Perhaps one of the biggest ways to save money in Ukraine is on food. If you eat locally, food is very cheap in Ukraine - order out varenyky (stuffed dumplings) or Holubtsi (stuffed cabbage), and the whole meal will cost you the same as a quick snack in any other country.
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Slovakia
Bratislava As the capital of Slovakia, it is certainly the most expensive destination in the country, but even here you can take advantage of the many free offers that the city has to offer.
In addition to many others, Bratislava has small galleries, scattered all over the city, a lot too street sculptures – from bronze workers emerging from manholes to life-size Napoleonic soldiers leaning on benches. Despite being the capital, Bratislava is relatively small and can be easily explored on foot, as most attractions are located around the Old Town. However, if you are heading outside the city, trains and buses are cheap and very comfortable.
If you're looking for an outdoor adventure, Slovakia offers a lot of attractions, most of them free of charge. High Tatras, Slovakia's highest mountains and a huge national park, have hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails. The trails are perfect for hiking and exploring between June and October. In winter, many become great destinations for snowshoeing, as well as skiing and cross-country skiing. All national parks are free. There are also many cities in Slovakia UNESCO world cultural heritage sites – all free or very cheap to discover.
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Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is no longer as affordable as it used to be. But if you are traveling outside the capital city Prague, you will find many good offers. This is especially true in the colder months (except for the second half of December, as the weeks around the Christmas holiday are the main tourist season). January and February are the cheapest months, as from March to May they also offer great discounts on flights and accommodation.
Many of Prague's main attractions are free. For the tour, take a map and explore them yourself, because guided tours will affect your budget. This includes walking around Charles Bridge, viewing the astronomical clock and walking along the cobbled streets Old town square and its medieval buildings.
Offers become much cheaper in the other destinations around the country – including a fairy tale town Cesky Krumlov, unusual towns Saddle and its skeleton bath and endless trails and mountains in the national park Czech Switzerland. Even in high season, hotels in these destinations will be affordable if you book far enough in advance.
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