You want to travel to Europe but you are on a budget? I got you. Here are some affordable European destinations you can visit under 1000€.
Beach destinations
Albania
Beautiful sandy beaches and luxurious accommodation. Albania offers a great summer vacation without breaking the bank. You can enjoy beaches like in Italy or Spain with activities, luxurious bars and restaurants and high class hotels. Albanian culture is rich and cuisine is unique. If you are looking for luxury travel but don’t want to spend 1000s, this might be the right choice for you. Besides laying on the beach or enjoying the sea you can also pick from other activities like day trips to different parts of the country.
- Read more about Albania
Montenegro
A neighbour of Albania. Montenegro might offer more rocky beaches but the water is crystal clear. For beaches visit Budva and for more culture visit Kotor. You can find accommodation for really low prices and spend the rest of your budget on activities. Montenegro is a country with a stunning landscape, therefore it offers many guided trips. You can go for an adventure of your choice.
- Read more about Montenegro
Malta
An island vacation that is really worth the hype. Malta has it all. Clear blue sea, historical architecture, many activities, great food and the nicest people. There are in general 3 islands you can visit, Malta, Gozo and Comino. The cities are full of history, each one of them has a lot to offer and is unique in many ways. I recommend Valletta, Mdina and Marsaxlokk. People are friendly, kind and speak English. You can find any type of accommodation here and it’s very affordable.
- Read more about Malta
Cyprus
Another island with beautiful golden sand beaches. If you want to feel like you’re on a tropical vacation, visit Cyprus. It is a unique destination, the bigger part of the island is Cyprus while a small part belongs to Turkey. Therefore the culture is mixed Greek and Turkish. The prices of accommodation are quite low, leaving you enough space for activities and food. Cyprus is a great country for nightlife but also for exploring the cities and culture. For some history visit Paphos, for nightlife visit Limassol. It’s a stunning destination for your next summer holiday.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s beaches are at the Black sea and they are sandy and beautiful. There are many resorts and it’s a very family friendly destination for beach holidays. Under 1000€ you can find a beautiful all inclusive resort and enjoy the rest of your holiday relaxing on the beach or spending time with your family. While visiting the Bulgarian beach side you should also visit some cities for a real taste of Bulgaria, recommended are Nessebar or Varna.
Pick what you want to do on your holiday
Culture and architecture
Hungary
No argue that budapest is a beautiful city with stunning architecture. Hungary also offers many other cities that are worth seeing. For architecture visit Győr, Szeged, Miskolc or Szentendre. To see castles and learn about history visit Eger or Visegrad. You can experience hungarian culture in Hollókő or visit Lake Balaton. Hungary is a really cheap destination and it offers a lot.
Poland
Poland is a great country for city trips. It offers numerous stunning cities with beautiful architecture, a lot of history and interesting culture. The most beautiful city is Gdańsk that is also lying on the seaside. Other cities you can’t miss are Krakow, Warsaw, Wroclaw or Poznań. Zakopane is a city in the Polish Tatra mountains. If you want to see some nature, it’s a great place. Besides all of these magical cities an interesting but also sad place to see is Oswiecim, a concentration camp used in the second World War. It’s an important part of history we shouldn’t forget, it’s not for the sensitive personalities tho.
Portugal
Portugal offers one of the most unique architecture. The Portuguese tiles are really famous and they create the nicest decorations of every building. Porto is a great example where you can find many of these beautiful buildings. Obviously Portugal also offers stunning beaches, especially in Algarve. It’s a great place to enjoy the architecture or the sea. The tourist activities might be a bit more pricey.
Lithuania
There are many interesting historical buildings to see in Lithuania. The Trakai castle is a great example. It’s a fairytale castle standing in the middle of the lake. There are also many other forts and museums worth seeing. The capital Vilnius offers very nice architecture with buildings like the church of St. Anna or the cathedral of St. Stanislaus. A really unique and quite eerie place to see is the Hill of Crosses or the Hill of Witches. Lithuania is a quite cheap but very interesting country to see.
Find activities here:
Mountains and nature
Slovakia
You can find really beautiful mountains and nature in Slovakia. Whether you are looking for winter sports or hiking you can find it here. The Tatra mountains are wonderful. There are many ski resorts or spas. You can also visit national parks and lakes, where you can also go for a swim. Besides that Slovakia also offers several caves or castles if you want to also experience some of the culture. If you are looking for something unique, you can hike to some waterfalls or go for a walk between the tree tops.
- Read more about Slovakia
Romania
Romania has beautiful nature and wildlife. There are many mountains and canyons. You can enjoy hiking, climbing or water rafting. If you are looking for a more relaxing holiday, there are also several mountain resorts where you can enjoy some wellness care. You can’t miss Transylvania, where you can visit the famous castle of Dracula.
Slovenia
A Global Green Destination and one of the cleanest countries. Slovenia supports sustainable tourism and really knows how to take care of its natural treasures. You can visit many beautiful lakes, canyons and forests. The most famous lake is Lake Bled with a little island in the middle. I also recommend visiting Lake Jasna and out of the many nature parks, Park Skocjanske Jame. You for sure won’t be disappointed.
Croatia
The biggest treasure of Croatia is the Plitvice National Park. This park offers you a beautiful walk in nature and between the turquoise lakes. Besides the lakes, there are also stunning waterfalls. Similar to Plitvice is Krka National Park where you can also enjoy the view of lakes and waterfalls. We can’t forget that Croatia also has a beautiful sea with many islands. If you are looking for an Italian vibe but cheaper, visit Croatia.
Pick your adventure:
City trips
Budapest
My personal favorite and one of the most stunning cities in Europe. Budapest has so much to offer. It’s a great place for culture, architecture and history but also for fun and parties. You can visit one of the several castles, the parliament or the basilica. You can go to unique restaurants and have a taste of the local cuisine. For relaxation you can visit one of the many historical baths and spas. If you are looking for parties, you can go to a pub crawl, for a bigger experience I recommend attending a summer festival Sziget, taking place on Margaret island. The city also offers many cruises on the Danube river. There are also several museums, basic or more unique ones. In the winter you definitely can’t miss the Christmas markets that are stunning. In general Budapest is a very budget friendly city where you can find hotels for good prices and activities for even better.
- Read more about Budapest
Belgrade
Belgrade is similar to Budapest. It’s a great city to enjoy nightlife. There is a historical part of the city and a very modern newly built part. You can visit the castle, have a taste of the local dishes and have fun. In my experience Belgrade was very lively at night, people dancing and listening to a band playing in the park or playing chess on the chess tables. The walk on the riverside is also really beautiful and relaxing. The city has a completely different vibe in the evening as it plays in many colorful lights. Belgrade is also a very budget friendly option.
- Read more about Serbia
Prague
Another beautiful historical city full of stunning architecture. Prague also offers many activities, the majority very unique. You can’t miss the castle with the stunning Charles bridge. Obviously the best known is the Old Town Hall with the Astronomical Clock. There are many interesting museums, beautiful libraries and unique restaurants. While visiting Prague you have to try Czech beer, they are very proud of their beer.
Riga
The capital city of Latvia also has many interesting places to see. Buildings like the Head of the Black Heads, the Three Brothers or the Nativity of Christ Cathedral. A great experience is to visit the Central Market for some local goods. A famous building is the Cat house with black cat statues on the roof. There are also many street cats in the city so the locals built small houses and feeding stations for them.
Mostar
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a great country with friendly people. Mostar is a cultural mix. It’s quite similar to Turkish culture. The city has a historical but also very magical atmosphere. You can’t miss the markets, they are very unique and you can find many local goods. The landmark of the city is the Old Bridge with its legends and traditions. I recommend you to pay a visit and experience the culture. If you are looking for a place like out of Aladdin, you can still find it in Europe and on a budget.
Krakow
This Polish city does not only have stunning architecture but also many interesting places to see. If you like to party, Poland is a great destination. You can go to a pub crawl. There are also many museums and a very special place to see is the Salt Mine. You definitely can’t miss the local cuisine either. Krakow is very affordable and a great place for a city trip.
Check out the activities in these cities
What is your favorit European destination? Have you visited any of these already?