Top 10 cheapest cities in Europe
Don't let your travels be limited by what's in your bank account! Plan a trip to the cheapest European cities, and you'll explore more while spending less. Europe has loads of awesome places that are kind to your wallet. Here's our itinerary with Europe's 10 cheapest cities!
Click here or on the map to view or edit this route in our Trip Planner.
Cities visited in this trip:
1. Warsaw, Poland
2. Kraków, Poland
3. Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
4. Bratislava, Slovakia
5. Budapest, Hungary
6. Zagreb, Croatia
7. Belgrade, Serbia
8. Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
9. Sofia, Bulgaria
10. Bucharest, Romania
For this itinerary, we recommend:
- Interrail Pass: Global Pass
- Travel days: 10 days within 2 months
1. Warsaw, Poland
Average daily cost on a budget: €52.30
Cheap things to do in Warsaw
The Warsaw Rising Museum has free admission on Sundays. On hot summer days, cool off at any of the three lovely beaches on the Vistula River, which can also be crossed using a free ferry.
Go from Warsaw to popular cheap cities
From Warsaw, you can reach Western Europe's most budget-friendly capital city, Berlin, in under 6 hours. A train ride from Warsaw to Krakow takes 2.5 hours.
2. Kraków, Poland
Average daily cost on a budget: €43.48
Cheap things to do in Krakow
Not only a place to pick up bargains, Krakow's market square "Plac Nowy" is full of affordable, bohemian cafés and bars. From May to September, the Krakow Nights Festival (Krakowskie Noce) puts on a free concert every month.
Go from Krakow to other cheap cities
The Krakow to Warsaw train route takes 2.5 hours. To Wroclaw, it's a 3.5 hours train ride.
3. Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
Average daily cost on a budget: €69.99
Cheap things to do in Cesky Krumlov
You can walk around the city's most popular attraction, its enchanting castle complex, for free. Many hostels and tours have free drink offers, not that you need them - the food and drink in Cesky Krumlov are satisfyingly cheap!
Go from Cesky Krumlov to popular cheap cities
Both Prague and Plzen are just over 3 hours away by train. You'll need to change trains once at Ceske Budejovice.
4. Bratislava, Slovakia
Average daily cost on a budget: €56.51
Cheap things to do in Bratislava
Visit the Slovakian National Museum and Transport Museum for free every 1st Sunday of the month. In summer, check out free film screenings at Bratislava's beach. You'll only need to buy the drinks!
Go from Bratislava to popular cheap cities
Jump on a regional train at Bratislava Hlavna Stanica to Wien HBF (reservations are not required). You'll get to Vienna in 1 hour 5 minutes tops.
5. Budapest, Hungary
Average daily cost on a budget: €43.48
Cheap things to do in Budapest
Make the 1km walk up Castle Hill. The views from the top and along the charming Fisherman's Bastion are priceless! Also, atop Castle Hill, you can pay a small fee to enter the National Gallery, library and History Museum.
Go from Budapest to popular cheap cities
Take a train to Zagreb (Croatia) in under 6 hours or Bratislava (Slovakia) in just 2 hours 45 minutes.
6. Zagreb, Croatia
Average daily cost on a budget: €51.41
Cheap things to do in Zagreb
Visit the Museum of Broken Relationships, which is hilarious and tragic at the same time. Afterwards, get your daily shot of fresh fruit at nearby Dolac Market - look for the sea of red umbrellas.
Go from Zagreb to popular cheap cities
You can travel by direct train to Split in the south of Croatia and Budapest in Hungary. Either journey will take you around 6 hours.
7. Belgrade, Serbia
Average daily cost on a budget: €46.62
Cheap things to do in Belgrade
Belgrade's 18th-century fortress is free to enter and wander around. You'll often find live entertainment and street music on Skadarlija Street in Belgrade's Bohemian quarter.
Go from Belgrade to popular cheap cities
In under 8 hours, you can travel by direct train to Budapest (Hungary) or by night train to Zagreb (Croatia).
8. Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Average daily cost on a budget: €45.67
Cheap things to do in Sarajevo
Taking a stroll around the Old Bazaar (Baščaršija) is a must. The city's delightful churches and mosques are free to enter - time your visit outside of prayer times.
Go from Sarajevo to popular cheap cities
From Sarajevo, you'll reach Mostar by train in under 3 hours. To Zagreb (Croatia), the journey is 9.5 hours.
9. Sofia, Bulgaria
Average daily cost on a budget: €36.49
Cheap things to do in Sofia
Sofia's Art Gallery is free to enter. Catch the changing of the guard in front of the President's Office. Thirsty? Get free hot mineral water from the Banya Bashi Springs!
Go from Sofia to other cheap cities
There's a daily train from Sofia that will get you to Bucharest (Romania) in 9.5 hours. By direct train, you can reach the cheap Bulgarian coastal town of Burgas in 8 hours.
10. Bucharest, Romania
Average daily cost on a budget: €38.67
Cheap things to do in Bucharest
Art lovers and photographers should check out the amazing graffiti at Garajul Ciclop. The city's gigantic Palace of the Parliament has an entry fee but is equally impressive to gaze upon from outside.
Go from Bucharest to popular cheap cities
Brasov is a 2.5 hours train ride away. A direct train from Bucharest takes you to Sofia (Bulgaria) in 9.5 hours.
How to travel on a budget
We chose these bargain cities based on Price of Travel's Europe Backpacker Index. It calculates costs based on the best budget sleeping, sightseeing, eating, drinking and public transport options available in each city.
We've got more tips for finding thrifty ways to save money when exploring Europe on a budget.
Flexible travel in Europe
With an Interrail Global Pass you can travel between all these cheap destinations, even at the last minute. If one place doesn't take your fancy, our unique Pass makes it easy to go somewhere else without spending more cash.
When it comes to flexibility, Interrail makes finding cheap destinations easy and adventurous!
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