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Do you dream of cobblestone streets that look frozen in time, medieval castles that put Walt Disney’s most fantastic creations to shame, and all that amazing culture you don’t have access to in the sprawling American suburb you call home?
Europe is calling, and if you plan on answering that call this year, you might as well not break the bank while doing so.
Forget an overpriced Amalfi, Santorini, Mallorca and the like: you can get just as much of an authentic cultural getaway, and for a quarter of the usual price, go to this one 5 alternative European spots instead, as handpicked by travel experts from Time-out.
Starting with a hugely underrated fairytale town in Central Europe that looks almost too good to believe:
Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
Český Krumlov, a small town in the south of the Czech Republic, just 2.30 hours from Prague, is essentially a mini version of the capitalwithout the crowds and the annoying British and German partygoers:
Centered around a hilltop castle, it has a host of picture-perfect, narrow paths lined with colorful houses, leading to the picturesque riverbank or equally charming medieval squares with inviting cafes that exude Old World charm.
The castle itself is a must visit, dates from the 13th centuryand with elements from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. If you climb to the top of the tallest tower, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the red-roofed cityscape.
The best part is that Český Krumlov is extremely affordable to visit! With a one-bed Airbnb averaging $99, and a pint of beer costs only $1.89it is the fifth most affordable city trip in Europe.
Zagreb, Croatia
Zagreb, Croatia’s national capital, is often overlooked by tourists heading straight to the Dalmatian coast, home to the coastal towns of Split and Dubrovnik, but it shouldn’t be so easily dropped from your itinerary.
Yes, it is inland so has no beaches, but it has its own well-preserved center from the Middle Ages, with a twin-towered cathedral that seems to be constantly being renovated and a large number of beautiful Austro-Hungarian buildings.
Tkalčićeva Street is the place to dine for its wide choice of traditional restaurants and laid-back bars, and if you want to see something truly unique, make sure the Museum of Broken Relationships is on your to-do list.
As the name implies, you’ll be making your way through artifacts dealing with relationships that no longer exist, be they amorous ones or friendships, and you may shed a tear or two.
Tickets cost just $5.34, or the equivalent in euros, and that’s it not the only cheap thing about Zagreb: An Airbnb bed will cost you $66, and a one-dish meal will cost around $10.27 at a local, simple eatery.
Porto, Portugal
Forget Lisbon: if you want to experience authentic Portuguese culture, eat those delicious custard tarts for less than $2, and admire the stunning azuleijoclad churches without the sky-high prices of the latter, Porto is the place to go.
A francesinha lunch in the center of Porto, on the idyllic riverbank of the Douro, backed by the brightly colored houses of the old town, will cost you about $10.27––similar to Zagreb––and based on Time-out It is estimated that you will spend $103 per night on accommodation.
That may seem like Porto should be placed much lower on this ranking, but the higher cost of accommodation is offset by its affordable food, walkability, which largely eliminates transportation costs, and cheap museum tickets.
If you climb the spiraling Clérigos Tower for a unique panorama of Porto’s skyline, you’ll pay just $10.29.
Kaunas, Lithuania
Vilnius, Lithuania does already one super unusual destination for Americans going to Europe, let alone Kaunas, the country’s second largest city after the capital, so this one is for the hardcore culture lovers.
A visit to Kaunas, a former European Capital of Culture, involves exploring the postcard-ready center, where pedestrian-friendly, leafy streets are lined with cafes and medieval buildings, visiting the ornate Cathedral Basilica and browsing art galleries.
Time-out suggests you check out Mykolas Žilinskas Art Gallerywhere you are greeted with an extensive collection of contemporary European art––let us go even further and suggest something even cooler: the Atomic KGB Bunker Museum.
We believe it needs no further explanation, so whether you’re well versed in your Soviet history or just think visiting a Cold War bunker is a fun story to tell friends, this is something you shouldn’t miss while you are in Kaunas.
Oh, and if you’re craving some Lithuanian beer after all that walking, you should know that it costs an average of $3.81 for a pint in a centrally located bar, while a night in private accommodation will set you back $76.
Tirana, Albania
The undisputed winner, Tirana, is the strange, exciting, yet samey capital of Albania, a Mediterranean gem that is fast rising in popularity as an alternative to busy Italy and Greece.
Like Croatian Zagreb, it is not on the coast, and its main attraction is the strangely fascinating heritage from the communist era that has left Tirana with both rows and rows of brutalist buildings and littered with bunkers, some of which have now been converted into museums, such as Bunk’art 1.
The city’s vibrant restaurant and cafe scene is also unrivaled in Europe, with Blloku boasting a number of pizzerias, family-run Albanian diners and shisha bars, and there simply can’t beat Tirana when it comes to unusual attractions:
From the climbable pyramid at the center, right next to a stunning new mosque, to the man-made artificial lake, a popular meeting place for locals in the scorching summer months, if food doesn’t find the way to your heart in the Albanian capital, it will because of its seductive whimsy.
Prices: $50 for an Airbnb stay, $3.70 for a pint of beer, judging by Time-out data, and whether we add contributions from Numbeomeals are cheap $10.49.
A bargain!
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
