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European getaways have always been portrayed as luxurious, expensive affairs that not all travelers will enjoy in their lifetime.
But with new transatlantic flights popping up virtually every day and prices at home reaching record highs, planning that dream vacation in Europe ultimately won’t cost much more than a domestic vacation, especially if you choose your destination well.
And to help you with that, travel insurance company Quotezone has just released a ranking of the best and cheapest European cities to visit in 2024, a list that was based on factors such as popularity, accommodation costs, food prices, tourist taxes, public transport costs and more.
After taking all this into consideration, these five places were crowned the continent’s best budget-friendly destinations:
5. Madrid, Spain
Location No. 5 also surprised us a bit: Spain is not exactly a typical budget holiday destination.
But if you actually look at the prices you pay for travel expenses in Madrid (think hotel rooms, meals, groceries and transportation), you’ll realize that you may have been a little too quick to judge the Spanish capital as just another expensive hub that only a select few can afford.
You’ll have no trouble finding a great city center hotel in the $70-$100 per night range, a quick meal for two rarely exceeds $30, and a bus or subway ticket costs less than $2.
Plus, there is no shortage of beautiful attractions spread across the city that you can enjoy at very little cost or completely for free.
The cost for the Museo Nacional del Prado, the Royal Palace of Madrid and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is all under $15, and if you don’t want to spend a cent you can add Plaza Mayor, El Retiro Park and Puerta de Add Alcalá to your itinerary.
4. Lisbon, Portugal
You might have seen this one coming.
Lisbon has made headlines in recent years as one of Europe’s trendiest and cheapest destinations, and once you get a good look at its dreamy pastel-colored buildings, you’ll want to pack your bags as quickly as possible.
Accommodation prices are similar to those in Madrid and hover around $70-$100, but restaurant meals are cheaper (on average around $14 per person) and a 1 mile taxi ride costs less than $1.5, so you can be sure are that you You get value for money.
3. Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul has always been one of the most fascinating cities in the world, but travelers have never flocked there in droves as they are now, and that’s because it’s one of the few affordable destinations in the world.
Most city center hotels charge somewhere between $20 and $50, and even more expensive places like Wyndham Istanbul or DoubleTree by Hilton don’t break the $135 per night mark – which is unfathomable in similarly popular holiday centers around the world.
The food is excellent and just as cheap.
Full trays of kebabs, köftes, meat sautés, mezes and a piece of baklava or kadayıf to round off the meal rarely cost more than $15.
2. Zagreb, Croatia
Like Portugal, Croatia has been consistently praised in recent years as one of Europe’s most affordable destinations, but the beautiful capital Zagreb is even cheaper than its Iberian counterpart.
Most hotels cost just over $78 per night, a good pint of locally brewed beer costs just $3, and most of the city’s major attractions are free or cost less than $10, so if you go to Croatia this summer enjoy the incredible Dalmatian coastline, a stop in Zagreb is a must.
1. Warsaw, Poland
An incredible solo travel destination for women, a tranquil getaway and now the best budget destination in all of Europe, Warsaw truly has it all.
Considering most hotel rooms cost less than $90 per night, meals cost up to $10 per person, and the fact that you don’t have to pay city taxes here, it’s no wonder the Polish capital took the crown today.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better value-for-money destination in Europe and beyond.
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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.
