Share the article
Last updated
If you’ve got a Eurotrip planned this summer, but you’re suddenly surprised at how expensive hotels are – not to mention the crowds that have already formed – then you might be wondering if there’s cheaper alternatives to the popular trio France-Italy-Spain.
We’re happy to report that you don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money to experience Europe’s ancient culture, and if the latest travel trends If anything, you’re not alone in your quest for a budget-friendly summer getaway across the pond.
In fact, four of Europe’s cheapest destinations are among the most expensive, according to the European Travel Commission’s (ETC) new quarterly report fastest growing on the continent:
Portugal
After witnessing a 17% growth in arrivals compared to the pre-crisis era, Portugal has recently been undergoing a tourism renaissance, being widely promoted as the cheapest country to visit in Western Europe currently visits and a world-class sunny destination with mild temperatures all year round.
Lisbon is the absolute leader in bookings, with 6.5 million guests in 2023 alone, all attracted by the capital’s rich medieval heritage and unparalleled food culture, but the wider country, with its rolling vineyards, sun-drenched Atlantic coast and remote islands, is too. equally tempting.
Other Portuguese destinations on tourists’ radar include Porto, in the north, a charming baroque riverside city famous for its fortified wine, and the Algarve, where sandy beaches are bordered by azure waters extends for miles, and Madeira, a tropical archipelago where nature predominates.
Average is one week long trip to Lisbon costs $982 per personincluding accommodation, transport and food, although it’s essentially halved to just $440 for budget travelers, thanks to your local pastelaria‘s $8 lunch menu and overnight stays in youth hostels that cost $15.
Turkey
Türkiye, the leading destination in the Eastern Mediterranean, is posting 35% growth compared to 2019, with a historic increase in searches for beach destinations such as Antalya and Bodrum, and new non-stop flights from the US to Istanbul.
Given the one cultural colossusWith a history spanning two millennia and fascinating, minaret-studded cities that look more like open-air museums, not to mention the balmy summer weather and beautiful coastline of the southern provinces, we can’t say we’re surprised.
With its 2,000-year-old Greco-Roman ruins, a rapidly developing resort zone and officially a gateway to the Turkish Riviera, Antalya in particular is gearing up for a record year, with more than 16 million travelers expected to travel until December.
Of all the major destinations on the Mediterranean, Türkiye is probably the largest the cheapestalso: tourists are helped by the severe devaluation of the Turkish lira and low consumer prices across the board; in Antalya, for example, a week’s stay will cost budget travelers $409.
In addition to the tourist offer and affordability, Türkiye’s success this year is partly attributed to the relaxed entry rules: Americans no longer need to apply for a visa when visiting, provided their stay does not exceed 90 days of a 180-day period . .
Bulgaria
Bulgaria, previously one of southeastern Europe’s most obscure ‘commie’ states, has reemerged in recent years as a open, progressive country which is not only incredibly welcoming to tourists, but also completely safe to visit.
Its full westward orientation, association with the EU and NATO, and low crime rates make it very attractive to risk-averse travelers, and while the 39% increase in tourism cannot be attributed to one factor, we are going out on a limb here and assume this is largely due to the trendy Black Sea coast.
The Black Sea, also known as the New Mediterranean, is anything but black, and just as warm and beautiful as the first, or so the masses of British and German tourists who have flocked to the aptly named Sunny Beach seem to think.
Apart from the coastal sights, Bulgaria is equally sought after for its cultural value: Sofia, the capital, is dominated by the golden-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, while Plovdiv, with its cobbled streets and old theaterhas been continuously inhabited for thousands of years.
If you visit Bulgaria this summer, you will have to spend a total of $483 for a week: the three-star beachfront complex Astra in Sunny Beach costs $35 per night to book, and plan to spend about $34-40 per day on food, is completely reasonable.
Serbia
This may come as a shock to some, but it’s not newfound Albania nor emerging sunny Montenegro that has seen the biggest increase in tourism (47%) in the last four years: it’s landlocked Serbia , a Slavic area. nation in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula.
Serbia is best represented by Belgrade, the capital at the confluence of the Danube and Sava, which exudes Old World charm, with pedestrian streets, ornate facadeswinding tram lines, monumental Orthodox churches and even a historic castle that is his own.
A surviving jewel of the bygone Austro-Hungarian Empire, elegant Novi Sad, just north of Belgrade, should also not be missed, with its yellow-washed neo-Gothic cathedral. cafe-studded old townand the imposing fortress on the Danube.
Serbia is the only non-coastal destination on this list, but that doesn’t mean anything nature is not in abundance: Zlatibor is a green reserve full of tourist-friendly walks and lakes.
Because Serbia is not in the European Union, nor the Eurozone, it is considerably cheaper to visit than other Central and Eastern European countries, with an estimated cost of a week’s stay if you are not a big spender. a very reasonable $314.
Fortunately for Americans looking for an unusual, not-so-obvious destination this summer, they can fly nonstop to Serbia, as it is the only Balkan capital (excluding Athens) where larger planes from abroad can arrive.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to the latest Travel Off Path breaking travel news, delivered straight to your inbox.
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.
