In general, Europe is an expensive and crowded place to travel, putting a lot of strain on your wallet and your patience. What many people don’t realize however, are the great deals they can get by traveling to some of the lesser-known eastern European countries. Many of these places rival the best-known Western European destinations in beauty and history, but are dramatically lower-priced. My top ten cheapest vacation destinations are listed below:
1. Budapest, Hungary and vicinity. Budapest rivals cities such as Paris and London for its beautiful architecture and lovely riverscapes. Budapest has a fascinating history, and architecture buffs will be excited to see the influences from Turkish and Austrian occupation, as well as influences from Communism. Hungary is not a member of the EURO yet, making museums much cheaper. The city is filled with scenic walks, baths, and several areas where you can enjoy nature in one of the ancient parks or roam the cobblestoned streets looking at old palaces and churches. A boat trip up the Danube offers incredible views and takes travelers to the nearby towns of Szentendre, Esztergom and Visegrad – all incredible day trips in their own right.
2. Istanbul, Turkey. Though Istanbul is packed with tourists every year, it is not difficult at all to find very nice hotel accommodations, great food, and cheap transport in the downtown area. Istanbul’s attractions are mostly outdoors: the mosques, the beautiful historic streets, the old Byzantine churches. Many of these attractions are free. The best time to travel to Istanbul is in the winter, when you can find fantastic deals.
3. Chisinau, Moldova. Moldova has put a lot of work into making the downtown of its capital city an attractive place to be. Alexander Pushkin was once exiled to Chisinau, and the city boasts many cheap museums. Chisinau is sometimes known as the “green city,” it is a pleasant and relaxing escape with pretty forested parks and tree-lined streets. On the outskirts of Chisinau is a famous winery, and tourists can drive through their underground wine storage area. Old Orhei, located farther outside of Chisinau, has a fascinating museum, fascinating Roman and Dacian ruins, Slavic cave monasteries and excellent hiking. Moldova’s wine is world class, and it can be purchased cheaply in the country. Anything can be found in Moldova at a bargain price, including hotels, great restaurants and taxis.
4. Lake Balaton, Hungary. Lake Balaton is one of the largest mineral lakes in the world, and provides a great waterfront vacation for little expense. There are some amazing historic areas and towns to be discovered. On the Tihany peninsula you can rent a bike and explore old ruins and medieval cave monasteries. On the southern side of the lake are a slew of nice resorts, some offering private beaches, spas and sailboat rides. Many of the resorts are classy but much cheaper than similar counterparts in Western Europe. Travel around the lake is fast, easy and inexpensive with water taxis zipping across from town to town.
5. Transylvania, Romania. Transylvania is a gorgeous place, with ruined castles, monasteries and medieval towns all against the backdrop of the breathtaking Carpathian mountains. Unlike a vacation in the Alps, you can explore Transylvania with few large expenses. Bus and train transport between the cities is cheap, reliable and comfortable. For those who love the outdoors there are tons of opportunities to hike, cave, bike or ski. A popular attraction is “Dracula’s Castle” and there are many other amazing castles and ruins in the area. Busing between the primary medieval towns of Brasnov, Sighisoara and Sibiu make a beautiful, cheap and historic visit.
6. Donetsk, Ukraine. Anyone interested in the former Soviet Union, industrialization and Ukrainian politics will be interested in going to Donestk. The current president of Ukraine is from the area, and while it is still a key mining center in the region heavy investment has made it a great place to visit. The new stadium is an otherworldly must-see, and Beyonce was even invited to attend its opening. Donetsk is scattered with museums on history and mining, and boasts an enormous statue of Lenin. Donetsk also has a pretty downtown and many fantastic theme restaurants that cannot be matched in price. It is a diamond in the rough, and a fantastic place to go for a cheap but rewarding vacation.
7. Tallinn, Estonia. Spending time in Tallinn is like stepping back into the 13th century. It is a gorgeous town with cobblestone streets, pretty churches, red roof buildings and markets. It is safe and easy to roam the streets of Tallinn and explore every inch of the historic area. Accommodations are cheap, and no taxi is needed to get around. The downtown is packed with fun restaurants that are easy on the wallet. The viewing areas above the city are stunning.
8. The Dalmatian Coast, Croatia. While tourists flock to the coasts in Italy, France and Greece, making seeing the sights and finding a place to stay increasingly expensive, going to the Dalmatian coast in Croatia is a steal. Sprinkled along the Adriatic Sea are beautiful ancient seaside towns and interesting islands. Zadar is a great place to visit, and you can score amazing deals.
9. Ljubljana, Slovenia. Slovenia is one of the best kept secrets of Europe. It is a gorgeous country, made up of mountains, charming coasts and forests. There are tons of outdoors activities to do there, and one of the most common tourist activities is biking along the breathtaking coast. Ljubljana is a joy to visit, and has managed to avoid the crowds that plague other European cities.
10. Black Sea Coast, Bulgaria. Bulgaria is an interesting and historic country which doesn’t get much attention from tourists. However, Bulgaria has a string of beautiful and elegant seaside resorts along its Black Sea Coast. Many of the resorts are just as nice as the Turkish resorts available yet are half the price. Some are situated on cliffs overlooking the sea, and all have a plethora of activities available for tourists.
