These are the cheapest cities to visit in Europe this summer: What to see and expect on a budget
Getting to Europe will most likely cost you more this year so finding a place where you can get by on less money has become all the more important.
Europe is full of historic cities that boast numerous sights to see. However, getting there this year may cost a bit more with airfares on the rise. So, you’ll want to find a destination where your money will go further.
Post Office Travel Money looked at 50 European cities and did a cost comparison of 12 everyday items to find the cheapest places to visit in 2026. While most of the cities where you can best visit on shoestring budget were in Eastern Europe, there were a couple of cities in France that made it into the top ten. Here’s a look.
Where you can travel in Europe on a shoestring budget
Coming in first place as the best value city to visit was the capitol of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Sarajevo. This was thanks to its “affordable accommodation, cheap public transport and good value attractions.” Post Office Travel Money notes that the city has small neighborhoods that can be explored on foot as well as museums and markets. Reasonably priced food at eateries in Sarajevo means that visitors “can eat out regularly without feeling restricted.”
Number two on Post Office Travel Money’s list is Bucharest. The Romanian capitol city sports a combination of “wide streets, parks and historic areas with a lively café and nightlife scene,” notes the outlet. Again, tourists won’t break the bank thanks to affordable accommodation, food, and public transport.
Rounding out the top three is the capitol of Albania, Triana. The laid-back city is “easy to explore and budget for,” says Post Office Travel Money. Triana boasts cafés, food, and outdoor spaces and has the lowest accommodation prices according to the outlet’s analysis.
Here’s rundown of the top ten cheapest of the 50 European cities that Post Office Travel Money analyzed:
| Ranking | City | Cost of short trip for 2 people |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina | $332 |
| 2 | Bucharest, Romania | $345 |
| 3 | Tirana, Albania | $352 |
| 4 | Belgrade, Serbia | $355 |
| 5 | Trenčín, Slovakia | $364 |
| 6 | Riga, Latvia | $372 |
| 7 | Lille, France | $378 |
| 8 | Vilnius, Lithuania | $387 |
| 9 | Strasbourg, France | $427 |
| 10 | Podgorica, Montenegro | $444 |
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