Europe

Europe proves that budget travel and unforgettable experiences aren’t mutually exclusive — you just have to know where to go. Eastern Europe and the Balkans (Poland, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia) remain some of the cheapest places to travel in the world, with hostel beds, hearty meals, and local transport all costing a fraction of what you’d pay in the west. Southern Europe (Portugal, Greece, parts of Spain and Italy) offers a middle ground — rich history and beaches at a moderate cost, especially outside peak season. Western and Northern Europe (France, Germany, Switzerland, Norway) are the most expensive corners of the continent, but even here, smart planning — hostels, cooking your own meals, free walking tours, city tourist cards — can keep costs manageable.

Europe’s real advantage for budget travelers is how easy it is to combine cheap and pricier destinations in one trip: patch together a route through low-cost countries and dip into a more expensive city for a few days without blowing your budget.

For a full breakdown of what a trip really costs — accommodation, food, transport, and a sample 2-week itinerary — see our Europe Trip Budget guide, with more country-specific guides coming soon.