"Little Paris of the East" and a paradise for spa lovers: The cheapest European destinations

Fancy sipping a glass of wine on a cobblestone street while watching the world go by in a European capital? If this dream seems a little out of reach right now, don't worry because there are some fantastic destinations in Europe that are cheap to fly to and won't break your wallet once you get there.

Although popular vacation destinations like Paris and Amsterdam have recently raised their tourist tax, this is not the case for the rest of Europe. Express.co.uk used the Economist's latest World Cost of Living to find the cheapest European destinations, excluding cities that are hard to reach from the UK or are currently under threat of travel bans.

Istanbul

Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, is one of the cheapest European destinations. Dinner in a restaurant can cost as little as £7, and accommodation as little as £30 per person per night. Check out the various options on Booking.com.

Roundtrip flights to Istanbul from the UK in April cost less than £110 from London, Edinburgh, and Belfast on Skyscanner. Although there are cheaper destinations to fly to from the UK, British tourists can save a lot of money once in Istanbul.

A weekend is barely enough time to see all of Istanbul's incredible sights. However, don't miss out on souvenir hunting at the Grand Bazaar, the impressive Hagia Sophia Mosque, or tasting Turkish coffee at a local cafe.

Bucharest

Bucharest, which is fondly called the "Little Paris of the East," is experiencing something of a turning point. The Romanian capital is one of the cheapest places to spend your vacation in Europe.

A beer can cost less than £1, and dinner in an inexpensive restaurant can cost less than £10. Find accommodation on Booking.com for as low as £30 per night in Bucharest.

A quick search on Skyscanner showed round-trip airfare for under £100 from London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Leeds, and Bristol in April. The city's main attractions include the beautiful Old Town, the Palace of Parliament, and the Stavropoleos Monastery.

Budapest

The Hungarian capital was also recognized as one of the cheapest places to live in the world in 2024. Budapest is one of the most walkable cities in Europe, making it easy to get around without using public transportation. Express.co.uk found flights on Skyscanner for less than £100 from London, Birmingham, Belfast, Manchester, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Bristol and Nottingham.

The city is one of the best European destinations for spa lovers who can spend a weekend luxuriating in Budapest's decadent thermal baths. A ticket to the Gellért thermal baths, the most famous in the city, costs just £23 on a weekday with a locker.

Travel Wise previously wrote about travelling to the heart of the Caribbean island of Dominica, known as Nature's Island, and immersing yourself in its wonders in March 2024.