Budget Holidays in Europe: Cheapest Places to Go in 2027

The cheapest budget holidays in Europe for UK travellers are in Eastern and Southern Europe. Bulgaria, Poland, Albania, Hungary and North Macedonia have the lowest daily costs, while the Algarve in Portugal and Sunny Beach in Bulgaria are the best-value beach resorts. Plan on roughly £30–£60 a day on the ground (food, local transport and basic activities), and about £250–£500 per person for a four-night city break once you add flights and a room.

This guide shows you where to go, what it really costs, when to travel and what to check before you book. All figures are planning guides, not bookable prices, so always check live fares for your dates. If you want a shorter list first, see our guide to cheap places to travel in Europe.

Budget Holidays in Europe at a Glance

Destination	Country	Best for	Country daily spend*	Best time to go
Kraków	Poland	City break	£25–£80	Spring, autumn
Budapest	Hungary	City break, winter	£35–£95	Late autumn, Jan–Mar
Sofia	Bulgaria	Cheapest capital	£30–£75	Spring, early autumn
Sunny Beach	Bulgaria	Family beach	£30–£75	June, September
Tirana and the Albanian Riviera	Albania	Beach, scenery	£35–£85	May–June, Sept–Oct
Skopje and Ohrid	North Macedonia	Lakes, mountains	£40–£95	Spring, early autumn
Prague	Czechia	Architecture, Christmas	£45–£115	Spring, autumn
Porto	Portugal	Couples, food	£60–£140	Spring, autumn
Algarve	Portugal	Families, winter sun	£60–£140	Late spring, early autumn
Athens	Greece	Culture plus beach	£65–£170	Spring, autumn

What Counts as a Budget Holiday in Europe?

We use two simple measures, so you can compare like with like:

• Daily on-the-ground budget: £30–£60 per person for accommodation, food, local transport and basic activities, excluding flights.
• Four-night city break: £250–£500 per person including return flights, a room, food, local transport and one paid attraction.

Country figures in this guide come from Post Office Travel Money’s 2026 reports. City comparisons use Numbeo’s 2026 cost-of-living index, which is crowd-sourced, so treat it as a guide to relative cost rather than exact holiday prices.

Cheapest Countries in Europe: Daily Spending Compared

This chart shows the typical daily spending range in each country. The bar starts at the low end and stops at the high end, so a shorter bar further left means lower and more predictable costs.

Best Budget City Breaks in Europe

City breaks are the easiest way to keep costs down. Walkable centres, cheap trams and low-cost flights from London and regional airports all help. For more ideas, browse our best European city breaks.

1. Kraków, Poland

Kraków has a medieval square, Wawel Castle and a huge choice of cheap cafés and milk bars. Poland’s daily spending range is £25–£80, among the lowest in Europe. Eat a street or two away from the main square for better prices. Spring and autumn are the best-value times to visit.

2. Budapest, Hungary

Budapest combines thermal baths, Danube views and a lively food scene. Hungary’s daily range is £35–£95. Late autumn and January to March are usually cheaper than Christmas market weekends. Public transport is cheap and many sights can be seen on foot.

3. Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia has Roman ruins, grand churches and green parks, with a Numbeo cost index of just 46.2. Bulgaria’s daily range is £30–£75. The city sits below Vitosha mountain, so it works well for a city break with a day of walking.

4. Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest is a less crowded capital with grand buildings, museums and a busy café scene. Its Numbeo cost index is 46.3, one of the lowest in our list, which makes meals and hotels good value.

5. Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade is known for river bars, nightlife and food, with a Numbeo index of 47.6. Serbia is outside the Schengen area, so check FCDO travel advice for entry rules before you book.

6. Prague, Czechia

Prague is more expensive than the cities above (Czechia’s range is £45–£115), but it is still good value against Western Europe. Visit outside school holidays and eat away from Old Town Square. Charles Bridge at sunrise costs nothing.

7. Porto, Portugal

Porto is the best-value Western European city on our list. Portugal’s daily range is higher at £60–£140, but you get riverside walks, port wine cellars and nearby beaches. Spring and autumn are cheaper than summer.

More cheap cities worth a look

• Plovdiv, Bulgaria: the lowest cost index in our data (40.1), with Roman ruins and an old town.
• Gdańsk and Warsaw, Poland: a Baltic coast city and a capital, with cost indexes of 49.7 and 53.5.
• Tirana, Albania: colourful, friendly and cheap, with a cost index of 49.5.
• Skopje and Ohrid, North Macedonia: a capital plus a lake town, with a daily range of £40–£95.
• Riga and Vilnius: compact Baltic old towns that are easy to explore on foot.

Want a ranking of cost alone? Our guide to the cheapest cities in Europe goes deeper.

Best Cheap Beach Holidays in Europe

Beach holidays cost more than city breaks because transfers, resort meals and school-holiday demand push prices up. Post Office Travel Money’s 2026 Family Holiday Report compared the cost of ten typical family purchases (meals, drinks, sun cream and similar) across 22 European resorts. These are the cheapest ten.

Algarve, Portugal

The Algarve came first for family value in 2026 and also ranked as Europe’s best-value winter-sun destination (£82.35 basket). It works best in late spring and early autumn. Self-catering apartments keep food costs down.

Sunny Beach, Bulgaria

Sunny Beach was second-cheapest at £142.16, even after a 9.3% year-on-year rise. Go in June or September to avoid peak July and August prices. Check exactly what your all-inclusive package covers.

Albanian Riviera, Albania

Albania has a daily range of £35–£85 and clear water along the south coast. May–June and September–October give the best balance of price and weather. Albania is outside Schengen, so check entry rules on gov.uk.

Lanzarote, Menorca and Costa Brava, Spain

These three sit third, fourth and fifth on the family-cost ranking. Lanzarote suits year-round sun, Menorca and the Costa Brava are best in May–June and September. Spanish resorts take six of the top ten places in the report, so there is plenty of choice from UK regional airports.

Marmaris, Turkey

Marmaris cost £158.33 for the family basket and is popular for all-inclusive packages. Turkey has separate entry rules, so check gov.uk and FCDO advice before booking.

Packing for the sun? Our guide to the Italian summer dress has easy, light outfit ideas for warm evenings.

Best Budget Holidays for Families, Couples and Solo Travellers

Traveller	Best picks	Why
Families	Algarve, Sunny Beach, Lanzarote, Costa Brava	Lowest family basket costs in Post Office’s 2026 report
Couples	Porto, Budapest, Kraków, Albanian Riviera	Atmosphere, food and scenery at moderate cost
Solo travellers	Kraków, Sofia, Budapest, Tirana	Cheap hostels, easy transport and free walking tours
Students and backpackers	Poland, Czechia, Hungary by train	Short rail hops between low-cost cities

For a quick trip with fewer days off work, see our picks for weekend breaks in Europe.

Cheap Winter Breaks and Christmas Markets

Budapest, Prague, Kraków, Riga and Tallinn are the best budget Christmas market cities. Prices jump on festive weekends, so visit in late November or choose midweek dates. For ordinary winter city breaks, January to March is usually cheapest in Budapest and Kraków.

For winter sun, Post Office’s 2026 report named the Algarve the best-value European option (£82.35), followed by the Costa del Sol (£83.58) and Tenerife (£87.46).

When Is the Cheapest Time to Visit Europe?

Spring and autumn are the best all-round value, and midweek dates are usually cheaper than weekends. The biggest price risk for UK travellers is school holidays. These are the 2027 dates in several English council areas, so check your own local authority.

Period	2027 dates (approx.)	Price pressure
February half-term	15–19 February	High
Easter holidays	26 March–9 April	High
May half-term	31 May–4 June	High
Summer holidays	From about 22–23 July	Highest
Christmas and New Year	Late December–early January	High
Early spring, late autumn, mid-January	Outside school holidays	Lowest

Destination	Cheaper times	Avoid or price carefully
Kraków, Poland	Late autumn, early spring	Christmas week
Budapest, Hungary	January–March, late autumn	Christmas market weekends
Sofia, Bulgaria	Spring, early autumn	Christmas and New Year
Sunny Beach, Bulgaria	June, September	July and August
Albania	May–June, September–October	Peak August
Algarve, Portugal	Late spring, early autumn, winter sun	July and August
Marmaris, Turkey	May–June, September–October	Peak summer

How Much Does a Budget Holiday in Europe Really Cost?

Daily spend only tells part of the story. The real total is:

Total per person = return flight + (nightly room cost × nights) + food + local transport + activities + baggage, taxes and fees.

Here is an illustrative four-night city break. These are example figures to show how the money splits, not live prices.

For a seven-night trip, multiply the room, food and transport lines by seven and add one flight. A week costs more overall, but the flight cost is spread over more days, so the daily cost falls.

Cheap Flights from the UK

Compare Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Jet2 and TUI, and always add baggage before comparing fares. A cheap fare with a hold bag can cost the same as a dearer fare that includes one. Check these points every time:

• Compare London airports and regional airports, such as Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol.
• Check how far the airport is from the city, and the transfer cost.
• Search a few dates. Midweek is often cheaper than Friday or Sunday.
• Set fare alerts and recheck the final price before paying.

Leaving from the capital? Our London airport comparison shows how the airports differ, and if you need a bed before an early flight, see these hotels near Heathrow Airport.

Package Holiday or DIY: Which Is Cheaper?

	Package holiday	DIY booking
Best for	Beach resorts, all-inclusive, families	City breaks, hostels, flexible trips
Usually includes	Flights, hotel, often transfers	Only what you book
Protection	ATOL and Package Travel Regulations may apply	Protection depends on each booking
Watch out for	Extras such as baggage and meals	Higher cost if you book at the last minute

Check the Civil Aviation Authority and ABTA pages to confirm whether your booking is protected before you pay.

Is Interrail Worth It for a Budget Trip?

Sometimes. The Interrail Global Pass covers 33 countries and starts from about €212 on one seller’s site, and the pass does not include accommodation. Many high-speed and night trains need paid seat reservations, which can add a lot. Compare the pass with single tickets for your exact route before buying. Good budget routes include Prague–Vienna–Budapest–Kraków and Poland–Czechia–Hungary. For more route ideas, see our Europe travel guide.

Hidden Costs to Check Before You Book

• Baggage and seat fees: check on the airline’s own site.
• Airport transfers: some budget airports are far from the centre.
• Tourist taxes: these vary by city and season, so check the local tourism board.
• Card and cash fees: use a card with low overseas fees and avoid airport exchange desks.
• Rail reservations: pass holders often pay extra for seats.
• Insurance: read our guide to travel insurance for UK travellers before you fly.
• Entry fees: ETIAS will add a charge once it starts (see below).

Entry Rules for UK Travellers

Rule	What UK travellers need to know
Schengen stay limit	Up to 90 days in any 180-day period, visa-free
Passport	Issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least three months after you leave the Schengen area
EES (Entry/Exit System)	Began 12 October 2025. Fully operating at external Schengen borders since 10 April 2026. Expect fingerprint and photo registration
ETIAS	Not yet running. No applications open and no confirmed start date. UK nationals will need it for short stays in 30 countries. gov.uk states a €20 fee
Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Turkey	Outside Schengen. Check the entry rules for each on gov.uk

Always read the country page on FCDO foreign travel advice, and use the official EU ETIAS site for launch news. Details are also on the gov.uk Schengen guidance.

Easy Ways to Save Money on a European Holiday

• Travel outside school holidays. This is the biggest single saving.
• Stay near public transport. Most cities in this guide have cheap trams or metros.
• Eat where locals eat, a street or two from the main square.
• Use free sights, such as parks, old towns and walking tours.
• Buy a city card only if it pays off for the sights you plan to see.
• Compare package and DIY prices for beach trips.

Starting from the capital? Our list of things to do in London is handy if you add a night before an early flight. If you are weighing up somewhere further afield, our comparison of Abu Dhabi vs Dubai may help. For a warm Mediterranean evening, a long white summer dress packs light.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest country in Europe to visit? Bulgaria, Albania, North Macedonia and Poland have the lowest daily costs, according to Post Office Travel Money. Poland’s range is £25–£80 and Bulgaria’s is £30–£75. Flights and accommodation are not included in those figures.

Where is the cheapest beach holiday in Europe from the UK? The Algarve and Sunny Beach are the cheapest family beach resorts in the 2026 report, at £139.65 and £142.16 for the family basket. The Albanian Riviera is also good value.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Europe? It depends on the route and your airport. Dates outside school holidays, such as late autumn, January and early spring, are usually cheaper. Compare several dates before you book.

How much spending money do I need for a week in Europe? Plan on £30–£60 a day on the ground at the cheaper end. For seven days that is about £210–£420, before flights.

Is Eastern Europe cheaper than Western Europe? Generally yes. Poland, Bulgaria and Hungary have lower daily ranges than Portugal (£60–£140) and Greece (£65–£170).

Can I do Europe on £300? A short city break to Kraków, Sofia or Budapest can fit £250–£500 if you find a low fare and a cheap room. Check live prices first.

Is Interrail cheaper than flying? Not always. Price your exact route, including seat reservations, then compare it with flights plus baggage and transfers.

Do UK citizens need ETIAS? Not yet. ETIAS has not started and no start date has been confirmed. Once it begins, UK nationals will need it for short stays in 30 countries, with a €20 fee stated on gov.uk.

What are the best cheap Christmas markets in Europe? Budapest, Prague, Kraków, Riga and Tallinn offer the best value for UK travellers.

Final Verdict: Which Budget Holiday Should You Choose?

• Lowest daily costs: Poland, Bulgaria, Albania and North Macedonia.
• City breaks: Kraków, Budapest, Sofia and Bucharest.
• Beach holidays: Algarve, Sunny Beach and the Albanian Riviera.
• Families: Algarve, Sunny Beach, Lanzarote and Costa Brava.
• Winter: Budapest, Kraków, Prague and the Algarve for winter sun.

Whichever you pick, compare the full trip cost, not just the flight, and check the latest entry rules before you pay.

Sources: Post Office Travel Money (cheapest countries, Family Holiday Report 2026, Winter Sun Report 2026); Numbeo Europe Cost of Living Index 2026; gov.uk; EU travel-europe.europa.eu; Interrail. Prices checked 29 October 2026.