The cheapest European cities to travel to

As a frequent traveller, I often get asked ‘what are the cheapest European cities to travel to’ and I always seem to say the same thing, all of them. Over the last couple of years, I have made it my business to check my favourite booking site Skyscanner daily. Yes, I said daily because well I love nothing more than a good bargain on flights. Not sure how or who introduced me to this awesome website but I thank you anyway.

Travel is never a shortage of money but of courage, love this quote but sometimes it sounds like bull crap. Money is always an issue for some people especially those who are in debt and struggling to make ends meet. But if travel is your goal and can manage your money then borrowing from Lendgreen loans can be an option. Or if loans are not your thing you can save up or raid your inheritance.

Now that we have the money talk out-of-the-way, let’s focus on what you really came here for. Before I share the cheapest European cities to fly to, I should mention that all these cities I have visited myself. My definition of cheap and yours might be a tad bit different, but I am sure you will agree that these are the cheapest European cities to travel to anytime.

The cheapest European cities to fly to

Travelling is one of the most liberating acts that I am fortunate to undertake so often in my life. I am someone who loves to travel ‘off-season‘ because that is the best way to find the cheapest flights ever. I define off-season is either outside school holidays or wrong weather but I appreciate that for most families and teachers, this can be tricky. For those not restricted by school holidays, the cheapest European cities to fly to range from Paris (often thought to be too expensive) to Warsaw (consider cheap).

Living in the UK, I am so fortunate to be able to escape to mainland Europe spontaneously thanks to the many flight deals from London. Before I embarked on solo travel, I always thought I needed to have lots of money to even consider searching for flights but that’s truly not the case. Planning ahead and searching flight deal sights is one of the best ways to see what is budget-friendly for you. I often use Booking.com to search for affordable accommodation and Skyscanner for inspirational destinations.

 Warsaw, Poland

Warsaw is the capital city of Poland and one of the cheapest cities I have ever visited. I travelled around early march (return flight was £15) and I found the weather to be extremely cold but that meant everything was cheaper than usual. What I loved about Warsaw was the city’s history showcasing resilience, from being totally crashed to rebuilding itself to glory. Warsaw is definitely worth a visit, people are nice, food, alcohol, and accommodation are cheap.

Brno, Czech Republic

Yes I know, you’ve never heard of the city before but I am here to educate you. It’s the second-largest city in the Czech Republic. Prior to booking my trip, I had not heard of this city and even frequent Czechia travellers were baffled. I have enjoyed educating people on the fact that this is the second-largest city in the Czech Republic. I travelled to the city early February and I paid £15 return, though the city is big, touristy areas are few and I managed to tour the entire city in one afternoon.

Oslo, Norway

I said cheapest European destinations to fly to not the cheapest countries to visit or spend your pennies. Everyone knows the Scandinavian countries are one of the most expensive in Europe and are worth it. I have been to three of the four and can confirm, yes they are all expensive but Oslo more so than the rest. I travelled to Oslo mid-April when the weather was much warmer and paid £15 to fly into the outskirts of the city.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin is the capital city of Germany, a city with so much history that leaves a bitter taste in one’s mouth but also another side that is not often talked about. Because of that, it is worth the visit and exploration, it has so much to offer and more. I stayed in a hostel which was more expensive than the flight (travelled mid-April and paid £15 return) to the city itself by a mere £5.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and the first European city I visited solo as part of my #take12trips travel challenge. It is certainly one of the cheapest European cities I have ever visited, the entire trip cost me only £75. That was flight, accommodation, food and city tour and it was the best time I have ever had. For my first ever visit, I travelled to the city just before Christmas and paid £20 return, at the height of summer I paid £60.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is the capital city of Czechia and one of the most overrated cities I have ever visited and still continue to visit. I first travelled to Prague back in 2016 and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made and every year since I travel to the city annually. Though January is often super cold and sometimes snows, it’s one of the best times to visit the city, I paid £40 for return flight but I have seen cheaper.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is the capital city of Hungary and one of the best cities I have ever ventured to that drew me in without notice. As part of my 30Before30 travel bucketlist challenge I set myself many moons ago, I managed to explore the city on a girls trip. We travelled to the city at the end of February and found it to be super affordable so much that we upgraded everything.

Paris, France

Paris, I know what you are thinking, it is not the cheapest European city to travel to but you would be wrong. Just like any other city, you can find budget-friendly accommodations, foods and tours that can make your trip enjoyable. When it comes to travelling to the city of love, I often check out Eurostar as they offer sweet deals every month. For £29 one way you could be climbing the Eiffel Tower within 2 hours from London.

The moral of the story here is that every city in Europe is cheap and easy to get to but you need to know when the best time to travel is. School holidays are notorious for being overly expensive so booking months (even a year) in advance is something I would recommend for those limited to school holidays alone. For the rest of you, Skyscanner and booking.com should be your best friends when you need inspiration and searching for the best deals.

Disclaimer: The is a collaborative post, information presented in this post is accurate at the time of publication but subject to change.