Surprising Budget-Friendly European Cities To Visit For A Winter Vacation
Who doesn't love a chance to bundle up and explore an enchanting, faraway destination? European city breaks are a favorite among many travelers, but they only get more inviting when the mercury drops and wintertime decorations light up the streets. Many European holiday spots bring Christmas markets into play during the winter months, and many others provide a more open experience for visitors willing to brave the chillier temperatures.
With smaller crowds and cozier days, exploring the continent in the wintertime is a fabulous opportunity all around. Moreover, prices for hotels and flights may be more appealing during low travel seasons, improving your budgetary math. Indeed, finding great, cost-effective travel solutions can stretch your experiences to the maximum. Europe is well known for its lavish hotels and restaurants, but it's equally famous for dirt cheap eating and drinking establishments, as well as cross-continent flight routes that can cost as little as a few Euro for a one-way voyage.
Having lived in Europe for many years, we have had the good fortune to visit every one of these splendid, surprisingly budget-friendly winter destinations. Each of them offers something uniquely their own, especially during the winter. When temperatures dip, many European cities roll out warm drinks stalls and fire up gigantic grills. Their local governments decorate for the season, and the true character of the community really shines through.
Wroclaw, Poland
Wrocław is a personal favorite of ours. Poland is such a unique place to visit that virtually any city you might pick will offer up an unforgettable experience. However, the small-town charm and the little details that make Wrocław what it is simply can't be overstated. In the winter, the city's central avenues are overrun by Christmas markets. Mulled wine and sausages are the staple, and you can enjoy them in gigantic restaurant houses set up all over the place. Pubs and restaurants are inexpensive as well. It's not uncommon to find pints of regional beer for as little as a dollar, and a full evening meal (without skimping) might run you about $10 if you're looking to keep costs low.
A Wrocław-specific activity is the hunt for the city's little bronze dwarves. There are over 400 of these tiny statues scattered around the town, and each one is engaged in his or her own gnomish activity (some are playing musical instruments while others are doing routine tasks or professional jobs). They're a celebration of the anti-communist Orange Alternative (Pomarańczowa Alternatywa in Polish) that began in Wrocław. In the 1980s, protestors spray-painted dwarves around the town to laugh at the absurdity of the police state. This makes it a historical town, as well as one brimming with fun, and winter might be the best time to pay it a visit.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh is a northern gem and a part of the U.K. that's often lionized by visitors but far less explored than English destinations like London, Liverpool, or even Birmingham. If you're seeking a wonderful cold-weather destination that isn't going to break the bank, Edinburgh should be high on your list. It's a hilly town built in the shadows of one of Europe's oldest fortified castles. The town is bursting with history, and hotels in the city offer great value; even around the city center, you'll find a great night's sleep for £100 (around $130) or less per night.
Restaurants and bars here are also great value, and the tiny alleyways and superb hidden finds around the town make for a true adventure in a place that transforms into a winter wonderland when the temperatures drop. People here are friendly, and the atmosphere is magnetic. Moreover, if you find yourself in Scotland in February or March, you can even catch a Six Nations match — a rugby tournament featuring the best six national teams in the northern hemisphere. Edinburgh is home to the national stadium, BT Murrayfield Stadium, which is just on the east side of town. Whether you're lucky enough to snag tickets or watch a game from a hometown pub, the environment on game day is contagious. The national team is actually decent at the moment, which makes it even better.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia, and it's another European winter wonderland that features a castle built on a centrally placed hill. Christmas markets take center stage during the winter here, and outdoor activities are in great abundance as a result. Eating, drinking, and shopping in the open-air environment make for a special wintertime ambiance that's hard to beat. Crowds are somewhat smaller during the wintertime, although many still opt to visit to get in the holiday spirit in November and December. If you come at the beginning of December, you may even catch the mayoral lighting of the ornaments!
Street food is truly fabulous here, offering a low-cost way to eat your way around town on a budget and without sacrificing any taste, although Slovenia's growing reputation as a culinary center means exploring the restaurants is a must. All around, the cost of living in Slovenia is roughly 50% cheaper than it is in the United States, allowing you to stretch your dollar to its breaking point while still enjoying a vacation full of phenomenal activities and interesting sightseeing. The town is coated in a layer of lights, so wandering through the river-crossed streets and taking in the colors of buildings and decorations makes for a remarkable evening. Ljubljana is also the perfect base for exploring the beauty of Slovenia, from the Bled and Bohinj lakes to Piran, Škocjan Caves, Ptuj, Maribor, and the rest. Europe's most underrated country? Slovenia, you might just take the crown.
Tallinn, Estonia
Gorgeous Tallinn is an exceedingly old city — the walls surrounding the Old Town section of the community date back to the 13th century. Within the walls, you'll find classic cobblestone roadways and alleys, as well as ancient buildings alongside a modern take on living. In the contemporary world, Estonia has become a hub of technological innovation, and the old and new merge seamlessly as a result. Tallinn is an incredibly friendly place to spend time, and it's a fabulous option for budget travelers looking for something new to experience.
A hotel in the Old Town can be found for less than €50 per night, getting you right into the thick of the action without forcing you to shell out a significant portion of your holiday budget just on a place to sleep. Estonia's geography — it is the northernmost of the Baltic states — makes it a naturally snowy place, perfect for a wintertime getaway. It's an excellent place to explore any time of the year, but the winter chill pairs perfectly with the medieval construction and the fantastic, hearty stews you'll find in the Old Town.
A day trip from the city is a great way to introduce something unique to your trip. Visting Narva's castle, the submerged Soviet labor prison at Rummu, or skiing in Otepää can spice up an already exhilarating adventure. It's a trip you'll reminisce about for many, many years to come and one that won't break the bank.
Nottingham, England
Nottingham might not immediately come to mind when thinking of a British winter getaway. While it might be a far less-trodden English holiday spot, the so-called "Queen of the Midlands" is nevertheless a wonderful wintertime getaway that also happens to be far more budget-friendly than its southern neighbors. Nottingham was founded around 600 A.D. and was conquered by the Danes in the ninth century. Eventually, a castle was built here, and the town grew gradually throughout the Middle Ages. These historical quirks contribute to a thriving modern city visually and culturally built on the foundations of change and human movement. Contemporary Nottingham is dotted with old construction and twisting alleyways, as well as elaborate and wide open squares that beckon to travelers.
Modern Nottingham sports a vibrant Christmas market, much like many other cities on this list. The ice skating circuit also takes you across an upper and lower portion for even more enjoyment (the upper section circles right alongside the main bar). If you pay close attention to your spending, a visit to Nottingham will run you roughly £120 ($147) per day, while the same day out in London comes out at about £200. Moreover, the opportunity to see a new place rather than the typical British venues is one that any routine traveler will relish. Need more convincing? The National Justice Museum is one of the best museums in the United Kingdom, and the craft beer scene is absolutely electric.
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest takes on a spectacular atmosphere in the winter. Visitors often flock to the City Park Ice Rink, perhaps the most famed wintertime city skating destination in Europe. The rink is one of Europe's oldest, having been first opened in 1870. Budapest is a beautiful European destination full of luxurious thermal spas and awe-inspiring history. But it's also a party town, and the Christmas markets that spring up in the winter rival those found in nearly any other European city hosting these kinds of celebrations. It's long been known as a budget travel destination, adding yet another dimension to Budapest's long list of positives.
The Hungarian Parliament building stands as a marvel of 19th-century construction, having been opened in 1902 after 20 long years of construction, utilizing 40 million individual bricks and over 100,000 contributing workers. They do things a little differently here; one such example can be found in the ruin bars. After World War II, many buildings in Budapest were left in disrepair. They've been used for many different underground purposes in the years since, but in the early part of the 21st century, they once again found new life as pubs and clubs. From the outside, the buildings haven't been restored, but inside, the city's nightlife truly comes alive. Szimpla Kert is the most well-known, but there are plenty of great ruin bars in and around Budapest.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amsterdam can feel like a ritzy destination, but the reality is that the city can be seen on a shoestring budget without much trouble. Hostel beds cost as little as €14 (about $15) per night, and food and drink can be found for reasonable prices throughout the city — even in the more tourist-centric areas. Amsterdam is yet another fantastic city that becomes shrouded in winter charm when the temperatures begin to drop. You can catch the Amsterdam Light Festival during the winter, an annual display of artwork and seasonal light installations that are set up along the famous canals. The patchwork of bridges and side streets that link the community together, alongside the tall, thin, and colorful buildings found all around the city, make for a beautiful urban landscape that never gets old.
You'll be particularly well rewarded if you venture out from the center of town to explore some of its outer sections. Getting a bite to eat and a few drinks at Amsterdam's Foodhallenwill bring you off the beaten path and give you a great night out at a bargain price. For those looking to explore some of the city's alternative cultural icons, coffeeshops serving marijuana products can be found in great abundance. While the substance continues to see increasing legalization in the United States, it remains a novelty for travelers who partake nonetheless. Similarly, Heineken hails from Amsterdam, and the Heineken Experience will bring you closer to the beer's history and brewery secrets.
Nice, France
Just down the Mediterranean coast from Monaco, Nice is a beachside town in France's Côte d'Azur region. Even though it's rife with elegance and offers beneficial geography to take advantage of the Mediterranean's warm climate, the wintertime makes this a different kind of magical destination. Nice is immensely walkable for those who enjoy wandering through the twisting, narrow alleyways of European infrastructure. It's less expensive than other French destinations like Paris or even its close neighbor, Monaco (only about a half-hour train ride eastward). Visitors can expect a wide range of quality hotel options at affordable price points, and food averages around €49 (around $53) per day, with a quality dinner coming in at around €20 per person (about $22).
The city sprawls up and down the coast, with a tangle of old streets and a network of exciting spaces to explore and enjoy. Bars, restaurants, and markets await eager travelers here. In the winter, you can expect a lower volume of tourists, making for better pricing and a far less crowded environment on the whole. It's a great time to visit, and temperatures rarely drop below freezing, even at night in the dead of winter. If you are looking for a warmer winter getaway with plenty of glitz and glamour at reasonable prices, look no further than Nice.
Istanbul, Türkiye
Istanbul is truly enchanting in the winter. It can get quite chilly on account of the city's wind, but the temperatures remain relatively cool rather than outright cold. It's another destination that benefits from a temperate Mediterranean setting, and the sights around the city only get more spectacular in the winter sun. Not only will you escape the blistering heat of a summer jaunt through Istanbul's simmering streets, but the crowds in the winter months are considerably lighter than at any other time of the year.
A visit to Istanbul isn't complete without seeing its laundry list of fabulous tourist draws, including the Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, Galata Tower, and the ancient Golden Horn Chain found in the Istanbul Archeological Museums. Moreover, no matter when you visit Istanbul, finding a great price on hotels or hostel rooms is pretty easy, and meals can be found for dirt cheap — especially if you're a fan of chowing down on all the best street food eats while you're away in a far-flung destination. Istanbul is home to two sizeable airports, namely the new Istanbul Airport (IST), which replaced Atatürk International Airport when it opened in 2019, and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), which is on the Asian side of the city's massive sprawl. So finding a flight to this most historic of destinations shouldn't be a problem.
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is one of the best budget-stretching destinations in Europe. Drinks and food are amazingly inexpensive if you opt for tapas and roadside eats. There are plenty of great places to stop for a bite that don't include expensive markups. Tapas and pintxos eateries are favored by Barcelona natives and visitors and make for inexpensive and immensely tasty meals. Mercat de la Boqueria offers both a central location — right off La Rambla on the way down toward the Christopher Columbus statue and coastline — and reasonable prices, plus plenty of history and aesthetic charm. Don't forget the camera.
Drinks are crazy cheap in many places around the city, so finding a great place to pop in for a jug of sangria or a few beers is a simple matter of walking. The city is packed with great places to walk. It's famously designed with a seemingly endless grid of squared-off blocks containing nearly everything you might require in daily life, from convenience stores and pharmacies to green spaces and shopping outlets. In the wintertime, Barcelona sees a dropoff in the number of tourists flocking into its brilliantly vibrant streets. From Park Güell to La Sagrada Familia, there are plenty of phenomenal sights to explore, and a winter visit will give you just that bit of extra breathing room you might be seeking. It's a Mediterranean coastal town, as well, offering a bit of favorable weather throughout most of the colder months.