20 Cheap Hidden Gems In Europe To Visit This Year!

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One of the questions I always get asked; is it even possible to find the less-touristy places in Europe anymore? Especially if you have a shoe string budget. Yes, there are still hidden gems in Europe waiting to be discovered, and you don’t need to remortgage your house to find them.

Across the continent, you’ll find plenty of dazzling destinations that are ideal for frugal travelers looking to travel big on a small budget – from the thermal-soaked city of Budapest to the storybook city of Kraków, in cities, museums are often free, meals are deliciously affordable, and wandering the streets is entertainment in itself.

If you prefer the coast, beaches cost nothing to laze on, and happy hours at sunset means your wallet is as merry as you are.

If you’re ready to explore more while spending less, here are the best cheap hidden gems in Europe that are less-touristy and most importantly, less heavy on the purse.

1. Asturias and Covadonga Convent, Spain

In the middle of Spain’s north coast near the Bay of Biscay, is the Asturias region. It may be small in space, but it’s big on travel value. One-third of the Asturias region is protected and UNESCO has recognized four biosphere reserves within it.

The beaches are uncrowded, there is plenty of hiking in complete wilderness as well as cities to explore and cultural highlights. The Covadonga Convent is is a must see and considered one of the most important historical locations in Spain.

2. Mdina & Zebbug, Malta

Malta has been on my list since forever. My mother’s best friends are Maltese and every time we’d visit they’d sit us down to a gigantic feast of delicious food. We were not to leave the table until we ate it all.

They were full of warmth, love, and constant laughter, and chitter chatter. And that has never changed as I’ve gotten older. That’s a culture and country I want to know more about.

A Mediterranean jewel and the ninth smallest country in the world, Malta attracts travelers with breathtaking landscapes and a stunning coastline, a rich medieval heritage, and of course delicious food.

In Mdina, you can visit grand palaces, cultural treasures, and baroque architecture. Zebbu has a fascinating Arabic influence and is famous for a three-day (or more) “festa” that draws in hundreds of people in celebration.

3. Salzkammergut region, Austria

Austria has alpine goodness well wrapped up. Hidden in the Salzkammergut region is Lake Hallstatt, one of the most beautiful Alpine lakes in Austria. It’s an outdoor adventure playground in both summer and winter and, with those stunning views, you’ll want to return again and again.

A mountain railway connects Hallstatt to a historic salt mine, while the Dachstein Ice Caves and the Mammoth Cave in Obertraun can both be reached by cable car.

Check out the most extreme water park in the world at Area 47 Otztal in the Tirol Region of Austria.

4. The Azores, Portugal

Portugal is definitely the hot flavor for Europe travel these days. I recognized its sparkle all the way back in 1998. The Algarve is no longer a hidden secret or a budget destination in Europe, but the Azores is and it sounds just as divine.

The Azores is an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the mid-Atlantic 800 miles off the coast of Portugal. Breathtaking landscapes, volcanoes, crater lakes, fishing villages, and waterfalls are waiting for you. No wonder UNESCO listed the Abores as a Biosphere Reserve in 2009.

The Azores has been referred to as Europe’s answer to Hawaii.

5. Perast, Montenegro

MasterCard once famously called Perast Beauty at a Bargain! This is the place to go deluxe without overspending. Perast, a quaint town on the coast of Montenegro, is just waiting for beach enthusiasts to discover this hidden European gem.

Perast, a quaint town on the coast of Montenegro, is just waiting for beach enthusiasts to discover this hidden European gem. Just offshore are two spectacular settings: the island of St. George, and the Adriatic’s only artificial island, Our Lady of the Rocks. Perast is also known for its Venetian-heritage buildings.

6. Lednice-Valtice, Czech Republic

I’ve been hearing about travel gems in the Czech Republic for years. I didn’t make it past the charm of Prague, which used to be an ultra-budget European destination. 20 pence for a beer. Hello, Czech Republic!

Did you know that the 200 km Lednice-Valtice region in the Czech Republic is Europe’s largest artificial geographical area and known as the Garden of Europe?

One of the main attractions is Lednice Castle, a palace built on a Renaissance chateau and Gothic fort. You can take a fairytale walk and enjoy the stunning views after climbing the 60-meter-high minaret or relax on a boat trip down the river.

Valtice Chateau is known for its beauty and long tradition of winemaking. The grape vines are said to be brought by the Romain legion of Marcus Aurelius.

7. Pag Island, Croatia

Croatia was once a hidden European destination, but now it’s very popular with tourists thanks to Game of Thrones being filmed in Dubrovnik. Although places like Zagreb and Dubrovnik come with a high price tag, there are still some areas you can visit on a budget that aren’t as popular yet.

The island of Pag is one of the most striking and unique spots on the Croatian Adriatic coast. Known for its moon-like landscapes and salt, lace, and cheese production, the heat of hot summer days is helpfully reduced by a light sea breeze. And look at the color of that water!

We have Dubrovnik one of Europe’s best destination for teens; Pag Island maybe another consideration.

8. Saaremaa Island, Estonia

Estonia is a destination in Europe that has been getting a bit of attention lately. While most people think of its capital of Tallinn and its famous medieval old town, a true hidden gem in Europe is Saaremaa Island.

If you like beer and windmills this island (Estonia’s largest) located in the Baltic Sea is for you. The famous local home-brew and windmills are Saaremaa’s symbols. I love it!

Apart from that, Saaremaa has the Kaali craters – the result of several meteorites that impacted some 3,500 years ago – the largest forming the unique, green-colored Kaali Lake.

Kuressaare is the island’s only town and features a medieval and bishopric castle dating from the 13^th century.

9. Volos & Pelion region, Greece

If you loved the movie Mamma Mia then you already have an inkling of what is in store for you in the Volos & Pelion region of Greece. The movie was filmed in Damouhari, the only natural harbor on the East Pelion coast.

Volos is halfway between Athens and Thessaloniki in the Pagasetic Gulf. It has rich historical and architectural sites, good restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife, and is bordered by beautiful beaches on one side, and by Mount Pelion on the other.

10. Kamnik Alps, Slovenia

Slovenia may be tiny but there are many beautiful places to visit. The most famous place in Slovenia is Lake Bled, though this is where most people visit for their holidays in Slovenia, especially in the summer. The breathtaking Velika Planina uplands in the Kamnik Alps are a cheaper alternative.

Velika Lanina is just an hour from Ljubljana or the wooden huts of the oldest preserved herdsmen settlement in Europe which will give you the illusion of time travel.

Plus, Slovenians love to party – there are numerous festivities and events, and the Kamnik Alps region hosts over 60 festivals in just one season! Another hidden gem in Slovenia is the Triglav National Park, which lies on the Eastern side of the Julian Alps, which is where you will find the stunning Lake Bohinj.

Slovenia is also a place to consider if you are looking for more affordable ski resorts in the winter.

11. Isle of Skye, Scotland

While many people consider Edinburgh in Scotland a hidden gem, it’s definitely not hidden. However, there are some off the beaten path locations in Scotland worth venturing out of the way for. The Isle of Skye is one of them. This stunning island is connected to the North of Scotland by a bridge, and much of it remains pretty much untouched by humans.

It’s one of the most majestic gems in Europe with a rugged landscape, full of cliffs, mountains, and narrow lochs.

The town of Portree is the base for exploring the island. It’s a small place with cute, colorful buildings and medieval pubs and bed and breakfasts. If you’re visiting in August, be sure to check out the Highland Games which takes place here.

Check out these highlights on a road trip to Isle of Skye from Edinburgh.

12. Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Located 129km south of the capital city of Sarajevo is the small town of Mostar. This town has been a true hidden gem in Europe for many years, but only recently came to public attention in 2022 after videos appeared online of people diving from its Old Bridge, Stari Most. Both international visitors and locals come to this bridge to watch the adrenaline junkies jump from this unique spot.

The historic town sits on the Neretva River and is flanked by little shops and market stalls. It’s a quaint village with a slow pace of life. It was built in the 15th and 16th centuries by the Ottoman Empire, and was occupied by the Austro-Hungarians in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The architecture here is somewhat unique to Europe, having more Middle Eastern influences than the classical styles you’re used to seeing in places like Paris in France, Munich in Germany, or in Tuscany and Venice in Italy.

13. Rauma Old Town, Finland

Finland is not known for being a cheap destination in Europe to visit, especially its capital of Helsinki. But if you venture out into the countryside, you can find some unique places that don’t break the bank.

Rauma is an old fishing village in Finland and is flanked by old wooden buildings that have been painted in bright colors. It’s one of the few surviving medieval towns in Finland and has over 600 of these wooden buildings still standing, and is even home to Finland’s oldest harbor.

Although most of the older buildings were destroyed and rebuilt over the years, the town is still considered a UNESCO World Heritage site.

14. Kotor, Montenegro

Another town in Montenegro to visit if you want to find the most unique places without the price tag is Kotor. If you ever see pictures of Kotor, you would think you are looking at the Fjords of Norway. This historic town in Montenegro sits in the valley of the mountains next to a tributary that leads to the ocean.

The town itself is small, and nestled in a fortified wall. Inside you’ll find medieval buildings and churches, as well as small narrow streets with little courtyards and squares filled with cafes.

While it might look like Norway, it certainly doesn’t have the price tag. Kotor is one of the best hidden gems of Europe that you can visit on a budget. If you think Kotor sounds too touristy for you, consider Budva, which is only 30-minutes away by car.

15. Theth, Albania

Albania is another destination in Europe that many people don’t consider visiting, but this perception needs to change, and is doing so. Not only is Albania cheap to visit in Europe, but it’s also beautiful.

Outside of the city of Tirana, you’ll find many medieval towns and small villages. Birat and Gjirokaster are two towns known for their medieval architecture, castles, and mountain views. To the South, Saranda is a beach town that offers a cheaper alternative to Greece.

But the true hidden gem in Albania is in the North in Theth. This mountain village in the Balkan mountain range is a sleepy village of only a few houses and offers a base point for several hiking trails. A hike I loved doing was to the Blue Eye Waterhole, which would be lovely to swim in during the summer months.

16. Brasov, Romania

Brasov is one of the best places to visit in Europe on a budget and even though it’s a popular destination, it’s still a hidden gem. It’s the perfect place to base yourself in Romania for day trips, being the heart of Transylvania. You can visit Bran’s Castle and Peleș Castle, all within a short drive.

It’s surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains and is famous for its medieval Saxon architecture. If you’re looking for cheap and unique hidden gems in Europe, this is one to add to the bucket list.

17. Alkmaar, Holland

Located just 45-minutes out of Amsterdam is this cute little town known for its cheese market. Like Amsterdam, it is lined with canals and narrow buildings, but it’s much cheaper to visit.

It has a beautiful and historic city center, with many monuments, boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants. For culture vultures, be sure to check out the Stedelijk Museum, Beer Museum, Beatles Museum, and of course the Cheese Museum.

It’s a great place to base yourself for exploring more well-known parts of Holland such as Amsterdam but without breaking the bank. Plus, the beach is only 15 minutes away.

18. Vilnius, Lithuania

Another one of my favourite hidden gems to add to your Europe bucket list is Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. It was one of the most affordable European cities I’ve visited in recent years, with accommodation coming in under €30 a night for a lovely vacation rental.

Vilnius is bursting with fairy-tale charm. It has a UNESCO-listed Old Town, and is one of Europe’s largest, which is full of colorful gothic architecture and cobbled alleyways. It has a regency about it, and is packed with history – from the medieval Grand Duke times to Soviet rule, and finally a vibrant modern independence.

You can climb Gediminas’ Tower for sweeping skyline views without emptying your coin purse, snap photos of the quirky angel statues in Užupis, the city’s self-declared “republic” of artists, or simply sit back in affordable cafés and enjoy comfort dishes like cepelinai (potato dumplings).

19. Riga, Latvia

Latvia’s capital of Riga is another budget traveler’s dream wrapped in Art Nouveau elegance and medieval charm. Once a thriving Hanseatic port, Riga is a bustling city with tons of things to do.

Wander around the streets of Old Town and admire the Gothic spires, or enjoy the whimsical façades of Alberta iela, home to one of the world’s richest collections of Art Nouveau architecture (and blissfully free to admire).

Panoramic views also come without a price tag from the top of St. Peter’s Church tower, and it costs nothing to browse Riga Central Market, Europe’s largest bazaar, housed in repurposed zeppelin hangars.

Riga also has many affordable museums, scenic riverfront walks, and a lively craft beer scene.

20. Tallinn, Estonia

Estonia in Northern Europe has cropped up on many peoples travel radar in the last couple of years, notably because it’s affordable

Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, is best known for its UNESCO-listed Old Town which is dubbed one of Europe’s best preserved. Today, you can stroll the fortified city walls, wander up to Toompea Hill for views of the rooftops and church spires that have stood watch for centuries.

When it comes to eating out, you can find cheaper bites in cozy taverns, or from food halls in the trendy Telliskivi Creative City, a warehouse district reborn with street art and indie shops.

Final thoughts

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to jump on a plane and travel to Europe. Whether you’re looking to explore Western Europe or the far flung hidden gems of Eastern Europe, there are so many must-visit places you can go to on the cheap, it’s hard to narrow down one place.

After some expensive stays in Rome, London and Barcelona, it blows my mind that you can still visit stunning regions and cheap places in Europe for less than €30 a night on accommodation!

We hope this guide helped you pick out one or two places to visit on a budget.

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Which of these cheap hidden gems in Europe has inspired your wanderlust the most? Let us know in the comments.