Medieval treasures, castles, nature, and great beaches at a low cost: some of the cheapest countries in Europe

Spain, Italy, and France. For those who are a little more curious or new to Europe, England, Germany, Austria; perhaps Greece or Croatia. These countries are home to the vast majority of destinations we Argentines choose to travel to .

But the Old Continent is much more, and if the available budget is limited, there are destinations that can surprise not only with their history, their monuments and buildings or their nature, but also with their prices , since budgets can be half those of the countries mentioned above.

The most affordable destinations in Europe are in the East and Southeast of the continent, and range from Albania, with its stunning natural scenery and beautiful beaches; to Romania, with its medieval castles, ancient churches, and the story of Dracula; to Moldova, with its ancient vineyards; and to the historic capitals of Bulgaria and Slovakia.

Here are some of the cheapest countries in Europe , a reminder that you don't have to spend a fortune to create unforgettable memories in the grand settings of the Old Continent.

A vibrant modern culture, extensive coastlines on the Baltic Sea , a millennia-old history that continues to be written every day, and extraordinary historic cities, such as Warsaw and Krakow, make Poland a highly recommended destination in Eastern Europe.

Not to be missed is Warsaw's Old Town , almost completely rebuilt after World War II, and its lively heart, the historic Market Square .

Another tour of more recent history is the neighborhood where the Warsaw Ghetto was located, the largest Jewish ghetto imposed by Nazi Germany and famous for its uprising in January 1943.

In the south of the country, another must-see Market Square is the one in the equally unmissable city of Krakow , with a fantastically preserved old town center, miraculously having suffered very little damage during the war. Nearby is Auschwitz-Birkenau , which was the largest concentration camp established by the Nazis (there are numerous tours from Krakow).

There are two popular tours nearby : Auschwitz-Birkenau , which was the largest concentration camp established by the Nazis (there are numerous tours from Krakow) and the impressive Wielickza underground salt mines .

The colorful buildings of Wroclaw , which was one of the most important cities in medieval Poland and is home to one of the oldest Polish Catholic dioceses (founded in 1000), are another site worth visiting.

Like Częstochowa , one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Christian world for the famous Black Madonna of Our Lady of Częstochowa, the most venerated relic in Poland , which is located in the Jasna Góra Monastery.

The best time to travel is between May and September, although December is a great time to visit its picturesque Christmas markets.

A small country with a lot to see, its beautiful capital, Bratislava , is just 65 km across the Danube from Vienna .

The size of the city, known as “ the beauty of the Danube ”, invites you to discover it on foot and at your leisure, enjoying its old town, whose heart is the Plaza Mayor, where the old Town Hall building stands out, dating from the mid-15th century.

And very close by is the city's most important monument, the spectacular Bratislava Castle , built on a hill 80 metres high, on the banks of the Danube.

Slovakia is perhaps one of the most underrated countries in Europe, as it is very close to major tourist centers such as Vienna, Prague, and Budapest. In addition to its rich history, with well-preserved medieval cities and castles, it offers high-quality mountain activities in the Carpathian Mountains, especially in the Tatra Mountains.

Among the mountains, the ruins of Spiš Castle , one of the largest castle sites in Central Europe, are not to be missed. Along with the town of Spišské Podhradie and the village of Žehra, the castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

12 km from the city, upstream of the Danube, the well-preserved ruins of Devín Castle are also not to be missed. They were built in the 8th century on a rocky cliff over 200 metres high at the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers, on the border with Austria.

The best time to visit Slovakia is from May to September to enjoy the mountains, and between December and March if you want to ski.

Extraordinary natural scenery and a captivating story that goes from Count Vlad Tepes (Dracula) to the famous painted monasteries of Bukovina and the vestiges of the long communist era , which culminated in the execution of the last leader, Nicolae Ceaucescu, and his wife Elena.

Romania is a fantastic journey back in time to regions with a unique history and identity, such as Transylvania and its historic cities like Sighisoara, Deva or Sibiu, and the most famous Brasov, home to the famous Dracula's Castle , perhaps the most popular attraction in the country.

Not to be missed is the capital, Bucharest , and its sumptuous Palace of Parliament, the largest public building for civilian use in the world, built by Ceaucescu in 1985, which is why it is also called "Ceaucescu Palace".

Nor the city of Constanta , with sandy beaches on the Black Sea and a 2,500-year history through which Greeks, Romans and a long list of peoples passed, and to which the famous poet Ovid was banished, at a time when the city was called Tomi.

To give you an idea of ​​the budget needed, a double room in a three-star hotel starts at 50 euros , a beer in a restaurant costs around two euros, and a budget lunch starts at 7 euros per person.

The spectacular St. Alexander Nevsky , one of the 10 largest Orthodox cathedrals in the world, is the most visited site in beautiful Sofia , the capital of this Eastern European country located between Romania and Greece and with extensive coastline on the Black Sea.

Ideal to combine in a visit with the Church of St. George, the oldest building in the city (from the 4th century), the Basilica of St. Sophia , built on the remains of a Roman basilica, and the Banya Bashi Mosque , one of the oldest in Europe, built on Roman baths and where you can still hear the flow of the hot springs.

The Thracian tombs - which have inhabited the area since the Bronze Age - the Ottoman architecture and the monuments, squares and buildings from the Soviet era make the city an open-air historical exhibition , where places like the Central Market, with its typical food and crafts, are not to be missed.

Plovdiv , the country's second largest city, with its old town centre, parts of the Roman walls, the ruins of the medieval fortress of Tsar Ivan Asen II and the Bachkovo Monastery, is also worth a visit, as is the Rila Monastery.

And be amazed by the extensive Bulgarian Riviera , with 130 km of coastline on the Black Sea , where sandy beaches and summer resorts such as Varna in the north and Burgas in the south, coexist with historic cities such as Nessebar and the beautiful Sozopol.

In Bulgaria, you can eat for 7 euros in a budget restaurant, pay 1.80 euros for a beer, and stay in a double room in a three-star hotel for 45 euros.

A rich cultural heritage and its ancient and extensive vineyards are two important reasons to travel to this Eastern European country, located between Romania and Ukraine. Rest assured: despite its long border with Ukraine, the war in that country is far removed from Moldova, where life goes on peacefully.

In a mountainous and rocky territory, Moldova has some renowned wineries , including the gigantic Mileștii Mici , recognized by Guinness as the largest underground winery in the world , or Cricova, famous for its very long underground galleries and a valued collection of sparkling wines.

A central point for delving into the rich history of the territory is the archaeological complex of Orheiul Vechi , strategically located near the confluence of the Răut and Dniester rivers and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Very well-preserved settlements have been found there, the oldest of which is an Upper Paleolithic camp, which is between 20 and 30 thousand years old, although there are many more that go along the timeline, in a territory that was conquered by the Mongols in the 13th century.

The architectural mix of the capital, Chișinău , which blends Soviet style with historic and modern buildings , makes it very attractive, and also interesting is the region of Transnistria , which declared itself independent in 1990, and although it is not recognized by the international community, it actually functions as an independent state with its own government, army and currency.

A good time to travel to Moldova is October, when the Wine Festival is held.

In Moldova, the estimated budget is around €34 per person per day (including accommodation and food), one of the most affordable countries in Europe. In a budget restaurant, you can eat for between €5 and €7, and in a mid-range restaurant, a three-course meal can cost between €15 and €25.

It borders Greece and is on the Adriatic, just off the southeastern coast of Italy (provinces of Bari and Lecce), and yet it is little visited (although tourism began to grow strongly after the pandemic, reaching 10 million visitors in 2023), despite having great mountain landscapes , historical sites and beautiful sandy beaches on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.

On the northern coast, on the Adriatic , are the longest beaches , with sand and shallow waters, making them ideal for families. The best-known is Durrës, but there are also Golem and Velipoja—very family-friendly and quiet—among others.

And on the so-called Albanian Riviera , to the south, there are wilder, more natural beaches, many of them pebble, very attractive for their landscapes and crystal-clear waters. For example, Ksamil , one of the most famous in the country, located very close to the border with Greece.

Ksamil attracts visitors with its crystal-clear waters and numerous nearby islets that can be reached by boat or even by swimming, and which also have several sandy beaches.

Gjipe, Dhermi (with crystal-clear waters), and Livadhi are other popular beaches, as is Borsh, with over 6 km of sand in a more natural setting. A hidden gem in the region is Gramma Bay , a small beach in a cliff-lined bay, accessible only by boat .

Other places to enjoy the country, which is quite safe for tourists, are the Valbona Valley National Park , the archaeological site of Butrint, the historic city of Gjirokaster and the picturesque Kruje , another historic city between mountains that played a central role in the Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Empire and where the national hero, Skanderbeg, was born in 1405.

An equestrian statue is located in Skanderberg Square, the heart of the country's capital, Tirana , which is also worth a visit especially for its architecture that combines Ottoman, Fascist (the Albanian Fascist Party governed between 1939 and 1943, with the Italian occupation ) and Soviet styles (it was a socialist state from 1946 to 1992).

Added to this are the modern buildings that marked the city's "rebirth" in this century, with renovated spaces, new museums, green corridors, and projects that seek to make the city more modern, cultural, and sustainable.

A double room in a good three-star hotel in the center of Tirana starts at 35 euros; a good meal in a budget restaurant costs 6 euros, and a beer costs around 1.25 euros.

The best time to travel is from May to September for the beach, and from April to October for hiking in the mountains.