Europe is a fascinating continent to explore. Jam-packed with amazing cities, stunning landscapes, epic mountain ranges, beautiful beaches and diverse cultures. But what are the cheapest countries in Europe to visit? If you’re searching for cheap EU countries to make your dollar go further, then read on to discover the cheapest countries in Europe in 2022.
# North MacedoniaNorth Macedonia, located in the Balkans region is one of the cheapest countries in Europe to visit. To give you an idea of exactly where this is in Europe, read our post about the difference between the Balkans vs Baltics, as many people get them confused.
Either way, it may surprise you how affordable North Macedonia is in comparison to Central or Western Europe. The popular areas such as Lake Ohrid or Matka Canyon are a little pricier and draw bigger tourist numbers. We fell in love with Lake Ohrid and we’d say this was the highlight of North Macedonia for us.
# RomaniaRomania is one of the cheapest countries to visit in Europe. The cost of living here is inexpensive. Even though it is a part of the European Union (EU), it does not use the Euro (there are a few countries like this. This is a perfect destination for budget travellers or those wishing to make their cash stretch further.
There’s more to Romania than just the bustling capital city of Bucharest. Get out into the countryside and visit Cluj-Napoca or Timisoara. This is where you can find Dracula’s castle. This popular Day Tour to Dracula’s castle and other highlights is wonderful.
# MoldovaYes, this is easily one of the cheapest countries in Europe to visit as well as taking the crown for the least visited country in Europe too. To be honest, we had a great time here. We booked a great little apartment in the capital city of Chisnau on Booking.com and explored from here.
If you’re a wine lover, then you should enjoy Moldova! A winery tour is highly recommended to learn about Moldovan wine (which is fantastic, I know from experience) and visit some ancient wine cellars.
# PolandPoland has a long history, dating back nearly a thousand years. You can discover impressive medieval architecture, palaces and castles and some fascinating, colourful cities too.
In addition to the cities, Poland has mountains, lakes and national parks to explore while also keeping on budget. Comfortable accommodation is plentiful, transport is cheap to get around and food (and beer) is very affordable.
# SlovakiaSlovakia is one of the cheapest countries in Europe to visit and it’s also one of the most underrated countries in Europe. It’s a country that seems to get overlooked by visitors who head straight for bordering countries such as the Czech Republic, Austria or Hungary.
I have no idea why because if you ask me, there are so many awesome things to do in Slovakia. If you’re travelling on a budget, you will enjoy Slovakia, a cheap EU country with so much to offer.
# BulgariaI've visited Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria many times over the past ten years due to working for a coach tour company in Europe, yet I haven't seen much of the rest of the country. I'd really like to change that and I'm told by many travellers that Bulgaria is very easy on the wallet, which is precisely why it's one of the cheapest countries in Europe to visit.
As usual, escaping to the countryside or lesser-visited cities is where you can make your Bulgarian Levs (the currency) go further.
Food is cheap, accommodation is fairly priced and transport is easy and affordable. All these cheap living costs also make Bulgaria (in particular the city of Sofia) one of the cheapest countries in Europe to live in.