If you’re planning on flying across the pond this fall, you’ve probably been taken aback by the dramatic increase in prices, as well as reports crowds that would once subside once the high season was over are simply not going away.
Europe is now busy year-round, and it’s becoming increasingly harder to happen upon great getaway deals as it was 3, 5 years ago, but that’s not to say it is impossible.
In fact, the top 5 countries boasting the largest tourism growth compared to 2019, the reference pre-crisis year, are some of the least-expensive, and to some degree, most underrated spots in the Old Continent, according to a new report by the European Travel Commission.
Effectively, this means a growing number of travelers is swapping tried-and-true vacation hotspots for equally-fascinating lesser-known alternatives.
Let’s cut to chase, then: what is this fast-rising quintet offering not only beautiful sights, but unbeatable prices?
Portugal
Having seen a 16% uptick in the number of visitors this year, Portugal is the fifth-fastest growing hub in Europe, and a sunny paradise tucked away in the westernmost corner of the Iberian Peninsula Americans have just started to discover.
Whether it’s Lisbon, a beautiful ancient capital sprawled over seven hills, the vibrant Porto, with its blue-tiled churches and Baroque Old Town, or the honey-colored sands and whitewashed towns of the Algarve Coast, Portugal has been dominating talks lately.
Not only is it home to some of the most beautiful sights in the Old Continent, it is incredibly affordable to visit, with Budget Your Trip reporting a one-week trip to the Southern European nation costs on average $1,054 per person.
Now, if you’re looking to go off the beaten path a little and explore a side of Portugal most visitors stay oblivious to, head over to Madeira, a subtropical island traversed by towering peaks and lapped by the azure waters of the Atlantic––and the best part is, it hosts nonstop flights from America!
Malta
A tiny island-country located halfway between Italy and North Africa, around one-tenth of the size of Rhode Island, Malta has grown by 34.8% year-on-year, placing ahead of Portugal to claim the title of fastest-growing Southern European destination.
Despite its less-than-impressive size, Malta is packed with historical landmarks, from the compact, ocher-colored capital La Valletta, to the walled medieval citadel of Mdina, not to mention the crystal-clear seas and unspoiled beaches––this is the Mediterranean, after all.
Price-wise, Malta is not the cheapest, but it’s definitely inexpensive by American standards: on average, you should plan on spending $908 on a one-week trip to Malta, or roughly $130 per day, unless you’re a big spender.
When traveling on a budget and craving fresh, yet affordable seafood, make sure you add Kalamà in Sliema to your restaurant bucket list for the incredible grilled calamari and octopus sandwich––expect to pay between $5 and $19.
Türkiye
Boasting a 35.3% growth in tourism this year, Türkiye is the third best-placed country on the ETC ranking, and we can’t say we’re surprised: straddling the natural border between Europe and Asia, it plays host to a number of world-class destinations.
We’re of course talking Istanbul, which is, as Philip Mansel brilliantly put it, City of the World’s Desire, with its rich Byzantine heritage and minaret-dominated skyline, Antalya, with its well-preserved Ottoman Old Town and plethora of Roman monuments, and even up-and-coming Alanya.
When it comes to prices, Türkiye is one of the cheapest Mediterranean destinations out there, with travelers spending roughly $141 per day, including accommodation, food and transportation, unless they’re going on a spending spree, or an estimated $989 over a 7-night stay.
Other than being budget-friendly and vastly rich culturally, many of Türkiye’s greatest assets remain largely undiscovered, as is the case with the ‘Turkish Tuscany’, where you can gorge on three-course dinners and sample award-winning wine for under $23––find out more here.
Bulgaria
Coming in at the runner-up slot, with a 38.8% growth year-on-year, we have the often-overlooked Eastern European nation of Bulgaria, nestled between the towering Balkan peaks and a long, sandy coastline on the Black Sea, which is anything but black.
Bulgaria is best represented by its ancient capital, Sofia, a bustling metropolis where you’re as likely to stumble upon socialist-era apartment blocks and impressive brutalist monuments, as you are ancient Roman remains and frescoed, 15th-century Orthodox churches.
Its vineyard-dotted hinterland also plays host to Plovdiv, the oldest-continuously inhabited city in Europe, distinguished for its well-preserved Greco-Roman theater, and the heavily-fortified Veliko Tarnovo, a hilltop town dominated by not one, but two imposing castles.
Don’t get us started on the lively Bulgarian coast, where leisure destinations like Varna and Sunny Beach steal the limelight, all costing on average $998 a week to visit as a couple––across Bulgaria, meals can cost as cheap as $17, and hotel overnights average a very-reasonable $77.
Serbia
Believe it or not, the fastest-growing destination in Europe right now, as well as one of its most affordable, is the landlocked Serbia, a lesser-known country in the Balkans that (surprisingly!) hosts nonstop flights from America year-round.
From Belgrade, a cosmopolitan capital that’s recently been dubbed ‘Berlin of the South’ for its vibrant nightlife and social scene, or an elegant Novi Sad, characterized by its Austria-inspired facades and fortress on the Danube, Serbia is the perfect cultural escapade.
It doesn’t have sea access, but between its host of stunning, culturally-charged cities and castle-dotted, hilly hinterland, Serbia is one of those hidden gems still awaiting discovery, and it’s not like you have to break the bank to enjoy it to the fullest, either:
The average daily cost of visiting Serbia is $41, while the one-week average for a mid-range traveler is an incredibly affordable $284; looking to splurge on five-star spa hotels in the Fruška hills?
A luxury trip to the Balkan state will only set you back by $716 for the entire week.
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