Travel Guide
5 Of The Cheapest & Most Beautiful European Destinations To Visit This Winter
Dec
If you’re already dreading the thought of slippery driveways, hours-long wait in the commuter belt driving into town amid a snowy storm, and the whole winter grind, maybe all you need is a change of scenery to brave the colder months.
Some will be jetting off to Cancun come January, but if all-inclusive resorts and crowded beaches don’t exactly float your boat, perhaps a cozy getaway across the pond will.
Winter can be depressing in the suburbs, sure, but add a little lamp-lit cobblestone street, some gabled roofs blanketed in virgin snow, and the resounding bells of medieval cathedrals, and you’ll be getting into the winter-wonderland spirit in no time.
Europe’s your best bet at soaking up those fairytale vibes this season, but if you don’t want to splurge big-time on a skiing vacation in Switzerland, nor blow your budget on a weekend in London, here are 5 of the cheapest and most beautiful European destinations to pick from instead (plus a revealer to find your perfect match at the end of the article!):
Gdańsk, Poland
A harbor city in northeastern Poland, Gdańsk is nothing short of a post–World War II miracle. Once ravaged by the most destructive global conflict in modern history, it rose from the ashes and reinvented itself as a vibrant hub along the Motława River, complete with a picture-perfect Old Town.
Along Gdańsk’s main pedestrianized street, Ulica Długa, you’ll stroll along colorful townhouses decorated in elaborate motifs and decorative cornice gables, whereas the waterfront is home to Europe’s best-preserved medieval crane, and a plethora of ‘milk bars’ serving Polish grub at affordable prices.
For the most epic views in all of Gdańsk, climb up the red-bricked St. Mary’s Church. For the History buffs, Westerplatte, on the edge of the city, is a peninsula where World War II officially started. Take in the sights of ruined barracks, walk the war-torn grounds, and visit the hilltop memorial.
Average Prices In Gdańsk, Poland
| Category | Average price |
| Food in a cheap restaurant (per person) | $10–15 |
| Food in a mid-range restaurant (2 people) | $30–40 |
| Accommodation (hostel/ budget hotel) | $20–30 |
| Accommodation (3-star hotel) | $45–50 |
| Public transport (single ticket) | $1.10–1.30 |
| Museum entry fee | $6–9 |
Riga, Latvia
Both the capital of Latvia, and the European capital of Art Nouveau architecture, Riga has enough beautifully-ornamented façades and stately edifices to fill up your entire phone storage―trust us, been there, done that.
At its heart, the medieval-era Old Town looks like something out of a Disney movie, with its colorful townhouses, traditional taverns, and stone-paved alleys. If you happen to be visiting this December, you can even bear witness to one of the oldest Christmas celebrations in the world.
According to tradition, the first ever Christmas Tree was placed right outside the House of the Blackheads, a historic merchants’ guild, all the way back in 1510. We’re not sure it’s just our impression, but every year, the tree looks bigger and more magical.
Average Prices In Riga, Latvia
| Category | Average price |
| Food in a cheap restaurant (per person) | $8–12 |
| Food in a mid-range restaurant (2 people) | $35–45 |
| Accommodation (hostel/ budget hotel) | $20–30 |
| Accommodation (3-star hotel) | $44–50 |
| Public transport (single ticket) | $1.60–1.70 |
| Museum entry fee | $8–9 |
Thessaloniki, Greece
For milder weather and the kind of Old World charm you can only find in an ancient city in Greece, try Thessaloniki, the country’s second-largest metropolis, straddling the azure Mediterranean Sea, and with thousands upon thousands of years of history to its name.
Though it can get quite chilly, Thessaloniki boasts minimal rain throughout winter―4 or 5 days per month―and if you dress warmly enough, you may still get to enjoy a little souvlaki with homemade wine in a waterfront taverna.
Must-sees include the White Tower, a symbol of Greece and an imposing 15th-century prison, the Rotunda, a Roman-era circular building known for its well-preserved mosaics, and Ano Poli, a historic, hillside district with a laid-back atmosphere offering panoramic views of the urban sprawl below.
Average Prices In Thessaloniki, Greece
| Category | Average price |
| Food in a cheap restaurant (per person) | $11–17 |
| Food in a mid-range restaurant (2 people) | $28–40 |
| Accommodation (hostel/ budget hotel) | $25–35 |
| Accommodation (3-star hotel) | $50–65 |
| Public transport (single ticket) | $0.65–0.70 |
| Museum entry fee | $8–9 |
Pontevedra, Spain
A small city in the much-overlooked northwest of Spain, Pontevedra lies right on the Way of St. James, a Catholic pilgrimage route leading to Santiago de Compostela, and though many will treat you as a pit stop, it’s not somewhere you want to rush by.
If you’re sojourning here for longer than a single overnight, you’ll be met with a perfectly preserved historic center dotted with arcaded plazas, Gothic buildings, and family-owned bars serving lunchtime tapas for a small fraction of the prices in Barcelona.
It’s been drawing a growing number of foreign guests lately, and given how peaceful, downright gorgeous, and budget-friendly it is, particularly considering this is tourist-packed Spain we’re talking about, we can’t say we’re surprised.
Average Prices In Pontevedra, Spain
| Category | Average price |
| Food in a cheap restaurant (per person) | $12–15 |
| Food in a mid-range restaurant (2 people) | $50–70 |
| Accommodation (hostel/ budget hotel) | $32–40 |
| Accommodation (3-star hotel) | $70–90 |
| Public transport (single ticket) | $2–3 |
| Museum entry fee | $6–10 |
Sofia, Bulgaria
We’re rounding it off with yet another underrated capital city. This time, the increasingly trendy, still-to-be-ruined-by-overtourism steal of a deal Sofia, in Bulgaria: the cultural heart of the Eastern Balkan country and one of the most important cultural centers of the Orthodox world.
Sofia has been under the control of many civilizations over the years, and this makes for a truly unique cityscape: from Roman churches and mosaics to Ottoman-era mosques to the imposing, Byzantine-inspired Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, it’s like an open book of past empires.
Soon enough, it will not be too off-the-beaten-path either: from 2026, Bulgaria-based GullivAir will launch two nonstop flights from the U.S. to Sofia, with New York’s JFK and Chicago’s O’Hare expected to do the honors. Find more info here.
Average Prices In Sofia, Bulgaria
| Category | Average price |
| Food in a cheap restaurant (per person) | $9–12 |
| Food in a mid-range restaurant (2 people) | $25–35 |
| Accommodation (hostel/ budget hotel) | $17–30 |
| Accommodation (3-star hotel) | $40–60 |
| Public transport (single ticket) | $0.90 |
| Museum entry fee | $5–8 |
The Travel Off Path Advantage: Your Travel Toolkit
Subscribe To Our Latest Posts
Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.
