25 Cheap Weekend Getaways in Europe Under $200

Europe does not have to be expensive. While Paris, London, and Zurich will drain your wallet fast, dozens of extraordinary cities offer world-class culture, food, and atmosphere at prices that make a spontaneous weekend trip genuinely affordable.

The $200 budget in this guide covers two nights of accommodation, food, local transport, and one or two key activities -- not including flights. Flights within Europe, thanks to budget carriers like Ryanair, Wizz Air, and easyJet, can often be found for $20-$60 round trip if you book 4-6 weeks ahead and fly midweek. From major hubs like London, Berlin, or Barcelona, cheap flights open up the entire continent.

Here are 25 cities where your weekend will cost under $200, ranked roughly by region.

Eastern Europe

1. Krakow, Poland

Weekend budget: $120-$160

Krakow is the best-value city in Europe for a combination of history, nightlife, and food. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the entire historic center is walkable.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $10/night, boutique hotels from $35/night
• Food: Pierogi from $3, a full meal with beer at a milk bar (bar mleczny) from $4-$6
• Must-do free activities: Wawel Castle grounds, Main Market Square, Kazimierz Jewish Quarter walking tour, Planty Park
• Worth paying for: Wieliczka Salt Mine day trip ($25), Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial ($free, but book months ahead)

2. Budapest, Hungary

Weekend budget: $130-$180

Split by the Danube into Buda and Pest, this city offers thermal baths, ruin bars, and one of Europe's most beautiful river panoramas -- all at Eastern European prices.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $12/night, centrally located hotels from $40/night
• Food: Langos (fried dough) from $2, goulash at a local restaurant from $5-$7, a three-course meal for $12-$18
• Must-do free activities: Walk across Chain Bridge at night, Fisherman's Bastion viewpoint, stroll along the Danube promenade, explore the Great Market Hall
• Worth paying for: Szechenyi Thermal Baths ($22), ruin bar crawl through District VII (drinks from $2-$4)

3. Sofia, Bulgaria

Weekend budget: $80-$120

Sofia is one of Europe's most underrated capitals. It sits at the foot of Vitosha Mountain, blending 2,000 years of history with a buzzing modern food and bar scene.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $8/night, excellent hotels from $25/night
• Food: A full traditional meal with salad, main course, and drink from $5-$8
• Must-do free activities: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Free Sofia Tour (excellent), Vitosha Boulevard shopping street, the mineral hot springs fountain in the city center
• Worth paying for: Day hike on Vitosha Mountain (free, just take public transit for $0.80), Boyana Church UNESCO site ($5)

4. Bucharest, Romania

Weekend budget: $90-$130

Bucharest's nickname is "Little Paris" for its belle epoque architecture, wide boulevards, and cafe culture. The city is also Romania's gateway to Transylvania, if you want to extend your trip.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $10/night, 4-star hotels in the Old Town from $30/night
• Food: Traditional mici (grilled sausages) from $2, full meals at caru' cu bere (a legendary 19th-century beer hall) from $8-$12
• Must-do free activities: Old Town walking, Palace of Parliament exterior (world's second-largest building), Revolution Square, Herastrau Park
• Worth paying for: Palace of Parliament interior tour ($8), Village Museum ($3)

5. Belgrade, Serbia

Weekend budget: $100-$150

Belgrade is where Eastern European grit meets Mediterranean warmth. The city sits at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, and its nightlife is legendary -- the floating river clubs (splavovi) are unique in Europe.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $10/night, boutique hotels from $35/night
• Food: Cevapi (grilled meat) from $3, a generous Serbian meal with rakija from $7-$10
• Must-do free activities: Kalemegdan Fortress, Skadarlija bohemian quarter, walk along the Sava riverfront, Ada Ciganlija island beach
• Worth paying for: Tesla Museum ($3), floating club experience (entry usually free, drinks from $3)

6. Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Weekend budget: $70-$100

Europe's oldest continuously inhabited city -- older than Rome, Athens, or Constantinople. Plovdiv's Old Town is a living museum of pastel-colored Revival-era houses, Roman ruins, and cobblestone lanes. It was European Capital of Culture in 2019 and has only gotten better since.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $7/night, guesthouses in the Old Town from $20/night
• Food: Shopska salad and grilled meat from $4-$6 for a full meal
• Must-do free activities: Kapana creative district, Old Town walking, the Roman Stadium (visible from the pedestrian street), Nebet Tepe hill viewpoint
• Worth paying for: Ancient Roman Theatre ($3), Ethnographic Museum ($2)

The Baltics

7. Riga, Latvia

Weekend budget: $110-$160

Riga's Art Nouveau architecture is the finest collection in Europe -- over 800 buildings in a single district. The medieval Old Town is compact and picturesque, and the Central Market (housed in former Zeppelin hangars) is a food lover's dream.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $12/night, boutique hotels from $40/night
• Food: Latvian dark rye bread with smoked fish from $3, a full meal at a traditional restaurant from $8-$12
• Must-do free activities: Art Nouveau district self-guided walk, Central Market browsing, Old Town churches and squares, Freedom Monument
• Worth paying for: Latvian National Opera (tickets from $8), Riga Balsam tasting at the Black Magic Bar ($5-$8)

8. Vilnius, Lithuania

Weekend budget: $100-$140

Vilnius has one of the largest and best-preserved baroque Old Towns in Europe. The city is small, walkable, and unpretentious, with a thriving cafe culture and an independent spirit embodied by the self-declared Republic of Uzupis (a bohemian neighborhood with its own constitution and president).

• Accommodation: Hostels from $10/night, hotels from $35/night
• Food: Cepelinai (potato dumplings) from $4, full meals from $6-$10
• Must-do free activities: Gediminas Tower viewpoint, Uzupis constitution wall, Gates of Dawn, Cathedral Square
• Worth paying for: KGB Museum ($4), hot air balloon over Old Town ($90, splurge-worthy)

9. Tallinn, Estonia

Weekend budget: $120-$170

Tallinn's medieval Old Town looks like a fairy-tale set, with turrets, cobblestones, and merchant houses dating to the 13th century. Beyond the medieval core, the Telliskivi Creative City and Kalamaja neighborhoods are full of galleries, vintage shops, and hip restaurants.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $15/night, hotels from $45/night
• Food: Black bread and herring from $3, full meals from $8-$12
• Must-do free activities: Walking the city walls, Toompea hill viewpoints, Telliskivi market, Kadriorg Park
• Worth paying for: KGB Museum ($12), Lennusadam Maritime Museum ($15)

Southern Europe

10. Porto, Portugal

Weekend budget: $140-$190

Porto deserves its reputation as one of Europe's most beautiful cities. The Ribeira waterfront, the Dom Luis I Bridge, the tile-covered churches, and the port wine cellars across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia create a weekend of constant visual delight.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $15/night (The Passenger Hostel in Sao Bento Station is legendary), hotels from $50/night
• Food: Francesinha (Porto's iconic sandwich) from $8, sardines and vinho verde at a local tasca from $8-$12
• Must-do free activities: Ribeira waterfront walk, cross Dom Luis I Bridge on foot, Livraria Lello exterior, Clerigos Tower area, free port wine samples at some cellars
• Worth paying for: Port wine tasting at Taylor's or Graham's ($15), Serralves Museum ($10)

11. Thessaloniki, Greece

Weekend budget: $120-$170

Greece's second city is more laid-back, more affordable, and arguably more fun than Athens. The waterfront promenade, the Byzantine churches, and the legendary food scene make it a perfect weekend escape.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $12/night, hotels from $40/night
• Food: Bougatsa (custard pie) from $2, souvlaki from $3, a seafood meze spread from $12-$18 for two
• Must-do free activities: White Tower and waterfront, Ano Poli (Upper Town) walk, Modiano Market, Aristotelous Square
• Worth paying for: Archaeological Museum ($8), food tour ($35, worth every cent in this city)

12. Valencia, Spain

Weekend budget: $140-$190

Valencia is Spain's third-largest city but feels more intimate than Madrid or Barcelona. It has the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, the historic Old Town, a wide urban beach, and the birthplace of paella.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $15/night, hotels from $45/night
• Food: Authentic paella from $8 (not the tourist version -- go to La Pepica or Casa Roberto), horchata and fartons from $3
• Must-do free activities: Turia Riverbed Park (a 9km park in a former riverbed), Central Market (one of Europe's largest), the beach, Barrio del Carmen
• Worth paying for: City of Arts and Sciences ($35 combined ticket), bike rental to explore the city ($8/day)

13. Naples, Italy

Weekend budget: $120-$170

Naples is chaotic, loud, beautiful, and home to the best pizza on Earth. The city has been experiencing a Renaissance of sorts, with street art, new bars, and revitalized neighborhoods adding to its gritty charm.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $12/night, B&Bs in the centro storico from $35/night
• Food: Margherita pizza from $4 (Da Michele, Sorbillo, or Di Matteo), sfogliatella pastry from $1.50, a full Neapolitan meal from $10-$15
• Must-do free activities: Spaccanapoli walking, Naples Underground entry area, waterfront promenade with Vesuvius views, street art in Quartieri Spagnoli
• Worth paying for: Naples Archaeological Museum ($15, one of the world's best), Pompeii day trip ($16 entry + $6 round-trip train)

14. Kotor, Montenegro

Weekend budget: $100-$150

Kotor's Bay is often called "Europe's southernmost fjord." The medieval walled town sits at the water's edge, backed by sheer mountains. It delivers Croatian Dalmatian Coast beauty at a fraction of Dubrovnik's prices.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $10/night, guesthouses from $30/night
• Food: Fresh seafood at waterfront restaurants from $8-$12 for a full meal
• Must-do free activities: Walk the city walls to the fortress above (1,350 steps, incredible views), Old Town exploration, Our Lady of the Rocks island viewpoint, Lovcen National Park road
• Worth paying for: Boat tour of the Bay of Kotor ($15-$25), Blue Cave kayaking trip ($30)

Central and Western Europe (Yes, Even Here)

15. Wroclaw, Poland

Weekend budget: $100-$140

Poland's fourth-largest city is a hidden gem with a stunning market square, over 100 bridges (earning it the nickname "Venice of the North"), and a quirky tradition of hunting for bronze dwarf statues scattered throughout the city.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $10/night, hotels from $30/night
• Food: Zurek (sour rye soup) from $3, full meals from $5-$8
• Must-do free activities: Market Square, Ostrow Tumski (Cathedral Island), dwarf hunting, Centennial Hall area
• Worth paying for: Panorama of the Battle of Raclawice ($5), Hydropolis water museum ($6)

16. Ghent, Belgium

Weekend budget: $150-$200

Ghent is the Belgian city that even most Belgians agree is the most beautiful. It combines medieval architecture, world-class art (the Ghent Altarpiece alone is worth the trip), a vibrant university atmosphere, and the best vegetarian food scene in Belgium.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $20/night, hotels from $55/night
• Food: Flemish stew (stoofvlees) with frites from $10-$14, Belgian waffles from $3, craft beer from $3-$5
• Must-do free activities: Graslei and Korenlei waterfront, St. Bavo's Cathedral exterior, Patershol neighborhood, evening illumination walk
• Worth paying for: Ghent Altarpiece at St. Bavo's ($12), boat tour of the canals ($9)

17. Ljubljana, Slovenia

Weekend budget: $120-$170

Slovenia's capital is a postcard-perfect city straddling the Ljubljanica River, with a castle on the hill, Art Nouveau facades, and dragon-adorned bridges. It is also the gateway to Lake Bled (a 45-minute bus ride away).

• Accommodation: Hostels from $15/night, hotels from $40/night
• Food: Burek from $2, a full Slovenian meal from $8-$12
• Must-do free activities: Triple Bridge and Preseren Square, open-air Central Market (Fridays), Metelkova City alternative culture center, Tivoli Park
• Worth paying for: Ljubljana Castle funicular ($5), day trip to Lake Bled ($7 round trip bus)

18. Bratislava, Slovakia

Weekend budget: $90-$130

Bratislava is compact, charming, and absurdly affordable for a European capital. The small Old Town is walkable in an hour, leaving time for the quirky communist-era attractions and the surprisingly good food and wine scene.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $10/night, hotels from $30/night
• Food: Bryndzove halusky (potato dumplings with sheep cheese) from $4, full meals from $6-$9
• Must-do free activities: Old Town walk, UFO Bridge observation deck area, Bratislava Castle grounds, Danube riverfront
• Worth paying for: UFO Tower observation deck ($8), Slovak National Gallery (free, but donations welcome)

19. Seville, Spain

Weekend budget: $150-$200

Seville is the soul of Andalusia: flamenco, tapas, Moorish architecture, and orange-tree-lined streets. It is warmer and more affordable than Barcelona or Madrid, and the tapas culture means eating out is built into the budget.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $15/night, hotels from $50/night
• Food: Tapas from $2-$4 each, a full evening of tapas-hopping for $12-$18
• Must-do free activities: Plaza de Espana, Triana neighborhood, Guadalquivir River walk, Metropol Parasol (Las Setas) viewpoint, free flamenco at bars in Triana
• Worth paying for: Alcazar ($14), Cathedral and Giralda Tower ($11)

20. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Weekend budget: $80-$120

Sarajevo is where East meets West, literally. You can walk from Ottoman-era bazaars to Austro-Hungarian boulevards in five minutes. The city's turbulent history is palpable and moving, but its present is vibrant, warm, and incredibly welcoming.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $8/night, boutique hotels from $25/night
• Food: Cevapi at Zeljo in Bascarsija from $3, a full Bosnian meal from $5-$8
• Must-do free activities: Bascarsija (old bazaar), Latin Bridge (site of the assassination that started WWI), Tunnel of Hope, walking from Ottoman to Austro-Hungarian quarters
• Worth paying for: War Childhood Museum ($5), bobsled track from the 1984 Olympics (free to visit, a haunting and memorable walk)

The Nordic Budget Picks

21. Gdansk, Poland

Weekend budget: $100-$150

Gdansk is Poland's Baltic coast gem, with colorful merchant houses lining the Motlawa River, amber shops on every corner, and easy access to beach towns like Sopot.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $10/night, hotels from $35/night
• Food: Fish and chips from $4, full meals at a traditional restaurant from $6-$10
• Must-do free activities: Long Market and Neptune Fountain, walk along the Motlawa, Oliwa Cathedral (free organ concerts), Westerplatte memorial
• Worth paying for: European Solidarity Centre ($7), amber shopping in Mariacka Street (window shopping is free)

22. Tartu, Estonia

Weekend budget: $90-$130

Estonia's second city is a university town with big intellectual energy, beautiful neoclassical architecture, and a fraction of Tallinn's tourists. It was European Capital of Culture in 2024, leaving behind improved museums and cultural spaces.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $12/night, hotels from $30/night
• Food: Full meals from $6-$10, cafe culture is strong and affordable
• Must-do free activities: Town Hall Square, university main building, Toome Hill park and ruins, Aparaadi district street art
• Worth paying for: Estonian National Museum ($14), Ahhaa Science Centre ($12)

Off-the-Beaten-Path Picks

23. Sibiu, Romania

Weekend budget: $75-$110

Sibiu's German-influenced architecture, cobblestone squares, and hilltop position make it look like it was transplanted from Bavaria. The houses have distinctive "eye" dormer windows that seem to watch you as you walk past.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $8/night, guesthouses from $20/night
• Food: Traditional Saxon-Romanian meals from $5-$8
• Must-do free activities: Grand Square and Small Square, Council Tower, Bridge of Lies, ASTRA open-air museum grounds
• Worth paying for: ASTRA Museum ($5), Brukenthal National Museum ($4)

24. Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Weekend budget: $70-$100

Mostar's reconstructed Stari Most (Old Bridge) arching over the emerald Neretva River is one of the most photographed scenes in the Balkans. The small Old Town is atmospheric and easy to cover in a weekend.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $8/night, pensions from $20/night
• Food: Full Bosnian meals from $4-$7
• Must-do free activities: Stari Most and diving exhibitions, Old Town Kujundziluk bazaar, Crooked Bridge, riverbank sunset
• Worth paying for: War Photo Exhibition ($5), Kravice Waterfalls day trip ($15 including transport)

25. Tirana, Albania

Weekend budget: $80-$120

Albania's capital has transformed into one of Europe's most exciting emerging destinations. Bold, colorful buildings replace the grey communist blocks, bunker museums tell the story of the country's unusual past, and the food blends Mediterranean and Balkan influences beautifully.

• Accommodation: Hostels from $8/night, hotels from $25/night
• Food: Qofte (meatballs) and salad from $3, full meals from $5-$8, excellent espresso from $0.50
• Must-do free activities: Skanderbeg Square, Blloku district (former communist elite neighborhood, now the nightlife hub), Grand Park and artificial lake, Tanners' Bridge
• Worth paying for: Bunk'Art museums ($5 each), day trip to Berat "City of a Thousand Windows" ($10-$15 bus)

How to Plan a Budget European Weekend

Finding Cheap Flights

• Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet: Check all three. Each dominates different routes. Use Google Flights to compare across airlines
• The "Everywhere" search: On Google Flights or Skyscanner, set your destination to "Everywhere" and sort by price. Let the deals choose your destination
• Fly midweek: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday flights are consistently 30-50% cheaper than weekend flights
• Carry-on only: Budget airline checked bag fees can double your ticket price. Pack light in a 40L backpack

Booking Accommodation

• Hostelworld for hostels: Filter by rating (8.0+) and read recent reviews
• Booking.com for hotels: Use the "pay at property" filter for free cancellation, and check the "genius" loyalty discounts
• Book 3-4 weeks ahead: This is the sweet spot for European city hotels -- early enough for availability, late enough for last-minute deals

Making the Most of Two Days

• Day 1: Major landmarks and walking tour in the morning, neighborhood exploration in the afternoon, local food experience in the evening
• Day 2: Museum or day trip in the morning, market and souvenir shopping in the afternoon, sunset viewpoint before heading home
• Use TripGenie to plan: Input your destination, budget, and interests, and get a customized two-day itinerary in seconds

The best weekend getaway in Europe is often the one you did not plan weeks in advance. Keep your passport ready, set fare alerts on Google Flights, and when a deal pops up, book it. At these prices, the biggest risk is not going.