Europe’s hidden gems: Our experts pick the destinations where you can still

The ‘golden era’ of 1p flights (plus tax) when low-cost airlines began in the 1990s is long gone and, sadly, a good proportion of Europe’s 800 cities are now painfully pricey.

But there are still dozens of destinations prime for exploring on a very tight budget.

We’ve picked the best bargain breaks (with flights and hotels for less than £100pp for two nights this autumn) and included a guide to the cities’ affordable attractions, as well as the best restaurants and bars serving 88p pints of beer and £3.50 bottles of wine.

From Transylvania to Tirana, Sofia to Geneva, here are ten of Europe’s best budget hotspots that won’t break the bank.

NANTES, FRANCE

The ‘golden era’ of 1p flights (plus tax) when low-cost airlines began in the 1990s is long gone and, sadly, a good proportion of Europe’s 800 cities are now painfully pricey.

But there are still dozens of destinations prime for exploring on a very tight budget.

We’ve picked the best bargain breaks (with flights and hotels for less than £100pp for two nights this autumn) and included a guide to the cities’ affordable attractions, as well as the best restaurants and bars serving 88p pints of beer and £3.50 bottles of wine.

From Transylvania to Tirana, Sofia to Geneva, here are ten of Europe’s best budget hotspots that won’t break the bank.

NANTES, FRANCE

Take a ride on Nantes’ biggest attraction, a mechanical elephant at Les Machines de L’Ile theme park

Best Western Hotel Graslin has rooms, below, from £63 per person – ideal to explore France’s sixth largest city which includes 100 parks and labyrinthine streets

On the River Loire, 30 miles inland from the Atlantic, Nantes is France’s sixth largest city – perfect for a fun, good-value weekend away. Nantes is known as the city of 100 parks, all of which are free to visit including the grounds of the splendid Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne, with its elegant ramparts and gardens.

Explore the labyrinthine, medieval streets of the city centre and admire the grand gothic exterior of the 15th-century cathedral (the insides are sadly temporarily closed for renovations due to a 2020 fire). Entrance to nearby Musee d’Arts de Nantes, teeming with wonderful works by Renoir, Monet and Picasso, is from £7.

Take a mile-long stroll along the Loire and visit the Jules Verne Museum, dedicated to the Around The World In 80 Days author who was from Nantes (entry £3).

A great way to get a (free) city overview is to take a self-guided tour following a green line marked on pavements in a circular route leading to works of contemporary art and places of architectural interest (levoyageanantes.fr). Meanwhile, don’t forget to book a ride on Nantes’ biggest attraction of all: a highly unusual ‘mechanical elephant’ at a theme park called Les Machines de L’Ile (£8, lesmachines-nantes.fr).

Where to stay: Two nights at comfortable, central Best Western Hotel Graslin from £126 – or £63 per person (bestwestern.fr).

Getting there: Return flights from Stansted £30 return (ryanair.com).

TOTAL FOR TWO NIGHTS: £93 per person.

CLUJ-NAPOCA, TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA
St Michael’s Church, dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, is the second largest gothic church in Romania

The city of Cluj-Napoca may not be the first place to spring to mind for a weekend getaway, but the unofficial capital of the Transylvania region of Romania has plenty of appeal (and rock-bottom prices if you book ahead).

At the centre of its medieval old town stands St Michael’s Church, dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, the second largest gothic church in Romania. There are museums and galleries galore including the National History Museum of Transylvania (entry £3.45, mnit.ro), with prehistoric, Roman and Egyptian collections, plus the National Art Museum (entry £2.75, macluj.ro), home to medieval religious icons and abstract 20th-century art.

There’s a nature-packed botanical garden, Gradina Botanica Alexandru Borza, with more than 10,000 plant species (entry £2.60, gradinabotanica.ubbcluj.ro) and the charming riverside Central Park Simion Barnutiu.

Cluj-Napoca is a university city with lively bars, clubs and restaurants. Eating and drinking out is excellent value with a pint of beer costing about £1 and a three-course meal with wine for two from £18.

Where to stay: Two nights at the friendly Hotel Delaf from £118 B&B – or £59 per person (booking.com).

Getting there: Return flights from Stansted from £40 (ryanair.com).

TOTAL FOR TWO NIGHTS: £99 per person.

WARSAW, POLAND

The Polish capital makes for an action-packed couple of days away. Start in the superb old town, recreated after dreadful destruction during the Second World War, with its little cobbled side streets dotted with cosy restaurants serving traditional stews, pierogi (stuffed dumplings), sauerkraut and sausages.

Adjacent to the reconstructed old town, stop by at the Royal Castle (entry £12, zamek-krolewski.pl), see the eternal flame of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Pilsudski Square, and visit POLIN, the important Museum of the History of Polish Jewish, with harrowing and moving stories from the Second World War (entry £9, polin.pl).

Make sure you squeeze in a visit to the Palace of Culture and Science, the Soviet-era influenced rocket-shaped high-rise (entry £5 for the viewing platform, pkin.pl), as well as the intriguing Neon Musuem (entry £3.60, neonmuzeum.org) and, perhaps at the end of the day, take a tour of the Polish Vodka Museum (tour and tasting £12, muzeumpolskiejwodki.pl).

Lovely walks are to be had along the River Vistula and in Lazienki Park with its striking statue of the local composer/hero Frederic Chopin.

Where to stay: Two nights at the simple and central Ibis budget Warszawa Centrum from £86 – £43 per person (all.accor.com).

Getting there: Return flights from Luton from £35 (wizz.com).

TOTAL FOR TWO NIGHTS: £78 per person.