Time Out magazine has published a list of the cheapest city break destinations in Europe for 2026, with the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) taking first place.
Popular destinations in Greece, Spain, Italy, and other countries affected by overtourism are seeing corresponding price increases. However, Time Out points out that even with a limited budget, you can find places to explore and relax.
“This list of budget-friendly destinations usually goes hand in hand with other advantages – we mean fewer tourists, smaller crowds, and flights there are also likely to be much cheaper,” Time Out magazine states.
They also note that the concept of a “cheap city” is very subjective and depends on many factors: which city you are traveling from, the time of year you visit, your taste, and everything else.
Sarajevo ranked first on the list, with the magazine noting that it remains very affordable.
“It is also a city that doesn’t require spending money – you can wander its streets for hours and practically never get bored. Better yet, join a free walking tour to get oriented and learn more about the city’s history (we say free, but be sure to leave a tip for your tour guide),” they recommend.
They go on to say: “Grab lunch bites at the City Market Markale, a covered market in the city center, fill up on traditional burek for less than five euros, and stop by for a beer or wine for just two euros.”
They recommended visiting Sarajevo in August, saying that the city is sunniest then, but that “by far the biggest reason is the Sarajevo Film Festival – one of the largest in Southeast Europe.”
The full list of the cheapest city break destinations according to Time Out is: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH); Tirana, Albania; Hull, United Kingdom (UK); Miskolc, Hungary; Zagreb, Croatia; Belgrade, Serbia; Sofia, Bulgaria; Kaunas, Lithuania; Krakow, Poland; Argos, Greece; Bucharest, Romania; Graz, Austria, Klix.ba writes.
