It seems that finding a truly cheap European getaway is getting harder as flight prices appear to keep climbing in the wake of ongoing conflicts, and inflation means many of us can no longer book trips spontaneously; travelers now have to invest their time and effort in hunting for bargains or in thinking up ways to cut costs on their escapes.
Fortunately, in Europe there are still destinations where low prices do not come at the expense of beauty and culture. The Royal Mail Urban Price Barometer highlights the best destinations for budget-minded travelers, analyzing places where tourists can get more for less. This year 50 European destinations were surveyed, and the cost of twelve common tourist expenses for two people was compared.
This year Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has earned the title of Europe’s best cheap escape for 2026. The city, famous for its culture, its rich history and its food (and its prices), sits in a valley along the Miljacka River and is surrounded by the forested peaks of the Dinara Alps.
Sarajevo is renowned for its unique blend of tradition and modernity. The architecture fuses Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman influences, with tall pastel buildings rubbing shoulders with low-rise structures topped with red-tiled roofs.
History buffs also know this city as the place where the Bosnian-Serbian Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, which effectively opened World War I.
The Postal Service has highlighted affordable accommodation rates, public transport and tourist attractions as the main reasons for giving this consideration; in addition, travelers are believed to be able to dine in city restaurants on a regular basis.
