7 overlooked and under-visited European destinations that offer extraordinary value

The deep blue seas off of São Miguel Island in the Azores. Photo: Feliciano G.

For Americans, Europe looks set to be particularly budget-friendly this year. This is all well and good, as summer season is just around the corner. But favorable exchange rates only go so far; for most travelers, high-value and modest costs remain objectives.

Below are a few affordable, attention-worthy European destinations. I came up with three of my own and I asked some experts – notable travel bloggers and writers – to contribute theirs. These writers took time out of their busy schedules to share their go-to European picks.

From the rural (a small Greek island, the north of Cyprus, and the beautiful countryside of Umbria) to the urban (Graz, Austria and Plovdiv, Bulgaria), these off-the-beaten picks deliver the goods without blowing budgets.

Osijek, Croatia: Lots of old charm for little money

Last spring I visited Osijek in Slavonia, Croatia’s long northeastern flank. Its draws include beautiful Secessionist buildings, a huge 18th-century citadel, Tvrda, which is also Osijek’s old town, the wide beauty of the river Drava, and many parks.

I arrived by train from the border with Bosnia and continued by bus into Hungary, but there are other routes to Osijek – direct air travel on Croatia Airlines from Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik and on Ryanair direct from London Stansted; the Croatian train network connects Zagreb and Osijek in just over four hours.

I stayed at a cozy little B&B in Tvrda called Maksimilian where double rooms begin at 344 kuna, including tax ($48.50). Search for more Osijek hotels.

Plovdiv, Bulgaria: Stunning Roman history for less

Plovdiv, another place I had the good fortune to visit last year, has an extraordinary Roman heritage, including a glorious Roman amphitheater and some well-preserved ruins. It takes about two hours to reach Plovdiv on the bus from Sofia and almost three hours on the train. For details on companies and pricing, check out Rome2Rio’s helpful comparison site.

See affordable hotels in Plovdiv.

Northern Cyprus: A cheap getaway in the Karpaz Peninsula

My favorite corner of budget-friendly Europe might just be the Karpaz peninsula in Northern Cyprus, a world apart from the package holiday market that has engulfed other parts of the island. And along the Karpaz peninsula, even the small casinos so popular elsewhere in northern Cyprus are few and far between.

Village inns and beachside properties on the Karpaz peninsula won’t come close to busting your budget. Karpaz Arch Houses, a beautifully restored property in the village of Dipkarpaz (“Rizokarpaso” in Greek), offers charming if bare bones doubles in stone houses for around €50. Double bungalows at Burhans Golden Beach, along the blissfully undeveloped south Karpaz coast, start around €55.

The Azores, Portugal: Budget island hopping

From Emma Lundin:

The Azores’ dramatic landscapes — volcanoes, steep cliffs, green hills and a never-ending sea — give this string of islands in the mid-Atlantic an otherworldly feel. Good flight connections from Lisbon (TAP, SATA, and easyJet) and from London (Ryanair and SATA), decent budget hotels, and a very Portuguese price index. Search for hotels in Ponta Delgada.

Island-hopping boat-passes, modestly priced whale watching (Futurismo’s tours are very good), and great sights are all on offer. Coffees are less than a euro and pastéis de nata are cheap and delicious.

Emma is a Swedish-born, London-based freelance journalist and editor, specializes in travel, culture and history. She has worked for the BBC, Swedish radio broadcaster SR and Condé Nast Traveller, and is currently completing a PhD in History at Birkbeck, University of London. Learn more about her work at www.emmalundin.co.uk.

Umbria, Italy: Affordable food, wine and lodging

From Melanie Renzulli:

Three seasons (fall, winter, and spring) out of four, I’m drawn to Umbria. The region is a short distance (an hour or two) from both Tuscany and Rome and is dotted with hill towns; of these, Orvieto is probably my favorite. It has a small, walkable, medieval center and one of Italy’s most beautiful Gothic cathedrals.

Orvieto is not a place for pizza. Instead, find inexpensive, hearty, and earthy foods, from porchetta sandwiches to porcini mushroom risotto, soup, and pasta. Orvieto Classico, the local white wine, is served everywhere.

Umbria abounds with affordable agriturismo and B&B options. Here are affordable hotel options in Orvieto.

Melanie Renzulli has been writing about Italy for more than 15 years. She currently lives in Rome, where she writes and edits the blog Italofile.com.

Paros, Greece: A quiet island with hiking and cheap rooms

From Andy Jarosz:

Some of the smaller Greek islands offer excellent value for money, especially with the tumbling euro. One of my favorites is Paros in the Cyclades islands, a ferry ride from Mykonos or Santorini. There’s only one town, and unlike its more popular neighbors it doesn’t get overrun with tourists – not even in the summer. There are some great little hikes, including the Byzantine Way, a marble path which runs from the pretty village of Lefkas to the harbor at Piso Livadi.

A lovely little guesthouse near the main town is Pension Sofia, with rooms as cheap as €40 in the shoulder season and breakfast served in the delightful garden. The owner will even collect you from the harbor for no extra cost.

Andy is a freelance travel writer whose work is regularly published in National Geographic Traveler, Journeys, and Coast Magazines. He also writes his own blog, 501 Places, which has been listed by The Times in a list of 50 Travel Websites You Can’t Live Without.

Graz, Austria: A fun university town with an affordable 4-star hotel

From Pam Mandel:

Graz, the capital of Austria’s Styria, is a university town. It is fun to visit, the food’s good, and there’s a lot to do. You can take the funicular or walk up to the historic clock tower on the Schlossberg. The hill was a fortress when Graz was under siege by the Turks. Now it’s a very nice park.

The Frankowitsch deli and bakery in the Stempfergasse pedestrian district serves beautiful cakes that are like works of art. It’s a super popular local hangout on weekend afternoons for sandwiches and beer. BoutiqueHotel Dom, right in the heart of the city, is a four-star property with rates starting around €115 per night.

Pam is a Seattle-based freelance writer and photographer from the Emerald City. She blogs about her adventures at nerdseyeview.com.

Your favorite over-looked destinations?

Have an off-the-radar destination that offers a terrific value? Please share with us in the comments section below!