Let's be honest: most people assume Europe is expensive. Paris? Pricey. Oslo? Don't ask. But what if you could travel Europe for less than the cost of lunch in London?

If you know where to go—and what to skip—€20 can stretch surprisingly far. We're talking full-day city experiences, not just walking around with a dry sandwich in hand.

Below are 9 cities where you can actually do things, not just survive, on a tight budget.

And no, you don't have to sleep in a bus station to pull it off.

1. Budapest, Hungary – Thermal Baths + Danube Views

Start your day with a €1.50 chimney cake from a local stand, then head to Király or Lukács Baths, where tickets are around €9. Skip Széchenyi—it's pricier and packed.

Walk across Chain Bridge, explore Buda Castle on foot (free), and enjoy one of Europe's best panoramic views. Wrap it up with a €6 bowl of hearty goulash at a student-favorite spot like Frici Papa.

2. Tbilisi, Georgia – Cable Cars and Sulfur Baths

€1 gets you a cable car ride up to Narikala Fortress. The view? Worth 10x more.

Explore the Old Town with its colorful balconies, and take a dip in a public sulfur bath for around €6.

A generous plate of khinkali dumplings + bread + drink costs under €5. The rest? Grab a coffee, get lost in side streets, and listen to street musicians by the river.

3. Porto, Portugal – Views, Vibes, and River Walks

Start with a €2 tram ride to the Ribeira district, then stroll across Dom Luís I Bridge to get the best photos of the city.

Entry to Igreja de São Francisco is €3.50 and honestly jaw-dropping.

For lunch, a local "Francesinha" sandwich (veg versions exist) + fries is around €8–10. Spend the afternoon at Jardins do Palácio de Cristal—completely free, peaceful, and full of peacocks.

4. Riga, Latvia – Art Nouveau on a Shoestring

Walk down Alberta iela for free and gawk at the wild Art Nouveau buildings. Then grab a €1.50 pastry and coffee from Lido, a local chain known for cheap traditional food.

Visit the Riga Central Market (free) to see life happen—and try a €3 local cheese snack. The Museum of the Occupation is donation-based, and a riverside sunset at Kronvalda Park costs nothing but time.

5. Sofia, Bulgaria – Mountains, and Cheap Eats

Start at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (free entry), then take a tram to Vitosha mountain trailheads for under €1.

Back in the city, join a free walking tour if you want deeper stories.

Lunch? A massive banitsa and yogurt drink for €2. Dinner? Grilled veggies, rice, and salad for under €7.

6. Kraków, Poland – History Without the Hefty Price

Explore Wawel Castle's courtyard (free) and then walk along the Vistula River. A simple pierogi lunch costs €4–5.

Entry to Schindler's Factory Museum is around €6, but go on a Monday afternoon—it's free.

End the day with a €1.50 zapiekanka (Polish street pizza) in Plac Nowy.

7. Sarajevo, Bosnia – East Meets West

Wander through the Baščaršija bazaar, filled with Ottoman-era architecture and handmade crafts.

Take the scenic Yellow Fortress hike (free), and enjoy a €4 plate of cevapi (or veg grilled options) with flatbread.

8. Vilnius, Lithuania – Weird, Wonderful, and Wallet-Friendly

Grab a €3 pastry from Pinavija, then check out Užupis, the self-declared republic of artists.

Visit MO Museum on Tuesdays for €0.50. Climb Gediminas' Tower hill for a panoramic view—for free.

Dinner at a cafeteria-style spot like CanCan Pizza offers full plates for under €6.

9. Skopje, North Macedonia – Statues, Street Art, and Mountain Views

The city center is a maze of statues, and they're all free to admire. Cross the Stone Bridge, explore the Old Bazaar, then take the Millennium Cross cable car (under €3) for a crazy city-wide view.

Local food stalls offer full meals for €5–6, and you can catch live street performances all over the city without paying a dime.

Traveling Europe doesn't have to drain your bank account.

Sometimes, the richest experiences come in the cheapest cities—where your €20 buys you more than just food and entry tickets. It buys you real memories, slow afternoons, and new stories.

So maybe the real luxury isn't spending more. It's spending well.