Porto is Lisbon’s cooler, slightly smaller, and even cheaper cousin. It’s the kind of city that pours you a glass of port wine for a few dollars and says, “Relax, friend.” Flights here are often ridiculously low, sometimes under $300 round-trip from the US East Coast.
The city is a postcard: colorful houses stacked on a river gorge, with a famous bridge designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel. You can take a boat tour on the Douro River for less than the cost of a movie ticket. And the food? A Francesinha sandwich (a monstrous, meaty, cheesy masterpiece) will set you back about €7 and ruin all other sandwiches for you.
Report: The Cities with the Most Affordable Airfare | Travel Agent Central
It’s a place where you can accidentally have the best day of your life while spending almost nothing. That’s the magic.
The Honorable Mentions (Because I Love You)
Krakow, Poland is another heavy hitter. Imagine a medieval fairy tale city where your biggest expense is deciding which incredible restaurant to eat at. Flights are cheap, the beer is cheaper, and the history is staggering.
Barcelona, Spain sometimes sneaks into cheap lists due to its massive airport and fierce airline competition. Don’t let its glamorous reputation fool you: you can find budget flights here too. Just be prepared to share the beach with a million other people trying to save money.
And finally, Sofia, Bulgaria is the wild card. It’s so cheap that you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time to 2005. A meal for two with wine can cost under $20. The flights can be cheap, but they’re usually from within Europe, so it’s a solid second stop.
