Some of my favorite trips have cost a fraction of what I expected. Not because I cut corners or skipped the good stuff, but because I went somewhere where the good stuff doesn’t cost much to begin with.
There’s a version of travel that gets sold to us constantly, one that involves five-star resorts, premium flight seats, and curated experiences with price tags to match. And while that has its place, it’s not the only way to have a genuinely beautiful trip. Some of the most affordable travel destinations in the world are also the most visually striking, culturally rich, and deeply satisfying places I’ve been.
The 12 destinations in this post all share one quality: they look like they should cost more than they do. Ancient architecture, turquoise water, colorful markets, dramatic landscapes. You get all of it, without spending the kind of money that makes you anxious before you’ve even landed.
If you’re dreaming of a trip that feels special without the financial hangover, this list is where to start.
Smart Tips for Budget Dream Travel
Before the destination list, a few things that consistently help me get more from a trip without spending more:
Travel in shoulder season. The two or three months just before and after peak tourist season almost always offer noticeably lower prices on flights and accommodation, with only a modest difference in weather or crowds. April to June and September to October are reliable windows across most of the destinations on this list.
Eat where locals eat. The best meals I’ve had on a budget came from small family-run places away from the main tourist squares, market stalls, and street food spots. They’re cheaper, more authentic, and usually more interesting than the restaurants catering primarily to visitors.
Use public transport. Most of the cities on this list have cheap, functional local transport. Buses, shared tuk-tuks, and metro systems cost a fraction of private taxis and often give you a more genuine slice of everyday life.
Look for free activities first. Walking tours, public parks, viewpoints, markets, beaches, and historic neighborhoods cost nothing to explore. I always research the free options before I start adding paid activities to a trip.
Book accommodation early, but flights flexibly. Early booking for guesthouses and Airbnbs often secures the best rooms at the lowest rates. For flights, staying flexible on dates by even a day or two can make a significant difference in price.
The 12 Destinations
1. Oaxaca, Mexico
Oaxaca is one of those Mexican cities that rewards you for going beyond the beach resorts. It’s a colonial city with a genuine food culture, some of the most important archaeological sites in the country, and a festival calendar that makes it worth visiting almost any time of year.
The food alone is worth the trip. Oaxacan cuisine, mole in its many forms, tlayudas, chapulines, mezcal from local producers, is considered some of the best in Mexico. And eating well here doesn’t require much of a budget. Street food runs $1–$3 per meal, and even sit-down restaurants in the city center are very reasonably priced.
What to do: Monte Albán is one of the most impressive ancient ruins in all of Mexico, and the entrance fee is modest. Hierve el Agua, a set of petrified waterfalls above the valley, is a half-day trip that I’d put in any Oaxaca itinerary. The markets, particularly Mercado Benito Juárez, are good for both food and local crafts.
Budget guide:
- Accommodation: $25–$40 per night
- Street food meals: $1–$3
- Mezcal tasting: $5–$10
Best for: Couples and solo travelers who love food, culture, and architecture without beach crowds.
2. Hoi An, Vietnam
Hoi An is one of the most photographed towns in Southeast Asia, and it earns every image. The ancient town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a preserved collection of merchant houses, temples, and covered bridges that light up with paper lanterns at night. It sits a short ride from some very good beaches, and the surrounding countryside, rice paddies, rivers, quiet villages, is easy to explore by bicycle.
What makes Hoi An particularly good value is the combination of beauty and low cost. Accommodation in well-rated guesthouses starts from around $10–$20 a night. Local food is exceptional and inexpensive. Having clothes custom-made by Hoi An’s famous tailors is a genuinely affordable experience that people come specifically for.
What to do: A boat ride on the Thu Bon River at dusk is worth doing once. The My Son ruins, about an hour outside town, are impressive Cham temples that see far fewer visitors than Angkor Wat. A bicycle ride through the surrounding villages takes a half day and costs almost nothing.
Budget guide:
- Accommodation: $10–$20 per night
- Local pho or banh mi: $1–$3
- Tailored clothing: varies, but very competitive
Best for: Couples, solo travelers, and anyone who loves history, food, and the kind of atmosphere that’s genuinely hard to manufacture.
3. Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Lake Atitlán is a caldera lake surrounded by three volcanoes and a string of small Indigenous villages along its shores. It’s one of the more striking natural settings I’ve come across anywhere in Latin America, and it costs very little to be there.
Each village around the lake has its own character. San Pedro La Laguna is the most popular with longer-term visitors and has a good café and restaurant scene. San Marcos La Laguna is quieter and known for yoga retreats. Santiago Atitlán has the strongest Indigenous cultural presence. Getting between them by lancha (small boat) is inexpensive and part of the experience.
What to do: Hiking Indian Nose at sunrise gives you a view of the lake and volcanoes that’s well worth the early start. Kayaking on the lake is affordable and peaceful in the morning before the wind picks up. Spanish schools in several villages offer week-long immersion programs at competitive rates if you want to combine travel with language learning.
Budget guide:
- Accommodation: $15–$30 per night
- Local meals: $2–$5
- Lancha between villages: $1–$2
Best for: Nature lovers, solo travelers, and anyone looking for a slow-travel destination with genuine local life.
4. Berat, Albania
Berat earns its nickname “the town of a thousand windows” from the rows of white Ottoman-era houses stacked up the hillside, their large windows catching the light in a way that makes the whole city look like it was designed for photographs. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visually distinctive towns in the Balkans.
Albania as a whole is one of Europe’s most affordable countries, and Berat sits comfortably at the affordable end even within Albania. Accommodation is inexpensive, meals at local restaurants are a fraction of what you’d pay in Western Europe, and the main attractions, including the castle, the churches inside it, and the old bazaar, cost very little or nothing to visit.
What to do: Berat Castle is the obvious starting point. It’s a living castle neighborhood with residents still living inside the walls, which makes it unlike most castle visits. Osum Canyon, reachable on a day trip, is one of Albania’s more dramatic natural landscapes.
Budget guide:
- Accommodation: $20–$30 per night
- Dinner at a local restaurant: $5–$7
- Castle entrance: very low cost
Best for: Anyone who wants a genuinely European experience at an extremely reasonable price, without the crowds of more established destinations.
5. Arequipa, Peru
Arequipa is Peru’s second city and, in my view, one of South America’s most underappreciated destinations. It’s built almost entirely from sillar, a white volcanic stone, which gives the city a distinctive pale glow that’s particularly good at golden hour. Three volcanoes frame the skyline on clear days, including El Misti, which you can hike.
It attracts far fewer visitors than Cusco or Machu Picchu, which means the streets feel more like a real city and less like a tour route. The food scene is excellent. Arequipa has its own distinct culinary tradition within Peruvian cuisine, which is already one of the world’s best.
What to do: The Santa Catalina Monastery is one of South America’s most impressive religious sites. It’s a city within a city that takes a couple of hours to wander properly. Colca Canyon, a day trip from the city, is one of the deepest canyons in the world and a reliable spot to see condors in flight.
Budget guide:
- Accommodation: $15–$25 per night
- Local set lunch (menú del día): $2–$4
- Santa Catalina Monastery entrance: approximately $15
Best for: Travelers who’ve already done Cusco and Machu Picchu, or those who want Peru’s culture and landscapes without the most-visited circuit.
6. Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Plovdiv is the kind of European city that makes you wonder why it isn’t on more itineraries. It’s one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and it wears that history well. Roman ruins sit alongside Ottoman architecture, a charming old town of painted merchant houses, and a contemporary arts district that feels genuinely alive.
Bulgaria uses its own currency (the lev) and is one of the most affordable countries in the EU. A good dinner in Plovdiv costs around $4–$6. Accommodation in well-rated guesthouses and boutique hotels is significantly less than equivalent options in Prague or Vienna.
What to do: The Roman Amphitheatre in the old town is free to view from several vantage points and occasionally hosts live performances. The Kapana district (meaning “the trap” in Bulgarian) is a compact arts and café quarter that’s worth a couple of hours of wandering. Day trips to the Rhodope Mountains or wine country in the Thracian Valley are worth it if you have extra days.
Budget guide:
- Accommodation: $15–$30 per night
- Dinner at a local restaurant: $4–$6
- Most museum entries: $2–$5
Best for: History and culture travelers who want a proper European city break without the crowds or the cost of the usual Western European destinations.
7. Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia
The comparison to Santorini gets made a lot with Sidi Bou Said, and it’s fair in the visual sense: blue-painted doors, white-washed walls, bougainvillea, and views down to a blue sea. What sets it apart is that it delivers all of that on a North African budget, without the crowds and prices that come with Greece in peak season.
It’s a small cliff-top village about 20km from Tunis, easily reached by train. The village itself takes a couple of hours to walk through properly, but the atmosphere rewards a slower pace. Sitting at a café with mint tea and a view of the Mediterranean is genuinely one of the more pleasant things you can do in this part of the world.
What to do: The village is best explored on foot. The views from the upper streets are the main attraction, along with the local art galleries and café culture. Day trips to Carthage and the Bardo National Museum in Tunis add historical depth if you’re spending multiple days in the area.
Budget guide:
- Accommodation: $20–$35 per night
- Street food and snacks: $1–$2
- Mint tea at a café with a view: $1–$2
Best for: Couples, photographers, and anyone who wants a Mediterranean atmosphere without the Mediterranean high-season price tag.
8. Udaipur, India
Udaipur is called the City of Lakes, and it’s a name that genuinely fits. The city is built around a series of lakes, and its skyline, white marble palaces, ghats stepping down to the water, rooftop restaurants catching the evening light, is one of the most distinctive in India.
It’s a more relaxed pace than Delhi or Mumbai, which makes it a good choice for travelers who want to experience India’s richness without the full intensity of the country’s biggest cities. Accommodation ranges from basic guesthouses near the lake to genuinely impressive heritage properties, and both ends of the spectrum represent good value by international standards.
What to do: The City Palace is Rajasthan’s largest palace complex and a full half-day to explore properly. A boat ride on Lake Pichola takes you past the famous Lake Palace, which sits on a small island in the middle of the water. Sunset from one of the rooftop restaurants along the lake shore is one of those experiences that stays with you.
Budget guide:
- Accommodation: $10–$25 per night
- Thali meals at local restaurants: $1–$3
- City Palace entrance: approximately $10
Best for: Solo travelers and couples who want India’s architectural beauty and culture in a city that feels manageable and genuinely welcoming.
9. Tbilisi, Georgia
Tbilisi has become one of the most talked-about city breaks in Europe and the Caucasus, and it deserves the attention. The old town is a mix of Eastern Orthodox churches, Persian-influenced bathhouses, wrought-iron balconies, and wine bars in converted cellars. It’s unlike anything else in the region, and it remains genuinely affordable.
Georgia is also one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, which means wine is taken seriously, widely available, and very reasonably priced. The food, khinkali dumplings, khachapuri cheese bread, grilled meats, is some of my favorite anywhere in that part of the world.
What to do: The sulfur baths in the Abanotubani district are Tbilisi’s most distinctive attraction and a good place to spend a couple of hours. Narikala Fortress offers a panoramic view of the old town that’s particularly good at sunset. Day trips to the wine regions of Kakheti or the cave city of Uplistsikhe are among the best day trips I’d recommend anywhere in the Caucasus.
Budget guide:
- Accommodation: $15–$30 per night
- Full meal at a local restaurant: around $5
- Sulfur bath session: $5–$15 depending on the facility
Best for: Food and wine lovers, city break travelers, and anyone interested in a destination that feels genuinely off the well-worn tourist path.
10. Lombok, Indonesia
Bali gets the headlines and the visitors. Lombok, just to its east, gets the beaches, the volcano, and the quiet, without the traffic and the tour groups. The two islands share a ferry crossing and about the same flight distance from major hubs, but Lombok’s tourism infrastructure is still developing, which keeps prices lower and crowds smaller.
The south coast has a stretch of bays with clear water and white sand that is, on its best days, as striking as anything I’ve seen in Southeast Asia. Mount Rinjani, an active volcano in the north, is one of the region’s best multi-day treks. The Gili Islands, accessible by a short boat ride, offer snorkeling and a very relaxed pace.
What to do: Pink Beach (Pantai Tangsi) gets its blush color from crushed red coral mixed with white sand and is worth the journey to the east coast. The Rinjani trek takes two to four days depending on the route, and the sunrise views from the crater rim are one of those moments that genuinely justify the effort.
Budget guide:
- Accommodation: $10–$20 per night
- Local warung meals: $1–$3
- Rinjani trek with guide: varies by operator, best to book locally
Best for: Travelers who’ve already been to Bali and want more of Indonesia’s natural beauty with fewer crowds, or those who want a beach destination that hasn’t been heavily commercialized.
11. Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mostar’s old town is built around Stari Most, a 16th-century Ottoman bridge that was destroyed during the Bosnian War and meticulously rebuilt afterwards. It’s one of the most photogenic structures in the Balkans, and the old town surrounding it, with cobbled lanes, Ottoman-era stone buildings, a bazaar selling copperware and textiles, is compact but deeply atmospheric.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of Europe’s most affordable countries for visitors. Meals are inexpensive, accommodation is reasonably priced, and the main attractions in Mostar are either free or very low cost to visit. The local coffee culture, influenced by Ottoman traditions, means that sitting in a café by the river for an hour costs almost nothing.
What to do: Watching the local divers jump from Stari Most is a free spectacle that happens throughout the day during warmer months. The bridge is about 21 meters above the river and the jump is as impressive as it looks. The Ottoman bazaar (Kujundžiluk) is good for browsing and buying locally made crafts. Day trips to the nearby village of Blagaj, where a monastery sits at the mouth of a river cave, are worth the short journey.
Budget guide:
- Accommodation: $20–$35 per night
- Lunch at a local restaurant: $3–$6
- Most attractions: free or very low cost
Best for: History and architecture travelers, photographers, and anyone building a Balkan itinerary looking for a destination that packs a lot of character into a small area.
12. Siquijor, Philippines
Siquijor is a small island in the central Philippines with a reputation that’s part mystical (it’s known locally for folk healing traditions) and part genuinely stunning, with white sand beaches, clear water, waterfalls in the interior, and coral reefs offshore. It sees far fewer visitors than Palawan or Boracay, which keeps prices lower and the atmosphere quieter.
Getting there requires a ferry connection from Cebu or Dumaguete, which filters out the majority of package tourists and means the island retains a pace that feels unhurried. Most of the beaches are uncrowded. Most of the accommodation options are small guesthouses and family-run resorts.
What to do: Cambugahay Falls, in the island’s interior, is a series of turquoise tiered pools connected by a rope swing, one of the more enjoyable natural spots I’ve come across in the Philippines. Cliff diving is popular along the coast for those inclined. The local healers (mananambal) are an interesting cultural experience if approached respectfully.
Budget guide:
- Accommodation: $15–$30 per night
- Grilled seafood at local eateries: $2–$5
- Island motorbike rental: $5–$8 per day
Best for: Beach and nature lovers who want the Philippines’ natural beauty without the resort pricing or the crowds of the most-visited islands.
Conclusion
The best travel experiences I’ve had have rarely been the most expensive ones. They’ve been the ones where the destination surprised me, where the food was better than I expected, where the surroundings were genuinely beautiful, and where I could stay long enough to actually settle in rather than rushing through a checklist.
Every destination on this list offers exactly that. From the Ottoman lanes of Mostar to the volcanic backdrop of Arequipa, from the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An to the lake views of Udaipur, these are affordable travel destinations that deliver the kind of trip you’ll still be talking about years later.
For destination-specific guides, itineraries, and practical tips on the places that have stood out to me most, browse the full Travel with Zee collection.
What is the most affordable destination on this list?
Vietnam (Hoi An) and Indonesia (Lombok) consistently rank among the lowest-cost options, with accommodation from around $10 per night and meals from $1–$3. Albania and Bulgaria are the most affordable options within Europe specifically.
Which destinations on this list are best for couples?
Udaipur, Hoi An, Sidi Bou Said, and Mostar are all particularly well-suited for couples looking for atmosphere, good food, and beautiful surroundings at a reasonable price. Tbilisi is also a strong option for couples who enjoy wine, food, and city exploration.
When is the best time to visit these destinations?
Shoulder seasons (April to June and September to October) tend to offer the best combination of good weather, lower prices, and smaller crowds across most of these destinations. Specific best times vary by region, so it’s worth researching your chosen destination individually.
Do I need a visa for these destinations?
Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Citizens of the US, UK, EU, and Australia can visit most of these destinations visa-free for short stays. Always check the current entry requirements for your specific passport before booking.
Are these destinations safe for solo travelers?
Most of the destinations on this list are considered safe for solo travelers, including solo women, with normal travel precautions. Oaxaca, Hoi An, Tbilisi, and Plovdiv in particular have well-established solo travel communities. Research current safety conditions for any destination before you travel.
