3.Zagreb, Croatia
A lively and quirky capital
Why it's so cheap: The word might be out on Dubrovnik thanks to Game of Thrones, but Croatia's capital hasn't been completely overrun with tourists and tourist prices (yet). You can find a good Airbnb near the city center for as low as $35 or stay at the popular Swanky Mint Hostel for less than $15. The best way to get around is the tram -- a day pass is $7 -- or rent a bike through the nextbike system. The first 30 minutes are free and each hour after is just $1.
Why you should go: There's a lot more to do here than just wander cobbled streets and photograph old architecture. Zagreb has more museums per capita than any other city in the world -- the Museum of Broken Relationships is a weirdie but a goodie. Also not to be missed is the Grič Tunnel, which runs directly through the heart of the city and opened to the public less than a year ago. If you're there on a weekend, wear your coolest outfit and take part in špica (pronounced "shpitza") where locals get coffee and run errands on Saturday and Sunday mornings for the sole purpose of being seen.
Stop by A Most Unusual Garden, a cafe and bar that's also a treehouse, but set your sights on Mundoaka Street Food when you're ready to tuck into the traditional Croatian cuisine. Zagreb also throws one hell of a late-night party. Head to Opera for the best of the club scene (just don't show up before 1am). But be warned, the locals are likely to drink you under the table and may offer you flaming B-52 shots. -- Hannah Freedman, Thrillist contributor
4.Tallinn, Estonia
A modern city famous for public singing and medieval architecture
Why it's so cheap: It's still shaking off the post-Communism blues. The first ex-Soviet state to adopt the euro is so much cheaper than neighboring Finland that Fins routinely ferry across the Baltic Sea just to buy cigarettes. Slightly larger than Switzerland, this small country (1.5 million people) has a big outlook while the people have even bigger hearts. And you'll feel like a big shot buying them cheap rounds.
Why you should go: Estonia's architecturally brilliant capital city is one of the best-kept medieval towns on our planet. Tallinn's Old Town -- an obvious UNESCO World Heritage Site -- is also a renowned Hanseatic city, now with wireless. (The Hanseatic League was a medieval Northern Europe merchant alliance resembling an early European Union.) Encouraged by the collapse of the Iron Curtain, Estonia metaphorically waved bye-bye to the USSR in 1989 when 2 million Baltic citizens launched into a nations-wide (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) jam-band choir known as the Singing Revolution (a Baltic Woodstock). Today, merry outdoor festival-going still overshadows sport fandom as a national pastime. Song festival fairgrounds and their signature bandshell arches are everywhere. Despite the difficulties they've endured for hundreds of years, cultural traditions have kept Estonians together: Folk dancing, art, hearty cuisine, and storytelling over a few brews top the list.
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