11.Ljubljana, Slovenia
A friendly, mountainous jewel at post-Yugoslavian prices
Why it's so cheap: Slovenia adopted the euro in 2007 and those euros go a looong way. It’s easy to bounce over here on Rail Europe after fretting over your budget in neighboring Austria. Relish the easy stroll from the rail station into the heart of Ljubljana (pronounced "youb-blee-ahna") along curvy, cobbled medieval lanes lined with ultra-bargain cafes, shops, and open-air watering holes.
Why you should go: Vastly photogenic, this mountain-encircled Baroque city is a remarkable crossroads of Germanic, Latin, and Slavic history. These are stalwart, hard-working mountain folks who enjoy socializing, hanging outdoors, and outdoing Croatia. The architecture, scenery, and humanity in this proud capital city do not disappoint -- majestic Ljubljana Castle looms over the antique hamlet, and water melting from the ice-encrusted Alps flows from the taps. Not far off from Ljubljana are the gorgeous mountain-lake towns of Bled and Bohinj. You'll find this northwestern corner of the Western Balkans is more Euro than Slavic, so they vibe well with Americans and most people speak excellent English.
12.San Sebastián, Spain
Eat to your heart’s content in Basque Country’s gastronomical capital
Why it's so cheap: The bars and restaurants in this beachside resort serve small nibbles (called pintxos) that can add-up to big savings on a culinary crawl. Don’t miss Bar Nestor, where tortilla de patata goes for $2 per slice. Or head to Pollitena, where a three-course menu of the day is $14 and comes with a glass of wine and bread. Save room for dessert because across the street is Pastelería Oiartzun. Ask for a table outside as you sip coffee and sample one of their specialty pastries -- tejas de tolosa -- a cheap, delightful almond bread.
Why you should go: San Sebastian is a food lover’s capital. It’s a great place to stuff yourself silly with Basque pintxos, bacalao (cod-fish stew), or jamon iberico. While you can easily burn through $400-$500 on a meal that you’ll literally never forget at one of their many Michelin-starred restaurants (see: Akelarre, Arzak, or Mugaritz), the old section of the city is notorious for cheap eats, and it’s also where these two- and three-starred chefs tend to hang out after hours. The equation is pretty simple here: Eat. Hit the beach. Repeat.
...[ Continue to next page ]
Share This Post
