Western Europe and its sky-high costs, jam-packed monuments, and subpar safety ranges now not idiot anyone, and although we referred to as it ourselves a number of years in the past, now KAYAK has given us the affirmation we would have liked.
The standard journey search engine has simply unveiled its newest Trop Trending Destinations checklist for the upcoming 12 months, and shockingly sufficient, none of your typical tourism hotspots made the coveted checklist.
Forget Paris and the overpriced eating places, London and its surging knife crime, and Milan with the stuck-up perspective: in 2026, all eyes are on an increasingly-trendier Eastern Europe, with 5 surprisingly-affordable cities particularly standing out.
What can we are saying? We simply hope you want bread dumplings and stewed cabbage:
Bucharest, Romania
Bucharest will not be your typical European getaway, with its Brutalist condominium blocks and grayed-out skyline, however its grit and uncooked vitality are drawing in additional adventurous vacationers than you would possibly count on: for 2026, there was an 80% uptick in searches for this vacation spot.
We will not deceive you: Bucharest primarily attracts vacationers searching for a riotous nightlife and good value for money relating to drinks and meals, however its Paris-inspired Old Town does have an understated attraction, and the restaurant-lined coated galleries are positively price a stroll.
That being stated, if stretching your vacationer {dollars} it is cause primary why you are visiting this communist-era concrete big, you may be glad to understand it ranks among the many least expensive metropolis breaks in Europe. You can discover hearty meals for solely $12.56, and in a single day stays in low-cost resorts for $53.
Budapest, Hungary
Ranking at quantity 5, with an 86% search enhance in comparison with 2025, Budapest now firmly locations itself amongst Europe’s most sought-after locations. Given its lovely structure, plethora of luxurious thermal spas, and general affordability, we won’t say we’re shocked.
Whether it is taking a stroll alongside the banks of the Danube, exploring the destroy bars and road markets of the Jewish Quarter, or taking a heat plunge on the iconic Széchenyi Thermal Bath, Budapest will steal your coronary heart very quickly (however not drain your pockets).
According to Numbeo, meals in cheap eating places away from Budapest’s touristy middle price roughly $11.82, whereas Budget Your Trip estimates that non-public rooms can price as low-cost as $43 per evening.
Krakow, Poland
Boasting a 106% enhance in year-on-year searches, Krakow might solely be Poland’s second-largest metropolis, however it’s undeniably its cultural coronary heart, beating Warsaw to the primary spot due to its well-preserved medieval townscape, regal palaces, and sheer historic weight.
Its Old Town Square is likely one of the largest within the continent, dwelling to a landmark Gothic basilica and an arcaded, Renaissance-era Cloth Hall. Overlooking the Vistula River, Wawel Castle and its cathedral, the place a number of Polish kings had been annointed and topped, is yet one more must-see.
The better part? A dinner outing in a standard kosher eatery in Krakow’s vibrant Jewish Quarter, or Kazimierz, will set you again a median $11 solely, whereas price range in a single day stays within the Old Town space, no luxuries, can price as little as $36.
Sofia, Bulgaria
At a 136% enhance in searches, Sofia is on the crossroads of the Eastern and Western Worlds, and its fascinating architectural tapestry, made up of Roman ruins, Bulgarian Revivalist monuments, and Soviet-inspired civic buildings, is nothing wanting mesmerizing.
One of the most important Orthodox church buildings within the Balkans is actually right here, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and although smaller in scale, the solemn Saint Sofia Church is an historical gem courting again to the sixth century, price trying out.
Down Vitosha Boulevard, you may discover a plethora of trendy eating places and energetic nightlife spots, and you possibly can by no means break the financial institution right here: a restaurant invoice will run you up $11.89, or $52 for a 3-course meal for 2, whereas resorts on a price range go for a steal at $36.
Side be aware: from 2026, Americans will be capable of fly nonstop to Sofia, Bulgaria for the primary time.
Prague, Czechia
There are some cliches which are certainly price all of the hype, and although we could not say that applies to Dublin, the majestic Prague actually wins prime billing: with its many spires, saint-guarded bridges, and eerie-looking Gothic towers, it is a storybook drawing come to life.
180% extra vacationers have been eyeing Prague as a vacation spot for 2026, and likelihood is the town’s iconic Astronomical Clock, the huge medieval advanced that’s Prague Castle, and the edgy artwork scene surrounding the John Lennon Wall are excessive on their bucket checklist.
Despite its plain recognition—regardless of how journey influencers attempt to paint it as an underrated spot, Prague sits among the many most-visited capitals in Europe—you possibly can nonetheless get fairly the bang on your buck right here. We’re speaking lunch combos for $11.98 and low-cost stays for round $59.
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