That ever-growing travel wish list might be putting some pressure on your pocket – but there are plenty of destinations where you'll get more bang for your buck. From Greece Dropdown content to Guatemala Dropdown content, here are 20 of the cheapest places to travel. You might also want to discover how to explore the world's most expensive city without breaking the bank — find how how to visit Tel Aviv on a budget Dropdown content.
There’s a reason why
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The Great Holy Relics Pagoda Nabhapolbhumisiri, Chiang Mai, Thailand - still one of the cheapest places to travel © Shutterstock
One of the great things about travelling in
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Cape Town, South Africa - aerial view © Mark Van Overmeire/Shutterstock
Despite a remarkable rate of change over the decades since the end of the American War,
Then there’s
Street Pho - Vietnam street food options make it a great cheap place to travel © JNEZAM/Shutterstock
If you’ve already visited
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Uruguay. Punta del Este - a great place to go on a tight travel budget © Chaykovsky Igor/Shutterstock
continued below
Since relations between
Havana on Cuba is still a great place for cheap travel © Pixabay
Despite being firmly on the tourist – not to mention bachelor party – trail these days,
Find places to stay on a budget in Prague
Prague © Shutterstock
Find budget places to stay in Greece
Hydra Island, Greece © Anastasios71/Shutterstock
It’s hard not to fall under the spell of
For planning your trip, check out the
Find budget places to stay in Guatemala
Antigua, Guatemala © Shutterstock
Often unfairly overlooked, Bulgaria has a lot to offer budget travellers – not least some of the most deserted beaches in Europe, at bargain prices. In addition to its appealing coastline, there’s also lots of lovely old towns, including Varna on the coast and ancient Plovdiv, one of two European Capitals of Culture in 2019 – an on the Rough Guide list of
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Panoramic view of Golden Sands beach (Zlatni Piasci) in Bulgaria © Aleksandar Todorovic/Shutterstock
India remains one of the ultimate destinations for budget travellers; there are few countries where you can still travel so extensively and eat so well for so little. If you’re after a beach break, eschew Goa for the gorgeous beaches of the temple town of Gokarna; for amazing food, it’s hard to beat the puris and kebabs of Mumbai’s street stalls; or head to the Golden City of Jaisalmer from where you can explore the seemingly endless sands of the Thar Desert. Need more inspiration? Check out
Varanasi, India © Shutterstock
Portugal remains one of the best bargains in Western Europe, and is especially worth considering if you want to avoid the more crowded resorts and cities of Spain. Skip the Algarve for the ruggedly beautiful Alentejo coast (with its cheap, fresh seafood) and vibrant, uber cool Lisbon. If you're not sure where to start, read our
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Alentejo © Shutterstock
One of the cheapest countries in South America, Bolivia is also one of it's
Find budget places to stay in Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni - Bolivia is one of the cheapest places to travel in South America © Shutterstock
Your budget will definitely stretch to tacos and tequila aplenty in Mexico – which is great news as there’s a lot of ground to cover in this vibrant country. Whether you want to string your hammock up along dazzling white sands, sample some of the country’s best street food in Oaxaca or cool off in a crystal-clear cenote (sunken swimming hole), the country will leave you eager to come back for more. To kick-start your wanderlust, these are
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Zipolite beach, Oaxaca, Mexico © Shutterstock
You can’t escape from music in New Orleans – and with buskers on what often seems like every corner, and music in every courtyard and bar, it’s not hard to experience the city’s musical heritage without spending much more than the price of a beer. The city is best experienced slowly, and on foot; it’s hard to beat people-watching over a cup of coffee and a plate of sugar-dusted beignets at the Café du Monde. Find out where to sample the city's top cocktails with
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Bourbon St, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA © Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Even in a region of budget-friendly destinations, Laos stands out. It’s hard not to be captivated by the slow pace of the country; head just north of elegant Luang Prabang to riverside Nong Khiaw, where for small change you can bag a waterside bungalow and watch the boats travel up and down the karst-surrounded river over a cold bottle of Beer Lao. Get the full lowdown on this enchanting and unspoiled corner of Southeast Asia with
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Africa’s smallest country is already known for its beautiful beaches, but it’s well worth venturing beyond them to experience its other delights. Top of the list has to be the Chimp Rehabilitation Centre in the River Gambia National Park, where you can watch the primates in their natural habitat. For birdlife, Baobolong Wetland Reserve is arguably the best place for ornithology on the continent, and is at its most atmospheric at sunset. Read on for
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The biggest appeal for budget – if not all travellers – to Shanghai is undoubtedly the abundance of amazing street food on offer, from xiao long bao soup dumplings to scallion pancakes and sticky rice parcels (zongzi). It’s still possible to find an accommodation bargain at the lower end of the scale, and much of the city’s appeal lies in exploring its busy streets on foot and experiencing for yourself the juxtaposition between old and new China. You'll find recommendations for where to find the city's best street eats and budget sleeps in
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With one foot in Europe and the other in Asia, Istanbul is undeniably alluring. Though seeing all the major sights – the Aya Sofya, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace to name but a few – can quickly eat into your lira, the city can still be great for tighter budgets. Arguably the best ways to really soak up the city are from a Bosphorus ferry, wandering the streets of the Grand Bazaar, or on a streetside terrace with a freshly-cooked kebab - read up our
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First things first – we know London is not cheap. There’s no denying that even staying in hostels, using public transport and eating in cafés is going to massively eat into your budget. But – and it’s a big but – there are few places in the world that can rival the capital city for its plethora of free sights, where you can see the Rosetta Stone and the Lindow Man, works by Monet and Dalí, not to mention dinosaur and blue whale skeletons, for absolutely nothing. Get off on the right foot by
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Hampstead Heath during the summer months in London © Chris Seddon/Shutterstock
Considering the abundance of mind-blowing ancient sights, you’d expect travel in Egypt to cost a lot more than it does. Sure, if you tick off all the major attractions – including the Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings and Abu Simbel – then costs are going to creep up, but tempered with cheap (and excellent) food and decent budget accommodation, it’s not hard to feel like you’re almost able to live like a Pharaoh. Note, that due to safety concerns some governments currently advise against travel to certain parts of the country; check the latest advice before you go.
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