Quick verdict: Eastern Europe is Europe’s last affordable backpacker frontier — Prague + Budapest + Krakow + Belgrade. Western Europe quality at 40-60% prices.
6 best backpacking spots in Eastern Europe
Prague (Old Town)
Czech budget
EUR 15-50/night. Charles Bridge + castle + cheap beer + medieval atmosphere.
Budapest (Pest)
Hungarian budget
EUR 15-50/night. Thermal baths + Castle Hill + ruin pubs. Cheaper than Prague.
Krakow (Old Town)
Polish budget
EUR 15-45/night. Wawel Castle + Auschwitz day trip + cheap pierogi.
Belgrade
Serbian budget
EUR 12-40/night. Eastern Europe cheapest nightlife city. Fortress + savamala district.
Ljubljana
Slovenian charm
EUR 20-60/night. Compact + walkable. Lake Bled day trip.
Riga (Latvia)
Baltic budget
EUR 15-50/night. Art Nouveau buildings + Old Town. Latvian craft beer.
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Updated 2026. Some links on Packzup are affiliate links.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.