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Summer is fast approaching, and if you’re craving some of that Old World allure—you know, the fairytale castles, centuries-old cities, and heritage cuisine you can’t find as easily in our side of the pond—Europe is likely to be on your radar.
This is a crazy economy, though, and America’s reputation isn’t the best abroad at the moment, so if you’re on a strict budget and concerned about how welcome you’ll feel traveling, you might want to avoid the usual tourist spots.
We’re talking Paris, Milan, London and the like, where week-long stays can easily run you up between $2,086 and $6,600, and crowding can get a little too intense.
It doesn’t mean you have to avoid Europe altogether, either:
Here are 3 much more affordable alternatives that are just as incredible, and to the surprise of some, you can even fly there nonstop from America!
Rzeszów, Poland
Though places like Warsaw and Krakow have risen in popularity with Americans in recent years, Poland itself is still a pretty offbeat country, let alone a lesser-known destination like Rzeszów.
Pronounced “Zheh-shov” (don’t worry, we’re probably butchering it ourselves too), it is a mid-size city at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, in southeastern Poland, and one of the country’s leading cultural centers.
It is home to a large Baroque castle, fortified by impressive walls, and a picture-perfect, colorful Old Town. Its ‘Rynek’, or Old Town Market Square, has remained largely unchanged since it was built in the Middle Ages.
It has the same cobbles and merchant shops, and if you’re looking for something a little unique, you can even visit an extensive system of underground tunnels, right beneath the square.
The most surprising bit is that, despite its relative, not to say absolute anonymity in American circles, it is the only other Polish city, outside the Warsaw-Krakow duo, that hosts nonstop flights to and from North America (Newark, to be more specific).
Fly Nonstop To Rzeszów (RZE) From:
- Newark (EWR)—1 flight per week every Sunday with LOT Polish Airlines
Bucharest, Romania
The vibrant capital of Romania, Bucharest is far from being your typical European city break.
For starters, it does not offer the same architectural wonders other capitals like Budapest, Vienna, or Paris do—though it is called sometimes “Paris of the East” by virtue of its tiny, Belle époque-era historic core.
If we’re being completely honest, however, Bucharest is largely Soviet-esque, littered with Brutalist buildings, apartment blocks dating back to the communist era, and concrete giants like the Romanian Parliament.
It’s somewhere only adventurous travelers looking for unique experiences, and who don’t mind a bit of grit, will appreciate, and lacking as it may be in pleasing aesthetics, Bucharest is all the rage as far as nightlife and quirkiness go:
From experiencing Lipscani Street’s raucous nightlife, with strip bars serving $3 beer and other curious drinks, to venturing into hidden passages lined with storied cafes and cozy hookah lounges, like Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse, you’re certain to find your thrill here.
Lucky for Americans keen on the “weird” and unusual, Bucharest is a single nonstop flight away this summer:
Fly Nonstop To Bucharest-Otopeni (OTP) From:
- New York (JFK)—1 flight per week every Monday and Friday with HiSky Europe
Belgrade, Serbia
We’re not done with the off-path, rough-around-the-edge gems just yet.
Next up we’re looking at Belgrade, Serbia’s bustling number one city and its cultural and financial heart, and as many have dubbed it in recent years, Berlin of the Southeast. Now, it has far less kebab shops than Germany’s capital does—you should look for its equivalent čevapi instead—but it is every bit as edgy and cool.
Think colorful street art everywhere you look, and particularly in the Beton Hala area, Savamala’s underground techno clubs you just wouldn’t tell your mom about, or niche exhibits like the Museum of Yugoslavia, where you can browse communist relics and former Serbian dictator Tito’s memorabilia:
Belgrade is sure to appeal to those open to challenging the perception of Europe as they know it.
Brushing that aside, there’s always a beautiful, pedestrianized Mihailova Street, lined with grandiose buildings, the medieval fortifications of Belgrade Castle, and the lamp-lit, Bohemian Skadarlija and its many bars.
Finally… you guessed it: you can fly from the States to Belgrade without layovers!
Fly Nonstop To Belgrade (BEG) From:
- New York (JFK)—1 flight every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with AirSerbia
- Chicago-O’Hare (ORD)—1 flight every Wednesday and Saturday with AirSerbia
Vinicius Costa
Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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