Each year, countless travelers

The Czech Republic is not as affordable as it used to be, but if much of your travel is outside the capital city of Prague, you'll be able to find plenty of bargains. This is especially true during the colder months (except for the second half of December, as the weeks around Christmastime are prime tourist season). January and February are the cheapest months, with March through May also offering some great discounts on flights and accommodations.

Poland's main cities – Krakow and Warsaw – are not always cheap, so if they are your main destinations, avoid visiting in the summer. Shoulder season (especially the months of March and April) are ideal months to travel to urban Poland – the weather is warming up, the prices are still low, and the castles and palaces that were closed during the winter are opening up again, often at discounted prices.

In addition to many tiny galleries spread throughout the entire city, Bratislava is also home to lots of street sculptures – from bronze workmen coming out of sewer holes to life-size Napoleon's soldiers leaning against benches. Despite being the capital, Bratislava is relatively small and can be easily explored on foot, as most of the attractions and top things to do are located around the Old Town center area – if you're headed outside the city, trains and buses are cheap and very comfortable.

Hungary's capital, Budapest, is home to a long list of free attractions, including walking on the Chain Bridge across the Danube and exploring the Castle Hill area. Although some of the attractions in the Castle area – which includes the Buda Castle and the underground Castle Labyrinth – aren't free to visit, they're still very affordable. In the month of June, the city sponsors a "Night of the Museums," where you can visit many landmarks around Budapest for free.

While the summer season means more expensive accommodations along the coast, the beaches are all public and free, so it's possible to keep the costs to a minimum even during the high season. Koper Beach and nearby Mestna Beach, Moon Bay, and the famous seaside resort of Portoroz are all very affordable in late spring when temperatures are already summery, but the tourists haven't arrived yet.

Portugal's most attractive destinations are all about nature, sun, and the outdoors – meaning they're mostly free. The Faro District in the south of the country is a popular destination for its soft golden sands, cliffs, and lighthouses, while visitors to Madeira head there for the rugged volcanic hiking trails, the beautiful harbor, and the great scuba diving.

But fear not — if you're visiting in the summer months you can always head inland to explore the rugged mountains, glacial lakes, and UNESCO medieval towns. For example, Crno Jezero, a mountain lake surrounded by deep green-bluish forest, is a stunning destination for hiking and swimming and is completely free to enjoy.

Its "rising tourist destination" status means many things for travelers — fewer crowds and, of course, lower prices. The country has a little bit of everything to offer travelers: beautiful beaches, UNESCO medieval towns, national parks, lakes, mountains, and more — all for a fraction of the price of other more well-traveled European destinations.

Romania is one of the cheapest destinations in Europe, especially if you're heading to the Carpathian mountains for some hiking or mainly focused on exploring the countryside. Even a visit to Brasov – home to Dracula's 14th-century Bran Castle – can be very affordable if you book a sightseeing day tour or don't mind slow train connections out of Bucharest. Trains aren't always in the best condition in Romania, but they are safe and very cheap.

Bulgaria often tops the list of inexpensive countries to visit in Europe – and with good reason. For starters, Bulgaria remains largely undiscovered by tourists except for the visitors that come over in summer for a cheap vacation alongside the Black Sea. Even then, accommodations, flights, and entertainment will still cost you a fraction of what you would pay in Western Europe. In the off-season, prices drop considerably, and you can ski, eat, and travel around the country for a tenth of what it costs in the West.