Choosing the Right European Destination: Price, Rating, and Attractions

Traveling around Europe is a fun and rewarding experience in terms of education, inspiration, and personal growth. But how do you choose the country that’s right for you, considering factors such as cost, rating, and number of attractions? In this article, we will try to find answers to these questions by comparing different European countries according to three criteria: price, rating, and number of attractions. If you prefer to skip the details and start planning your trip right away, you can use services for travelers, such as Country Helper, to create your own route. Filters will help you match your preferences and budget with the best destinations. For the curious, we share tips, tricks and tools on how to choose a country to travel to depending on your budget, taste and preferences. After reading this article, you should be able to make the right choices and enjoy your journey.

Price

Region, season, travel style, duration, currency, and other factors are what determine the cost of traveling around Europe. In general, we can say that the cheapest countries in Europe are in Eastern and Central Europe, such as Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. In these countries, you can find inexpensive flights, accommodation, meals, and excursions.

The most expensive countries in Europe are in Western and Northern Europe, such as Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, France, and Germany. According to the Cost of Living Index and the Big Mac Index, these countries are among the top 10 most expensive countries in the world: flights, accommodation, food, and excursions — everything costs more. For example, in contrast, the average cost of a flight from London to Zurich is around £150, to Warsaw — £50; the average cost of staying in a three-star hotel is around £100 per night, in Warsaw — £30.

How Can You Save Money on Traveling Around Europe?

● Compare prices for flights, accommodation, meals and excursions in different countries and regions of Europe using special sites and applications, for example, our partners from https://countryhelper.com/.

● Look for special offers, discounts, promotions and coupons from airlines, hotels, restaurants and travel agencies by subscribing to their newsletters, social networks and blogs.

● Take advantage of loyalty programs, bonuses and cash backs from your banks, credit cards and payment systems, which can give you discounts or refunds on your travel.

● Plan your trip ahead by booking flights, accommodations, meals and excursions early when prices are still low, or at the last minute when prices have already been reduced.

● Avoid peak seasons, holidays and festivals when prices for travel around Europe can be several times higher than normal times. Prefer low or mid-season when prices are lower and there are fewer tourists.

● Choose alternative options for flights, accommodation, meals and excursions that may be cheaper, but not worse than standard ones. For example, fly low-cost airlines, stay in hostels or couch-surfing, eat in street cafés or cook yourself, visit free or cheap attractions, or walk or bike around the city.

Rating

Climate, safety, friendliness of locals, services, availability of entertainment, and number of attractions, and all of these are what form the ranking of countries based on traveler reviews. The most popular countries are located in Western and Southern Europe, such as France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Great Britain. The less popular ones in Eastern and Northern Europe: Moldova, Belarus, Albania, Liechtenstein, and Iceland. The reasons for the popularity of the former are a warm and sunny climate, rich history, delicious cuisine, famous attractions, and a variety of entertainment. The reasons for the unpopularity of the latter: harsh and cold climate, less developed and less diversified tourism infrastructure, and less effective marketing strategies. According to Country Helper, the highest-rated country in Europe is Malta — 90.29%; a flight from London to Malta is around £75; a three-star hotel in Malta — £15 to £75 per night.

Look for exceptions by following blogs, podcasts, videos, and social media of professional and amateur travelers. This will help you find unusual and unknown places not only to travel but also to work as a digital nomad.

How Can You find Interesting and Unusual Places in Europe?

● Read reviews, ratings, recommendations and tips from other tourists who have already visited different European countries using travel websites and apps.

● Subscribe to blogs, podcasts and social networks from professional and amateur travelers who share their experiences, stories, photos and videos from around Europe.

● Be open-minded and curious, ready for adventure and the unexpected when you travel through Europe. Don’t be afraid to go off the tourist trail and explore new and unexplored places — you might be surprised at what you find.

Number of Attractions

The number of historical, cultural, natural and modern sites, as well as gastronomic et al. traditions, determines how fascinating a country is for foreign travelers. The secondary factors that attract travelers are size, age, development and uniqueness of the country.

In sum, we can say that the most interesting countries in Europe are traditionally located in Southern and Central Europe: such as Italy, Greece, Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. In these countries, you can see ancient ruins, medieval castles, majestic cathedrals, picturesque mountains, lakes and rivers, modern museums, parks, etc. One example, Italy is the country with the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world — 55: the Colosseum, the Vatican, Venice, Florence, Pisa, etc.

Among the least captivating countries from the point of view of attractions, the countries of Europe are also traditionally located in Northern and Eastern Europe, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, etc. — small towns, modest churches, simple monuments, forests, swamps, canals, windmills, cheeses, etc. One argument, Finland is the country that has the smallest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe — 7: Suomenlinna Fortress, Old Rauma, Petäjävesi, the wood processing factory in Werla, Sammallahdenmäki Bronze Age burial complex, the Struve geodetic arc, and the Kvarken archipelago (Wikipedia). Of course, there are exceptions: Iceland and Norway can be fascinating for those who love nature, adventure, and extreme conditions; there you will see volcanoes, geysers, glaciers, fjords, northern lights, etc.

Conclusion

Selecting a country to travel to Europe requires a thoughtfully planned decision to take into account several considerations that range from limiting the budget to personal preferences and interests. Factors including the price, rating, and number of attractions can help you plan a vacation that fits your wishes. Whether traveling on a budget in Eastern and Central Europe or splurging on top-dollar destinations in Western and Southern Europe with their long and rich history and attractions, there is always room for each class of travelers. Not only us, but also services for travelers such as Country Helper will help you to make your travel life easier. And lastly, remember to go the unexplored routes, but keep an open mind to new experiences, thus the European adventure is going to be an intriguing and rewarding one.