New Orleans is a city with many names, including the Crescent City, NOLA, and the Big Easy. Another nickname that deserves to be on the list is Festival Capital of the World. With over 130 New Orleans festivals throughout the year, that’s about one every three days!

That’s not just New Orleanians tooting their own horn, either. Travel & Leisure actually named NOLA the best city for festivals in the United States. New York may be the City That Never Sleeps, but New Orleans is the City That Never Stops Partying.

While New Orleans is most well-known for its raucous Mardi Gras celebration, there are tons of other awesome festivals to experience here. Whether you’re into music, food, literature, art, or booze, there’s a festival for you in the Big Easy.

I absolutely love festivals. In fact, I skipped my senior prom to go to my first music festival. Oh yeah, and I met my wife at one as well! Of all the cities I’ve traveled to for festivals, nobody does it quite like New Orleans.

With so many excellent New Orleans events to choose from, there’s likely to be something cool going on in the city when you visit. In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the best New Orleans festivals to help you plan the perfect trip.

1. Mardi Gras: New Orleans Carnival Celebration

Of course, we have to start with the granddaddy of them all — Mardi Gras! This is definitely the most famous of all the New Orleans festivals, bringing in over 10 million people to the city each year.

The name Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday”, which is the common name for the final day before the start of Lent. On this day, many people eat rich and fatty foods before the fasting of Lent begins. Mardi Gras in New Orleans lasts for far longer than one day, though!

Once the 12 days of Christmas are finished, the Mardi Gras celebrations begin. The first parades kick off on January 6th, which is also known as Three Kings’ Day. That means the party lasts for several weeks, so you have lots of options for including Mardi Gras on your list of things to do in New Orleans.

Mardi Gras came to the region way back in 1699 when a French Canadian explorer landed about 60 miles downriver from New Orleans and named it “Ponte du Mardi Gras” (Fat Tuesday Point) when he realized it was the day of the holiday. The parades started in the 1830s, and Mardi Gras has been an integral part of the culture here ever since.

Mardi Gras season in New Orleans basically means a ton of parades, interesting costumes, colorful beads, and King Cakes. There’s a lot of eating, drinking, dancing, and just general merriment. Be sure you wear the official colors of Mardi Gras – purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power).

For 2020, Mardi Gras falls on February 25th. This is the last day of the New Orleans Carnival season, so most people try to get to the city a few days before for an extended weekend. Make sure you plan ahead and book accommodation well in advance, as this is the most popular time to visit the Big Easy.

If you don’t want to deal with the crowds, consider traveling to New Orleans a few weeks before Mardi Gras. There’s still plenty going on, but it’s far less chaotic and you’ll get a better deal on accommodation.

2. French Quarter Festival

The French Quarter Festival started back in 1984 as a way to draw locals back to the area after construction of the World’s Fair finished up. It’s a celebration of New Orleans food, music, and culture that lasts for four days every April. If you’re looking for a good New Orleans music festival, this is a solid choice.

Best of all, the French Quarter Festival is totally free! It’s actually the largest free music festival in the country, with an estimated 1,700 Louisiana musicians playing across 23 different stages. You’ll hear many different genres of music here, from funk to jazz to zydeco.

In addition to all the great local music, you can expect plenty of delicious cuisine being cooked, and typical New Orleans cocktails being mixed. There are over 60 booths set up around the French Quarter serving up classics like po’ boys and Hurricanes.

The event is highlighted by the world’s largest jazz brunch, which takes place in Jackson Square and the Riverfront Park. For more information, be sure to check their website.

3. New Orleans Wine and Food Experience

There’s no doubt that the Big Easy is one of the best cities in the US for eating and drinking. You could plan your entire trip here around what you want to eat and drink, and there would be absolutely nothing wrong with that!

When it comes to New Orleans festivals, the Wine and Food Experience is definitely one of the best. Foodies and winos will love this 5-day celebration of the finer things in life. With over 250 wineries and 100 restaurants taking part, you’ve got plenty of options.

During the festival, wineries and restaurants team up to offer special menus with wine pairings. There are also grand tastings and seminars throughout the festival where you can learn more about the fantastic food and wine on offer. The highlight of the festival is the Royal Street Stroll, a parade led by the Krewe of Cork.

One of the best parts about supporting this festival is that it’s for a great cause. The NOWFE donates all of its proceeds minus costs to benefit the arts, careers in wine and hospitality, and charitable organizations. They’ve contributed over $1 million so far, so you’re eating and drinking for a good cause here!

If you want to take part in the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, head on over to their website to learn more.

4. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

In a city known as the birthplace of jazz, it should come as no surprise that there’s a jazz festival in the Big Easy! The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (or Jazz Fest for short) recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and is a major part of the local culture.

This famous New Orleans music festival goes down at the Fair Grounds Race Course. Here you can catch over 100 artists across several stages playing every style of music associated with Louisiana, which is basically everything! In addition to jazz, you can get down to blues, gospel, rap, country, bluegrass, and so much more.

Jazz Fest wouldn’t be one of the best New Orleans festivals without plenty of local food to enjoy. Jazz Fest has a policy of “no carnival food” meaning you won’t get overpriced corn dogs and cotton candy here. Instead, you can munch on local classics like boiled crawfish or red beans & rice. There are also plenty of booths around the festival selling local crafts.

While the music at the festival only goes until 7:00 PM, the party doesn’t stop then. One of the best parts about experiencing Jazz Fest is checking out some of the amazing late-night shows that go on across the city. The hardest part about going to this fun New Orleans music festival is getting any sleep!

Jazz Fest is actually so big now that it takes place over two weekends. If you want to experience one of the best New Orleans festivals, plan to be in the city for the last weekend of April or first of May, or both if you want to go big. For more information on Jazz Fest, check out their website.

5. White Linen Night/Dirty Linen Night

Of all the unique New Orleans festivals, these two definitely stand out. At the very least, they certainly have the most interesting names – White Linen Night and Dirty Linen Night.

While you can zip around the Big Easy in a nice air-conditioned cab these days, this was not the case back in the day. Since summers are so hot and muggy in the New Orleans, people preferred to wear white linen when going out. Merchants in the city’s Warehouse District decided to have a little flashback party and started White Linen Night in 1994.

The idea for this event is simple. You just put on some fresh, white linen and come out to Julia Street to peruse the art galleries. Of course, there’s also live music and plenty of food & drink to keep the party going. White wine is the drink of choice at this fancy soirée!

New Orleans festivals are all about having a good time. That’s why the party extends to the next weekend with Dirty Linen Night. You’re encouraged to wear the same outfit that you did the previous weekend now that it’s nice and dirty. This party takes place in the French Quarter on Royal Street. Dirty Martinis are the drink of choice, and some shops even give away Dirty Rice.

Taking place over back-to-back weekends in the summer, these are art-centered block parties that are free to attend. White Linen Night takes place on the first Saturday in August, while Dirty Linen Night happens the following weekend.

6. Essence Festival

Known as the “party with a purpose,” the Essence Festival was originally planned as a one-off event back in 1995. This year will mark the 25th anniversary of the festival, which is now known as the biggest event celebrating African-American culture in the entire United States.

Essence is basically two festivals rolled into one. During the day, there are panels and workshops in the Ernest Morial Convention Center. These are open to the public and are totally free, but registration is required.

The action moves to the Superdome in the evenings for an impressive lineup of hip-hop, funk, soul, R&B, and gospel music. You can purchase tickets for concerts individually or go for a weekend pass. This is one New Orleans music festival you won’t want to miss!

They’re pulling out all the stops for the big milestone this year (2019). Former First Lady Michelle Obama will headline the festivities in a special keynote conversation. The musical lineup is stacked as well, with Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliot, NAS, Pharrell Williams, and more. Check their website for more information.

7. Tales of the Cocktail

There are several classic New Orleans cocktails, and there’s even an entire festival dedicated to adult beverages. Tales of the Cocktail dates back to 2002 when it started out as a walking tour of local bars. The next year, it turned into a small gathering of cocktail aficionados and professionals, and it has grown every year since.

Over the course of five days, the cocktail community descends upon New Orleans for seminars, workshops, competitions, tastings, and much more. There are even field trips out to local distilleries, which can be a lot of fun.

For this festival, you can just purchase tickets to the events individually. If you buy tickets up to a value of $150, you can get free access to all the tasting rooms. Here you’ll find great events like “Craft Your Own Perfect Bloody Mary” and “Hecho in Mexico: All Things Agave.”

Whether you’re a part of the industry or just interested in mixology, this is definitely one of the coolest New Orleans events. You can find all the info you need over on their website.

8. Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival

In a city famous for its music and food, one of the best New Orleans festivals to check out is Crescent City Blues & BBQ. Just as the weather starts to cool down a bit, this festival heats things right back up in downtown New Orleans.

This New Orleans music festival started after Hurricane Katrina as a way to bring tourists back to the city and create jobs for locals. It’s been a huge hit ever since and will be having its 14th edition this year.

The festival takes place in Lafayette Square Park in the city’s Central Business District. There are two different stages set up where you can enjoy some amazing blues music and another smaller stage where artists tell stories and host Q&A events.

As far as the food goes, you can expect plenty of mouth-watering Louisiana barbecue here. Take your pick between brisket, lamb chops, and of course a wide variety of sausages. They have vegetarian and vegan options available as well.

Admission is free, but there are VIP packages available if you’re interested. You can read more about the festival on their website.

9. Voodoo Music & Arts Experience

Voodoo has been an important part of the local culture in New Orleans for centuries. It came here with slaves from West Africa, who soon merged their rituals and beliefs with Catholicism. Not only is there a Voodoo Museum in New Orleans, but there’s even a festival.

Every October on the weekend around Halloween, the Voodoo Music & Arts Experience takes over City Park. With catchphrases like “join the ritual” and “worship the music,” this New Orleans music festival embraces the city’s history with voodoo.

The first edition of Voodoo happened back in 1999 as a single-day event. It has grown considerably since then and is now a massive 3-day festival with an impressive lineup. Headliners include Guns N’ Roses, Post Malone, and Beck.

In addition to all the music, there are some pretty mind-blowing art installations here. There’s even an interactive graveyard that makes for some spooky photo ops. Add in thousands of costumed people and you’ve got a recipe for an awesome Halloween weekend. You can find out more about Voodoo and pick up tickets on their website.

LUNA Fete

One of the most unique New Orleans festivals is LUNA Fete, which stands for Light Up NOLA Arts. That’s precisely what this amazing festival of light, art, and technology does to the historic buildings of the Big Easy.

This festival started in 2014 with a single installation at Gallier Hall featuring a stunning projection of light and video. Created by the Arts Council of New Orleans, the idea is to shine a light on the city and show how art can transform communities.

What you’ll see if you experience LUNA Fete is so much more than images being projected onto a building. It’s a very interactive display of motion graphics and sound using the latest in video mapping technology. It truly is an awe-inspiring sight.

LUNA Fete takes place over a few nights in early December to kick off the holiday season in New Orleans. There are nightly projections along with some other interesting art installations. There’s also a large marketplace here with plenty of art and food vendors as well as live entertainment. It’s the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit and fun for the whole family.

Ready for New Orleans Festivals?

As you can see, the action really doesn’t stop when it comes to New Orleans events. Just a few days after ringing in the New Year with huge parties all over the city, the Mardi Gras parades start and last for several weeks.

There’s barely enough time to clean up all the beads off of Bourbon Street before the city turns its focus towards its legendary spring festivals. In addition to the French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest, there are also tons of New Orleans festivals in the spring just for crawfish!

The tasty food festivals of the Big Easy continue on through the rest of the year. There are festivals here dedicated to fried chicken, po’ boys, gumbo, beignets, and even one just for tomatoes. You’ll need something to wash all that down with, and New Orleans has you covered with wine, beer, and cocktail festivals.

With so many festivals going on, New Orleans just might take the (King) Cake for the most fun city in the USA. When one party ends, another is just beginning in the Big Easy. That’s why the city’s motto is “Laissez Le Bons Temps Roulez” – Let the Good Times Roll!

Have you traveled to New Orleans for one of these festivals, or do you have another great recommendation? Leave a comment below and let us know

The land of pasta, pizza, the Pantheon and Pisa is still one of our favourite travel destinations. With so many places to visit in Italy, it’s no surprise that tourists have been flocking to this romantic, architecturally blessed, foodie heaven for centuries.

From the wood fired ovens of Naples and the sumptuous wines of Tuscany to the crumbling ruins of Rome and the romantic canals of Venice, Italy has enough to seduce even the most sceptic of travellers. Those who believe that “Italy is too touristy” are often still intoxicated by the cobblestone back streets, the passionate street music and the picturesque cafes that spill out onto the streets at every corner.

This is a place that you will fall in love with and it’s almost a guarantee that you will return here. We spent over a month in Italy and we’re still dying to go back. In this article, I’m going to highlight not just the places we’ve visited, but all of the best places to visit in Italy. One day, we hope to see them all and hopefully this list will give you some ideas for your next trip to Europe’s big boot.

When To Visit Italy

The best time to visit Italy really depends on what part of the country you plan to visit, what activities you want to experience and if can handle the heat! If you’re into winter sports, then the low season might be for you, but if you want to experience Italy with fewer crowds and an ideal temperature, then shoulder season is probably the best time to go.

High Season in Italy

May to July & September to Mid-October (Plus a peak over Christmas and Easter)

Summer is the high season in Italy, but August is so hot that fewer people actually visit during this time, however this is when Italians go on holiday. Because they tend to travel to other parts of Europe, there is actually more availability for hotels around this time, but the heat can definitely be oppressive, especially in the south and in the cities.

Mid-May to July is a very busy season in Italy because the weather isn’t too hot, but not too cold and all hotels and sites are open. The beaches are warm enough for swimming and people are planning their first holiday of the year after Christmas. This is considered peak season. Again after the summer heat dies down, there’s a secondary peak in September when people come to enjoy the fall colours and temperate weather.

Of course, different places to visit in Italy have different climates, but generally this is a great time to go.

Shoulder Season in Italy

March to Mid-May (Easter is super busy) & October to November

Shoulder season is our favourite time to visit Italy, particularly late March and April, when the weather warms up a bit (perfect for sightseeing), and there aren’t too many travellers. The hotel costs are also much lower around this time, but beware of Easter when the country (particularly Rome and around Vatican City) becomes extremely busy. Hotel prices soar and it’s hard to find rooms. Other than the few days around Easter though, the country is not too busy, the sites aren’t packed and the hotel prices are great.

In general, no matter what places in Italy you choose to travel, shoulder season is our favourite time to visit.

Low Season in Italy

August (too hot) as well as December to February (outside of Christmas and Carnival)

Winter is low season in Italy mainly because it’s really cold and most people choose to visit warmer destinations during this time. Many hotels and some sites actually close down in the low season, but those that remain open often have huge discounts.

It’s nice to enjoy the cities and sites without the crowds, but sometimes the ambiance dies along with the tourism season. If you’re into winter sports however, this is the time to visit.

Getting Around Italy

Our favourite way to get around the various places to visit in Italy is by train, but there are also good bus connections, decent domestic flights and some affordable multi-day, multi-city tours. Trains however, are comfortable, affordable and offer the best way to see the Italian countryside when getting from point A to point B.

If you’re looking to book tickets online, check out GoEuro. They search loads of different partner websites to find the best rates on buses, trains and planes across Italy and the rest of Europe. They also have a super-useful app that makes it easy to book trains and navigate the transportation options in Italy.

I like using their app to search for transport options between destinations because you can easily bring up options between two cities (ie: Rome and Venice or any other places on this list) and then you can simply switch between the tabs in the results to compare the prices and times between buses, trains and flights.

They also have a good list of destinations and a blog with different places to visit in Italy, what to do, what to expect and where to eat.

Places To Visit in Italy: The North

Perhaps nowhere in the country is the Italian connection to the soil, the food, the wines and zest for life as prominent as in the north of Italy.

If you’ve only visited Venice, you’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise, but outside of the quiet canals and growing casino scene of Italy’s biggest tourist draw, there lies hidden villages, dramatic coastal terrain, inspired cuisine and near perfectly preserved architecture. Here are our favourite places to visit in northern Italy.

Cinque Terre

Technically pronounced chinkway tayreh and meaning “5 islands”, Cinque Terre is a region of five historic towns along Italy’s Ligurian Coast that appears on most people’s travel bucket list. The tiny villages of Manarola, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia and Riomaggiore used to be little more than fishing villages, but today they attract thousands of visitors from around the world and together form one of Italy’s main tourism draws, Cinque Terre.

Most tourists choose to hike between the villages along one of the many picturesque trails that weave their way through the towns, up and down the hills and along the dramatic coastline. Now designated as a Unesco World Heritage site, Cinque Terre is well-preserved, well-signed, well-trodden, and well-worth a visit. It’s no wonder why so many people list Cinque Terre as one of their favourite places to visit in Italy.

Dont Miss:

• Riomaggiore: The largest of the five villages in Cinque Terre and the unofficial capital of the coast, brilliantly colored buildings all tumble-down a steep ravine towards a tiny harbor. Be sure to see this place at sunset when it’s aglow in the late afternoon sun.
• Manarola: A bustling fishing village surrounded by grapevines that produce the famous Cinque Terre wine, Manarola is the perfect place to experience what everyday village life looks like in the region.
• Corniglia: Surrounded by vineyards and perched atop a 100 meter high cliff, this tranquil village maze of cobbled streets and stone terraces is the only one of “the big 5” towns in Cinque Terre that doesn’t have direct access to the beach, but it’s the only place where you can get that perfect picture of all 5 villages together from this high-altitude viewpoint.
• Vernazza: Narrow lanes known as caruggi make up a romantic labyrinth of stairs, terraces, balconies and amphitheaters all facing the brilliantly blue Mediterranean Sea. Check out the Piazza Marconi and come in the afternoon when the pastel-colored buildings are at their brightest.
• Monterosso: Always in the shadow of the more charming villages in Cinque Terre, Monterosso still has its worthy qualities aside from being the most easily accessible town and the only one with a proper beach. It also has lemon trees and you can purchase fish right from the fishermen in the harbour.

Best Tours of Cinque Terre:

Tuscany

Instead of listing each of the villages in Tuscany, I’m just going to list the entire region and tell you that you should spend at least a week here, exploring the many villages, vineyards, cathedrals and cobblestone back streets. I highly recommend basing yourself in Florence and then travelling out from there. Florence is still one of our favourite places to visit in Italy, and while it’s a very special city, it is the surrounding villages and landscapes that really add to its allure.

See Also: What To Do in Florence – Our List of 21 Awesome Things To Do

There are some amazing tours available which I’ll list below. We did a wine tour that also brought us to many nearby towns which was a great way to see the region while sipping on some of the vintages that made this area of Italy so famous. If you choose to rent a car for your visit, you could also explore on your own, but I found the guides to be invaluable for learning about the history, culture, cuisine and viticulture of Tuscany.

Are you a foodie? Check out our pick of the best restaurants in Florence

Don’t Miss:

• Florence: The perfect base. Florence’s Duomo is truly a sight to behold. There are also some great walking and wine tasting tours within the city. Without a doubt, Florence is one of the best places to visit in Italy.
• Siena: A classic medieval hill town in Tuscany famous for its large fan-shaped piazza the Piazza del Campo, which features an imposing bell tower, the Torre del Mangia.
• San Gimignano delle Belle Torri: This small medieval town dates back to the 8th century and is probably the most famous of Tuscany’s small towns. San Gimignano boasts 14 medieval towers and narrow alleyways, all overlooking olive groves and vineyards.

Best Tuscany Tours:

Milan

Best known for its high-end fashion factories, fancy boutiques and super shopping, Milan also has some of the country’s most stunning architecture and historical sites as well as its best bars and most chic cafes (usually Milanese don’t distinguish between the two).

There’s a considerable amount of rain in Milan and the locals often don’t speak English, but that’s never deterred the enormous number of tourists who flock to this haven for high fashion hand bags and top-end restaurants. Take your time and get lost in the lesser known areas of Brera, Corso Como, and Navigli and find a Milan that is miles away from what you likely expected before your arrival.

Don’t Miss:

• Castello Sforzesco: The former fortress and residence of Milan’s most powerful rulers is now a campus for some of the city’s best cultural institutions.
• Duomo: Milan’s Duomo is considered the largest and most fascinating Gothic complex in all of Italy, which is no surprise because it took about 500 years to build!
• Monumental Cemetery: A cemetery may not have been at the top of your list of places to visit in Italy, but once you see the architecture that makes up the Monumental Cemetery, you’ll see why it’s considered such a must-see site.

Best Tours in Milan:

Venice

For some reason, despite all of they hype for this infamously romantic canal village in Italy, we weren’t overly impressed. Don’t get me wrong – aesthetically, Venice was breathtaking and is still one of the places to visit in Italy that you shouldn’t miss.

To us, Venice felt so touristy that is was almost completely devoid of what makes Italy so amazing. Even the local businesses here were run by foreigners with many Russians buying up gorgeous old buildings and converting them into large hotels or (even worse) casinos.

On the surface, Venice is still one of the most beautiful places to visit in Italy, but as you dig a little deeper and find out that many Venetians have sold up and moved to the mainland and very little true culture actually remains here, the place becomes somehow tainted.

That’s not to say it shouldn’t still be on your bucket list of places to visit in Italy, but you may find that it lacks the food, culture and day-to-day life of places like Rome, Naples and Florence.

Don’t Miss:

• Canal Tour: You have to hop on a boat and be gently paddled around the canals for at least an hour. If you don’t, you’ll be the only tourist to ever visit Venice without actually venturing on a traditional gondola.
• Murano & Burano: Don’t miss these two nearby islands. Colourful, quaint and picturesque.
• Piazza San Marco: Packed, chaotic and oh so gorgeous, this piazza is home to Saint Mark’s Basilica. It’s a stunning place, but just know that the lines here are enormous! If you actually want to go inside the basilica, join a tour so you can skip the horrendous lines.
• The Grand Canal: The main canal in Venice, this is a great place to chill, stroll, enjoy an aperitivo or a gelato and people watch.

Best Tours in Venice:

☞ Click here to see all tours available in Venice with Walks of Italy

Turin

Filled with flea markets, tasty aperitivo, an Egyptian museum and lovely back streets, Turin is another rain-prone tourist hub with a lot to offer visitors. If you expect to spend a lot of time enjoying cultural activities abnd excursions, you should definitely pick a special tourist card. These are sold at ticket kiosks and many hotels around the city and can save you a lot of money on entrance fees around Turin.

You may feel like you’ve temporarily stepped into Paris as you meander through the bougainvillea draped, cobble stoned streets and tuck into tiny cafes for espresso and pastries, but Turin has a personality all its own.

With a history of chocolate, booming contemporary art and architecture, a growing live-music scene and innovative food and wine culture, Turin has enough to keep you busy for a while.

Don’t Miss:

• Piazza Castello: Also known as Castle Square, you’ll find this site in the centre of the city. It is surrounded by arcades on three sides, each of which were built in a different period.
• Palazzo Reale: Actually the home of the royal family from 1660 until the Unification of Italy in 1861. The State Apartments in the Palazzo provide a fascinating glimpse into the architecture, history and life of old.
• The Egyptian Museum: Perhaps an Egyptian museum wasn’t the first place to visit in Italy that came to mind when planning you’re trip, but thanks to Bernard Drovetti, the French Consul General in Egypt during the Napoleon wars, this museum has the largest collection of Egyptian relics and sculptures outside of Egypt.

Genoa

Still one of the country’s most intriguing and intoxicating, yet undiscovered cities, this Italian Riviera gem should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Italy, especially if you like to get a little bit off the beaten path.

Sitting right on a one of Europe’s best stretches of coastline, Genoa boasts fantastic art, culture, history and architectural marvels. The former Republic of Genoa ruled over the Mediterranean waves during the 12th to the 13th centuries and this history is still vividly etched into the endless labyrinth of twisting caruggi (narrow streets), pasted in the gold-leaf halls of Palazzi dei Rolli and painted with the brush strokes of Caravaggio.

Don’t Miss:

• Piazza de Fararri: Featuring a central fountain and fringed by a bold mix of 19th-century architecture, this is one of the city’s most beautiful plazas.
• Porta Soprana: Just a few minutes from Piazza De Ferrari, the Porta Soprana represents some of the last standing examples of a once great city wall. Today the two towers and arched gateway make for a great walk and pretty photos.
• San Lorenzo Cathedral: Also known as Genoa Cathedral, the church of San Lorenzo has architecture that may remind you of the Florence Cathedral, with a striped marble stone facade.
• Lucca: This hidden gem is just a short train ride from Florence and features cobblestone streets, elegant palaces and churches all surrounded by an imposing Renaissance-era fortification wall that is now the perfect place for a stroll or a bike ride.

Best Tours in Genoa:

Bologna

Bologna is a newly booming tourist hub which sees more and more visitors each year. Despite its size, the city is very easy to visit thanks to its medieval grid-like design. If you enjoy delicious cuisine, unique character, elegant shopping and quirky architecture, then Bologna is for you.

The city’s gastronomic specialties include pasta and sausages, but you can truly get lost in the cuisine of this important Emilia-Romagna capital, and you’re likely to leave a bit heavier than when you arrived.

Thanks to its easy accessibility, old town, cool vibe and fun nightlife, this is one of the up-and-coming places to visit in Italy and many digital nomads are now flocking here to live and work long-term.

Not only is Bologna a great destination in itself, but there are numerous day trips from Bologna that you can take, making it a great base to see the surrounding areas. Check out the amazing food options in “Food Valley”, the Ferrari Museum in Modena and the beautiful beaches of Rimini…to name a few.

Don’t Miss:

• All’Osteria Bottega: If you want a true foodie experience in Bologna, don’t miss this amazing osteria. Try the culatello di Zibello ham, Petroniana-style veal cutlets (breaded, fried and topped with Parma ham and parmigiano reggiano with a sumptuous salty broth).
• Quadrilatero: Still holding onto its ancient tradition, the old market of Bologna was one of the greatest developments in the Middle Ages and kept its trade and bustling energy throughout the centuries. Wander around and watch as goldsmiths, butchers, fishermen, meat curers, barbers and painters go about their business under the high vaulted ceilings.
• Torre degli Asinelli: The leaning towers of Bologna are a group of medieval structures in the center of town. The two most prominent ones, known as the Two Towers, are the landmark of the city and shouldn’t be missed on a visit.

Best Bologna Tours:

Verona

Do as the locals do and arm yourself with an ice cream as you stroll along one of Verona’s most famous shopping streets, the Corso Porta Borsari. Gaze up at the well-preserved Roman gate as you pass under its great arches before slowly making your way to the quiet Piazza dei Signori.

Verona is known as city of love thanks to its magnificent Arena and its association with Shakespeare’s love story, “Romeo and Juliet.” This Unesco listed world heritage site is Italy’s fourth-most-visited city making it one of the most important tourist destinations in the country.

Don’t Miss:

• Arena di Verona: You may have already had the Colosseum in Rome as one of your top places to visit in Italy, but Verona has its own well-preserved Colosseum. Built just 30 years after the death of Christ, this remarkable structure has stood in impeccable condition for nearly 2000 years and awaits your “oohs and ahhs”.
• Castle Vecchio: Located on the banks of the River Adige, this 16th century castle is an important structure in the city as it once served as its primary defence and was regarded as the greatest feat of engineering during the time of the Scaliger Dynasty.
• Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore: Located on the western side of the Adige River, this basilica is one of the most important religious buildings in Verona and was the fictional venue for the marriage of Romeo and Juliet in Shakespeare’s famous novel.

Parma

This riverside city of Parma may be synonymous with food (think: Parma ham and Parmesan), but it also satisfies appetites for art, music and history. Tapping into many of the things that make an Italian city so special – religious monuments, art, food, architecture, theatre, music, and history – this compact metro-area is actually very easy to walk. Many visitors choose to get around by foot.

Don’t Miss:

• Eating Parma-ham and Parmesan: Obviously you don’t want to leave Parma without the sampling some of the city’s meat and cheeses. See the food and wine tours below for the best way to find, learn about, taste and purchase these Parma specialties and more.
• Galleria Nazionale: The National Gallery of Parma focuses on artwork from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Inside you will find some works by van Dyck, Da Vinci, Barbieri, Allegri, and many others.
• Cattedrale di Parma: Take a walk around the 11th century dome of Romanesque Cathedral of Parma to find frescos by Antonio da Correggio. Together with the Baptistery of Parma, the Cattedrale usually hosts art exhibitions and educational workshops.

Trieste

A city at a crossroads, this impressive and historically important port town has been captured by Romans, Venetians and the Hapsburg monarchy and the Germans during WWII. Despite, or perhaps because of this tumultuous past, the city has formed a unique and vibrant culture that enjoys a blend of Austrian, Italian and Slovenian influence.

Geographically isolated from the rest of the Italian peninsula, it’s no surprise that Trieste is a place all of its own, and despite not having a single site worthy of writing home about, it’s still an enchanting place to visit in Italy and has been an escape for writers, exiles and misfits over the years.

Today, its Slavic, Jewish, Greek, Germanic and Italian cultures intertwine to create a city of cafes, bars, buffets and wines.

Don’t Miss:

• • Bagno Marino Lanterna: Hidden behind the Trieste’s abandoned 19th-century lighthouse, this pebbly beach is worth checking out, despite being segregated by gender!
  • Castello di Miramare: Commanding a rocky outcrop 7km outside of town, Castello di Miramare was built in the 1800’s for Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian and his wife.
  • Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia: The main square in Trieste, this piazza is set at the foot of the hill with the castle of San Giusto and facing the Adriatic Sea. It’s often said to be Europe’s largest seaside square and is definitely worth a visit… in fact, it would be hard to miss this one.

[widget id=”shortcodes-ultimate-5″]

Brescia

This rich industrial city sits between the foothills of Valtrompia and Lake Garda. More famous for its manufacturing of weapons and kitchen accessories than it is for any facet of tourism, the city itself is home to several interesting museums, but little else. So why is it on this list of places to visit in Italy?

Well, many people choose to visit Brescia as a less touristy part of their itinerary and find charm in the fascinating old town, which attempts to compensate for the city’s otherwise unappealing urban sprawl.

The narrow streets of the old town are where you’ll find some important Roman ruins (some of the best examples in the entire province of Lombardy), a few nice restaurants, some frescos in the corridors of the medieval monastery and a collection of 2000 year old architecture.

Don’t Miss:

• Tempio Capitolino: These old Roman ruins are the last remains of what was once the city’s public forum during the Roman Empire, built by the emperor Vespasian.
• Old and New Duomo: This pre-renaissance church has an enormous stone dome and large crucifixes that date back to the 12th century. While you’re here, pop in next door to the city cathedral which was built over 150 years ago and boasts the third largest dome in Italy.
• The Castle: Built in the pre-Roman times and last fortified by the Venetian overlords of the 16th century, this castle was once the city’s stronghold and it still houses museums of armory and provides picturesque views of the Valtrompia alps which fringe the city itself.

Monza

Perhaps best known for the Monza Race Track (often home to the Formula 1 Grand Prix), this city lies just 20km northeast of Milan and is often considered a satellite town that has been pretty much fully incorporated into the fashion-capital. Despite the large shadow of nearby Milan, Monza still impresses (its very few) visitors with lovely architecture and a deep and rich history.

Don’t Miss:

• Villa Reale: Built between the years of 1777 and 1780, this former summer home for Italian royalty was actually modelled after Vienna’s Schonbrunn Palace and boasts a 3500 square meter interior that’s covered in frescoes, stucco work and intricate gilding.
• Duomo: Yes… there’s another duomo on this list of places to visit in Italy, but this green and white striped facade is home to the Iron Crown (a medieval treasure apparently made from one of the nails used in Christ’s crucifixion), some nice frescoes and a gothic interior.
• Museo e Tesoro del Duomo: Containing what is often regarded as Europe’s best collection of religious artwork, the Monza Cathedral Museum is a site not to be missed during your visit. Among the best pieces are a priceless collection of Lombard gold and an intricate stained glass rose window that is thought to date back to the 15th century.

Como

The town that sits on the lake of the same name, Como is a place you can spend a few days. The dramatic surrounding mountain landscapes, the pristine, calm waters of the lake and exquisite architecture make Como one of the best places to visit in Italy for sure.

This isn’t the only village on this beautiful lake, so once you’ve finished soaking up the gothic ambiance of Como itself, take to the waters of Lake Como and enjoy a peaceful boat ride to visit one of the other lakeside towns such as Bellagio, Lierna and Dervio.

All of these towns offer great views across the lake, and plenty of restaurants and cafes.

Don’t Miss:

• A Boat Ride: As I mentioned above, a trip to Como wouldn’t be complete without a ride on a boat to a neighbouring village. The surrounding mountain scenery is best viewed from the water.
• Funicular: The ride up the Funicolare Como-Brunate is definitely worth the €5.60 round trip.
• Walk the waterfront: The city is famous for its picturesque waterfront promenade, spend the day sauntering along here.
• Gothic Como Cathedral: With out a doubt this is one of the most important buildings in the region. It’s commonly described as the last Gothic cathedral built in Italy.

Udine

By now on this list, we’ve started to list some places to visit in Italy that you never thought you’d find on your itinerary, and while Udine may not compete with the likes of Rome and Florence as far as tourist attractions go, beneath the sprawling urban suburbs you’ll find a medieval center with grand Venetian archways, Roman columns and Grecian statues carved to perfection.

The old town is pretty much untouched and devoid of tourists, but also very lively as there are some great bars, restaurants and cafes and a surprisingly buzzing nightlife.

Don’t Miss:

• Udine Castle: Perched on a legendary hill, supposedly built by the Gods, smack dab in the center of the historical area of Udine, this 16th-century castle took nearly 50 years to construct and now houses the History and Art Museum of the City of Udine.
• Udine Cathedral: Consecrated in 1335 as Santa Maria Maggiore and later damaged by an earthquake in 1348, the Duomo di Udine (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Maggiore) is a Roman Catholic cathedral and is currently the seat of the Archbishop of Udine.
• Piazza Libertà: Also known as Piazza della Libertà (previously known as the Piazza Cantarena), this is the oldest square in Udine and makes for a great place to stroll or grab some gelato, sit on a step and people watch.

Places To Visit in Italy: The South

Rome

Barely sitting in the south, Rome is the nation’s capital, likely your jumping off point to the country and most definitely one of the best places to visit in Italy. There’s just something about this city. From the vibrant art to the buzzing street life scene, the thumping wine bars and the impressive Romanesque architecture, this capital boldly holds up its hand proclaiming to be one of the world’s most romantic, energetic and fascinating cities… and we have to agree.

See Also: Where To Stay in Rome

Don’t Miss:

Note: The lines to see the sights in Rome can be extremely long. If you don’t want to waste your entire holiday standing in line with thousands of other people (yes, literally thousands), we highly recommend you take a tour. Walks Of Italy is our favourite tour operator in the country and they have the best tours of Rome, including the Vatican, the Colosseum, Trastevere and all of the main sights. The best part is… they skip the lines!

• Trevi Fountain: Coming around the corner to spot the Trevi fountain is likely an experience you’ll never forget. How a fountain can inspire such emotion, awe and chaos is beyond me.
• Trastevere Neighbourhood: This is without a doubt one of the most romantic places to visit in Italy, if not the world. Tiny cafes and restaurants spill their tables onto cobblestone streets, each with their own unique entrances – you’ll find yourself tempted to have 6 lunches a day.
• The Colosseum: Best visited with a tour (skip the lines), we loved our time spent at the Colosseum. Before visiting, we had no idea that it sat smack dab in the middle of the urban rush that is Rome, but when walking down a back street, through a park and simply stumbling across the Colosseum, our jaws dropped. This is Rome and it boldly throws its iconic structures at you from all angles.
• Pantheon: Another of the world’s most iconic structures in the same city? Yes… the Pantheon is stunning and a must visit.
• Vatican City: Okay… not technically “Rome” and, as its own country, not even technically “Italy”, if you can make your way through the dense crowds to actually buy a ticket, the Vatican is a sight to behold.
• The list goes on and on…

As the year comes to a close, every travel lover starts planning their trips for the next year. As we all know, the cheaper the destination, the longer you can afford to stay – or the better your travel lifestyle can be while visiting. In some countries, $45 / night barely affords you a hostel dorm bed, while in others that can pay for a luxury villa!

In Canggu, Bali in Indonesia, you can get a 2 bedroom private pool villa for $50 / night, while when visiting Japan that same $50 barely affords a double bed on the floor of a small room.

2019 is sure to be an amazing year for travellers and if you’re already planning your travels for the new year, then this post is for you. Some of these countries are cheaper now than ever, largely due to drops in their local currency on the global market, or due to a recent lack of tourism.

We would never write a post to revel in low prices at the cost of economic struggle, but by visiting these places independently now, you can not only enjoy better prices for yourself, but also help the local businesses and people along the way.

Table of Contents

• Indonesia
• Mexico
• India
• Colombia
• Cuba
• Bulgaria
• South Africa
• Turkey
• Thailand
• Greece
• Bonus! Argentina
• Where Will You Go?
• Like This Article? Pin it!

Indonesia

White sand beaches, world-class surfing, the best scuba diving in the world and some of the most picturesque jungle and rice paddy scenery, Indonesia is without a doubt one of our favourite countries on Earth.

Currently Indonesia is one of the most affordable places that we know about. 1 US dollar will get you around 14,500 rupiah, which is 1,000 more rupiah than in 2018. Six years ago you’d only get 9,050 rupiah to the dollar.

As I said in the opening paragraphs of this post, Indonesia offers incredible value for accommodation, food and transport. Here you can get beautiful guest house rooms, often set in pool villas, for as little as $20 / night.

You can eat delicious seafood meals and millennial classics like “smashed avo on toast” for around $3 and you can rent a motorbike here for just a couple of dollars per day (cars are around $15 / day).

The only thing that’s not of great value is alcohol. Indonesia has placed a pretty heavy tax on imported booze, so a low-quality bottle of imported wine will cost around $20, while a drinkable local wine is still $13 – $15. Bintang beer is nothing to write home about, but it’s affordable at around $1.50 – $3 at a beach bar or restaurant and imported beer is around twice the price.

Out of all the countries we’ve travelled to and kept track of our budgets, Indonesia is definitely amongst the top 3 best value for money, and with a stronger dollar / weaker rupiah, this has never been truer than it is today. Don’t miss the islands of Raja Ampat, Bali, Sumatra, Sumbawa, Lombok, Gili Islands, Flores, Komodo National Park, Alor…and more!

Mexico

A diverse and delicious (albeit not very healthy) cuisine, friendly local people, world-class beaches, all the amenities you could hope for and an intoxicating vibe make Mexico a place that we return to time and time again. It’s one of our favourite countries to travel to and one of the few destinations where we could see ourselves living long-term. There are so many incredible places to visit in Mexico, and things to do that you could spend years here and not see it all.

Mexico is extremely affordable these days thanks to a struggling peso added to an already low cost of living. At the time of writing, the US dollar is at 19.6 pesos which is incredible. When we travelled here back in 2014, the dollar was at 12.8 pesos and even then we thought it was good value for money.

Today the country is theoretically 49% cheaper because of the currency conversion to the USD (and many other currencies including CAD).

If you want to really save money while visiting Mexico, avoid coming here during peak season (November – March) when accommodation prices can skyrocket (especially in December) and many of the best places are booked out.

No matter when you come, Mexico will shock you with its great value. Tacos for 30 cents each, a kilo of fresh prawns from the fish market for $3, Coronas with a slice of lime for $1.50 and strong margaritas served to you while your feet are buried in sand for just $1 each. You’ll find affordable internal flights with Viva Aerobus and Aeromexico, and cheap long distance bus rides.

On top of the great prices for food and booze bought in restaurants and bars, Mexico has many shops that North Americans love, like Sams Club, Costco in the major cities, and one that not everyone loves, Walmart.

On top of these institutions, Mexico also has their own brand of grocery stores like La Comer and Soriana. Purchasing your own groceries and cooking for yourself is a great way to save money (and make a healthy meal) as the food in the grocery stores here is very affordable.

India

Oh yes, whether you love it or hate it, and even if you do love it you probably also hate it, India is one of the most exhilarating travel destinations on earth. Chaotic and tranquil. Pristine and filthy. Friendly and furious. Free and frustrating. India is the epitome of all the oxymoronic experiences that make travel so amazing.

While India is likely the most exciting and bewildering place to travel, it’s also probably the cheapest. Thanks to the Indian Rupee currently trading at 70 rupees to the dollar – which is 6 rupees more per dollar than you would have received in 2018 – India is likely the best place to travel if you want to stretch your dollars, euros or pounds.

Last time we were in India, I purchased the cheapest (yet filling) meal I’ve ever had while travelling. 20 cents bought me a pile of puris (fluffy fried bread) and two different types of curries served to me from a street cart. The meal was delicious and completely filled me up… amazing.

While the cost of that meal was exceptionally low, we often ate all you can eat thali meals for as little as $1.50 and drank fresh lime juice squeezed on the street for 15 cents a glass. We had free accommodation in ashrams (it doesn’t get much cheaper than that) and when paying for our hotels, we had decent but basic double rooms for around $3 per night.

Depending on what class of train and bus you take, getting around India can be unbelievably affordable, with a train from Mumbai to Kolkata covering 1,968 km and taking over 30 hours costs just $11!

Colombia

After backpacking Colombia in late 2016, it quickly set itself amongst our favourite countries we’ve ever been to. Friendly people, incredibly pristine and lush jungles, stunning Spanish colonial cities and breathtaking beaches, Colombia is a traveler’s dream.

The Colombian peso saw a massive drop in recent years which unfortunately isn’t good for local economies and Colombians looking to travel, but it does give budget travellers an added incentive to visit this incredible country.

We met a couple in Medellin who decided to move to Colombia to retire in 2014. Since their arrival the peso went from 1,800 to the US dollar, all the way to 3,350, an incredible 88% drop, essentially giving their retirement a massive boost.

Luckily the peso has started to stabilize again slightly and at the time of writing it’s sitting at around 3,300 pesos to the US dollar. This means that everything in Colombia is a great value for travellers. Whether you’ve visiting with a dollar, pound, euro, yen or yuan, Colombia is a better deal now than it’s ever been.

We were eating delicious seafood meals on the beach for just a few dollars, beautiful Spanish style guest houses only cost around $30 / night and you can enjoy scuba diving in the Caribbean here for as little as $24 / dive when buying a 10 dive package.

There are endless amazing things to do in Colombia, which can seem a bit overwhelming at times. Why not have a local plan a cool trip for you?! Click here to learn more.

We stayed in some of the best hostels we’ve ever seen in Colombia, with rooftop pools, funky bars and luxurious rooms (one even had a jacuzzi in it). The cost of tours and experiences is also excellent in Colombia. We highly recommend doing the 4 day Ciudad Perdida trek and a coffee tour in Salento (the latter is only $2).

• See Also: 21 Things To Do in Cartagena

Cuba

If you’re looking for a cheap destination to visit in the Caribbean, then Cuba tops the list! You can travel here on an all-inclusive, but if you choose to travel to Cuba independently, you’ll have a far richer experience and it’ll cost you less. For cheap countries, Cuba is one of your best bets.

Liking This Post? Pin it To Your Boards!

Stunning beaches, a unique Caribbean and Spanish vibe, tasty cooking (contrary to belief), friendly people and incredibly landscapes, Cuba is a diverse country that needs to be on your list. For Americans, it’s possible to travel to Cuba if you travel under one of the allowed categories. People To People is what most people choose to travel under. But, it’s still a confusing process for our American friends.

You’ll need to build an itinerary containing activities that meet the criteria for People To People category — or get help from local experts to plan a legal trip (5% discount for Goats On The Road readers!).

We spent a month backpacking Cuba and it was a highlight of all our travel experiences. Meeting the Cuban people, dancing in the streets, lazing on virtually empty beaches, partying in Havana and hiking to tobacco farms were our most memorable moments.

Cuba’s currency is the CUC or the CUP. In general, you’ll use CUC (which is pegged to the US Dollar) for your accommodation, food at tourist restaurants, cocktails & beer, activities & excursions, car & scooter rentals, and the Viazul bus. CUP is used for smaller items such as fruit and veg from local vendors, the local bus and some peso food shops.

1 USD = 1 CUC

1 USD = 25 CUP

Staying in casa particulares with the local families is what Cuba is all about. This is the best way to meet the people and enjoy an authentic experience. However, Airbnb is cropping up in the country and there are some great places online. Casas will cost $20 – $30 / night for two people, discounts for 1 person (and oftentimes it includes breakfast), while hotels cost $25 / night up to $180+.

The cost of food in the restaurants in Cuba really depends on which city you’re in, and which restaurant you are at. But in general, expect to spend between $5 – $10 for a filling meal. We recommend dining at least 1 night at your casa as they cook some amazing traditional food! Cocktails are about $2 – $3 at a bar.  Now, if you were to eat “peso food”, you would spend about $1 for a small meal.

Activities can be fairly cheap in Cuba as well, with chilling out on beaches and wandering around the stunning and bustling streets costing you nothing. Museum visits, caving, horseback riding and other tours will cost between $5 – $30. The cost of Cuba is incredibly affordable, making it one of the cheapest countries to visit.

Bulgaria

Back to the truly great value destinations for 2019, Bulgaria is probably the cheapest country we’ve been to in Europe. With gorgeous old towns, phenomenal wine, lovely coastline and super friendly and ailak (relaxed) people, Bulgaria is also one of our favourites in the region.

While the country has offered great value to travellers for decades, a recent dip in the Bulgarian Lev on the global market, means that Bulgaria is an even better value now than it was just a few years ago.

When we visited Bulgaria in 2016 we were blown away by the incredible value we got for our dollars. On one occasion, Dariece, myself and a friend sat in a restaurant bar for over 5 hours. We ate a massive platter of meat, veggies and bread and drank copious amounts of wine.

When the bill finally came, we thought there was a mistake, or we were misreading it in our double vision. That night we paid under $30 for that bill and we still don’t know how. The great deals continued as we travelled around Bulgaria, with lovely hostel rooms in 200-year-old buildings costing just $20 per night and bottles of wine at restaurants rarely breaking the $8 mark.

If you want to visit Europe, experience history, meet really cool people and taste some of the world’s best wine while never breaking the bank, Bulgaria should be on your travel wish list in 2019. This is definitely one of the cheapest European countries.

South Africa

One of the most adventure packed and naturally blessed countries on Earth, this list wouldn’t be complete without our favourite country in Africa. South Africa offers visitors too much to see in any trip under 6 months. With a rugged and stunning coastline, incredible wildlife, extremely friendly people, tasty Indi-afro fusion food, decent roads and great prices, you really can’t beat SA.

We believe that this country on the south tip of the continent is the perfect beginner’s stepping stone into the more chaotic and rustic travel of other countries in the region. South Africa is relatively easy to travel, especially if you rent your own car (highly recommended).

What makes South Africa so affordable in 2019 is the cost of the rand. While it’s not trading as well as it was at the beginning of 2016, at 14.4 rand to the USD, a trip to South Africa is 14% cheaper than last year when it was 12.6 rand to the US dollar.

When we were last there in 2011, we received just 6.7 rand to the dollar, but everything was still great value.

We paid $40 / night for lovely double rooms, around $7 / meal and just $10 to enter some amazing national parks. Take into consideration the current 53% discount based on the currency devaluation and these all become incredibly affordable in 2019, even considering the rate of inflation since 2011.

Turkey

Possibly the most liberal of the countries in this area, Turkey attracts visitors with one of the most exciting and beautiful capital cities on Earth, Istanbul. Plus, this country offers a blissfully alluring Mediterranean coastline, amazingly friendly people (especially in the east) and an intoxicating Islamic culture and architecture.

The value for dollar in Turkey has always been great, but with the Turkish Lira dropping from 1.28 to the US dollar in 2010 to the current 5.27 today, the home of the former Ottoman empire is essentially 75% better value than it was 10 years ago. 2019 is the cheapest time to visit Turkey as the Lira has hit a 10 year low.

Every time we visit Turkey we are amazed by the value for money found here. You can eat delicious meals of traditional Turkish food for $5. Portions here are often so massive that you could share a meal and that cost. Tasty kebabs are just a couple of dollars on the street and you can get lovely guest house rooms here for under $20 / night (more in the major cities).

One of the costs that does add up in Turkey is the cost of visiting mosques. Many of the best ones in Istanbul for example, cost as much as $10 to enter. If you’re on a tight budget, consider only visiting a couple paid mosques and try to find some others that you can enter for free.

Thailand

We have to include the land of smiles on this list of cheap travel destinations for 2019. Thailand has always been one of our favourite countries in the world and the budget backpacker that still resides deep inside our souls rejoices every time we return. There are numerous places to visit in Thailand – whether you want National Parks, jungles, cities or islands, there’s a place in Thailand for you.

The Thai Baht, although it has seen some dips and spikes, doesn’t make the country especially cheaper than it has been in the past few years, but that doesn’t matter. Thailand simply offers some of the best value for money you can find anywhere on earth.

Lovely guest houses and beach huts right on the sand for as little as $15 / night, spicy and mouth-watering Thai dishes for under $2 a plate, and scuba diving for under $20 a dive makes Thailand a constant competitor as one of the cheapest countries in the world.

When we first visited in 2008 we were amazed to find budget (albeit extremely basic rooms) for under $10 and when we returned this year on a higher budget, we couldn’t believe the luxury, 2 bedroom private pool villa we were able to afford for just $1,500 / month ($50/night!).

Your biggest expense when travelling in Thailand (depending on where you’re coming from) will likely be your flight, but once there you can enjoy an incredibly low-cost of living and the warmth of the local people who have made this place famous.

Greece

If this list was in the order of most beautiful and best value for money, Greece would no doubt be near the top. It’s amazing how a place so beautiful, set right in the Mediterranean, can be so affordable.

Greece has been on the Euro since the start of 2002, so while there has been a 16% devaluation of the Euro in recent years, Greece was always affordable, but perhaps never as much as it is today. What likely contributes to this is the unfortunate struggles that the Greek economy has seen in recent years, and the influx in refugees. So perhaps Greece more than any country on this list can benefit from more tourism.

With such great value, Greece is the perfect place for 2019. We rented a beautiful, modern, 550 sq ft studio apartment with a view of the sea for under $20 / night on Zakynthos Island. We also had another 2 level, 1 bedroom apartment with a pool near the south coast of Santorini for under $20.

Greek food is incredibly delicious and you can usually get tasty seafood meals in restaurants for under $8. On top of the already great value, Greek restaurant owners and chefs have a habit of offering their patrons freebies, like free wine, appetizers and desserts. Whenever you’re leaving a traditional Greek restaurant in Greece, you’ll be fat and full and so will your wallet.

On top of good food and accommodation value, activities in Greece are typically priced well too. We did a free honey bee tour, an olive oil tour and tasting for $35, a half-day cycle tour for $24, an amazing cooking class with unlimited booze and food for $65 and a winery visits and tastings for under $5.

We also rented our own boat on the island of Corfu and drove it from bay to bay for an entire day. This cost us $95 plus gas, which isn’t overly “cheap” but considering Sea-Doos and Jet Skis typically rent for around $50 / hour, we thought this was an amazing deal for both of us to enjoy a full day out on the water.

All-in-all, Greece is definitely one of the cheap European countries to visit and it offers some of the best value for money in all of Europe. Considering its location on the map and the level of quality you find here, it also competes as one of the best value travel destinations on earth.

Bonus! Argentina

Whether you’re into culture and history, nature and landscapes, lakes and fishing, or cities and wine, Argentina has something for you…and right now it’s one of the cheapest countries to visit.

Since Argentina is such a vast country, with a wide variety of landscapes and regions, it can be visited year round.

Argentina is known for being one of the top fly fishing destinations in the world. If you’re an angler, fly fishing season in the Lake District of Patagonia is best in January & February due to the warm weather, and ability to fish all waters during this time.

For trekkers, the winter months are a good time to hit the mountains of Patagonia. El Chalten in the south is dry and has temperatures around 20°C (68°F), perfect for checking out the peaks of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, exploring waterfalls, drinking beer on patios and much more.

Don’t miss nearby El Calafate and its popular Perito Moreno Glacier, which calves massive chunks of ice every few minutes.

If all of these places to visit in Argentina aren’t enough to spark your interest, maybe the cost will. When we travelled to Argentina in 2017, we received around 18 Argentine Pesos for 1 US Dollar.

According to XE, at the time of writing, the rate is $1 USD = 37.85 Argentine Pesos.

This drop in currency means that travelling to Argentina would cost you less than half of what it cost us in 2017. Rooms that were priced at $150 a night, now cost $71. Fantastic dinners of rib eye steaks and Malbec wine which cost us $50 for two people, now go for just $23.

Argentina isn’t known for being one of the cheapest countries to visit, but with the current instability of the peso, you can definitely save some money by visiting now and maybe help the local economy along the way. We highly recommend this South American country.

Where Will You Go?

As the world becomes more connected by budget flights and advanced communication and commerce, many places are becoming more and more expensive to visit with each year that passes. Aside from the cost of flights which have been reduced thanks to budget airlines, travel is typically more expensive now than it has been in the past.

Thankfully, there are still some incredible countries that always offer travellers great value for money. The most exciting countries in the world are often those that are still developing. For visitors, this means low prices but also a better understanding of the world economies and wealth disparities.

We always recommend visiting countries independently so that you’re giving the most amount of money back to the local communities as possible. Rather than always staying in American or European chain resorts, consider locally owned guest houses, hostels and homes.

Instead of joining a foreign-owned tour, consider heading there on your own and hiring guides yourself once you’re in the country. Not only will this likely be much cheaper for you, it will also enrich your experience in the places you visit.

We’ve listed 10 of our favourite budget travel destinations in this article, but the list is by no means exhaustive.