Belgrade

Belgrade runs cheap and loud, one of the best-value capitals in Europe for food, drink, and a wild night out. The headline freebie is Kalemegdan Fortress, a sprawling hilltop citadel and park above the Danube-Sava confluence that costs nothing to enter and stays open day and night, with some of the city’s best free sunset views over the rivers. Wander the old town of Stari Grad and the riverside Zemun district on foot, picnic in green Tasmajdan Park, and step inside the giant Temple of Saint Sava, one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, where entry is free. The legendary floating river clubs (splavovi) are a budget night out in themselves, often with no cover charge and beer that costs a few euros. Belgrade pairs naturally with Novi Sad an hour upriver and the southern hub of Nis, and cheap regional buses link it to Sarajevo, Sofia, and Budapest. Spring and autumn bring mild weather and lighter crowds than the hot summer festival peak.