where in europe can you actually travel on a budget?

Last month, I spent a week in London, and to my surprise, it didn’t drain my wallet like I expected. We even managed to find a cozy little hotel near Hyde Park for less than what I usually pay back home. But here’s the thing—everyone always says Europe is expensive, especially the big cities. Yet, somehow, I ended up spending less than I do on a regular trip to New York. Now I’m wondering if there are other European cities where you can actually get by without feeling like you’re bleeding money every day. I’ve done the Eastern Europe circuit more times than I can count—Prague, Budapest, Krakow, you name it. They’re great, but I’m craving something different. Maybe somewhere in Western or Southern Europe that isn’t a total tourist trap, but still has good food, interesting sights, and doesn’t charge you $10 for a cup of coffee. I’m starting to think the whole “Europe is expensive” thing might be a bit of a myth, or maybe I just got lucky. Has anyone else found a city that surprised them with how affordable it was? Or is London just the odd one out? I’d love to hear about any hidden gems that don’t break the bank, especially if you’ve got stories about accidentally stumbling into a cheap local spot or finding a deal that seemed too good to be true. Sometimes I feel like the best part of traveling is proving the guidebooks wrong. #budgettravel #europeanadventures #travelstories #Travel