During September and October<\/a>, visitor numbers tend to fall, allowing travellers to secure significant savings during a much quieter time of year.<\/p>\n \u201cThe prices of flights and hotels can drop quite significantly this time of year,\u201d says Laura Carden-Lovell, travel expert and head of operations at travel resale marketplace Transfer Travel.<\/p>\n Nonetheless, she encourages off-peak holidaymakers to factor in additional costs that can quickly mount up.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important to also think about transportation within the city you want to visit and to find out how much this might cost,\u201d recommends Carden-Lovell. \u201cWalkable cities are great if you’re planning on going on a quick city break, as you will be able to see a lot of places for free on foot.<\/p>\n \u201cCar rental prices also typically fall during shoulder season periods compared to peak summer seasons.\u201d<\/p>\n Many hidden gems<\/a> in Europe, particularly in the Balkans, have seen a surge in interest driven by social media.<\/p>\n \u201cSocial media provides travellers with a snapshot of what to see and do in a particular destination, so platforms like TikTok and Instagram can be a great source of inspiration for holiday planning,\u201d says Carden-Lovell.<\/p>\n For anyone who has been patiently waiting for the perfect last-minute city getaway, here are five budget-friendly destinations to consider<\/a>:<\/p>\n 1. Tirana in Albania<\/p>\n \u201cTirana<\/a> in Albania<\/a> is bright, colourful, and is full of history,\u201d\u00a0 says Carden-Lovell.<\/p>\n \u201cAlbania is one of the largest, fastest-growing tourism markets in Europe, so its capital Tirana has become increasingly popular.\u201d<\/p>\n The city encompasses many distinct and interesting areas to explore that blend a vibrant modern culture\u00a0with a unique communist and Ottoman history.<\/p>\n \u201cI would recommend starting exploring at Skanderbeg Square [the main plaza in the centre of Tirana], which costs nothing to explore,\u201d advises Carden-Lovell. \u201cThen head into Blloku, a lively neighbourhood where you can go caf\u00e9 hopping.\u201d<\/p>\n To get the best picturesque views of Tirana, hop on the Dajti Ekspres, a cable car that takes you directly from the edge of Tirana up to the edge of Dajti Mountain National Park.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the longest leisure cable car in the Balkans and costs around \u00a315 for a return trip,\u201d says Carden-Lovell. \u201cThe national park itself is also completely free to explore.\u201d<\/p>\n You can get flights to Tirana for incredible prices. For example, Wizz Air offers return flights from London Gatwick and London Luton to Tirana from around \u00a334.<\/p>\n 2. Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/p>\n \u201cSarajevo<\/a> is something a little bit different and is a great affordable option for an autumnal city break,\u201d says Carden-Lovell.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also regarded as an incredibly good city for mooching.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the Old Town there are lots of traditional market stalls, lots of local crafts, some really good food shops and some historic mosques to look around,\u201d says Carden-Lovell.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has also got the famous Pigeon Square [officially known as Ba\u0161\u010dar\u0161ija Square], which is centred around the iconic wooden Sebilj fountain, so there\u2019s a lot of history packed into this small city.\u201d<\/p>\n A walking tour can be a great way to explore the highlights of the city.<\/p>\n \u201cMost walking tours are free and are a great way to learn about what the city has to offer. You can book a lot of these online,\u201d says Carden-Lovell.<\/p>\n Wizz Air offers return flights from London Luton to Sarajevo from around \u00a378.98.<\/p>\n 3. Sofia in Bulgaria<\/p>\n \u201cBulgaria<\/a> is another great place to visit on a budget,\u201d says Carden-Lovell. \u201cIts capital, Sofia<\/a>, has got some really nice cathedrals which are very pretty both inside and out.\u201d<\/p>\n The capital of Bulgaria is filled with reminders of its extensive history.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could join a walking tour to look around some of the Roman ruins or churches, and the historic Roman thermal baths are also worth seeing if you have time,\u201d says Carden-Lovell.<\/p>\n This delightful city has an efficient, affordable public transport network, so it\u2019s very easy to get around.<\/p>\n \u201cSofia has a really cheap tram system, so you don\u2019t necessarily have to walk everywhere if you don\u2019t want to,\u201d says Carden-Lovell.<\/p>\n You may get some real steals on flights. For example, Ryanair offers return flights from Bristol to Sofia from around \u00a340.99.<\/p>\n 4. Tallinn in Estonia<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d also recommend visiting Tallinn<\/a> in Estonia<\/a> \u2013 this one is really popular on TikTok,\u201d says Carden-Lovell.<\/p>\n \u201cStay in the heart of the old town, which is UNESCO-listed. It has wonderful fairytale streets and colourful buildings.\u201d<\/p>\n After you\u2019ve wandered around the charming old town, check out Telliskivi Creative City, the creative hotspot of Tallinn.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a bit more modern than the old town and there are lots of independent cafes, local artists, street art and bars to explore here,\u201d says Carden-Lovell.<\/p>\n She also suggests relaxing in one of the city\u2019s public saunas.<\/p>\n \u201cSaunas are a big part of the culture in Estonia, so I definitely recommend going to a sauna somewhere, especially in the colder shoulder season,\u201d recommends Carden-Lovell.<\/p>\n Wizz Air offers return flights from London Luton to Tallinn from around \u00a358.53.<\/p>\n 5. Riga in Latvia<\/p>\n![\"Tirana](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788795555_819_28143206-90a737bf-d529-47e1-a559-887d7b70b6fc.jpg\")
Tirana has become increasingly popular (Alamy\/PA)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788795558_792_28143744-ec8a2309-de42-463d-a36a-82fbe8bfc1a3.jpg\")
A walking tour can be a great way to explore Sarajevo (Alamy\/PA)<\/p>\n![\"You](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788795562_764_28144057-124f923c-520f-4abc-b865-6a989c36eeca.jpg\")
You may get some real steals on flights to Sofia (Alamy\/PA)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788795563_278_28145215-6a549549-4b78-4172-b1a9-e766805832a5.jpg\")
The Patkuli Viewing Platform offers a panoramic view of Tallinn\u2019s medieval Old Town (Alamy\/PA)<\/p>\n
![\"St.](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788795564_851_28173847-60099543-bedc-40e0-8c9c-74721d3937e4.jpg\")
St. Peter\u2019s Church is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Riga (Alamy\/PA)<\/p>\n