Which countries in Europe are cheaper to visit than Germany?

Holidays in Germany are significantly more expensive than in many southern and eastern European countries. As per a recent YouGov survey, many consumers in Germany are actively looking to spend less due to rising costs and economic uncertainty.

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In March 2025, travelers paid only half as much for hotel stays and restaurant visits in Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria as in Germany, the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden announced on Tuesday. Holidays are also significantly more expensive than in Germany, for example, in Scandinavian countries, but also in Switzerland.

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Prices for hotel and restaurant visits in Montenegro were 42 percent lower than in Germany. Travelers also paid significantly less in Portugal, Turkey, and Malta. Among the southern European countries, restaurant and hotel visits were most expensive in Italy. However, prices there were still six percent lower than in Germany.

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The comparison with the selected holiday destinations is always based on the costs in Germany, as the statisticians explained. For example, someone who pays 100 euros for a meal in Germany would only have to pay 48 euros in Albania.

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In Austria, costs are roughly on par with Germany, while in the Netherlands and Belgium they are slightly higher. Of all the selected travel destinations, restaurant and hotel services are most expensive in Switzerland, where tourists pay about 52 percent more.

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According to the Federal Statistical Office, vacations also cost significantly more in the Scandinavian countries than in Germany. In Iceland, prices were 49 percent higher than in Germany. In Denmark, the figure was 28 percent higher, in Norway 25 percent, and in Sweden eight percent.