Mapped: Europe’s student destination hotspots

From culture-soaked capitals to mountain-side cities, Europe is the perfect playground for those looking for a multi-destination trip. Plus, with plenty of affordable (and safe) locations to explore, it’s a great place for young people to head to on a gap year or summer break. With an estimated 232,000 18 to 24-year-olds in the UK taking a gap year in 2024, we’ve taken a closer look at which European destinations are the best for students.

Our study has analysed 45 of the most popular cities in Europe, ranking them based on factors such as the price of budget hotels, meals out, daily activities, and transport in each city, as well as how safe each location is. We’ve even taken into account how popular they are on social media, for all you TikTok fans out there.

To help students plan the perfect adventure, our experts have also provided some top tips for organising a gap year.

Here are some of our key findings at a glance:

• Brasov, Romania is the best European destination for students to visit, thanks to its affordability and low crime levels
• Belgrade, Serbia is the most affordable place for students to travel in Europe, with a 7-day trip averaging just €155
• Liverpool, UK is the most popular European destination on social media, with 75.2 billion hashtags on TikTok

1. Brasov, Romania

Taking the crown as the best destination for students to visit is Brasov in Romania. Known as ‘The Gateway to Transylvania,’ the total average cost of a 7-day trip here is as low as €193 — the second cheapest price of any city in the study. In particular, Brasov offers very affordable accommodation, with one night’s stay in a budget hotel coming in at €9.21.

Whether you’re looking to head to a museum or join a tour, daily entertainment in Brasov costs as little as €4.03, on average. For those looking to soak up some history, the city is home to over 150 fortresses, many of which date back to the 13th century, plus Bran Castle is a must-do for literature fans.

Solo travellers wanting to explore Brasov will also be happy to know that the city is deemed to be relatively safe, with a crime level score of 19.85 out of 100. To note, anything below 20 is considered very low.

2. Dubrovnik, Croatia

In second place is Dubrovnik. The Croatian city is one of the safest destinations on our list, with a crime rate score of just 11.32. It comes ever so slightly behind Salzburg, Austria, which has a score of 11.31.

It’s a little pricier for a 7-day trip in Dubrovnik compared to Brasov, with costs totaling €298, but accommodation (€19.95), meals out (€13.12), and daily transport (€4.91) are still pretty reasonable.

Daily activities also average at €7.41 per day, so whether students are exploring the medieval city, hitting the beach, or hiking up Mount Srđ for the best views of Dubrovnik, there’s plenty of affordable options to keep them entertained.

3. Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ljubljana, Slovenia has come in third place. Another relatively safe city, with a crime rate score of 11.61 out of 100, young travellers will feel right at home here, as the city is already home to 50,000 students.

It’s slightly more expensive to spend a week in Ljubljana than in the rest of the top three, with costs averaging €334, though this is still within the top 10 cheapest locations on the list. Budget hotels are on the pricier side, at €23.47, but meals out (€12.11) and daily activities (€6.22) are even cheaper here than in Dubrovnik. Tivoli Park is a popular spot to relax in the city, and is the perfect place to spend a warm afternoon — without spending a penny!

Looking at the rest of the list, it’s interesting to note that Spain is home to three of the top 20 best European cities for students, with San Sebastián, Seville, and Madrid in seventh, 15th and 18th, respectively. This is something to note when planning a city-hopping trip, as ticking off three stops without having to cross a border is always a plus for the wallet.

Top five most popular European destinations on social media

With so much great travel content out there, social media can be a very useful platform for finding tips and recommendations when planning a trip. With this in mind, we’ve taken a closer look at which European cities are the most popular on TikTok.

Madrid, Spain, is the most popular European city on TikTok, with 53.4 billion hashtag views. Popular posts offer tips on what to do in the city, including the best places to head for food and drinks.

According to TikTok, top foodie spots include the San Miguel Market to sample all their fresh culinary delights, Chocolatería San Ginés for unbeatable churros, and apparently you can’t miss picking up cookies from the hidden nuns in a 400-year old monastery.

Berlin, Germany is the second most popular European city on social media, with 39.3 billion hashtag views. There’s lots of content suggesting how to spend a few days in Berlin, with highlights including taking a stroll around Museum Island and checking out the East Side Gallery.

Rounding off the top five are Amsterdam, The Netherlands (15.7 billion hashtag views), Vienna, Austria (11.5 billion hashtag views) and Birmingham, United Kingdom (10.4 billion hashtag views).

The average gap year costs around £2,681 a month for those travelling for the full year. So, to help you keep costs down, we’ve taken a look at which European destinations are the most affordable to spend a week in.

1. Belgrade, Serbia

Coming in as the most affordable European city to head to is Belgrade, Serbia, with basic costs totaling just €155 for a 7-day trip in the city. Offering one of the cheapest prices for accommodation, a budget hotel costs €11.06, on average. In comparison, the most expensive price can be found in Verona, Italy, where a budget hotel is perhaps not so budget afterall, costing around €48.12.

It’s also very affordable to get around Belgrade, with daily public transport fees costing as little as €2.18. It’s also the cheapest place for students looking to keep busy, with daily entertainment averaging €1.94. One of the city’s ‘must-sees’ is the imposing Belgrade Fortress, where some 115 battles have been fought since 279 BC.

2. Brasov, Romania

With a 7-day trip costing €193, Brasov, Romania has come in as the second most affordable city. Offering the cheapest accommodation of any city analysed, one night’s stay in a budget hotel averages just €9.21. Foodies will also be pleased to know that meals out in Brasov are the cheapest of any city in the study, costing around €8.11.

Public transport is slightly pricier at €7.54 for the day, but given how walkable the city is, many students might opt to stretch their legs instead. In fact, a walking tour is actually one of the best ways to take in all of the city’s impressive gothic architecture, and there’s plenty of free guided tours on offer too.

3. Krakow, Poland

The third most affordable European destination is Krakow, with a week in the city costing around €216. One night’s stay in a budget hotel might be nearly double the price of Belgrade, but it’s still a very reasonable €15.26.

It’s also pretty inexpensive when it comes to dinners out, with meals averaging €9.26. Known for its medieval centre and terrific museums, the cost of activities might not be as low as in Belgrade, but with a daily average of just €5.89, students can still explore the best sights in the city, without breaking the bank.

Top tips on how to plan a multi-destination trip or gap year

With so many enticing destinations to choose from, organising a gap year can be both very exciting and a little overwhelming. Your whole trip can’t be mapped out day by day, but having a general plan will help you get the most out of your year. With this in mind, we’ve put together some of our top tips to make sure you’re fully prepared before you go.

1. Determine your route

First things first, you need to decide where you want to go. Are there particular countries that you’ve always wanted to visit? Are you prioritising culture, socialising, or relaxation? Is the affordability of a location most important to you? Do you want to interrail, fly, or bus between destinations?

Figure out what you want from your trip and start from there.

2. Sort logistics

Once you’ve decided on your route, next up is the logistics. Research the best way to get to your destination(s) and sort travel before you go. This might be purchasing an interrail pass, booking a one-way flight, or hiring a car or campervan.

You might be planning to hop from city to city, or maybe you’d rather spend a longer time in one or two places. Whatever you decide, research your initial accommodation options and book these ahead of time too.

If you plan on staying a while in long-term accommodation, you’ll also need to consider additional fees like rent, bills, and deposits. At The Social Hub we offer extended stays for anyone wanting to hang out in a city for a little longer. We’ve got hubs all across Europe, so whether you’re hitting the streets of Porto or exploring the sights of Glasgow, we’ve got a place for everyone.

3. Think about work

It might be that you’ve saved enough money for the full year, but lots of travellers will need to work when on the road. Maybe you’ve already got plans to work remotely, or it might be that you need to find a job once you arrive at your chosen destination. No matter your situation, make sure this is factored into your planning, whether that be thinking about a remote work set-up or updating your CV.

If you are working while travelling, try to find a good work-life balance. Make sure to manage your time effectively so that you still have time to enjoy yourself, and don’t forget to be a tourist every once in a while.

4. Leave room for flexibility

Travelling can be unpredictable, so you always need to allow a little room for plans to change. Be open to whatever comes your way. It might be that a border closure means you have to find a new route, or maybe you’ll meet a great group of people who take you in a whole different direction. Remember that embracing the unknown is all part of the fun!

5. Plan for your return

As sad as you might be for the trip to end, at some point you’ll probably be returning home.

If you’re taking a gap year before university, make sure you’re home with enough time to prepare before the start of the academic year. On the other hand, if you’re going travelling after graduation, you might want to keep some money aside to cover your outgoings while you look for a job when you get back.

Also, don’t be disheartened if you come home to find your friends are already well into their studies or working at their first job. Just remember why you went on your gap year in the first place, and don’t forget all the amazing experiences you had along the way.

So, now you know the best places in Europe to visit as a student, where will you be heading on your gap year adventure?

Methodology and sources

The Social Hub pulled together a seedlist of the most popular European cities, and compared them against a series of metrics. Each metric received a score out of 10 to create a final index.

The cost of a 7-day trip in each city was calculated using the following metrics and multiplying them by 7:

• Average price of one night in a budget hotel
• Average cost of a meal out
• Average cost of daily entertainment - This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses
• Average daily cost of public transportation

*GDP to Euro conversions were correct at time of writing.

Cities were also ranked based on:

• Level of crime
• Number of TikTok hashtag views