U.S. Tourists Are Heading To Poland And Eastern Europe : Here’s Why It’s The Best Time To Go

Published on July 7, 2025

This summer, US visitors are flocking to cities such as Poland, where value and history meet, and Europe has alternative destinations that are cheaper. Poland and other Eastern European countries are increasingly attracting ever-larger visitor numbers as air fares fall and in-destination costs stay markedly cheaper when contrasted with Western Europe. Warsaw, Kraków, and Gdańsk cities offer plenty of cultural options that come very much in line with consumers increasingly thinking about their holiday costs.

For Americans like Sarah Reynolds, a Texan marketing executive, Warsaw’s old-town magic provides a refreshing substitute for the expensive prices in classic European sites. “Last summer, $250 bought me shade in Santorini,” Sarah recalls, sipping craft beer in a 16th-century courtyard. “This time, I’m in Warsaw, and it’s costing me $3.50 and still making me feel like I’m on holiday.” This trend belongs to a broader movement, as U.S. tourists cast their gaze eastward in search of value and romance.

US-Europe Air Ticket Rates Decrease, Europe Becomes Cheaper

One of the main driving factors for this change in traveling is the reduction in air prices between Europe and the United States. After peaking in early 2024, cross-Atlantic fares have fallen by nearly 13% and are therefore less expensive for traveling to Europe. By official United States government statistics for traveling, the average fare to Europe has fallen back down to $817 this summer from $892 in 2024, which accounts for a 10% reduction.

Specialists advise tourists can save money too by booking in advance—best 11 months before—and traveling in mid-week, preferably Tuesday or Wednesday. By selecting off-peak days, especially after mid-August, tourists can save up to $600 per ticket. As flights become cheaper, more and more Americans think about the time of visiting the non-touristed parts of Europe, namely Eastern Europe.

Eastern Europe Offers an Affordable Alternative

Eastern Europe is becoming the hip dollar-stretched American tourist destination that doesn’t cut corners when it comes to experience. Figures supplied by the United States Department Of Commerce make Poland one of the most inexpensive European destinations this summer, costing each visitor approximately $5,505 in total, which is way lower than the European summer average price tag of $10,300 and above. Others gradually gaining popularity as budget destination locations are Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, and Albania for their cultural richness delivered at a tiny percentage of what they offer in Western Europe.

The story in the Washington Post states that the nations offer not only affordability but also richness in history, culture, and nature. There are lodgings in Poland as low as $115 per night and in Albania as low as $96. This gives Americans access to a vacation in Europe but costs them only a percentage of what they would pay for better-known cities such as Paris or London.

Improved Transport Infrastructure and the ETIAS System

The continent’s upgraded traveling infrastructure has also aided in Americans’ traveling in Europe. Starting from late 2026, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will ensure streamlined entry for America-bound travelers. ETIAS will require visa-free countries’ travelers to apply for permission electronically and pay upfront the €7 fee, which will remain valid for up to three years or until their passport’s expiration date.

This system, which will facilitate entry for millions of tourists, will be part of Europe’s broader attempt to increase access and governance of tourism. Although the system will not take effect until 2026, tourists are prompted to familiarize themselves with the process in advance so as not to encounter any holdup when booking trips.

Smart Vacation Strategies: Saving BIG on European Vacation Trips

In spite of cheaper prices, clever American tourists utilize strategies in order to make the most of their European vacations. Applications like Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Hopper allow tourists to track inexpensive prices and receive price drop alerts. Additionally, traveling during mid-week, which means staying for a Saturday night, can decrease prices as low as $179 per ticket. For the very price-conscious traveler, it may be worth exploring alternative entry points. Traveling into cheap cities such as Oslo, Brussels, or Dublin and interconnecting into Eastern European cities with budget airlines or trains can keep total traveling expenses in line. Tourists can also utilize shoulder-season traveling since hotel costs can come down as far as 60% during this period in comparison with summer holiday traveling.

Eastern Europe: Summer Vacation Destination of the Future?

Its intriguing past and affordable prices make Poland the ideal springboard for Americans. Warsaw, Kraków, and Gdańsk offer compelling cultural sites, walkable old cities, and energetic atmospheres all at prices and crowds significantly lower than in major Western European cities. Others in Eastern Europe and the Balkans like Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, and Slovenia are expanding in popularity because they present value for money with no compromise in destination quality and originality.

Sarah and Miguel’s Experience

Sarah’s Warsaw experience is reflected in numerous others as they discover affordability doesn’t have to mean quality compromise. Across the table, Miguel Ortiz of California beams similarly about Kraków: “It’s walking through history,” he says, “but prices I can afford.” From Riga’s Boris to Slovenia’s Ljubljana’s Elena, resident guides are receiving growing numbers of Americans, most of whom are amazed at how far their dollars go. “We’re showing them neighborhoods and foods they never would have experienced before,” explains Elena, a Ljubljana guide.

What Travelers Should Be Doing Now

In preparing for a summer holiday in Europe, there are some essential things you should do:

Tracking and Alert Setting for Fares: Track fares as early as today, best 11 months in advance, for the best fares.

Plan Entry Through Hubs: Think about using alternative entry cities like Dublin, Frankfurt, or Budapest as entry cities into Eastern Europe.

Know about ETIAS: Although it will not come into effect before 2026, know about the ETIAS system for future journeys.

Travel in Shoulder Season: Visit Europe in late spring, early summer, or autumn for low prices and fewer tourists.

Prioritize Value Over Flash: Look towards Eastern Europe destinations for genuine cultural experiences but at an affordable price.

Final Word

Re-discovering Europe with Value and Authenticity In Eastern European summers, American tourists are finding strange value—after discounted fares but in actual, memorable experiences. From Eastern Europe’s literary cafés in Warsaw to ancient streets in Kraków, they’re recalling traveling is as much about what you absorb as about what you pay. Through considered planning, flexibility, and discovery, 2025 will be springtime for value-conscious, memorable travel across Eastern Europe’s old corners.

(Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, European Travel Information and Authorization System, Washington Post, Squaremouth, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Poland.)