Barcelona, Spain

With a little hunting, travelers can find affordable flights to Barcelona — about $400 from New York, for example. This unrivaled spot for history, culture, architecture, and food holds bargains too. The first Sunday of the month all museums are free, and the light rail to the beach is $1.

Hotels in the central Eixample neighborhood can cost less than $40 a night, and tapas fans will find many bars serving small portions for less than $3.