The prospect of a summer holiday in Europe has been soured by the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), the EU border system that has caused long delays at several airports and led dozens of passengers to miss their flights home.
But travellers don’t need to risk a six-hour queue to find sun, beaches and history on the continent. There is a clutch of countries outside the EU and Schengen that are a short flight or ferry ride away and have affordable accommodation. Here are seven to try.
North Macedonia
The Church of St. John at Kaneo is one of dozens dotted around Lake Ohrid (Photo: Shuai Zhang/Getty)
One of Europe’s most budget-friendly destinations, North Macedonia is cheaper than neighbouring Greece. The average price of a restaurant meal for two in its capital, Skopje, is more than 50 per cent less than in Athens, according to cost of living database Numbeo. The city was rebuilt after a 1963 earthquake and features eye-popping Japanese-style metabolist structures – including the City Wall designed by Kenzo Tange – which fans of modern architecture will love.
