The hardest part of a long-distance relationship (LDR) isn't the distance itself: it's the never-ending, exhausting cost of travel.
When you're constantly looking at flights from one city to the other, you're missing the golden opportunity to save serious money. Often, flying to a third, central, and budget-friendly city is far cheaper than either of you traveling directly to the other's home.
We've done the work, analyzing thousands of dual-origin routes and incorporating 2025 LCC megahub data to bring you the 7 best budget destinations in Europe for LDR couples and friends looking for an affordable escape.
The secret to finding the savings: why dual-origin hubs matter
Why do LDR travelers constantly overpay? Because standard flight search tools are designed for single origins. Trying to find the best deal means juggling four tabs and running manual comparisons.
To find the true gems, you need a dual-origin search engine like Betweengs. Our tool instantly compares flights from both of your cities to hundreds of meeting points, specifically targeting airports that are known as low-cost carrier (LCC) megahubs.
LCC megahubs are the airports where budget airlines like Ryanair, easyJet, and Vueling have the highest number of connecting flights—meaning competition is high and prices are low. This is the key to finding maximum savings.
The 7 budget-friendly European LCC destinations
These destinations are not only confirmed as top LCC hubs (according to the OAG megahub index) but also offer a great travel experience once you land.
1. Barcelona–El Prat (BCN), Spain
LCC hub status: Ranked as one of the world's most connected LCC megahubs. Vueling airlines operates 41% of its low-cost flights from this airport.
Best for: Mediterranean meets, couples traveling from diverse European origins, and those seeking vibrant city life.
Why it's budget-friendly: Barcelona's massive budget connectivity ensures competitive prices from nearly everywhere in Europe. While the city itself is mid-range, the flight savings often outweigh the cost.
The experience: Enjoy the Catalan capital by exploring the Gothic Quarter, visiting Antoni Gaudí's architectural wonders, and enjoy tasty food.
Ready to test it? Check flight prices from your two origins on Betweengs.
2. Dublin (DUB), Ireland
LCC hub status: The rise of Dublin has been dramatic, powered heavily by Ryanair, which accounts for 42% of its LCC flights.
Best for: UK, Scandinavian, and western European connections, history buffs, and travelers who love a cozy pub atmosphere.
Why it's budget-friendly: Dublin's strength lies in its excellent low-cost links across the UK and mainland Europe. For many routes, it acts as a remarkably efficient and cheap midway point.
The experience: Enjoy the Guinness storehouse, stroll through Temple Bar, and use the excellent public transport to explore the surrounding area.
3. Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), Netherlands
LCC hub status: A major hub where easyJet holds a significant 8% share of LCC flights, making it a reliable, high-volume meeting spot.
Best for: Central and northern European meets where short transit times and efficiency are top priority.
Why it's budget-friendly: While Amsterdam's accommodation is not cheap, the flight reliability and excellent rail connections can often make the overall trip cost lower due to reduced travel time and competition among carriers.
The experience: Explore world-class museums, rent bikes, and enjoy the beautiful canals for a truly European weekend.
4. Krakow (KRK), Poland
Best for: Central/eastern European meets, history buffs, and couples prioritizing the lowest possible on-the-ground cost.
Why it's budget-friendly: Krakow is a primary base for Ryanair and Wizz Air, ensuring cheap flights from western hubs. Crucially, the cost of living (hotels, food, activities) is dramatically lower than the cities above.
The experience: Wander through the gorgeous old town, explore Wawel Castle, and save your money on accommodation to spend on experiences together.
5. Budapest (BUD), Hungary
Best for: Couples seeking stunning architecture, thermal baths, and a romantic atmosphere combined with high value.
Why it's budget-friendly: Budapest remains a budget aviation favorite as it hosts Wizz Air headquarters. It's one of the best value-for-money capital cities in Europe and accommodation is plentiful, and public transport is excellent and cheap.
The experience: Soak in the Széchenyi thermal baths, walk across the Chain Bridge at night, and explore the historic Buda Castle district.
6. Palma (PMI), Spain
LCC hub status: A massive leisure-focused hub, with Ryanair dominating 23% of its low-cost traffic.
Best for: Leisure-focused meetings, quick beach access, and travelers arriving during the summer season.
Why it's budget-friendly: PMI is an island airport, which creates intense seasonal competition among budget airlines looking to fill seats. This often results in surprising off-season deals.
The experience: Enjoy the stunning cathedral, explore the historic streets of Palma, and easily access beautiful beaches for a relaxing meetup.
7. A secondary LCC airport hub
The pro-strategy: Don't limit yourself to capital city airports. Use Betweengs to check secondary hubs that are often the cheapest of all.
Example hubs: Milan Bergamo (BGY) instead of Milan Malpensa (MXP), Frankfurt Hahn (HHN) instead of Frankfurt (FRA), or Brussels Charleroi (CRL) instead of Brussels (BRU). These airports are designed purely for budget airlines and can be the secret to maximum savings.
LDR travel pro-tip: the secret weapon is flexibility
Even the most affordable LCC hubs can be expensive if you restrict your travel to the standard Friday evening to Sunday night window.
The secret weapon of the savvy LDR traveler is the **+/- 3 day flexibility**.
By shifting your trip just one day earlier (to a Thursday) or one day later (to a Monday or Tuesday), you can often cut the price of your combined flights in half.
Use Betweengs' flexible date search option. A small change for one traveler might be a significant price difference for the other: that's money saved that can be spent on a nicer hotel, better food, or an unforgettable experience together.
Ready to stop dreaming and start meeting?
The cheapest flights and most affordable meeting points are waiting. Stop the manual searches and the frustrating tab-juggling.
Skip the high-cost hubs and find your perfect budget-friendly destination with Betweengs right now.