The underrated capital of Europe is a budget travel destination for summer vacations.

If you're looking for affordable vacation options this summer, forget about popular European capitals like Paris or Rome and consider a trip to Montenegro's capital, Podgorica. Podgorica may not be on your list of places you want to visit, but it has many reasons why it should be there. It is important to note that you get a lot more for your money here than in other European capitals such as Paris or Rome. But it's also full of quaint bookshops, stylish cafes and riverside bars that won't be overrun with tourists.

Podgorica: one of the cheapest city break destinations in Europe

The capital of Montenegro is a great place for a short vacation that won't bankrupt you. You can dine out without spending a lot of money, lunch at a casual restaurant costs just €6.40, and a three-course dinner for two people at an average restaurant will cost around €25, according to the Numbeo world database. If you need something refreshing, a 0.5 liter of beer will cost just €2, a cappuccino is €1.49, and a bottle of water is about €1.29. Transportation is also inexpensive, with a single ticket starting at €0.90 and a monthly pass at just €30. According to Numbeo, Podgorica is 38.8% cheaper than Rome and 47.9% cheaper than Paris.

What to do in Podgorica: Ottoman era

Stara Varos is the old town of Podgorica, but you could easily think you've entered a rural village. The city's oldest neighborhood is a maze of low stone houses, some painted in pastel hues and set along overgrown alleys. Between the 15th and 19th centuries it was a bustling Ottoman Turkish-style town. Bombing during World War II damaged many of the buildings, but traces of its golden era can still be felt. The Spartan chapel in the central square was formerly used for Muslim prayer invocation during the Ottoman era.

Beautiful brutal architecture in Podgorica

It seems like a paradox, but the brutalist buildings in Podgorica show how attractive a modernist architectural style can be if it is ascetic. The Sacred Heart of Jesus Church is a colossal, austere building, while the unexpectedly playful Block 5 apartment complex looks like a giant game of Jenga.

Where to eat and drink in Podgorica: Art Cafes and Bars on the Riverbank

If you want to take advantage of inexpensive drinks, Podgorica abounds with original establishments. The city boasts an inexpensive but stylish café culture, such as Zrno with its industrial lighting and metal stools or steampunk-style Mehanizam. It's worth finding Carver, a bookstore, cafe and gallery housed in a former Turkish bath. Pass under the brightly colored graffiti of the modern concrete bridge and you'll find a small white building with narrow arched windows and Moorish doorways. You can browse the eccentric bookstore here, and if you need something to wake you up briskly, their thick Turkish coffee is a potent hit of caffeine. For summer drinks, stroll down the Moraca River to Niegoszew Park near the Millennium Bridge. Here the small beach comes alive in the warmer months with an open bar, sun loungers and umbrellas. You can refresh yourself in the water or go on a kayaking trip from the shore. For evening entertainment, check out Bokeška Street, the trendiest street in town, dotted with colorful cocktail bars and idiosyncratic pubs.