5 Places to Go in Europe Now That the Dollar Is at a Record High

With its hills and historic street cars, Lisbon can feel like the San Francisco of Europe. While it has the laid-back charm and mild weather of SF, the Portuguese capital is much older and cheaper.

The affordability stands out especially compared to other capital cities in Europe, like Paris or London. In Lisbon, the average Airbnb goes for $75 per night, according to the vacation rental platform. And you can eat and drink delicious Portuguese dishes, like fresh seafood or port wine, for great prices. A bottle of wine often hovers around $15 at an upscale restaurant, and you can enjoy an ice-cold beer for about $1 and change in one of the city's many outdoor kiosk cafes. The views are free.

Sintra is a charming Portuguese village with various monuments, including the 19th century Pena Palace. It is a 30-minute drive (17 miles) from Lisbon.

Fewer tourists, better food: for many, that's how Sicily stacks up to more popular destinations in Italy, like Florence and Venice. Make the trip to the Mediterranean island off the boot of mainland Italy, and you'll dine on pasta alla norma (the traditional eggplant pasta) and cannoli.

Sicily also has a rich history, being settled by the Greeks, Romans, Moors, Normans, and more, which you can explore in Palermo. According to Airbnb, Palermo is one of the least expensive spots in Europe to rent an apartment, coming in at an average of $45 per night.

The Scala dei Turchi is a marlstone white rock formation found on a tourist-friendly beach with turquoise waters. It is a two-hour drive (90 miles) from Palermo.

With neoclassical architecture, pedestrian-friendly streets, and world-class food and wine, Bordeaux is an immersion in the decadent beauty France has to offer, at a price much cheaper than Paris. In fact, almost seven square miles of the city is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the largest urban site in the world. The average price of an Airbnb in Bordeaux is $67 per night.

Most famous for its wine, the Bordeaux regions offers endless experiences for wine-lovers. Within the city, you can take a two-hour workshop at the Bordeaux Wine School for about $40 (available during the Summer), where you'll learn all about the grapes, soil, and other characteristics of Bordeaux wine. You can also skip a class and purchase glasses for about $2 each. After you've done your own sampling, head out for intimate tastings at the surrounding estates.

Arcachon is a town on the Atlantic coast with beautiful beaches. It is a one-hour drive (40 miles) away from Bordeaux.

Located in Spain's Basque country, San Sebastian offers you a chance to have two vacations in one: a relaxing beach getaway and an adventurous cultural immersion.

Chosen as a 2016 European Capital of Culture, San Sebastian boasted its museum and other social offerings, which you can still enjoy in 2017. While an Airbnb in the beach town will cost you $148 per night on average, you can enjoy pintxos (tapas) of local octopus, anchovies, and ham for $1 to $5.

Biarritz is a historic French resort town, also popular with surfers. It is a 45-minute drive (30 miles) from San Sebastian.

Seeing the Acropolis makes the bucket lists of any history buff. Luckily, you can see that and the many world-class museums Athens has to offer without putting much of a dent in your bank account.

The average price of an Airbnb is $44 per night in Athens, according to the vacation rental platform. For a cost-efficient tour (read: free), download Rick Steves' Europe Android or iPhone app and choose among his Athens walking tours. After a hot day of sightseeing, enjoy a cold and inexpensive Alpha beer. And when evening comes, feast at an affordable plaka restaurant for ouzo and traditional fare.

Hydra is a car-free, rocky island where you can take a mule as a taxi. It is a one-hour high-speed ferry ride from Athens.