This is a post about easy tips for travelling Europe on a budget.
I’ve been living in Europe for a long time now. I first moved to Germany as an au pair a lifetime ago and then moved to England where I’ve been ever since. As an au pair, I was pretty much always broke but still managed to explore quite a bit! In fact, I think I used to travel more when I was broke and free than now that I have a full-time job and steady income.
Worldwide, life after 2020 was never the same, especially financially. Prices continue to skyrocket and all those £10 flights I used to hop on are now hard to come by. However, with a little planning and savvy decision-making, you can explore Europe on a budget without sacrificing experiences. From transportation to food and accommodation, here are some tried-and-tested tips – either by me or others – to enjoy Europe on a budget:
Take Advantage of Travel Passes
One of the best ways to save money on transport in Europe is by using travel passes.
- Eurail/Interrail Pass: Perfect for exploring multiple countries by train. These passes allow unlimited travel on selected days, offering great value for longer trips. Interrail is for European residents but, if you reside outside of Europe, Eurail is the one for you.
- City Transport Cards: Many cities offer transport passes that include unlimited travel on buses, trams and metros, often paired with discounts on attractions.
Join Free Walking Tours
I LOVE LOVE LOVE free walking tours!! I’ve done it in Berlin (like 4 or 5 times to introduce friends to it), Budapest, Reykjavik, Riga, Krakow… in Budapest I was on a solo trip and ended up .They are so good because you always get a super friendly and knowledgeable guide, for starters. For 1:30-2hrs they take you around all the main sights while telling you the history of the city. They also offer other more specific tours that you can pay for. They’re a fantastic way to learn about a city’s history and culture and see the main points when you don’t know where to begin.
- How It Works: Guides work on a tip basis so you pay what you can afford. It’s recommended between 10-50€ (when I was an au pair I used to give 5€ which was already a stretch for me 🥲 making 205€ a month)
- Where to Find Them: Sandemans is one of the main ones but just search “free walking tour [insert city]” to see the options available. Most big cities in Europe will have it. In fact, I did one in SEATTLE and loved it there too! The couple who set it up were inspired by the European tours and decided to start one there – it’s been going for over 10 years! But that’s another post…
Travel Off-Peak
Timing can make a huge difference in your travel costs. And experience as well, to be honest…Europe in the summer nowadays is CRAZY busy!
- Off-Season Travel: Visit during autumn or winter for cheaper flights and accommodation.
- Midweek Travel: Flights and trains are often cheaper midweek than on weekends. It’s also highly recommended you book in advance!
- Pro Tip: bus travel is way cheaper than trains! You can find cheaper flights too but, depending on where you’re at and where you’re going, it might make more sense to just hop on a bus.
Book Budget Accommodation
Accommodation is one of the largest travel expenses, but there are plenty of affordable options in Europe.
- Hostels: Many hostels now offer private rooms if dorms aren’t your style. But also, not every hostel is a party place and it really is a good place to meet people! I met many on my solo trips who ended up being exploring buddies wherever we were… and if you’re an introvert thinking that’s not for you, so am I, sis!
- Airbnb and Short-Term Rentals: Great for families or groups looking to split costs.
- House Sitting: Websites like TrustedHousesitters allow you to stay for free in exchange for looking after someone’s home (and sometimes pets). Facebook has some housesitting groups too. If you’re a womxn, Facebook also has the Host a Sister group that’s a bit like Couch Surfing but for womxn only!
- CouchSurfing: I’m adding it here because I used it so much during my au pair/student years! I also used to host and participate in local events. I don’t know how it’s working now of if it still works at all but I thought I’d add and you can check it out. It used to be so good!! I wouldn’t have been able to travel so much without it.
Shop at Local Markets
Eating out for every meal can add up quickly but local markets are a budget traveller’s best friend. I LOVE markets! In fact, the first think I look for when I’m travelling is a food market. Some of them are pricey, but often they have very affordable prices without the extra costs of sitting at a restaurant. Not to mention all the different options!
- Why It’s Great: You’ll find fresh produce, baked goods and prepared foods at reasonable prices.
- Pro Tip: Pack a picnic and enjoy it in a local park or by a scenic river.
Use Budget Airlines
Europe is home to many budget airlines like Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air offering incredibly low fares if you book early. You can also use tools like Google Flights or Skyscanner.
- How to Save:
- Travel with carry-on luggage to avoid extra fees. If you’re on a long trip, it’ll be tricky, but weekend breaks are totally doable!
- Double-check which airport you’re flying into, as some budget airlines use smaller, out-of-the-way airports. The cost of getting to and from them might actually not be worth it. Also, cheaper flights are usually super early in the morning so make sure you can get to it without paying a fortune. Sometimes a more expensive flight is a better option so make sure you check both.
Explore for Free
One great thing about Europe is that it offers plenty of free attractions and activities. Also, given its rich history, you can literally just walk around and see a gazillion historical buildings and other sights! And the parks…SO MANY (safe!) PARKS!
- Examples:
- Explore public parks like Hyde Park in London or Park Güell in Barcelona.
- Visit museums on free-entry days (many cities offer these monthly); a lot of museums are actually totally free all year round too
- Wander through historic neighbourhoods like Montmartre in Paris or the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona.
Cook Your Own Meals
Eating out in Europe can be pricey but cooking for yourself can save a lot of money.
- Where to Stay: Book accommodation with a kitchen such as an Airbnb or hostel.
- Shop Smart: Buy groceries from local supermarkets or markets for authentic, affordable ingredients. You can also make sandwiches and store snacks that you can take with you on your day out adventures.
When my best friend came to London for the first time to spend a few months, I was studying, doing an unpaid internship and nannying whenever I could. Safe to say, the money situation was dire! But we managed. We used to buy a bag of brioche buns and a pack of cheese and make sandwiches for our trips and eat at places that offered meal deals.
Take Overnight Transport
Combine travel and accommodation by taking overnight trains or buses.
- Why It’s Cost-Effective: You save on a night’s accommodation while covering long distances.
- Popular Routes: Paris to Vienna, Berlin to Budapest, UK to mainland Europe on the overnight bus…
I’ve taken the bus from London to Dublin, London to Edinburgh twice, London to Liverpool, London to Amsterdam also twice, Darmstadt to Paris, Frankfurt to Berlin, Berlin to Munich, Berlin to Prague… It’s often super uncomfortable! 🥲😂 (not always) but I always thought it was better to be uncomfortable for a few years than not travel at all. And that’s pretty much the only way I managed to travel so much when I was broke. It’s a good way to meet other travellers too.
You can always put some music on and pretend you’re in a music video like this lady down here, catch up with a podcast, with Netflix…it’ll be great!
Look for Discount Cards and Apps
Cities across Europe offer discount cards tailored to tourists.
- Examples:
- The Paris Pass includes public transport, museum entry, and skip-the-line tickets.
- The Vienna City Card offers discounts on attractions and free public transport.
- Travel Apps: Use apps like Rome2Rio for budget-friendly route planning or Too Good To Go to score discounted meals from restaurants and bakeries.
Use Ridesharing Services
Ridesharing services like BlaBlaCar can be a great way to travel cheaply between cities.
- Why It’s Useful: You split the cost of petrol with the driver, often cheaper than trains or buses. And you get to know people.
I used to use it quite a bit in Germany and it was really fun! So much cheaper than train travel too… a few years ago, before joining the corporate world, I went on one of my favourite trips! I had very little money and not much of a plan. I found cheap flights to Germany so I booked it to go visit my ex-host family and from there I found cheap flights to Pula in Croatia.
After booking that, I got in touch with a Croatian friend from London who had gone back home. She was living in Zagreb and told me to go see her. So I did and, instead of going back to Pula for my return flight, I looked for a ride online. I found a couple who was going from Zagreb to a town really near where I needed to go in Germany so it turned out way easier than my original plan! The couple was really sweet, we crossed some beautiful landscapes and I even took a little nap.
It’s obviously not quite like this fun van, but I’m keeping the pic for the vibes!
Leverage Free Wi-Fi
Avoid expensive roaming charges by connecting to free Wi-Fi hotspots in cafés, libraries and public spaces.
Depending on the length of your trip you might consider getting a sim card (but do yourself a favour and don’t get it from the airport – here in the UK you can literally order one for free!).
Plan Your Budget and Stick to It
Budgeting isn’t just about saving – it’s about prioritising what matters most to you.
- Tips:
- Set aside funds for must-do experiences while cutting back on less important areas.
- Use apps, spreadsheets or your favourite tracking method
- Pre-booking a lot of stuff will help as it won’t feel as heavy on your pocket in the day to day
- Stipulate spending amounts for entertainment and souvenirs so your money doesn’t disappear 💸💸💸
- Make sure to have an emergency fund – you never know when you’ll might need to pay extra for any of the things you pre-booked, even if you get a refund later
Hopefully these tips will help you see you CAN enjoy Europe on a budget. Especially if you’re from the US… your country is expensive, guys! And it’s hard to find free things to do, museums and attractions cost a lot. Let me know where you want to come in Europe and I’ll make a list of free things to do!
