We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Guest Post by Olivia of Defining Decade
So you’re planning the trip of a lifetime to the beautiful continent of Europe, but you’re a little concerned about making your budget stretch? You’ve come to the right place! Learn how to travel cheaply in Europe with these travel hacks, tips, and tricks.
Make your money go further by selecting the best accommodation and transportation options, plus discover a range of hacks for saving extra bucks whilst you’re on the road.
Europe is such a diverse place that exudes beauty, history, and culture. From visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris and island hopping in Greece to authentic Pasta cooking classes in Rome, it’s not a place where you can visit for a week and then head home as you’ve run out of cash. That would be torturous!
Discover how to travel cheaply in Europe so you can tick off your bucket list destinations and have an adventure you will never forget.
How to travel cheaply in Europe – Before your trip
The budgeting begins before you even book your flights! Learn how to travel cheaply in Europe before you even head off with the below tips and tricks!
1. Create a budget
The first and most obvious step of how to travel cheaply in Europe is to create a budget.
Budgets can easily be created in Excel, they don’t need to look fancy they just need to track your expenses and spending habits.
There are loads of free templates online, and Microsoft has loads of great ones to choose from.
By reviewing your spending you can determine an achievable weekly or monthly saving goal. Then, simply set up auto payments to your savings accounts to hold you accountable for your goal.
2. Save Save Save!
Do whatever you can to save as much money as possible before you head off. When you’re tempted to splurge on a nice dinner out with your friends or on a new shirt, keep in mind the ultimate objective – envision yourself in Europe, having the time of your life!
3. Travel out of peak season
In general, the best time to visit Europe is during the shoulder season. April to May and September to October are the shoulder seasons for most European countries. This is the best time to go for cheaper prices and fewer crowds, while still offering relatively decent weather.
Hostel prices soar during the summer months, and I’m talking an extra £20-£25 per night increase! So traveling during the shoulder seasons is well worth it.
4. Book cheap flights
I use Skyscanner and Google Flights to shop for the best rates. Why? Because I can see prices and promotions from over 1200 travel companies in one spot. Plus it’s easy to filter for your airlines of choice if you are collecting or using loyalty points.
PRO TIP: Try to be flexible with your travel dates as adjusting your days and times of travel can sometimes dramatically alter the prices.
For those wondering how to travel cheaply in Europe, RyanAir is one of the best budget airlines. RyanAir always has great deals and excellent connectivity across Europe.
5. Pick your accommodation wisely
Choosing your accommodation wisely can save you hundreds of dollars.
If you’re wondering how to travel cheaply in Europe and stick to your tight budget, the following options are going to be best for you.
Hostels
Unfortunately, European hostels aren’t as cheap as they once were, particularly during the summertime. Hostel dorm beds in Europe can range anywhere from £20- £75+ per night depending on where you are staying and what time of year it is.
Couch surfing
Although I can’t speak from personal experience there are a range of fellow solo female travellers who I’ve heard have had both great and not-so-great experiences.
Check out couchsurfing.com to see if there are any suitable options for you, even if it’s just a night here and there.
Work exchanges
Skip paying for accommodation together by volunteering/working in exchange for a bed.
Sites such as Workaway and Worldpackers connect hosts looking for services such as childcare, language tutoring, gardening, cleaning, charity work, art projects, animal care, farm stay help, and more.
This is a better option for those on longer stays wanting to really experience the local way of living.
PRO TIP: Choose a refundable option so you can cancel last minute if a cheaper alternative becomes available!
6. Combine accommodation with transport
This next hack is one of my favorites. Combining accommodation with transport means bang for your buck!
Get a safe night’s sleep and maximize your time in a destination by opting for red-eye flights, sleeper trains, or night buses. Plus, overnight transport often has cheaper fares.
WIN, WIN, WIN!
7. Travel Insurance
Now you may be thinking, isn’t travel insurance an extra cost?
Travel insurance is a small price to pay that can save you thousands of dollars if you fall ill, get injured, lose your luggage, get delayed at the airport, or get in an accident.
It’s a no-brainer!
8. Get a rail pass
I prefer trains over buses and air travel as the views are great, the seats are comfortable and you can get up and move around easily. If you are planning to travel around Europe and want to reduce flying, a rail pass is your best money-saving option.
Eurail passes allow you to travel to 33 countries starting from € 185.
But do Eurail passes save you money, or are they a giant waste of time?
This depends on your route and length of travel. In general, if you craft your route with the train routes in mind plus if you want to hit loads of countries, not just 2 or 3, a Eurail pass will be cheaper than buying tickets individually.
9. Don’t over pack
It’s time to pack now! When packing your luggage and carry on make sure to check the baggage allowance of ALL airlines you are travelling with. The last thing you want is a hefty fee when you get to the airport as your baggage is overweight.
For peace of mind, I also like to weigh my bag. You can get a small baggage scale from Amazon, Target, or any other department store for cheap and if you’re a big traveler it will always come in handy.
Try and pack as much as you can so you aren’t tempted to go shopping on your trip and won’t need to purchase necessities when you arrive.
How to travel cheaply in Europe – Tips for during your trip
You’ve left your home country for stunning Europe, now what? Discover how to travel cheaply in Europe to stretch your money further without sacrificing the quality of the trip and, well, your sanity…
10. Pick up extra work
To create more wiggle room in your budget, consider picking up a little extra work when you’re traveling around Europe.
My favorite way to make extra income while traveling is online, as it gives me the flexibility to work wherever and whenever.
For me, it’s working on this blog, which is not a quick way to make money so if you’re in a pinch I would explore options such as freelancing, virtual assistant roles, surveys, digital products, affiliate marketing, or dropshipping.
Alternatively, there are plenty of backpacker jobs you can pick up as you go including but not limited to hospitality, farm work, tour guiding, tutoring, babysitting, and more.
11. Have a picnic
Skip dining out and instead head to the supermarket to grab some baguettes, cheese, and cold meats. Grab your towel and head to the park with your spread.
Eating out adds up fast so try and limit it to only a few restaurants you are dying to try.
Supermarkets and bakeries will be your best friend.
Grab a loaf of bread, some spreads, cold meats, and salad to make toast and sandwiches. I love bakery stops to grab a pie, pastry, or sandwich when on the go.
Other staples that are great for sticking to your budget include simple pasta dishes, microwave meals, and noodles.
PRO TIP: Opt for a hostel that has a good kitchen or, even better, a hostel where breakfast and/or dinner are included.
12. Skip buying coffee out
When you’re jet-lagged, hungover, or just plain exhausted, hot barista-made coffee is sometimes all you can think about. And yes sometimes they are justified… 3 am flights I think it’s more of a necessity than a nicety!
But buying coffee out is another silent assassin that will add up fast.
Now I’m not saying don’t drink coffee, cause that would be torture.
Pack a small number of instant coffee sachets that only require hot water to get you through your morning.
13. Watch how much you drink
Aperol spritz? I’ll take 2, please!
Traveling cheaply in Europe is unfortunately not this.
Europe travel is often very social and boozy. Whether you are a party animal, wine connoisseur, or like to enjoy a cocktail or 2 when the sun sets, drinks are expensive.
Here are my tips for how to travel cheaply in Europe and reduce your alcohol expenditure:
- Avoid places that have an immaculate view. Hear me out, the better the views the more expensive the drinks will be.
- Look for happy hour specials
- Check out the hostel bar for cheap drinks
- Purchase drinks from the supermarket
PRO TIP: If you’re in Europe and buying wine from the supermarket, the majority if not all of them are corked wine. Eeeek this isn’t so good if you’re having a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower and don’t have a bottle opener. It happens to the best of us! Remember to pack a bottle opener that opens not only beers but corked wine.
14. Don’t enter every tourist attraction
£10 here £10 there, paying to enter attractions, museums, and art galleries can become rather expensive.
Make a list of the attractions you really want to see and don’t feel like you have to enter every single one you pass.
Sometimes just checking out the outside is more than enough!
15. Stick to window shopping
Splurging on new clothes and souvenirs is not only expensive but puts you at risk of needing to pay for additional luggage if you go over the baggage allowance.
Be wary of compulsive purchases and in general just stick to window shopping.
If you are really keen to purchase a few pieces, create a strict budget and ensure there is enough room in your luggage. And then stick to it!!
16. Take free city tours
Jump on a free tour bus on the first day of your trip to get the lay of the land.
A convenient and free way to get around and learn more about the city you are visiting!
17. Bring water everywhere
How to travel cheaply in Europe means bringing bottled water everywhere you go.
If you’ve been to Europe you already know that every cafe and restaurant charges for table water.
18. Use travel cards
Planning to use your local bank card when traveling to Europe? Think again.
International transaction fees of 3%, flat $3, or worse add up really fast.
I also wouldn’t recommend taking out loads of cash either because if you lose it or your baggage is stolen it’s all gone.
So where does this leave us?
Travel cards and no-fee ATM cards!
One of if not the best travel cards on the market is Wise.
If you go for a travel card like Wise you will save 85% compared to using your everyday debit card.
Wise has over 50 currencies and can be used in hundreds of countries, sparing you the hassle of juggling multiple cards. And you can withdraw up to 200 Euro per month with no fees! And you can add it to your Apple wallet for easy payment from your iPhone or Apple watch.
Another great all-rounder card to check out is Travelx. Travelex has no Eftpos fees, ATM fees, or currency conversion fees. And you can order it online and have it delivered to you pronto!
And lastly, if you prefer to stick with your trusted bank, they likely will have the option to reduce your international transaction fees so reach out or do your research.
Conclusion: How to travel cheaply in Europe
If you’ve made it this far, you are ready to head off on your budget Euro trip!
Just remember, whenever you travel some obstacles and setbacks may require extra cash so be sure to budget enough money that will give you a safety net.
I wish you all the best on your trip!
About the Author
Olivia is the founder of the travel blog Defining Decade. As a young Aussie traveller, she is the go-to guide for unlocking the world of travel in your twenties.
Check out these related posts on budget-friendly European destinations:
Save this “How to Travel Cheaply in Europe” for later – pin and share it!
Raised as a third culture kid living in South America and Europe, Annick caught the travel bug early. Â As an empty-nester, Annick enjoys sharing her tips for traveling for those with champagne taste and beer budgets.
Definitely agree with number 14- Don’t feel the need to visit every tourist attraction! I skipped visiting the Vatican and still don’t regret it 🙂
Your guide to hostels is awesome. Thanks for sharing such informative blog.