14 tips for budget travelling in Europe
Europe is any traveller´s dream. Stunning countries, beautiful landscapes, paradise beaches and vibrant cities. Europe has this special vibe that seems to attract travellers from all over the world. It is perfect for a romantic holiday, an adventurous road trip or a family vacation. But as well for budget travellers, Europe is a dream destination. Surely, on the first sight it definitely seems more expensive but with these 14 tips for budget travelling in Europe, you can find out how to travel with the small money. Because Europe is for every traveller – from budget to luxurious. And with a little know-how and some tips, you can explore the countries at their best with a small budget. Find out how in this guide!
Budget tip 1: avoid travelling in July and August
Surprise: Europe is much cheaper during the off season. Like any other destination, you can save a tremendous amount of money if you are travelling in the right months. For Europe, the busiest times are July and August. Depending on your exact country or city, the times can vary of course. But the summer months are definitely much more expensive. Plus, they are obviously the most crowded weeks as well which takes away quite a lot of the magic.
If you can avoid the busy season, you will be able to save almost half of the price. Especially in the South of Europe, such as Italy or Spain, the prices double as soon as the summer starts. Paying double for something you can get much cheaper just a few months later? Doesn’t make sense, so make sure you plan your trip wisely.
The best times for budget travellers in Europe are in spring, from April to the beginning of June or from late September to October. During these months you will enjoy the much cheaper prices and as well a still warm and sunny weather. Perfect combination, right?
Budget tip 2: book your activities in advance
A surf lesson in Portugal, a city tour in Paris, a wine tasting in France or a boat trip in Italy? All these activities are some of the best things to do in Europe, but will cost you money. If you want to save on the activities, the best you can do is booking them in advance. Once you start planning your route through Europe and set up an itinerary, make sure to also look out for the activities you want to do. Whether it is courses, tours or trips: the earlier you can book them, the cheaper the price.
Sure, you kind of start committing to a certain time table once you book the activities. But it is totally worth it, considering that you do not have to pay 100 Euros for a boat tour if you book it a few days prior. Saving money in Europe really means to plan ahead and book early. Even if that might not be typical for a budget traveller, it is still one of the best tips for budget travelling in Europe.
Budget tip 3: always compare the means of transport
In Europe, you always have many options of how to get to your next destination. You can book a flight, hop on a bus, get on the train or even take the ferry. In generally, there is no number 1 cheap transportation in all of Europe. It totally depends on where you are going and during which time you are travelling. Therefore, it is the best tip for budget travelling in Europe to compare the options before you book.
A great website to always look for cheap flights is Skyscanner. They do not only show you the different options but as well the cheapest days in a month. If you are at least a little flexible on the dates, you can really plan your trip after the cheap prices.
For coaches you can check out the flixbus, RailEurope, Seat61 or other companies leading all the way through Europe. Sometimes, if you are travelling across a country, there are special ticket fees. They allow you to travel for one month for a fixed price (for example 200 Euro and you can take whatever train you want).
In Europe, transportation really is a major cost factor. And even if that always includes quite some time of planning and organizing, it is totally worth it because you can save quite some money on choosing the right option.
Budget tip 4: stay in AirBnBs and apartments
Another major cost factor in Europe is food. Eating out is, depending on the country, quite expensive. The best way to save money here is to book yourself a stay with a kitchen. A great option is AirBnB, where you can find a great selection of stays in any given area. Mostly, it is cheaper than a hotel and you can find a good price, especially in the off-season.
On booking.com you can also search for small apartments with a kitchenette. That will allow you to cook for yourself. Not eating out everyday and being independent of restaurants really is one of the number 1 tips for budget travelling in Europe. Unlike Asia, buying groceries by yourself is much cheaper than eating out.
Budget tip 5: take the night train or bus
If you have been travelling Asia, you do know this budget trick. Taking the night train or the night bus automatically saves you a night in a hotel and still gets you to your next destination. In Europe, there are both night trains and night buses, which basically lead all the way through the different countries. Night trains can actually be quite comfortable, and in most of the trains and buses you have free WiFi, which makes the drive less boring.
Budget tip 6: stay outside the city centers
Especially in the big European cities, the city centers are the most expensive areas. Hotels can cost you a lot of money while on the other hand, your accommodation a little bit outside of the center is much cheaper. If you are planning a city trip, look for a place to stay in the more distant areas. There are always busses and trains who will take you to the attractions, so do not worry about that.
If you are looking for the best cities in Europe which you have to visit at least once in your life, click here.
Budget tip 7: make stops in between your travels
When travelling through a country, one of the best tips for budget travelling in Europe is to make some stops. Let´s stay you want to go from North Italy to the South. You could buy a plane ticket straight to Sicily or you could use the route to make some stops in between. You can fly to Rome or to drive to Milan first. This is just one of the many examples where making stops on the route does not only make the whole journey cheaper, but as well leaves you with much more experiences and places you´ve explored.
To sum it up: do not hop from one big stop to the next. Take your time and split the journey to see even more and save some money.
Budget tip 8: travel with a light luggage
Please note, that this budge travelling tip is only reasonable if you are going on short trips through Europe. Of course, if you go on a longer journey it is nearly impossible to pack only a hand luggage. If you travel for some days only, this can be great way to save money.
Especially on city trips or a weekend trip, travelling with one bag only can save you a lot of money on flights. Many airlines offer their prices without any luggage included. Adding luggage on the other hand will cost you up to 100 Euros, which is indeed expensive. Therefore, think twice how much stuff you actually need with you on the trip and consider only booking the hand luggage. With this tip for budget travelling, you can get flights starting from 5 Euros. Yes, you heard right.
Budget tip 9: do what the locals do
This is one of the best tips for budget travelling not only in Europe, but as well at any place in the world. If you do what the locals do, you will always find the cheapest way. No matter if it is a nice local restaurant just around the corner or a good street food place – the locals can show you some of the best budget places.
Therefore: be open and dare to go a little off the beaten path, if you want to not only save some money on your trips but as well get the best and most real experience of a place.
Budget tip 10: buy the drinks at the supermarket
Of course, let´s not forget about the drinks. Europe has some of the best wine and beers which you should not miss out on. Buying them in a bar or a restaurant is definitely much more expensive than getting them at the nearby supermarket. Beers (depending on the country) can cost up to seven or eight euros in a bar. At the supermarket, you can get them for as cheap as one euro. Seems like a good deal, right?
Saving money on drinks is actually one of the best budget tips for travellers. Surely, a night out in the bars should always be on your list, but this is a great way to not forget about the little pleasures and still save some money. And what´s even better than sitting in a bar? Enjoying the drink at the beach, the lake or somewhere quiet in nature with some beautiful views. A budget tip with many advantages.
Budget tip 11: travel Eastern Europe for a budget traveller ´ s paradise
The South of Europe is the most expensive part. But have you ever considered to explore Eastern Europe? It might be a little off the beaten track, but not less beautiful. The Eastern part is ideal for budget travellers. Hotels are much cheaper and you can enjoy even some weeks travelling around without having a problem sticking to your budget.
Some of the best countries to do so are Bulgaria, Romania or Poland. You can explore stunning cities and breathtaking landscapes. And the best of it all? You do not have to deal with the tourist crowds. Europe is much more than just Italy and Spain – go find it out and fall in love with a totally different side of the continent. You definitely won´t regret it.
Budget tip 12: always join the free walking tours
Who is up for exploring a city for free? Getting details and insider know-hows from a local is always the best way to explore a new place. In many European cities (especially the capitals), there are free walking tours anybody can join. Perfect for budget travelling in Europe. They are mostly held by students who can show you the best areas of the city and some must-see places. You can get information about the tours over your hotel, hostel or the official website of the city.
Budget tip 13: always choose walking instead of a taxi or bus
Another great tip for budget travelling in Europe: walk whenever you can. Especially, if you are staying in a bigger city, transport can be quite a major cost factor. Therefore, walking is always the better option. Plus, you get to see much more of a city, which you would have probably missed if you took the bus.
Of course, you should check out before, if walking makes sense. But if the distance allows it, grab good shoes and explore the area by foot.
Budget tip 14: check out the free events during weekends
Are you up for a good festival? A picnic in the park? A stroll over the flea market on Sunday? Usually on the weekends, there is quite a lot of free things to do in Europe. This goes especially for the cities, but as well in smaller towns, you can find many free events to check out.
There really is no need to spend money to have fun. You can look up on Social Media or other platforms for details about what is about to happen on the weekend. Ask a local for the best flea market or check out the parks during summer – there is always something free to participate.
Budget travelling in Europe? It´ s possible
Budget travelling is possible almost anywhere. If you want, you can adjust any trip to your budget. You can always find a way to make it work. Even if Europe might seem like an expensive destination in general, it is not. There are multiple options for travellers who want to save some money and still get the best experience possible. Try and follow these tips for budget travelling in Europe and always be open for new ways – and now: Europe is calling! Where are you going?
