Europe has a reputation for being expensive, but smart travellers know there's a well-worn path to seeing it well without breaking the budget.
Europe's reputation as an expensive destination is partly deserved and partly a myth. Western European capitals — London, Paris, Zurich — are genuinely pricey. But Eastern and Central Europe offer world-class history, architecture, food, and nightlife at a fraction of the cost, and even the expensive cities become manageable with the right approach.
Plan your transport around budget airlines and trains. Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air connect hundreds of European cities for very low fares if you book early and travel light. The Interrail or Eurail pass is worth considering if you're visiting more than four or five countries, though individual train tickets booked weeks in advance on national rail sites are often cheaper.
Stay in hostels or apartments. A well-rated hostel dormitory in most European cities costs €15–30 per night, and many hostels now offer private rooms that rival budget hotels for price. Apartments through Airbnb or Booking.com can be significantly cheaper than hotels if you're travelling with a friend or in a small group, and having a kitchen cuts food costs substantially.
Eat where locals eat. Tourist restaurants in main squares mark up everything significantly. Walk two or three streets away and prices drop. Look for lunch specials — the midday menu del día in Spain, the dagschotel in Belgium, or the plat du jour in France — where a two or three course meal with a drink costs €10–15. Supermarkets and local markets fill in the gaps. A picnic of good bread, cheese, and wine in a European city park is one of travel's great pleasures.
Focus on free attractions. Most European museums offer free admission one day per week. Many cities' best sights are simply walking the old town: Prague, Dubrovnik, Tallinn, and Krakow are all extraordinarily beautiful on street level. City walking tours on a tip-only basis are offered in virtually every major European city.
Eastern European cities dramatically extend your budget. A very comfortable day in Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, Riga, or Bratislava costs what a mediocre day in London or Paris costs. All have stunning old towns, excellent local cuisine, vibrant nightlife, and no shortage of things to see.
Travel in shoulder season — April through June and September through October — to pay less for flights and accommodation while still enjoying good weather in most of Europe.
Plan your transport around budget airlines and trains. Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air connect hundreds of European cities for very low fares if you book early and travel light. The Interrail or Eurail pass is worth considering if you're visiting more than four or five countries, though individual train tickets booked weeks in advance on national rail sites are often cheaper.
Stay in hostels or apartments. A well-rated hostel dormitory in most European cities costs €15–30 per night, and many hostels now offer private rooms that rival budget hotels for price. Apartments through Airbnb or Booking.com can be significantly cheaper than hotels if you're travelling with a friend or in a small group, and having a kitchen cuts food costs substantially.
Eat where locals eat. Tourist restaurants in main squares mark up everything significantly. Walk two or three streets away and prices drop. Look for lunch specials — the midday menu del día in Spain, the dagschotel in Belgium, or the plat du jour in France — where a two or three course meal with a drink costs €10–15. Supermarkets and local markets fill in the gaps. A picnic of good bread, cheese, and wine in a European city park is one of travel's great pleasures.
Focus on free attractions. Most European museums offer free admission one day per week. Many cities' best sights are simply walking the old town: Prague, Dubrovnik, Tallinn, and Krakow are all extraordinarily beautiful on street level. City walking tours on a tip-only basis are offered in virtually every major European city.
Eastern European cities dramatically extend your budget. A very comfortable day in Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, Riga, or Bratislava costs what a mediocre day in London or Paris costs. All have stunning old towns, excellent local cuisine, vibrant nightlife, and no shortage of things to see.
Travel in shoulder season — April through June and September through October — to pay less for flights and accommodation while still enjoying good weather in most of Europe.
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