{"id":19390,"date":"2023-05-22T13:00:06","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T13:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/22\/the-cost-of-traveling-western-europe-budgets-prices-ways-to-save\/"},"modified":"2023-05-22T13:00:06","modified_gmt":"2023-05-22T13:00:06","slug":"the-cost-of-traveling-western-europe-budgets-prices-ways-to-save","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/22\/the-cost-of-traveling-western-europe-budgets-prices-ways-to-save\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cost of Traveling Western Europe: Budgets, Prices, & Ways to Save"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Last Updated:<\/strong> 5\/22\/23 | May 22nd, 2023<\/p>\n

Europe<\/a>. Prices vary greatly depending on how far north, east, south or west you travel. After all, Europe is huge with multiple visa zones and multiple currencies. <\/p>\n

For 45 EUR, you can get a private room in parts of Greece<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For that same price in Paris<\/a>, you may get a 16-person dorm room. <\/p>\n

You can get delicious and cheap street food in Berlin for under 10 EUR, but even a casual sit-down meal in Austria<\/a> can cost around 25 EUR and it can easily double that in Norway<\/a>!<\/p>\n

And one of the most asked questions I get is, \u201cHow much does it cost to travel to Europe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Well, that always depends on where you are going. You can\u2019t paint Europe with a huge brush. It\u2019s a diverse place. <\/p>\n

So, today, I want to talk about traveling around Western Europe (think Eurozone countries plus Switzerland and the UK) and how much money you need to visit those destinations.<\/p>\n

How Much Do Things Cost?<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"The

Accommodation<\/strong> \u2013 In most Western European countries, expect to pay 25\u201345 EUR per night for a dorm room and 75-100 EUR for a private double room in a two-star budget hotel. (Though in Greece and Portugal, you can find dorm beds for 15\u201320 EUR per night and private rooms in budget hotels for 40-55 EUR.) <\/p>\n

In England, prices are usually around 20\u201330 GBP per night for a dorm room and private rooms in two-star hotels and guesthouses for 50-60 GBP.<\/p>\n

Food<\/strong> \u2013 Food costs vary as widely as accommodation costs. Throughout Western Europe, you can find small shops, street food stalls, or food trucks where you can get sandwiches, gyros, kebabs, slices of pizza, or sausages for between 3-7 EUR. Cheap meals<\/a> (think a fast food combo meal or takeout from a Chinese restaurant) cost 9\u201312 EUR, while restaurant meals at casual, traditional eateries cost around 15\u201325 EUR. <\/p>\n

Nicer establishments cost 30 EUR and up. A pint of beer is 2-5 EUR, a glass of wine is 2-7 EUR, a cappuccino is 2-5 EUR, and cocktails range from 6-14 EUR. You can cook your food for a week for around 45-65 EUR. <\/p>\n

Transportation<\/strong> \u2013 The easiest way to get around Europe<\/a> is by train, as they connect every major part of Europe and can be cheap if you book them in advance. High-speed trains, though, can easily cost 85-100 EUR or more.<\/p>\n

Try to get the regional or slow trains for cheaper prices (slow domestic trains taking 4-6 hours can cost around 25-45 EUR). If you\u2019re going to be hopping around a lot by train, consider getting a Eurail pass<\/a>. The rise of cheap airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, and Transavia has made flying around Europe in a hurry really cheap. For flights, expect to pay around 30-50 EUR if you book in advance. <\/p>\n

Buses are the cheapest option for long-distance travel, with prices as low as 5 EUR if you book in advance (otherwise expect to pay 15-30 EUR for a journey of 2-3 hours). <\/p>\n

Transportation around most cities is usually only 2\u20135 EUR for a metro or bus ticket. Most places offer daily unlimited public transit passes for around 10 EUR. <\/p>\n

Activities<\/strong> \u2013 Most museums start around 10-14 EUR. Half-day tours generally cost 25-35 EUR (such as a 2\u20133-hour bike tour) while full-day tours (such as a wine tour) cost 65\u2013100 EUR. Prices vary drastically per country (costs are much higher in capital and popular cities compared to smaller ones and in rural areas), so it\u2019s hard to give a good general cost of this budget item.<\/p>\n

How to Save Money in Western Europe<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Berlin

Here are my tips on saving money based on my eighteen years of experience: <\/p>\n

Picnic<\/strong> \u2013 Europe has a lot of tiny shops, farmer\u2019s markets, and supermarkets where you can buy premade sandwiches or ingredients to make your own. Buy some food, eat outside, and watch the city go by. It\u2019s a cheaper and more enjoyable way to eat.<\/p>\n

Eat local<\/strong> \u2013 Not into picnicking? That\u2019s OK, there are other ways to save money on food. Eat at local sandwich shops, pizza parlors, Maoz, Wok to Walks, or at outdoor street vendors. Avoiding restaurants and eating at a lot of the local \u201cgrab \u2018n go\u201d places will give you a taste of the local cuisine at a much cheaper price.<\/p>\n

Stay with a local<\/strong> \u2013 Hostels can add up really quick in Europe. If you don\u2019t have any friends you can stay with, consider using the service Couchsurfing<\/a>, which lets you connect with locals who will let you stay with them for free.<\/p>\n

Fly Cheap<\/strong> \u2013 If you know where you\u2019re going and a train won\u2019t do, try to book flights early. You can often get 15-25 EUR fares from many of the discount airlines. Just make sure that the airport they fly into isn\u2019t too far out of your way, as sometimes transportation from the secondary airport sometimes negates the savings from using the budget airline itself. <\/p>\n

Also, keep in mind that you\u2019ll have to pay to check your baggage on these cheap flights. It costs about 25-39 EUR for one checked bag. Travel carry-on only to avoid this added cost.<\/p>\n

Drink less<\/strong> \u2013 Alcohol can really add up. Hit happy hour or pick and choose when you party. Hostel bars are a good place to get cheap drinks, or you can buy your alcohol at the supermarket. Partying your way across the continent will destroy your bank balance in no time.<\/p>\n

Take the free tours<\/strong> \u2013 One of the great things about Europe is that you can find free walking tours in all the major cities. They can be a great way to see the city attractions, learn some history, and get your bearings without spending any money. Almost every city in Europe has a free walking tour available. Your hostel or the tourism board will have details! <\/p>\n

Just note that even though these tours are advertised as \u201cfree,\u201d always be sure to tip your guide something at the end \u2014 that\u2019s how they earn a living!<\/p>\n

Camp<\/strong> \u2013 If you\u2019re traveling with a tent, you can pitch it in the plentiful campgrounds across Europe for around 10-15 EUR per night. A very good camping service specific to Europe is Campspace<\/a>, which allows you to pitch a tent in someone\u2019s backyard for free or a nominal fee (around 5-15 EUR). All of the garden owners have profiles that tell you what services and facilities they offer.<\/p>\n

In some countries (such as Norway, Sweden, and Finland) it\u2019s even legal to camp for free as long as you follow some basic guidelines.<\/p>\n

Get a rail pass<\/strong> \u2013 Eurail Passes have saved me hundreds of dollars when I used them. If you are traveling far distances and through many countries, they are a great deal. Here\u2019s more information how to pick a Eurail pass<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Get a city tourist card<\/strong> \u2013 Local tourism offices issue a tourist card for all their attractions, tours, and restaurants. This card gives you free entry and substantial discounts on all the attractions and tours in a city, free local public transportation (a huge plus), and discounts at a few restaurants and shopping malls. They save a ton of money. If you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing, get one of these cards.<\/p>\n

Rideshare<\/strong> \u2013 Hugely popular and widespread in Europe, I did this to get around Switzerland, France, and UK. BlaBlaCar, the biggest website, connects drivers and riders and lets you get around much cheaper than a bus or train. Moreover, this way is amazing for getting off the highways, seeing more the countryside, and meeting locals. It\u2019s money-saving and much more exciting (and faster) than taking the train or bus! <\/p>\n

Take the bus<\/strong> \u2013 While not as comfortable or fast as trains, budget bus companies like Flixbus can take you across the continent on the cheap. You can rides for as little as 5 EUR. A route from Berlin to Munich is about 25 EUR, while Paris to Bordeaux can be as low as 10 EUR. Longer routes, like Amsterdam to Copenhagen start at around 47 EUR. <\/p>\n

Hitchhike<\/strong> \u2013 Hitchhiking in Europe is very safe, and I\u2019ve met a number of travelers who have done it (I traveled this way in Bulgaria and Iceland). Some countries are very supportive (Romania, Iceland, Germany) while others may be a bit more time-consuming (Italy, Spain). HitchWiki<\/a> is the best website for hitchhiking info.<\/p>\n

Travel in the off or shoulder season<\/strong> \u2013 June-August is the most popular \u2014 and thus most expensive \u2014 time to visit Europe. You\u2019ll find crowds and higher prices across the continent during this time. If you have the flexibility, avoid this period and the sky-high accommodation and flight prices that come with it. <\/p>\n

Get free flights and hotel stays<\/strong> \u2013 Even better than cheap is free! Travel hacking<\/a> (the art of using travel credit cards to get points\/miles, which you can then cash in for free travel) has enabled me to get more free flights and hotel stays than I can count. It\u2019s easier than you think to get started (and we\u2019ve got a ton of resources to help you too). <\/p>\n

House sit<\/strong> \u2013 Like Couchsurfing, by house sitting<\/a> you\u2019ll get a free place to stay \u2013 just keep in mind that this sharing economy platform comes with a significant amount of responsibility as you\u2019ll be taking care of someone\u2019s home and pets. But if you love animals and don\u2019t mind exchanging some of your time each day to care for them, you can stay in great places across Europe (and especially the UK), where house sitting is only growing in popularity. <\/p>\n

So, What\u2019s a Good Daily Budget in Europe?<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"A

On a mid-range budget of 175-225 EUR, you could get a private room in an Airbnb or a two-star budget hotel, eat out for most meals, enjoy some happy hour drinks, and do some paid activities like museums and visiting famous attractions.<\/p>\n

On a more upscale budget of 325 EUR per day, you can stay in nicer hotels, eat at sit down restaurants for every meal, drink more, and do more expensive paid activities like wine tours. <\/p>\n

***<\/center><\/p>\n

A trip to Western Europe can cost a lot of money. It\u2019s never going to be a cheap area of the world to travel but with some smart money management and by following the tips in this post, Western Europe can become at least an affordable place to visit. Plan ahead, control your costs, and you can visit without breaking the bank \u2014 and without missing out on all the region has to offer<\/p>\n

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Get Your In-Depth Budget Guide to Europe!<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
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