Top 25 Ways to Save on Europe Travel (2023)

FAQs

What is the most efficient way to travel Europe? ›

Trains are generally the best way to get around in Europe. The rail network is comprehensive, ticket costs are rather affordable, and the scenery is gorgeous. Trains are a great way to visit many destinations quickly and efficiently.

While your exact expenses depend on a lot of factors, here is the short answer to the question: how much do I need to budget for backpacking Europe? Backpackers should expect to spend between $40 – $70 USD/day in Eastern Europe, $70 – $100/day in Western Europe, and $150 – $200/day in the Nordic countries.

In general, traveling Europe on $50 a day is not very feasible, and you need to choose only certain countries in order to do so. While we were able to visit Iceland on a budget, it was one of the most expensive countries in the world we've ever been to.

3 WEEKS IN EUROPE AVERAGE COST

On average, one person should plan around $2,000 for 20 days in Europe. You should be able to stay in a private room and eat out most of the time. But that still depends on where you plan to go. If you're on a backpacker's budget, you should be able to do it for $1,500.

However, a rough estimate for a 3 week trip to Europe could be anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 or more per person, depending on these factors. It is always a good idea to set a budget and try to stick to it as closely as possible to avoid overspending.

If you plan a more extended vacation and need to know how 3 weeks in Europe budget look like, we'd say you're looking at spending about 850 per week, making it 2,550 euros total. To quickly recap, if you are traveling to Europe, you are looking at spending around 120 euros per day on average.

You might want to save up roughly €2500 to €3000 for a two-week sojourn through Europe.

The average price of a 7-day trip to Western Europe is $1,359 for a solo traveler, $2,441 for a couple, and $4,576 for a family of 4. Western Europe hotels range from $45 to $207 per night with an average of $80, while most vacation rentals will cost $150 to $380 per night for the entire home.

As a rough estimation, budget $50-100 per person for each day that you will be away. This should cover your accommodation, food, drink and transportation costs.

With a valid U.S. passport, you can stay up to 90 days for tourism or business during any 180-day period. Do not overstay! You must wait an additional 90 days before applying to re-enter the Schengen area. To stay longer than 90 days, you must have a visa.

How to survive in Europe with little money? ›

Trains are a fast, comfortable alternative to cheap flights in Europe, especially when you're visiting multiple destinations. A Eurail Pass gives you unlimited, borderless travel across Europe with just one ticket, so you can go a lot further with your money – and you'll be doing your bit for the planet, too.

The late fall and winter months—from mid to late October through mid-to-late March—are often the cheapest time to fly to Europe (though fares can spike in December).

Train. Train travel is our absolute favorite way to travel in Europe: it's much less stressful than traveling by plane, especially once you get the hang of it, far more comfortable, and for those of us hailing from North America, it's a travel experience in its own right!

If buying euros in advance, whatever you do, don't overdo it! In almost every case, euros you can get abroad from an ATM will be cheaper than those you can get back in the States.

The best time to visit Europe is from late March to early June (spring), or between September and November (fall). You'll avoid the busy summer period and see your money go further.

Resist the urge to buy foreign currency before your trip.

Some tourists feel like they just have to have euros or British pounds in their pockets when they step off the airplane, but they pay the price in bad stateside exchange rates. Wait until you arrive to withdraw money.

From the US, regular prices for a flight to Europe range from $700–$1,000+ in low season and $900–$1,500 in high season.

Europe has a great transportation network, making it incredibly easy to zip from city to city and country to country. The hardest part is choosing which method is right for your travel style and budget. In this section, I cover each major transportation option system and give tips on finding the best deals.

Is it better to take cash to Europe? ›

There's a lot that you can buy with a credit card in Europe, so bring at least one. But don't expect to get very far without a little cash, too—especially if you're a tourist. Transportation services, such as taxis and buses, often require local currency.

You will typically get a better rate exchanging your home currency for something else in your home country, for example, than you will by exchanging dollars for a local currency in another country.

There are no restrictions on how much money you can bring with you, but anything over $10,000 must be declared. If you are carrying more over EUR 10,000, even European countries have a similar restriction.

Advantages of an overseas card

The main advantage of using a debit or credit card overseas is that you won't pay foreign transaction fees every time you spend. While many also won't charge fees for cash withdrawals, you will still usually be charged interest from the date of the transaction if you use a credit card.

There are 44 countries in Europe, full of fascinating cultures and experiences. Ideally, through a Europe two weeks itinerary, you should be able to cover three or four countries at least.

By buying a lot of euros in advance, you will get ripped off exponentially. By carrying a lot of cash when in Italy, you will make yourself incredibly vulnerable to theft, either from your person, or from your accommodation. Almost every store and restaurant in Italy accepts credit or debit cards.

Europe is a great destination to go for one week, simply because of the cultural diversity in such a small geographic area. The small size, proximity, and ease of transportation between many of the countries in Europe make it a good choice for a culturally rich one week holiday.

Paris trip cost

I estimate that one week in Paris will cost approximately $2,150 per person. Paris is a great city filled with incredible sites and attractions and plenty to see and do. It can be easy to get carried away in your spending.

The best time to visit Europe is typically during the shoulder season. Europe's spring shoulder season runs from mid-April to mid-June in most countries. The fall shoulder season is during September. During these times, crowds are thinner, prices still moderate, and the weather warm enough to enjoy your vacation.

The general rule is that as long as you spend more time at home than abroad, or you use your mobile phone more at home than abroad, you can pay your standard domestic prices for your calls, texts and data services when you travel in the EU. This is considered a fair use of roaming services.

Is it better to pay in euros or dollars online? ›

The short answer is: Always pay in the local currency (Euros), which allows your bank to set the exchange rate, and it will always be a better option. If you choose to pay in dollars, you get the worst exchange rate from the merchant.

When you exchange cash, you get a significantly worse exchange rate than when you use a card. The difference can be as much as 6%. This is why using a card is better. However, you should not use a credit card to get money out of ATMs.

Currently, U.S. citizens can freely enter the Schengen Zone (an area of 26 countries covering much of Europe) for up to 90 days for business and/or tourism purposes. End of 2023, all U.S. citizens traveling to the 26 Schengen Zone countries will need to register with ETIAS or will risk being denied entry.

A non-EU national who stays in the Schengen area beyond 90 days (without a residence permit or long-stay visa) is illegally present, which can result in a re-entry ban to the Schengen area.

If you overstay 90 days in the EU, you risk deportation. Countries can legally imprison you, deport you, or give you a limited number of days to leave. That said, deportation is rarely enforced for a visitor who isn't attempting to work illegally or claim benefits.

What Is the 30-Day Rule? Instead of allowing yourself to make that impulse purchase, wait for 30 days before you buy — that's the 30-day rule. Following this rule means you defer all non-essential purchases for 30 days, which gives you ample time to think about whether you really need to make the purchase.

How many months in advance should I plan a trip to Europe? ›

A good rule of thumb for planning a trip to Europe is to take at least six months. And if you really want to benefit from early preparation, a year may be even better.

A typical trip around Europe can really take as long as you want. However, if you only have 10-12 days, you should keep in mind which cities you want to see during your trip.

If you plan a more extended vacation and need to know how 3 weeks in Europe budget look like, we'd say you're looking at spending about 850 per week, making it 2,550 euros total. To quickly recap, if you are traveling to Europe, you are looking at spending around 120 euros per day on average.

One of the most quoted rules of happiness is the 50-40-10 rule. This knowledge about happiness states that 50% of our happiness is determined by genetics, 10% by our circumstances and 40% by our internal state of mind. This rule originates from the book "The How Of Happiness" written by Sonja Lyubomirsky.

For those who don't know, the 50-30-20 budget plan is an American concept that seeks to save money and budget your money smartly. After taxes, your income should be divided into: 50% on essential needs; 30% on wants; and 20% on paying off your debt or setting aside funds in case of an emergency.

Our 50/30/20 calculator divides your take-home income into suggested spending in three categories: 50% of net pay for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings and debt repayment. Find out how this budgeting approach applies to your money. Monthly after-tax income. Do you know your “want” categories?

What is the cost of a Europe tour? A Europe tour to 6 countries for 14 nights and 15 days costs up to INR 210,000, including 4-star accommodation, meals, sightseeing, city tours, entry fee charges, and transfers. You can customize your travel itinerary depending on your budget and priorities.

How much does it cost to travel Europe for 2 months? The minimum amount of money you can expect to spend during your 2 month Europe itinerary (not including) flights is 6,000 USD. This assumes that your food, accommodation and transport within the continent will cost no less than 100 USD per person, per day.

Although Europe is a year-round travel destination, the best time to visit Europe is during the summer months of June to September. This is the time when the sun is high, the beaches are warm and the weather is sunny.

Crowds. July and August are the most popular months to visit Europe, when many Americans and Europeans take advantage of their vacation days and fine weather. August is especially crowded, as both French and Italians pour into Europe's seaside areas and major cities during their annual month off from work.

What is the best month to visit Europe? ›

In general, the best time to visit Europe is during the shoulder season. In most European countries the shoulder runs from mid-April to mid-June and again during the month of September.