12 Insider Tips To Make the Most of Your Schengen Visa and Travel Like a Pro

The Schengen Visa allows non-EU citizens to explore some of Europe’s most famous tourist destinations with one fit-for-all visa. This visa grants non-EU travelers a short, temporary visit to 29 European countries for 90 days in any 180 days. In those 90 days, visitors can see many of Europe’s most fascinating countries.

However, there’s much you need to know if you’re going to make the most of your Schengen Visa. With so many unique places to see, you don’t want to miss out by not knowing how to maximize the visa’s potential. With that in mind, here are 12 tips to make the most of your Schengen Visa.

Table of Contents

Plan Your Trip Carefully

Our top tip for making the most of your Schengen Visa is to plan your trip carefully. If you don’t plan your trip, you won’t see or do as much because you’ll waste some of your 90 days finding out where to go and deciding where to stay. We recommend deciding what you want to see most so you don’t miss what you’ll enjoy.

Book accommodation and transport in advance once you know where you want to go and what you want to do. You should also pre-book any activities or attractions. We recommend writing down your itinerary so you know your plans. By planning, you’ll maximize your 90 days.

Don’t Do Too Much

When planning your trip to the Schengen Area, don’t overdo it by planning to do too much. While cramming in as much as possible can be tempting, doing so is a huge mistake. Ninety days might sound like a lot, but it will go quickly, especially if you spend too much time traveling.

Therefore, we recommend limiting your trip to fewer destinations so you can fully enjoy each place and save time on transport. If you plan to do too much, you’ll feel exhausted, see less, and likely rush around each place you visit. Besides, in 90 days, you can still easily visit at least five or six countries in the Schengen Area.

Travel in the Off-Season

Europe is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations, so it’s not uncommon for attractions, resorts, and other points of interest to be extremely busy, especially in the peak season (May to September). During peak season, flights and accommodation in Schengen countries are usually more expensive.

You can easily avoid crowds and inflated prices by traveling in the off-season. The off-season in the Schengen Area is November through to March. Admittedly, some countries won’t experience as hot weather, but you save money and queue less. Both of these factors will allow you to see and do more, which, in turn, maximizes your use of your Schengen Visa.

Go on a Road Trip

One of the things we love most about Europe is how close everything is to each other. Europe’s best countries are so close together that you can quickly drive through three or four countries in one day. Planning a road trip through the Schengen Area is a fantastic way to explore the continent.

On a road trip, you can see more and travel further. You don’t have to wait hours at an airport; you can travel whenever you want. This flexibility allows you to make the most of your 90 days. Driving through the Schengen Area also enables you to see lesser-traveled destinations. It’s also more affordable than flying. What’s not to like?

Travel off the Beaten Path

Instagrammable Spots in Portugal_Sintra_ — © Aiisha / Adobe Stock

Regarding lesser-traveled destinations, we strongly recommend traveling off the beaten path to maximize your Schengen Visa. While there’s nothing wrong with planning a trip to the Schengen Area’s most famous places, it would be foolish to disregard the region’s lesser-traveled destinations.

Across Schengen, you’ll find many epic hidden gems that offer travelers something different and, often, fewer crowds. For example, while Lisbon is the go-to destination in Portugal, Sintra, a magical medieval town, is just a short drive away. Similarly, Paris is France’s premier travel destination, but lesser-traveled cities, such as Toulouse and Strasbourg, also have much to offer travelers.

Start in Amsterdam

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Starting your adventure in Europe in the right place is critical to making the most of your Schengen Visa. The right country will give you easy access to other Schengen countries and a great place to visit. For us, Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, fits the bill perfectly.

We recommend starting in Amsterdam for multiple reasons. Firstly, the city itself is spectacular. Famed for its vibrant architecture, picturesque canal, and historic sites, it’s not a place you want to miss. Secondly, Amsterdam is a hub for European travel. From the city, you can travel by plane, bus, car, or train to virtually anywhere in Europe, for example, France, Germany, Belgium, and Denmark.

Pack Light

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Packing light might not sound like a big deal, but it can significantly impact your trip. For starters, if you can travel with carry-on luggage only, you’ll save money on luggage fees. The money you save can then be used to travel for longer and further.

Secondly, by packing light, you can travel more comfortably across the Schengen Area, especially if you’re traveling by train or bus. Trust us, it’s not fun to travel on a train or bus in Europe with a large backpack and suitcase. Thirdly, if you pack light, you’ll be able to fit more souvenirs in your bag, and let’s face it, who doesn’t love a good souvenir?

Use a Travel Money Card

A travel money card, foreign currency card, or prepaid card is necessary for your trip to the Schengen Area. While many countries across Schengen use the Euro, others, such as Denmark, Croatia, and Switzerland, don’t. Therefore, if you visit multiple countries, you’ll have to pay for things in different currencies.

Owning a travel money card makes life much easier and reduces the charges you would incur for using your debit or credit card. For those who don’t know, a travel money card is a payment card that lets you keep and spend money in multiple currencies when you travel. We recommend using a Revolut card, which allows you to pay in 150+ currencies globally.

Don’t Eat Out Every Day

Fun Facts About France You Might Not Know Croissants Are Not From France — © Ekaterina Belova / Adobe Stock

If you want to travel longer, see more, and maximize your Schengen Visa, avoid eating out in cafes and restaurants daily. Unfortunately, one of the downsides to traveling in the Schengen Area is that eating out is pricey, especially in popular destinations like Milan and Paris.

Therefore, your trip will be cut short if you eat out daily without considering the costs. To save money on food when traveling in Europe, visit grocery stores whenever you can. Across Europe, many grocery stores sell affordable hot food and drink, meal deals, and snacks. You can also purchase cheaper alcohol than in the restaurants and ingredients you can use to make food if your accommodation has a kitchen.

Set Yourself a Budget

Setting a budget is crucial in planning the perfect Schengen Area itinerary. Admittedly, it’s not the most enjoyable or easy thing to do, but it’s vital if you’re going to have the best trip possible. Without one, you’ll miss out on attractions, waste money unnecessarily, overspend, and cut your trip short.

To create a Schengen Area vacation budget, consider how much you’re willing to spend on essentials such as accommodation, transport, activities, and food. Then, decide what’s important to you so you have enough money to do the things you enjoy. We also recommend setting yourself a reserve in case anything goes wrong during your trip.

Make the Most of Cheap Flights

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The penultimate tip on our list is to make the most of cheap flights. There’s no denying that flying can be expensive, but finding affordable flights in Europe is possible. Meanwhile, while bus rides can be inexpensive, they are often long and tiring, so if you can catch a cheap flight instead, do it.

Luckily, Europe has many budget-friendly airlines that regularly offer flight ticket deals. Two excellent examples are RyanAir and Vueling. Both of these airlines are great for finding deals to European countries. It’s common to find flights for as little as $13 (€12). We flew to Santander in Northern Spain for $16 (€15).

Purchase a City Pass

Many cities across Europe, including those in the Schengen Area, have a city pass that grants tourists access to a specific number of tourist attractions for one set price. This not only makes it easier to visit the most famous attractions, as you won’t have to keep purchasing tickets, but it also saves you money.

Once again, the money you save can be used to travel elsewhere and make the most of your 90-day visa. Some examples of Schengen Area cities that offer a city pass include Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam. You can usually find these passes by Googling the name of the city and city pass and on Get Your Guide, which is a platform for booking tickets to attractions and guided tours. Go City offers various European city passes.