12 Smart Ways To Save Money Traveling to Europe
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Europe is home to some of the most fascinating tourist attractions in the world. The continent has everything from cities packed with history and modern delights to picturesque Mediterranean towns and vibrant islands offering sun, sand, and crystal-clear waters. However, due to rising costs, traveling in Europe can be expensive.
There is no need to panic, though. There are numerous ways to save money while traveling in Europe. You can make your money go further by choosing the right destination, traveling at the right time, or avoiding tourist traps. To learn more, here are 12 smart ways to save money traveling to Europe.
Travel in the Off-Season
It probably won’t surprise you that summer in Europe is the high tourist season. In summer, tourists travel to Europe in the millions, making you more likely to encounter unreasonable prices. Airfares, hotels, food, and drink are more expensive in the high season, so your money won’t go as far.
Europe is usually more expensive around holiday seasons like Christmas, too. Travel to Europe in the off-season (November to March) to avoid paying over the odds and save money. In the off-season, European destinations are quieter, and deals regarding accommodation, airfares, and attractions are more common.
Read also: Must-Visit Cities in Europe
Visit Free Attractions
Sadly, some of the best attractions across Europe have pricey admission tickets, which can quickly eat into your budget. However, while many attractions are costly, just as many offer free entry. If you’re on a tight budget and need to save money, making the most of the free attractions is a great idea.
If you visit tourism board websites like Visit London, you can find a long list of free popular attractions. Admittedly, there are some paid attractions you won’t want to miss when traveling to Europe, but utilizing the free attractions, too, is a fantastic way to make your budget stretch further.
Read also: Charming Small Towns in Europe
Stay in Hostels
Accommodation is one of the most significant expenses you’ll have to budget for when traveling around Europe, so staying in hostels is an intelligent way to keep costs down. Luckily, hostels are no longer cluttered, unpleasant places to stay without proper facilities. Nowadays, hostels are a frugal traveler’s dream.
With that in mind, don’t be afraid to stay in hostels. Thousands of European hostels offer affordable, clean, and spacious accommodation with many amenities.
🏨 Explore all your hostel options here
You can also book a private room in most hostels, so you don’t need to worry about sharing. Many hostels have on-site kitchens, too, so you can cook meals and avoid expensive restaurants.
Read also: Charming Small Towns in Europe
Don’t Eat at Restaurants Every Day
Generally, food prices across Europe aren’t that expensive. However, like most vacation destinations, popular tourist areas are home to overpriced restaurants that will quickly eat away at your budget. Therefore, we recommend only eating at restaurants twice a week.
You’ll save a small fortune if you can cook for yourself instead. To do this, book an accommodation with a kitchen. Then, visit a local grocery store or food market and buy local ingredients. This is your best option, but if you want to eat out daily, avoid tourist areas and eat locally. Local restaurants, away from crowded tourist attractions, tend to serve more authentic food at a better price.
Read also: Insta-Worthy Spots in Europe
Explore Off the Beaten Path
Europe’s main cities are often overpriced and overcrowded, so if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly trip, consider heading off the beaten path. Seeking out lesser-known destinations will allow you to save money on hotels, food, and drink, all while still visiting some of Europe’s best destinations.
For example, instead of visiting London, the most expensive city in the United Kingdom, head north and stay in Liverpool. Liverpool is more affordable than London but still home to some of Europe’s best attractions, such as Matthew Street, home of the Beatles. Other examples include visiting Folegandros instead of Santorini, Utrecht instead of Amsterdam, and Bologna instead of Rome.
Read also: Unique Places for Your European Bucket List
Travel by Bus
Europe is a backpacker’s dream thanks to the continent’s extensive transport routes. You can easily reach almost any European nation by plane, train, or bus, no matter where you are. However, traveling by bus is arguably the best option for saving money.
Traveling by train because of the Interrail Pass or plane for convenience is more popular, but buses are usually more affordable. Admittedly, getting from A to B will take longer, but you can save a fortune. You can travel hundreds, if not thousands, of miles for as much as 50% less than some flights and train journeys.
We use this search engine to find the best deals in train tickets. You can compare and book journeys by train, bus and flight.
Search for train tickets here
Better yet, you can save extra money on accommodation by booking an overnight sleeper bus and sleeping as you travel to your next destination.
Read also: Top Cities in Europe for Spring
Avoid Mass Produced Souvenirs
A major tourist trap in Europe is the sale of tacky souvenirs. Okay, so a tiny statue or keyring of Big Ben might seem like a good idea at the time, but if you want to stretch your budget further, you’ll regret it later.
Often, mass-produced souvenirs sold outside tourist attractions are overpriced. They also take up a lot of space in your suitcase, which may lead to you paying more for your luggage. Instead, save your money for something more meaningful. For instance, a postcard with a picture of the places you’ve been to is a nicer souvenir to take home, and it won’t cost anywhere near as much.
Read also: Affordable European Cities
Walk as Much as You Can
One of the best things about most major European cities is that they are very walkable. You can often easily explore all the best tourist attractions on foot. Why is this so great? Being able to explore a city on foot saves money on transportation.
You don’t have to spend a dime walking around Europe’s best cities, so walk as much as possible. Every time you use a form of public transport, even if it’s an affordable bus ride, you break into your budget. Walking will give you more money to spend on attractions and meals.
Read also: Cities in Europe for Solo Traveling
Visit by Cruise
If you can avoid spending too much money in casinos, onboard specialty restaurants, and expensive drink packages, cruising can be an affordable way to explore Europe, especially island nations like Greece and Norway.
Visiting places like Norway and Greece can be expensive if you want to island hop. Meanwhile, cruises typically include accommodation, transport, food, and drink at one set price. This is an excellent option if you want to plan your budget.
Cruising is also an excellent way to save money if you want to visit expensive destinations without overpaying for food, drink, and accommodation. For example, Norway is much more expensive than other European destinations, so you don’t have to pay the overinflated prices if you visit on a cruise.
Read also: Romantic European Destinations
Purchase All-Inclusive City Passes
If you spend a significant amount of time in one place, consider purchasing an all-inclusive city pass. Many European cities have all-inclusive city passes that allow tourists to explore the city more affordable. One of these passes will enable you to visit many attractions in the city without paying the admission fee.
Most all-inclusive city passes also include free or discounted public transport and discounts on tours, restaurants, and other attractions not included in the pass. Again, this is a great way to budget for your trip around Europe and save money on attractions. Cities with all-inclusive city passes include Oslo, Stockholm, Amsterdam, and London.
Read also: Hidden Gems in Europe
Avoid Data Roaming Charges
Roaming charges and accessing the internet across Europe are still stupidly expensive. Unless you have a phone deal that includes international travel, you could easily spend a large part of your budget on roaming charges.
To avoid this, you have a couple of options. Firstly, you can turn roaming off and rely on WiFi. This is doable in most places, but you might not find WiFi in some European locations, i.e., small Greek islands.
However, your best option is to upgrade your current plan to include travel in Europe. Alternatively, the cheaper option might be to pick up a European SIM card on arrival or download a digital eSim. Either way, these two options will save you money and help you avoid any nasty roaming surprises.
Read also: Underrated European Cities
Only Travel With a Carry-on
Traveling without checked-in luggage is a straightforward way to save money when traveling to Europe. Airlines, in particular budget airlines, like to offer affordable flight prices before hiking up the costs by adding extras. In most instances, a flight within Europe that might’ve only cost $10 can cost upwards of $50 when you’ve added luggage and picked your seat.
By only traveling with a carry-on bag, you avoid having to pay for checked-in luggage. This will save you money and time, as you won’t have to hang around at the airport waiting for your luggage to pass through the conveyor belt.
Read also: Europe City Breaks
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Georgia Konidari is a nationally syndicated writer and the creator of World Wild Schooling, a digital platform dedicated to travel. She is on a mission to explore the globe and share her experiences with fellow travelers. She has been featured on MSN, the Associated Press Wire and more. You can follow Georgia on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube.
