If you want to travel Europe on a budget, the good news is that the continent is far more affordable than its reputation suggests. Paris, London, Zurich and Amsterdam in August are expensive, no question. But that is only one version of Europe. Pick the right countries, avoid the peak weeks and change a few habits, and a trip can cost a fraction of what most people expect. This guide covers where to go, when to travel, how to get around, and where to save on beds, food and sightseeing.
How Much Does It Cost to Travel Europe on a Budget?
Before planning anything, it helps to have a realistic daily number in mind. These are rough estimates per person per day, excluding flights to Europe, and they shift with exchange rates, season and how much you move around. In Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and the Balkans, a careful traveler staying in hostels or simple guesthouses and eating local food can often manage on roughly €40 to €70 a day. In Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy outside the big-name hotspots, think €60 to €100. In Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria and the UK, €90 to €150 is more realistic, and Switzerland and the Nordic countries can push well beyond that.
The biggest levers are accommodation and transport between cities, so those get the most attention below. Food is the easiest place to feel the difference: a filling lunch in Kraków or Sofia might cost a few euros, while the same meal on a tourist square in Rome or Paris can cost three or four times as much.
Choose Cheaper Countries First
Where you go matters more than any tip about saving money once you arrive. Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans and parts of southern Europe offer old towns, castles, beaches and excellent food at a fraction of Western European prices. Good-value choices include Poland (Kraków, Gdańsk, Wrocław), Hungary (Budapest), Czechia outside central Prague, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Portugal away from the busiest parts of Lisbon. Our Lisbon travel guide shows how far a modest budget stretches in Portugal.
If you do want the famous cities, combine them. Spend a few days in an expensive capital, then balance it with a week somewhere cheaper nearby. Vienna pairs well with Budapest or Bratislava, Venice with Ljubljana, and Dubrovnik with the less-visited towns of Montenegro and Bosnia. Mixing high and low like this keeps the average daily cost down without cutting out the places you really want to see. For more ideas, see our list of the best places to visit in Europe on a budget.
Travel in the Shoulder Season
July and August are the most expensive and crowded months almost everywhere in Europe, and in places like the Greek islands, the Amalfi Coast and the Croatian coast, prices can double compared with June or September. May, June and September usually bring lower accommodation and flight prices, shorter queues and weather that is still warm across most of the continent. Southern Europe stays pleasant into October, and the sea is often at its warmest in early autumn.
For the lowest prices of all, winter city breaks can be very cheap, with hotels in Prague, Budapest, Vienna and Krakow at their lowest outside Christmas markets and school holidays. The trade-off is short days and cold weather in the north. If you have flexible dates, compare prices for a few different weeks before booking, because a shift of even one week can change a fare noticeably.
Getting Around: Trains, Buses and Budget Flights
Each option has a place. Long-distance buses are often the cheapest way between cities, especially in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans, where routes are frequent and comfortable. Trains are more relaxed and go from city center to city center, and booking early can bring fares down sharply on many routes, particularly in countries like Germany, France, Spain and Italy where advance tickets are far cheaper than walk-up fares.
Budget airlines can be the cheapest choice for long hops, such as Poland to Portugal, but check the total cost after bags, seat selection and the transfer to an airport that may be an hour from the city. A 20-euro flight that needs a 15-euro bus on each end and a paid carry-on is not much of a saving over a train. As a rule of thumb, trains and buses win on journeys under about five hours, and flights start to make sense beyond that.
If you are covering a lot of ground, compare the price of individual tickets with a rail pass. Interrail is for European residents and Eurail is for everyone else. A pass pays off when you take several long journeys, but on many high-speed routes you still pay a seat reservation fee, so work out the total before you buy.
Where to Sleep for Less
Hostels have changed a lot. Many now offer private rooms with their own bathroom, and they attract couples and travelers over 30 as well as backpackers. A good hostel dorm bed in Eastern Europe may cost roughly €12 to €25 a night, while the same style of bed in Western capitals can be €30 to €50 in high season. Guesthouses and small family-run hotels are excellent value in southern and eastern Europe, and often include breakfast.
In expensive cities, stay slightly outside the center near a metro or tram line and you can cut the room price considerably while still reaching the sights in 20 minutes. For stays of a week or more, apartments with a kitchen save money on food as well. Book early for summer and major events, and read recent reviews rather than relying on star ratings. Our guide to budget accommodation options goes into each type in more detail.
Eat Like the Locals
Restaurants on main squares and beside famous landmarks charge extra for the location. Walk two or three streets away and prices usually drop, and the food usually improves. In many countries lunch is the best-value meal of the day. Look for the menu del día in Spain, the prato do dia in Portugal or a set lunch menu elsewhere, which often includes a starter, main course and drink for a modest fixed price.
Markets, bakeries and supermarkets are ideal for picnic lunches, and in cities with safe tap water, a refillable bottle saves a surprising amount over a trip. Street food is another good option in places like Budapest, Istanbul-influenced Balkan towns and Greek cities, where a gyros or a burek costs a few euros. For more ideas, read our guide on how to eat cheaply while traveling.
Sightsee for Free (or Nearly)
Many of the best things to do in Europe cost nothing: wandering an old town, visiting churches and markets, hiking to a viewpoint, or spending an afternoon at the beach. Many museums offer free entry on certain days or evenings, and some national museums are free all the time. London is the classic example, where the major museums charge nothing for their permanent collections.
Tip-based walking tours are available in most big cities and are a good way to get oriented on your first day. Sunset from a hilltop, a ride on a public ferry or tram, and a stroll through a neighborhood far from the tourist core often turn out to be the memories people value most. If you are traveling alone, our guide to solo travel on a budget has more ways to keep costs down.
Watch the Hidden Costs
Small costs add up quickly. Use a debit or credit card without foreign transaction fees, and when a card machine asks whether to pay in your home currency or the local one, always choose local currency. Check city tourist taxes when comparing accommodation, since some places charge a per-person, per-night fee on arrival that is not shown in the headline price. City tourist cards can save money if you plan to see several paid sights in a short time, but add up the individual prices first, because they are not always a bargain.
Finally, do not skip travel insurance. A medical problem or cancelled flight abroad can cost far more than the rest of the trip combined. Our travel insurance guide explains what to look for, and if you are visiting from outside Europe, check entry rules early with our visa guide for popular destinations.
Two Sample Budget Routes
For two weeks in the east, consider Kraków, Budapest, Ljubljana and the Croatian coast. The route connects well by train and bus, covers several very different places, and costs much less day to day than a trip through Paris, Amsterdam and London. Add a stop in Vienna if you want one big-name capital without spending the whole trip in expensive territory.
For a western alternative, try Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve. It is compact, easy to get around, and good value outside the summer peak, with cheap trains between Lisbon and Porto, plenty of simple guesthouses, and meals that cost a lot less than in neighboring Spain or France. If you are traveling as a couple, our romantic getaways in Europe guide has more ideas that do not need a big budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest country to visit in Europe?
Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania are generally among the cheapest countries for travelers. Food, local transport and accommodation cost noticeably less than in Western Europe, and you still get historic towns, mountains and coastline. Prices change from year to year, so treat any daily budget as an estimate.
When is the cheapest time to travel to Europe?
Late autumn and winter, apart from the Christmas and New Year period, are usually the cheapest. For a balance of good weather and lower prices, choose May, June or September, when flights and hotels cost less than in July and August but most attractions are fully open.
Is it cheaper to travel Europe by train or plane?
For short and medium distances, trains and buses are often cheaper once you include baggage fees and airport transfers. For long distances, a budget flight booked early can be the cheapest option. Always compare the total door-to-door cost, not just the headline fare.
Can I really travel Europe on a budget in summer?
Yes, but choose destinations carefully. Eastern Europe and the Balkans stay far cheaper than the coasts of France, Italy and Greece in July and August. Book accommodation early, travel midweek where you can, and spend more time inland or in smaller towns to keep costs under control.