Budget Travel in Europe – Is It Possible In 2024?

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Europe is one of my favourite continents to travel. Not just because of the historical old towns, the fascinating history, delicious cuisines and world-class public transport. But also because of the friendliness of the locals, the diversity of the countries and the fact that you can find everything from hot, beautiful beaches to ice-cold fjords. But, I often get asked can you travel Europe on a budget?

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How to Travel Europe on a Budget

Europe is definitely not known for being a budget travel destination. In fact, compared to travelling to places like Asia and South America, Europe’s prices are, well, quite pricey! You’re not likely to find £1 dinners or 10p bottles of water!

However, there are tricks to seeing the continent for less and the cheapest way to travel around Europe is actually easier than you think! So, if you’re thinking about visiting this magnificent continent but are worried about money, here’s how to travel Europe on a budget. 

The Best Time to Travel to Europe 

When it comes to travelling around Europe on a budget, certain times of year are always going to be more expensive. For example, Christmas, Bank Holidays, Easter and peak summer when the kids are off school. Prices will rise mainly because these times are so popular, so if you’re looking to save your money, then try to travel during the low season. 

February, March, April (outside Easter), mid-May, September, October and November all tend to be the cheaper months to travel. Prices skyrocket at Easter, then again from June to the end of August and you’ll end up paying way more than is necessary if you plan to travel then.  

For example, I was looking at flights from London to Edinburgh (just an hour’s flight) over Easter and they cost over £100. Try that same route once the kids are back at school and you can find a return for £20! Flying peak time is sooooo not worth it! 

However, if you have to travel around Europe during peak time (because of work holiday allowances for example), then you can certainly cut the costs by choosing the right destination. But, there’s more on that below! 

How to Find Cheap Flights to Europe 

I always use 4 travel resources to find cheap flights around Europe: Skyscanner, Hopper, Jack’s Flight Club and Google Flights.

1. hopper

Hopper will tell you if you’re booking your flights at the cheapest time and can scan the entire year and analyse prices. It will also let you lock in those prices if you can’t book them right away and will refund you any difference if they’ve recommended you to buy and the flight drops lower than the price you paid! Pretty good, right? 

2. Skyscanner

Skyscanner is everybody’s favourite flight search engine. The comparison site will scan fights on a certain day and let you know the cheapest company to book with. Like hotels, flight prices vary so much from one company to the next, it’s important to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Skyscanner can seriously help with this.

Plus, they have a super handy ‘Everywhere’ feature that allows you to search for any destination if you have a few dates in mind. Perfect if you’re looking to explore somewhere new or see some of the more underrated places to visit in Europe. 

✅ Search for cheap flights

3. google Flights

Google Flights is like the cherry on the cake for finding affordable flight deals for Europe. My favourite feature is the date selector which allows you to see how your flight prices will change depending on the dates you pick. You can use this to literally save hundreds of pounds just by switching your dates by a couple of days. It’s fantastic!

Like Skyscanner, they also have an anywhere feature. You can use a map to select the best destination within a weekend, week, or 2 week period. Perfect for when you have dates in mind but no idea of your destination because you can view everywhere at once.

4. jack’s flight club

Jack’s Flight Club is such a secret weapon when it comes to finding cheap flights. Just enter your preferred airport and they’ll bring you up any flash sales, error fares and brilliant deals that they find online. I recently purchased return flights from London to Italy for £50 thanks to Jack’s Flight Club!  

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Regardless of where in the world you live, these tools are useful for finding cheap flights to Europe. I’ve seen flights from the USA for as little as £200 return (about $250) from London and flights from Asia for £300! Just keep checking, and you’re sure to find a great deal! 

Top Tip: If you’re looking to travel to Europe on a long-haul flight, the earlier you book your tickets the better.

What’s the Cheapest Way to Travel Around Europe?

Once you’re in Europe, getting around the continent can be one of the most costly parts of your trip. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to explore Europe affordably.

1. Use Budget Airlines 

Compared to some places around the world, Europe is crawling with budget airlines. Here are a few of the most popular:  

• Ryanair 
• Easyjet 
• Wizz Air 
• Vueling 
• Eurowings 
• Norwegian Air 

Frequently releasing fares at killer prices, these airlines certainly make it much easier if want to travel Europe on a budget. Keep an eye out for sales too where these already good prices can plummet even lower.

Unfortunately, gone are the days when Ryanair seats are just £5.99! But, they still sometimes have flights for under £10 one way, which is much cheaper than many other airlines in Europe.

A word of warning, however; don’t have high expectations for these airlines. They’re called budget carriers for a reason. They often won’t have a great deal of legroom and will try to charge you extra for everything (even printing your boarding pass!). So, make sure to look into this before you book a ticket as, once you’ve added on all your extras, it might not be so cheap after all. 

For more information, I’ve broken down the cost of popular budget airlines around Europe and the world. My detailed guide will show you the true price of flying with low-cost carriers – sign up to my newsletter to learn more.

2. Travel Around Europe by Train

Europe is known for its cheap train travel and the continent has one of the most well-connected train services in the world. It’s the most scenic as a lot of the high-speed trains whiz through the countryside and stunning landscapes will fly past your window. The train is also one of the most comfortable ways to get around Europe and these seats always have plenty of legroom! 

The only downside to European train travel is that, outside of the simple city-to-city journeys, train prices can be quite expensive. The overnight trains or long trains across several countries cannot really be classed as ‘budget travel’. Even some of the high-speed trains between cities can be quite pricey! 

✅ Use The Trainline to book cheap train tickets. Also, check Omio as they’ll cover more than just the trains.

If you are travelling around Europe by train, then make sure to get the Eurail Pass as tickets will be a lot cheaper this way than by buying each ticket separately. It’s valid in 28 countries and will find you the best prices for train travel. Also, check for further discounts if you’re under 26, as they’ll often offer a discounted rate.  

3. Travel Europe by Bus 

Travelling around Europe on a budget is even easier by bus than by train. It can be a little less scenic though, and much slower, so it does have its downsides. 

The most popular bus lines to use are Busbud, Flixbus and Megabus. Most buses are super affordable and you can spend as little as €6 getting between some incredible European cities. Plus, if you’re staying in one city, the bus network can be one of the best ways to get around. I’ve used buses to navigate a lot of cities in Europe, from London to Istanbul.

Have a look at the overnight trains as buses too for getting around. Not quite as affordable as the famous night trains in Thailand, but it will still save you money as you won’t need to pay for accommodation. They’re also perfect for travelling long distances as you don’t end up wasting a day travelling, you can just sleep through it instead.

✅ Book cheap bus tickets around Europe

4. Use Public Transport 

It’s no secret that public transport in Europe is excellent! Europe has one of the most developed public transport systems in the world. Most major cities have trains, metro, buses, trams and sometimes even ferries as a way of getting from A to B. 

It’s also usually very cheap. You can buy a travel card for an unlimited number of journeys within a certain time frame which will save you even more money. 

For example, €7 will get you unlimited transport in Rome for 24 hours. €7.50 will get you unlimited public transport for 24 hours in Amsterdam. And some cities, like Brussels, will actually allow you to get to and from the airport with their transport card. There is a small fee to enter the airport, but it still saves a lot over transfers or a taxi! 

If you’re planning on getting around via public transport, it’s definitely worth looking into an unlimited travel card. Plus, some City Passes actually include public transport as well, which is even better!  But I’ll cover City Passes in more detail soon! 

5. Use Bla Bla Car 

The perfect way to save money and get to your destination quickly, BlaBla Car allows you to hitch a ride with locals. It’s basically a carpooling service in Europe that connects drivers with empty seats to people travelling in the same direction. 

Even though it might sound a little strange, it’s extremely popular in Europe. When you think about it, it’s not that different from Uber! It’s a clever rideshare app and a great way to save money and fuel, as you can find rides for as little as €5! 

Plus, you can also select your driver based on their level of chattiness! Perfect for introverts or those who don’t like awkward taxi chit-chat. But for those who do want to talk, you get to meet a friendly local, have a conversation, learn about the area and maybe even find some secret off-the-beaten-path places to visit in your destination too! 

6. Cycle or Walk 

The most environmentally friendly and cheapest way to get around is simply to hit the pavement. Whether you opt for hiring a bike or purely walking, it’s also the best way to see a lot of cities in Europe. You’ll find places you would’ve missed if you’d been on a bus or underground on the metro.  

So, if you really want to travel Europe on a budget, just walk everywhere! Not many European cities are particularly hilly (except Lisbon!), which will make it a lot easier on your legs. Plus, so many attractions are pretty close together, that it’s easy enough to reach them on foot. 

If you’d prefer to cycle, there are plenty of bike hire stands around Europe, which are fairly inexpensive. Alternately, check sites like Get Your Guide, which sometimes have bike city tours or you can hire a bike there for a day. 

How to Find Budget Accommodation in Europe

Possibly the most expensive part of a trip to Europe (or a trip anywhere, for that matter!) is accommodation. Europe is no exception to this and places to stay can be very pricey, especially in big cities. Here are a few methods I use for finding affordable accommodation around Europe.

1. Booking.com 

One of my all-time favourite accommodations booking apps, Booking.com has everything! From hotels to hostels to apartments, you’ll easily be able to find something you like.

From swanky 5* hotels to budget stays, Booking.com will literally have you covered. You can filter your search based on your specific criteria and whittle the results down to be within your price range too.  

Plus, if you use the site enough, you’ll actually unlock their higher ‘Genius’ tier which will give you even more perks and discounts! 

✅ Search for cheap accommodation

2. HotelsCombined 

My favourite hotel comparison site, Hotels Combined is perfect if you’re looking to travel Europe on a budget. Just type in your destination and dates and they’ll show you all the prices on a LOT of travel sites across the web.  

They actually have Booking.com on their database, but if they’re not the cheapest option, then they will show you what it is. You can also filter the results on Hotels Combined too, and it really makes things easier! 

3. Vrbo

Vrbo can be a lifesaver if you want to travel Europe on a budget. Whether you choose an apartment, house or villa, they usually have everything you could possibly need and feel like home.

There’s a lot more freedom in private accommodation than in a hotel too, as you can eat when you want, cook a BBQ in the garden and sometimes even swim in the pool (if the accommodation has those facilities of course).  

Prices on Vrbo aren’t even that expensive, especially if you travelling with a friend or with family. So, if you’re looking for something a little different and don’t fancy the hotel prices, definitely check out Vrbo and see if they have any listings in the area. 

How to Eat Cheap in Europe

Eating cheap in Europe can also become quite pricey very quickly. Some destinations, like Italy or Iceland, I’ve found to be incredibly expensive to eat out in.

In Italy, I once paid €20 for four meatballs. Admittedly, they were very nice meatballs, but not exactly what I’d call cheap eating! However, there are lots of ways to eat on a budget in Europe and here are a few of my favourite methods.

1. Food Markets and Street Food 

This is easily one of my favourite ways to eat in any city and I absolutely love street food! Europe has some incredible markets too, from street food stalls in Italy selling slices of pizza for €5 to the famous Camden Market in London where you can find pretty much any type of cuisine imaginable! 

No matter which city you’re going to, have a look to see if they have a market and you will not be disappointed by the food or the price! 

2. Buy Groceries and Cook

If you have decided to stay in a Vrbo or an apartment on Booking.com then cooking yourself really is the most affordable way when it comes to travelling around Europe on a budget! 

Find the cheapest local supermarket you can find and stock up on groceries. A few of the budget names in the UK and some of Europe include Aldi, or Lidl, which do ‘wonky’ boxes of veg for super cheap. There’s nothing wrong with the veg, it’s just not the usual shape, so they discount it!

Food for a week from these supermarkets can cost as little as €50 for two people. That would likely be the price to eat out for one day at a restaurant, so this really is one of the best ways to save yourself a lot of money. 

3. Avoid Tourist Trap Restaurants 

Every time I travel around Europe, I see tourist trap restaurants. The type with boards outside with pictures of the food and a salesman trying to shove the menu under your nose. I HATE places these restaurants. As soon as the guy comes up to me, I walk away.  

You’ll usually find places like this outside of popular attractions or in the main square or a whole line of them down the main street. If you want to travel Europe on a budget, I suggest you avoid these restaurants. They know you are a tourist and they know you are likely to eat there. So, they whack up their prices, and sometimes stick a service charge on top! 

For the best restaurants in Europe, go where the locals go. Get off the beaten track and find smaller alleyways and restaurants away from the hustle and bustle of the main city.

Top Tip: Find one of the city’s staple dishes and see what they charge at a tourist restaurant. For instance, a Carbonara is a classic in Italy. You might pay €10 at a local restaurant, and a touristy one might charge €15. You will immediately see exactly how much you would’ve been overcharged.

4. Keep Your Eye Out for Lunch Specials or Happy Hours 

Despite my hatred for tourist trap restaurants, the one time they can be of some use is during lunchtime or early evening when some will have a happy hour or a special. For a limited period, they’ll charge you a lot less for their food. Or they’ll stick a starter and a main together for a set price, which can work out pretty decently.  

I ate at a few happy hour restaurants at the beautiful Paphos Harbour when I was in Cyprus. These were restaurants I would normally avoid, but the food was pretty nice and I got 3 courses for €15. Admittedly it wasn’t as authentic as some of the other places we ate at, but it was super affordable, and the view across the harbour was a nice touch! 

What are the Cheapest Places to Visit in Europe? 

Visiting some of the more touristy, well-known destinations in Europe is going to be pricier than going to somewhere a little more underrated. In fact, some of the underrated places in Europe are actually some of the most beautiful. They also don’t have the hustle and bustle (or the high price tags), of cities like Paris or London.

As a general rule, your money will stretch further the farther East you go, and the farther North you go, your money will quickly evaporate. Scandinavian countries are not cheap! These are some of the cheapest places to travel in Europe: 

Where to travel in Europe on a budget:  

Consider Buying a Tourist Pass 

This is something you need to weigh up carefully before you actually buy anything. Some tourist passes will save you money. Others will be a complete waste of money. 

For example, I bought the tourist pass in Milan which came with unlimited public transport and entrance to a lot of museums. I didn’t actually end up visiting a lot of the museums and the attractions we did want to see were so close together that we walked. It was a pretty annoying waste of about €20. 

However, when we went to Vienna, the pass was incredible! We ended up doing more things than we would’ve done without the pass and we had fast-track entry to a lot of attractions too. This saved us so much time waiting in queues. 

So, if you’re considering buying a City Pass, it can be a good idea. But before you even look at what’s included, make a list of what you want to do in that city and the prices. Once you’ve got that down, then take a look at what the City Pass includes and make a judgement call on whether it’ll actually save you money. 

✅ Buy a City Pass

How to Make Your Money Go Further in Europe

Now that you know the basics of travelling around Europe on a budget, here are a few extra tips and tricks to help your money go that little bit further.

1. Don’t Exchange Your Cash at the Airport 

This may seem like an obvious one but so many people that I’ve spoken to say that they leave their travel money until the airport. This is honestly the worst thing you can do as airports charge extortionate prices for currency exchange and you WILL be being ripped off.

To be perfectly honest, I rarely even take cash out at cash points anymore. I use my Starling Bank Card whenever I travel and simply withdraw cash as and when I need it at my destination. So long as you find a free cashpoint, this can save a lot of hassle. Plus, you aren’t left with cash that you don’t need.

However, if you would rather exchange your money before you fly, always exchange your money before you get to the airport through places like Money Saving Expert which allows you to filter by location so you can get the best deal. 

2. Use a Card that Doesn’t Charge You to Withdraw 

As I mentioned, I am a huge fan of Starling Bank and use them every time I travel. If you travel with your usual debit card, then make sure you check what their fee is to withdraw cash before you travel. The worst thing to do is end up stuck with no cash and have to pay a lot of ATM fees which can quickly add up.

The Starling card doesn’t charge for withdrawals, uses the Mastercard exchange rate (which is usually the cheapest) and you can keep track of all your transactions on your phone. It’s a great travel card and perfect for travelling around Europe on a budget. 

Final Thoughts on Travelling Europe on a Budget 

It just takes a few small changes and a little bit of extra research to make sure you get the best possible deal. 

Don’t just stick to one method of money saving in Europe. Do a bit of everything depending on what is actually cheaper. Mix and match on transport and restaurants and where you stay. Vrbo might be cheaper in Rome but you might find a much more affordable hotel in Verona! It all depends on your location. 

Well, if you’ve made it this far, I hope you now realise that budget travel in Europe is entirely possible. With a few small tweaks to the way you would usually book things you can save yourself hundreds of pounds on your trip around Europe. And, since it’s such a diverse continent, the more money you save, the more times you’ll be able to come back!

Disclosure: Some of the links above may be affiliate links that earn me a commission at no extra cost to you. If you purchase through my links – thank you so much! I only recommend products and companies that I use and love.

Disclosure: Some of the links above may be affiliate links that earn me a commission at no extra cost to you. If you purchase through my links – thank you so much! I only recommend products and companies that I use and love.