Whether you’ll find these tips basic and obvious or surprisingly useful, here are some of the best ways to save money while traveling through Europe.
While I’m a mid-range traveler, I still prefer to keep my money in my own pocket whenever I can, or at least spend less in one spot so I can splurge in another, and now I want to share my knowledge so you can do the same.
*I try to keep the information on this blog as updated as possible, but I still recommend consulting the latest prices, opening hours, and other details on the official website of each site, hotel, and tour, as well as checking the updated public transport routes and timetables. I share my personal experience and cannot guarantee yours.
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General Money-Saving Tips for Traveling Around Europe on a Budget
Consider Traveling in the Off-Season
Although some destinations have become popular all year round, many are still busiest during summer or Christmastime, and that’s when flight and accommodation prices are obviously much higher than usual.
If you’re utterly flexible and can travel completely off-season, I highly recommend it. I, for example, visited Puglia (Southern Italy) in March, which is quite unusual as it’s a famous summer hotspot. Thankfully, I was rewarded with very few crowds and super budget-friendly prices.
If you don’t want to compromise entirely and prefer to enjoy a proper summer or Christmas market trip, yet still save a bit of money, June and late September can offer that warm weather, while mid to late November will already get you into the festive spirit in many cities.
Look for Overall Budget-Friendly Destinations
Europe is much more diverse than people give it credit for, and it boasts more than enough spots that are budget-friendly by default.
Countries like Poland and Romania are packed with beautiful cities, villages, castles, and natural scenery, and you can enjoy all of those without breaking the bank.
I feel like those destinations (and others in the Balkans and Eastern Europe) get overlooked sometimes, so be open-minded.
Even in highly-visited countries like Spain and Italy, which might be perceived as expensive when they first come to mind, you can find undiscovered areas where you can spend much less than in their most famous tourist hubs.
Check if Making a Reservation Directly With the Hotel is Cheaper
I do love using Booking.com, and as a regular customer, they offer me their Genius or mobile-only discount on many accommodations.
But it doesn’t hurt to check if the hotel itself offers a better price. It often prefers to reward direct bookings to avoid paying commission to another service. Therefore, it’s not uncommon to find excellent deals on the hotel’s official website.
Compare Bus, Train, and Flight Fares in One Place
When traveling between cities or countries in Europe, you don’t always know the most affordable way to get from one place to another.
Bus fares will likely be the cheapest, but if you’re going to cover a long distance, you’ll waste a lot of time on the road.
Surprisingly, sometimes flying is better than taking the train – I, for example, found a flight from Madrid to Barcelona that was significantly less expensive than a train ride.
To compare all three fares, go to Omio.com (formerly GoEuro). I only book flights directly via the airline, but I use Omio to purchase bus and train tickets.
Get a Eurail/Interrail Pass to Save Money on Train Rides
Want to explore Europe by public transport? Purchase passes that allow you to ride as many trains as you need for a fixed price.
Some include 30+ countries while others are suitable for a specific one, and there’s a large variety of deals and options, so you can find the best one for you.
Note that an Interrail pass is for European residents only, and others need to purchase a Eurail pass.
Check if Breakfast is Worth Paying for
Any breakfast already included in your hotel’s price is a plus, but if it isn’t and you’re considering paying those extra euros in advance, it’s time to do some research to understand the value for money.
What exactly are you getting (a full breakfast or just coffee with a muffin)? Will it cost less or more to have the same things in a local cafe or bakery?
In a hotel in Crete, I very much enjoyed the Mediterranean breakfast and didn’t really have other options in the area, but in Italy, when it’s all about coffee and pastries, neighborhood cafes are very cheap and more authentic.
Plus, I love local breakfast and brunch spots, and they’re not necessarily pricier than hotel breakfasts.
Cook for Yourself or Find Cheap Eats
Food is a huge part of my travels. I always create a map with dozens, if not hundreds, of eateries and cafes that I want to visit.
However, in reality, I rarely manage to enjoy three full meals a day, let alone visit all the cafes and patisseries I’ve marked for some extra coffee and desserts.
There’s nothing wrong with picking some food at the supermarket and having a lighter dinner.
Alternatively, it’s also easy to find street food spots and cheap restaurants that serve delicious food (especially in big cities) – it’s actually a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the local culinary scene!
Road Trip Money-Saving Tips
Compare Car Rental Deals, and Don’t Rule Out Local Companies
It’s well-known that there are websites that compare rental prices between multiple international companies like RentalCars.com and DiscoverCars.com.
But I also urge you to look for local businesses. Greece is a great example of a country with many small familial car rental companies that offer amazing service at lower prices than Avis, Hertz, and others.
Look for a One-Week Car Rental Deal
A seven-day rental can sometimes cost less than a six-day rental due to special one-week offers. If that’s something that can fit your itinerary, consider keeping the car for one more day.
Starting at your chosen pick-up time, every 24 hours or less is equal to a full day, which means that even a couple of hours can be considered the 7th day.
Go for a Manual Gear Instead of Automatic
It’s been a long while since I’ve driven a manual gear, so that’s where I don’t mind paying extra for an automatic, but if you’re comfortable with that, by all means, go for it.
While it seems to be shifting, many cars in Europe are still manual, and renting one will definitely save you money as the base price is lower.
Look for Accommodations in Small Towns and Villages
Even if you’re going to visit some cities on your road trip, it’s better to look for places to stay outside the urban hustle and bustle.
Accommodations in small villages can be a lot cheaper than in a big city (not always, of course).
Another major money saver is parking. While you’ll pay quite a lot for parking in a city hotel (sometimes it can get to 25 euros per day!), rural accommodations rarely charge you for that.
City Break Money-Saving Tips
Look for Free Attractions
Apart from sights that are always free, many attractions in big European cities can be visited for free on certain days of the week, including museums, palaces, and other landmarks. Consult each site’s official website for the full list of discounts.
Check if You’re Eligible for a Discount
Other than children and seniors, there is a good number of European landmarks that offer discounts or free entry for individuals aged 18-25, and not necessarily just students.
Look for Free Events
Official tourism websites provide a calendar with all the events taking place in the city. You can always find fun free events like exhibitions, live music performances, and more.
Take Day Trips on Your Own
Not only do I appreciate the insight provided by a guide, but there are times when booking a tour is necessary because a place is not easily accessible. Other times, I come across a unique tour with an interesting itinerary. However, most of the time, I prefer to take day trips independently.
This has many other advantages, but in terms of budget, using public transportation is way less pricey than going on organized day tours.
Purchase City Cards/Passes (If They’re Worth It)
City cards and passes usually offer free entry or discounts at attractions, restaurants, and tours, as well as unlimited use of public transportation for 24-72 hours.
You can find all the offered benefits on the official local tourism website and purchase them there or on GetYourGuide and Viator.
Now, I’ll admit that only a handful of them are actually worth it, so you should do some research (again) before purchasing them.
Do you really need the city card for public transportation or can you just walk more or buy a multi-day bus and tram ticket? How much does the pass cost, what discount does it offer, and how much money you’re about to spend on sightseeing with or without it?
These are crucial calculations to make so you don’t end up paying more on a city card than the actual transportation and attractions.
I can give you one example of a pass I loved using, the Torino+Piemonte Card, with which it’s practically impossible not to save money. It’s reasonably priced and offers free entry to most museums and palaces in the city of Turin and around it, which cost 10-20 euros to visit.
Take Free Walking Tours
Roaming freely around a city is one of my favorite things to do. That said, walking tours are a brilliant way to learn more about a destination as you explore it with a local guide.
Apart from introductory sightseeing tours, in most European cities, you can also find some really cool and unique tours like a street art tour, mysteries and legends, and more (Civitatis is a wonderful site to find those free, themed activities).
Buy Combo Attraction Tickets
Check the city’s official tourism website, GetYourGuide, or Tiqets for combo tickets. They typically offer entrance to 2-3 specific attractions for a few euros less than if you were to purchase each ticket separately.
That’s the case for places like the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia and some museums in Vienna.
Choose Accommodation Outside The City Center
In some cities, you’ll see a difference in prices between the center and other areas, so if a hotel has easy access to public transportation and the local bus and tram system is extensive enough, you don’t have to stay right at the heart of the action.
Check Out Attraction Discounts Offered by Your Hotel
Some hotels offer reduced ticket admission for certain attractions, which might not be very significant, but it’s still a discount. For example, in Seville, I got a discount on both a flamenco show and an evening boat cruise on the river.
Research Different Ways to Get to The City From the Airport
Taxis are one of the things I don’t mind paying for because I prefer saving my time and energy, but occasionally, I will use public transportation to get from the airport to the city.
There’s always a budget-friendly way to do that, using a bus or train, but if you’re 3-4 people traveling together, there’s a decent chance that sharing a taxi will be cheaper. In some cases, it might cost exactly the same, which is also great.
Traveling Solo? Look for a Private Room on Airbnb
Hostels and Couchsurfing are not my cup of tea. If you feel the same, when you’re traveling alone on a tight budget and prefer the comfort of a private room, Airbnb is your solution.
By simply filtering the search results, you can choose to stay in a private room at a local’s home. I used this option quite a few times, mostly in Madrid, and it was an amazing cultural experience and a delight for my bank account.
Don’t forget to carefully read the host’s house rules and reviews. Ensure that you’re both on the same page and confirm that the host is actually staying at the house. Some apartments on the platform may have been bought by another business to rent the rooms to different people.
Relates Posts
- Winter city breaks in Europe
- Underrated Christmas city breaks in Europe
- Spring destinations in Europe
- Best Mediterranean islands
- Girls’ trip destinations in Europe
- European squares
- Free museums in Madrid
- Free museums in Vienna
- Free things to do in Valencia
- Free things to do in Palma de Mallorca
- Free things to do in Lisbon
- Free things to do in Warsaw
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