How to travel around Europe cheaply? — 20 useful Europe travel tips & best ways on how to save money on Europe trip
Many young travelers dream of seeing Europe, but not everyone can afford to do so when they are young. Don’t allow that notion to influence your desire. If you travel wisely and utilize the following suggestions, you will save a lot of money and be able to take that ideal vacation. So, are you seeking some of the finest techniques and best ideas on how to go to Europe on a budget (how to travel Europe on a budget, how to travel Europe on a budget, how to travel across Europe on a budget, how to visit Europe on a budget)? To find out, read our top 20 European travel ideas on how to travel around Europe cheaply (how to save money on a European vacation, how to tour Europe inexpensively)!
#1. Book flight tickets on promotions
Throughout the year, each airline has its unique promotions to Europe. Emirates sells tickets in April and September. Turkish Airlines operates between February and November. You should follow each airline’s fanpage and other social networks to stay up to date on the sales offer (Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest). It should be noted that the special prices are only valid for round-trip flights and not for multiple city flight tickets (flying to and return from different cities).
#2. Buy a Metro Pass instead of a single ticket
Because each city’s metro system is unique, it is advised that you get a metro pass good for one day, two days, or three days in each destination, as you will almost certainly find up at the wrong station, resulting in a loss of money. In Paris, for example, a day metro pass for three core zones costs just 14.50 euros; a single metro journey costs as little as 1.90 euros; and if you move often during the day, you should get a metro pass at railway stations.
#3. Walk to experience
Because European cities are highly pedestrian-friendly, walking in cities is absolutely safe. Moving vehicles are required by law to yield to pedestrians first. Walking around Europe, in my opinion, is the finest way to locate the nooks and crannies, as well as the ideal frames for photos.
#4. Use Uber if traveling with a large group
Taxi prices are sky high, but Uber is 40% cheaper. If traveling in large groups, you should choose Uber to traveling in big cities.
#5. Visit places for free
The parks and monumental works of each city are mostly free if you do not want to go inside to visit. In my opinion, works like Eiffel Tower are most beautiful when we stand outside and watch, going up just takes more time to queue and costs more money.
#6. Go to the museum on free admission days
Every European city has wonderful museums, but entrance is rather pricey. However, every city has a particular day each month when its museums are open for free. In Florence, for example, on the first Sunday of each month, you may visit national museums such as the Uffizi, Accademia, Bargello, Medici Chapels, and Pitti Palace for free.
#7. Book tickets in advance before going to the museum
The main thing is that you won’t have to wait in line, but the second thing is that you’ll be able to see some of the month’s discounts on the internet ahead of time and maybe save a little money.
#8. Take advantage of discounts for students and ages when buying museum tickets, train tickets
If you are under the age of 18, you can visit the museum for free, and the train ticket is also less expensive. You can also get a discount if you are a student (bring your student ID). Under the age of 26, you still enjoy a discount, notably in Paris and on select TGV trains. The previous time I went to the Musée d’Orsay, the usual ticket was 15 euros, but because I was under 26 years old and presented my passport, I just had to pay 9 euros.
#9. Go to a supermarket to buy food instead of eating at a restaurant
A dinner at a restaurant can cost anywhere from 15 euros to an infinite amount of money. When you go to the grocery, however, the prices of food are incredibly low. You don’t have to buy fresh food and prepare it at home; supermarkets sell a wide range of excellent, ready-to-eat dishes. Of course, you should divide the dinner 50-50, which means that 50 percent of the meal is cheap and 50 percent of the meal is a bit liberal in order to enjoy the entire trip; don’t be too thrifty.
#10. If eating in restaurants, stay away from restaurants in main road areas
The Champs-Élysées in Paris and the Via de Mercanti in Milan are two examples of costly roadways. I ate at Martini Caffe in Milan, where a pizza cost approximately 15 euros, and then proceeded to a nearby hotel where the same pizza costs only 6 euros. In general, if you avoid main highways, eating out at restaurants is not too costly.
#11. Eat luxury in cheap countries, eat sparingly in expensive countries
That is what I discovered when traveling across several cities. Eating frugally in large cities like Amsterdam, Berlin, and Paris is equivalent to the price of luxury cuisine in cities in inexpensive nations like Prague, Budapest, and Warsaw.
In Europe, there is a proverb that goes, “The closer you get to Easter, the cheaper things becomes.” And, certainly, in Western European nations such as France, Germany, England, the Netherlands, and Belgium, prices are quite high in comparison to Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. So you may spend wisely based on that.
#12. Take a night bus when traveling between cities
This is what I like most because I can save a hotel night and the cost of taking a bus is half cheaper than taking a train.
#13. Compare train, bus and plane fares while traveling within Europe
I frequently use the GoEuro.com website to compare rail, bus, and airline rates throughout Europe. For example, a bus from Strasbourg to Colmar costs 7 euros and takes nearly an hour, but the train is slightly more costly at 9 euros and just 10 minutes distant. As a result, you have the option of taking the train. Although the train will be more expensive than the bus by default, I would choose to use the train because of its speed.
#14. Booking train and bus or ferry tickets before going to Europe
Trains and buses in Europe are not like those in Vietnam in that the closer you book to the departure date, the more costly the ticket. To save money, I usually buy tickets for certain trains and buses in advance. I once purchased a bus ticket from Paris to Brussels for only 5 euros because of a special deal.
Booking ahead of time also allows you to plan a comprehensive schedule, and there will be no “excited” times when you want to remain in your favorite area longer and must book a hotel close to the trip date with exorbitant room prices.
#15. Use cash instead of credit cards
The first drawback is the extremely high costs charged by banks for currency conversion. The second advantage is that utilizing cash allows you to determine if you are spending too much money or not. As a result, using cash is fairly convenient.
#16. Prepare medicine for cold and stomachache in advance
This is something I discovered to be really beneficial, because purchasing medicine from overseas will be unfamiliar to you and more expensive. Preparing medication for mild diseases throughout your travel will assist you avoid being unwell.
#17. Going with friends
Sharing money to stay at a hotel will also be more easier because you will not have to pay for a private room on your own. When you eat, you may also order extra dishes and share them, however when you go alone, you have to consume an entire pizza with only one flavor.
How to travel Europe cheap: #18. Prepare adapter sockets and Multi-Plug Outlet Extender in advance
These goods are more expensive to purchase in Vietnam and take longer to locate. Simply purchase a Dien Quang gadget that can be converted to any type of socket in Vietnam, and carry a Multi-Plug Outlet Extender to use with all of your devices.
#19. Stay in Hostel/Dorm/Airbnb
If you are traveling alone, consider staying in a hostel or dorm, which can save you up to 50-60% off the cost of your stay. Because private rooms at hotels are frequently quite expensive, you will be astounded by the cost and will not consider it worthwhile. When I travel to Europe, I usually play from dawn to night. If you’re young, I believe you can live with strangers for a few days and have fun while making new friends, right?
How to save money on Europe trip: #20. Join the Free Walking Tour
This sort of trip is not offered in small towns, however prominent major cities all have Free Walking Tours. When taking part in such a tour, you only need to arrive on time, go and listen to local young people excitedly talk about their city, and then give them a few euros; hiring a guide or purchasing a day trip will be much cheaper. To locate Free Walking Tours, simply go to Google and search “Free Walking Tour + City Name” and you’re done!
Saving money on the aforementioned charges allows you to reduce needless spending throughout your trip. But, since travel is meant to be enjoyable, I don’t recommend chewing bread or bringing instant noodles to eat every day. I, for one, am prepared to spend money to eat at a restaurant on the Champs-Élysées to taste French cuisine and to ride the cable car in Austria to enjoy the Alps. So, save but not too much, and be a bit comfortable with your spending for fun.