There are many ways in which you can travel around Europe on a budget and still have an absolutely fantastic time. Many of these countries make vacation easier than domestic travel within the United States. Public transportation systems are fantastic — whether bus, metro, or train. These will help you save money instead of going through the hassle of renting a car or taking expensive ride shares everywhere. Here are five additional budget ideas for when you take the trip across the pond to Europe.
Eat Outside of City Centers
Tourism is a huge arm of the local economy for every major city — and by proxy country — within Europe. With large groups of Americans taking European vacations, these local entities want to try and take advantage of the influx of people. This means jacking up prices — especially at restaurants in tourist-heavy neighborhoods. If you want to save some money, and enjoy food which is more authentic and generally better, eat outside of the city center. Otherwise, you’ll get gouged by expensive prices on food/drinks that will be likely mediocre quality-wise.
Look Into Hostels
Don’t let the name or reputation fool you. There are some real benefits to staying in hostels. For one, the prices for these rooms are far less expensive than hotels or Airbnb’s. If you’re worried about sharing a room with 20 other people, don’t be! There are options where you can reserve a room solely for yourself or your family. If you’re traveling with a friend, two-bedroom dwellings exist. You also benefit from meeting people from all over the world at these establishments. Often, they offer free breakfast options in the morning (meaning one less meal to pay for). Also, hostels tend to have group outings with discounts. These include pub crawls. For a cheap price, you get to see 4-5 bars with drink specials and free drinks involved with your purchased ticket.
Utilize Travel Sites For Attraction Deals
Get Your Guide and Viator are two wonderful tools to utilize when visiting a city. On both of these sites, you’ll be given a comprehensive list of activities to choose from. In many cases, you’ll be getting discounts by booking tickets to attractions beforehand. You not only will be able to solidify plans ahead of time, but you also won’t run the risk of missing out on something to do should you try and buy a ticket to an activity the day of that may be sold out. These resources are very helpful when planning a trip.
Shop at Local Markets
You don’t need to go out to eat for every meal. Hitting up a local market, store, or bakery is a great way to enjoy a meal without breaking the bank. Need a quick breakfast? Grab a pastry at a local bakery. This includes a croissant or a baguette for countries with a penchant for bread making. Have some fun by traversing down the aisles of a local supermarket. Creating an impromptu picnic with items from a store can be very enjoyable — especially with the emphasis on parks and open squares across the continent. Getting a glimpse into how another culture operates through food can be quite enriching and eye-opening in a positive way.
Take Free Walking Tours
You often see red double-decker tour buses around every major city. You can pay to hop on board and see numerous sites around the city. Those can be expensive, which is why we instead suggest joining a free walking tour group. There are free walking tours every day. With a bit of research, you’ll be able to see where these tour groups take off from in the morning. The tour guides are very informative and will educate you as you walk throughout the city leisurely. The actual walk doesn’t cost a dime — though you are heavily suggested to tip the guide at the end of the (normally) three-hour walking tour. With the information you’re given, along with the professionalism and effort shown by the guides, a small tip is more than worth it.
