31 tips for Cheap Travel in Europe 🤩 2024

Updated: 2 October, 2024

Here are my top Budget travel tips for Europe, including transportation, food, accommodation, tickets, and other recommendations from a local.

A trip to Europe is a dream for many travelers, offering a chance to explore some of the world's most iconic places, sites that are simply a must on any bucket list

If you're getting ready for your adventure and wondering how to make the most of your money, you've landed in the right place. This article is packed with tips for traveling affordably throughout Europe.

1. Travel in summer and holidays

If you are going to travel to Europe to visit its cities, I recommend avoid traveling in summer (July and August) which is the high season and are the most expensive months, when it will be difficult for you to find cheap and well-located accommodation.

Furthermore, in some cities in summer the heat can be very oppressive.

Then, during the holidays, hotel prices increase, like Christmas and New Year's.

The Cheapest months to travel to Europe are during the winter, but I don't recommend it, because in some places it can be very cold and you will not enjoy it in the same way.

That's why, The best seasons to visit Europe are spring and autumn, which is the middle season, when you will have a good balance between pleasant weather and good prices.

Specifically, the months between mid-April to the end of June and then from the end of September to mid-October are the best.

Then the rest of spring and autumn can be cooler, mainly in more northern countries.

2. Destinations

Choose European destinations carefully, some cities are very expensive like London or Paris, but you can make the entire trip cheaper, including cheap cities or countries in Europe.

For example, Spain, Italy and Portugal are cheaper than England or France.

Then Greece (removing some excessively expensive islands) and the Eastern European countries are cheaper like Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, you can even add Turkey to your trip, which is very different and interesting.

⭐ In this article you can read more about the 22 cheapest destinations in Europe, with prices and lots of advice. 😉

3. Cheap flights to Europe

If you live outside Europe, the main expense will be the flight from your country.

From Latin America the cheapest flights to Europe are usually to Madrid with Iberia, but you can find good deals with other airlines or to other destinations.

My recommendation is that you use this search engine of the link that is the best, because it works with more airlines.

There, look for flights to the different cities you are going to visit, there it will show you the different options, how long it takes to get there, if they have stopovers and the price so you can compare.

Plus, you can make a reservation right there.

Other tips so that you can find cheap flights to Europe is that you have Flexibility of dates and book several months in advance.

4. Location of accommodation

Once you are in Europe, one of the biggest expenses will be on accommodation and location is one of the most important things that will make the difference in prices.

Staying in the center is very good to visit the emblematic places on foot, but in high season, central accommodation prices skyrocket even for shared rooms in hostels.

Therefore, to find a cheap hotel in Europe I recommend that you look for places a little far from the center, because then you can easily get around by public transport. I'll tell you more about public transportation below.

5. Accommodation with kitchen

Another thing that will help you travel cheaply through Europe is to look for accommodation where you have access to a kitchen.

This will be good for you to prepare something and even for breakfast, especially if you are used to having a big breakfast like they do in the United States or England.

Because in many European countries breakfasts are lighter, like a coffee with milk and some toast or a croissantIf you want a strong breakfast it will cost you dearly.

– Self-Catering Accommodation in Europe

To find accommodation with a kitchen you have different options, such as the Airbnbs that you can filter by those with a kitchen.

Also Most hostels have a shared kitchen And if you don't like sharing a room, some hostels have private rooms like hotels.

Finally, another option, although a little less common, are Aparthotels are apartments that function as hotels, with all the comforts of a hotel, they usually have a kitchen and you can find them for a good price.

6. Water and snacks

When you do the tourist visits, always carry a bottle of water and snacks with you that you can buy in any supermarket.

Visits to emblematic sites, more transportation, more lines will take you hours and you will surely need to eat and drink something, the bad thing is that the shops next to the most touristic places usually charge ridiculously expensive prices.

They can charge you up to 5 euros for a 500 ml bottle of water and several euros for a tiny bag of peanuts, which if you buy it in the supermarket you will get a large bag of nuts for the same price.

7. Supermarkets

Although Europe may seem expensive, in reality Food in the supermarket is usually cheaper than in Latin America and there are also many options.

Therefore, to save money on your trips, buying food at the supermarket is a good alternative.

Another interesting thing is that some supermarkets have prepared food, that you can take it to a park or a viewpoint with good views.

– Cheap supermarkets in Europe

One of the cheapest supermarkets that are usually found throughout Europe is the Lidl chain.

Then in Spain Mercadona is very cheap, DIA is in several European countries.

Finally, another supermarket that I can recommend is Carrefour, they are not that cheap, but they usually have many food options.

8. Takeaway

All over Europe you'll find affordable takeaway options, such as some slices of pizza (not only in Italy), some kebabs or some crepes in France and Belgium, that the salty version are the galettes.

9. Restaurants

If you want to eat cheap in Europe, avoid eating at restaurants near tourist attractions.

If you look at these restaurants you will never see the local people, because not only They are much more expensive than other restaurants in the city, but also the food you are paying for is worse quality.

This also applies to cafes and bars.

If you decide to eat in restaurants in tourist areas, always look at the menu and prices before ordering, if not you can get a real scare when paying.

10. Markets

The markets in Europe are a great place to eat rich and cheap, at the same time you see a little more of people's daily lives.

Also, if you travel to Europe you can't miss trying the local food.

11. Flea markets and second-hand stores

Another very common thing in Europe are markets with antiques and second-hand items, where you can find treasures at a good price.

Antiques can make a great special gift, perhaps prettier than a magnet or keychain.

In each country it has its own name, in England are the flea market, in France I marched aux puces and in Spain the trail.

Likewise, if you want to buy good quality clothes you will find many second-hand stores, sometimes with haute couture garments or expensive brands at a good price.

12. Public transportation

European cities have good public transport networks and it is one of the best ways to save on your trip to Europe.

In some cities, the bus or metro ticket may seem expensive, but believe me it is the cheapest option.

It is also good that you compare the different alternatives, because many cities have buses, trams and metro.

For example, in London the tube is expensive, but classic double-decker buses 😍 are cheaper and you can take advantage of seeing the city on the tour.

– Other tips

When you arrive in a new city, at first it can be a little intimidating not knowing how to get around. For that, use the Google Maps application to see how to get from one place to another through the cities, there he will show you the alternatives.

Another important tip for saving is to pay attention to the ticket alternatives, Passes for several days or a week may seem cheap at first glance, but if you are not going to use everything, it may be more cost-effective to buy single tickets.

👍 Friend's tip: on public transport and near tourist attractions in Europe, be very careful with your belongings, especially when there are many people, there are many pickpockets.

13. Rental bikes

To visit European cities the cheapest is combine public transportation and walking, walk a lot.

But if you are going to be visiting many cities, walking so much can leave you without energy, so an excellent alternative is rent a bike normal or electric, which you will find for little money.

Many European cities have a good system of bike lanes so you can get around in a safe and ecological way.

There are also many city tours by bikeBelow I leave you the links to some very popular options, if not on that same page you can find more alternatives.

14. Taxi

To travel cheaply around Europe, avoid taxis, although scams are rare and most of them tend to use the meter, the prices are expensive.

– Cheap alternative to taxis in Europe

As a cheaper alternative, use the Bolt application, which is in most European countries.

Then in Spain, mainly in Barcelona and Madrid, Cabify is used a lot, in fact in Barcelona there is no Uber.

Another application that is gaining popularity to order a car is Free Now which is in many European cities.

15. SIM card

Buying a SIM card when traveling is essential, it will help you use Google maps and be able to move easily by public transport or you can order an Uber if you need it.

At the same time, you can use google translate for communicating.

In Europe, you have two options, buy a local SIM or an eSIM.

– Vodafone SIM

The company that works best throughout the European Union is Vodafone, with SIM cards for about 20 euros. Prices depend on the country where you buy it and the data plan they offer you at that time.

When you go to another country, you just have to activate roaming. If you still cannot connect, restart your mobile. 😉

Roaming means that you will be able to use data on your mobile in other countries, for the same price you already paid without any additional charge.

An advantage of Vodafone over other European telephone companies is that includes several countries that do not belong to the European Union in the same price, such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Türkiye. 😉

To buy a SIM card in Europe you have to go to an official store, bring your passport and your cell phone must be unlocked.

– eSIM card

The most practical alternative is to buy an eSIM that is easily configured before traveling, so when you arrive you already have internet and save yourself from having to look for a telephone office.

I recomend you this eSIM for Europe which will serve you for the entire Eurotrip, it has unlimited data and with that link you have a 5% discount.

16. Payments

One of the ways of saving money when traveling to Europe is to use an electronic wallet like Wise that make you the best possible change.

Although in America, the physical card is only sent to Canada, Brazil and the United States, you can request digital debit cards and pay with your mobile phone.

Wise debit cards are very secure and it is difficult for them to be stolen, because online purchases require approval from your mobile phone.

In addition, you can turn off the digital card with a couple of clicks from the application for greater security.

If you open the wise account With this link, the commission of the first transfer you make will be free.

17. Money exchange

If you prefer to pay in cash, and change money, it is best to avoid changing at the airport, you will get better change in the city center.

18. Free tours

One of the best ways to getting to know European cities for little money is that you join the free tours, which last several hours and are very complete.

Although the name is "free tours" you actually pay at the end. The normal thing is to leave around 15 to 20 euros, depending on the country.

The tours are very good because they are professional guides, you will know a lot about the city and it will always cost you cheaper than a normal tour.

On this website you can book free tours, you can see the list or search for the one you need by entering free tour, followed by the name of the city you are going to visit.

👍 My two cents: keep that link, because that website will help you find many tours in Spanish around Europe.

Here below I leave you the link for the free tours More popular:

19. Tickets

To get tickets to museums and emblematic places in cities, the cheapest thing is to You buy them on the official websites.

For that, you will need to buy them in advance, because some are sold out.

In case you can't find tickets for the day you want, I recommend this website below. I leave you a link to get tickets for the three places that sell out the fastest, but if you look on their website you will find for other places:

The good thing about these tickets is that you also skip the line. 😉

20. Free museums

In Europe it is normal that once a month museums have free admission, The most common day is the first Sunday of the month.

I have to warn you that the most emblematic places in the city They can have very long queues that last for hours that day.If you want to take advantage of saving the entrance fee, go very early, if you can arrive a couple of hours before they open.

Some of the most important free museums on the first Sunday of the month are:

Athens (November to March only): Acropolis of Athens, Agora
Barcelona: Picasso Museum (1st Sunday free all day, other Sundays free from 3pm), MNAC (1st Sunday free and Saturdays from 3pm)
Berlin: Museum Island (Museuminsel), Humboldt Forum, Reichstag
Florence: Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery
Paris: Palace of Versailles (only from November to March), Center Pompidou, Orsay Museum, Picasso Museum
Rome: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine, Pantheon

In Athens and the rest of Greece there are other dates when there is no entrance fee at museums and archaeological sites, you can read more at this other article.

Other places that have a free entry day different from the rest are:

Madrid: Prado Museum from Monday to Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Sunday and holidays from 5 to 7 p.m., Reina Sofía Museum on Saturdays from 2:30 p.m. and Sunday mornings from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Paris: an exception in this city is the Louvre Museum, with free admission on the first Friday of the month from 6 p.m., except in July and August.
Vatican: all its museums are free to enter on the last Sunday of the month

If you are going to visit London I have good news for you, the city can be expensive, however, many of its museums are free every day, as:

British museum
National Gallery
Tate Modern
Museum of Natural History

You know, in Europe you can soak up culture without spending anything. 👍

21. Students

If you are a student, I recommend bringing a student card with which you can get discounts, especially for many European museums that you can enter for free.

Keep in mind that some museums only give free tickets to people who are studying in Europe.

Sometimes student cards from other countries are not accepted, but you can ask you for the ISIC card that it is free and by its acronym in English you mean International Student Identity Card.

Look at that link above, if it is available for your country, for example, for Argentina and Mexico you can order online and there are offices, then in Chile and Colombia there are several offices.

This card gives you additional benefits to travel with discounts with some airlines, hotels, restaurants, theme parks, etc.

22. Children under 18, over 65 years of age and disabled

Some museums have Free tickets for everyone under 18 and over 65, for this you only need to show an identity document.

Also some museums are free entry for the disabled that they can enter with a companion without paying.

23. Close visits

When traveling to places near big cities, The cheapest way is to go by public transport.

Although it is not always the most practical way because it can take a long time.

That's why, the most convenient alternative is to join a tour, the most popular visits are usually inexpensive, including transportation, entrance fees, and the guide or audio guide.

This way you don't worry about everything and ensure that you can visit all the places on your list in the precious time you have to be in Europe.

In the end it is cheaper than returning to the same cities in the future because you couldn't see everything.

Below I leave you a link to some of the most popular excursions, it is a website that I always use in Europe because it is the one with the best prices, there you will find many more tours.

24. Transportation between cities and countries

One of the most common mistakes among travelers visiting Europe for the first time is thinking that the cheapest way to travel is by train or bus.

In Europe, there are many cheap flights with which you can save time and money.

My recommendation is that you use this search engine to see all transport options in Europe, shows you the alternatives, with schedules, what it takes and prices, so you can compare.

Then, to book flights on this website is where you will find the cheapest flights around Europe and you can reserve right there.

25. Low cost flights

As I mentioned before, in Europe you will find cheap flights, especially with low-cost airlines (low cost), some of the best known are: Ryanair, Vueling, EasyJet, WizzAir, Jet2, Eurowings, AirBaltic.

If you are going to get tickets for an airline low cost There are some things you should pay attention to, because they cost cheap, but they have some drawbacks that can sometimes cost you more than traveling with a normal airline.

Therefore, keep the following in mind:

Departure and arrival times: Sometimes they operate at dawn and if there is no public transportation you will have to pay for an Uber or taxi.
Check in online: If the low-cost airline gives you the possibility of checking in online, do not leave it to do so at the airport, because they usually charge an additional fee.
Luggage included in the ticket: If the suitcase is not included, the additional charge can be high and even more so if you leave it until the last minute and pay at the airport.

26. Travel light

Another very common mistake among travelers is take large suitcases to Europe, you will have to carry it from one place to another on cobbled streets and climb stairs, a real agony.

Furthermore, carrying light luggage is one of the ways to travel cheaply through Europe, you will pay less on internal flights that never include large suitcases and even if you have to pay for a locker (locker) to leave the suitcase for a few hours.

The ideal thing to travel to Europe is that you bring one cabin suitcase and one small backpack at most.

"He who wants to travel happily, must travel light."
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the author of The little Prince

27. Flight reservations

To obtain cheap internal flights in Europe, Ideally, you should book your plane tickets several weeks in advance.

In my experience, prices are cheap up to 5 weeks before, then they start to go up as the date gets closer.

28. Travel at night

A good way to save money is by traveling at night on night buses or trains.

👍 Friend's tip: if you are going to travel on night buses, Be careful with the suitcases you leave in the hold, there have been cases of people stealing it, so don't leave anything of value there.

29. Car sharing

Another of the cheap alternatives to move between cities Europeans is with car sharing, the most famous application is Blah Blah Car which is in about 20 countries.

The secret to the success of this application is that sometimes you can get go to places where there is no public transportation or it is rare and at a good price.

In addition, they have a rating system that allows you to know more about the person driving, even if they like to talk, or play music.

30. Tax refund (tax free/duty free)

This tip isn't exactly for cheap travel in Europe; However, you are going to love it.

If you are not a resident of Europe, you can get When you leave Europe, your taxes will be refunded (VAT) that you have paid for the purchases you make and if you have not exceeded 90 days of stay.

Taking into account that taxes vary between 16 and 25 % from one country to the other, the money they can return to you is a lot.

Imagine coming back from your trip thinking about how much you spent (although you enjoyed it even more 😍) and getting money back, it feels like the best gift.

Although there are some European Commission requirements:

It only works for things you buy, for example clothing, electronics, etc. It is not used for food or medicine.
Some countries They ask for a minimum purchase per storeFor example, in France it is a minimum of 100.01 euros, Italy it is 154.91 euros, Germany 30 euros and Spain has no minimum.
Note that The United Kingdom does not have this tax refund scheme.

31. Travel insurance

Many travelers do not take out travel insurance to save money when traveling. This is a serious error! 😱

The chances that you will have to use it are slim, but if you had a medical emergency and you don't have insurance, the joke could cost you thousands of euros.

I always use and recommend Heymondo, it is an international insurer specialized in travel insurance, with excellent coverage and 24-hour assistance, even if you take out the basic insurance and here you can get a 5% discount.

Another advantage is that if you have to use insurance, you don't need to advance money as happens with other insurers.

If you’re looking for an affordable option, IATI is perfect. It’s the insurance backpackers prefer, and you also get a 5% discount.

If you're planning to travel for several months, both insurance companies have long-term coverage options.

Final Thoughts

These are my tips for traveling cheaply through Europe, based on my experience of living for many years in this beautiful continent.

In case I have left any topic untouched, leave me a comment below and I will help you in any way I can. Have a good trip!

More practical travel and Europe information

Viajeros Activos

Hello, I’m Andrea, the creator and writer of Viajeros Activos (Active Travelers). I’m a nomad, so I consider myself a full-time traveler. I’m passionate about good food and always looking for new adventures.