How To Plan Your Europe Trip on a Budget in 2024

After more than 10+ years of travelling cheaply around Europe, I want to share my tips with all of you who want to travel cheaply to Europe as well. Here’s how to plan your Europe trip on a budget in 2024.

So… how can you travel cheaply to Europe?

A few years ago, I saw a lot of Europe on a really tight budget and wrote a blog post on how I found the best and cheapest travel options in Europe and travelled in Europe for a month.

Remember to check TripAdvisor whenever you want to eat at a restaurant, fancy hotel, or anything else. Also, TripAdvisor is your go-to resource regarding what to do and what to visit in a city/place/country.

Remember to also check out the cheapest countries to visit in Europe and include them on your Euro trip to make your travel budget last longer.

Cheap Europe travel – Is it possible?

If you are looking to plan your trip to Europe, then you have to look at all the expensive aspects of a trip and hack them. So, if you want to travel cheaply to Europe, then we have to talk about the basic costs and how to budget your Europe trip.

Because there are so many aspects of cheap Europe travel (transport, accommodation, food), there will not be a straight-off solution, but more of a guideline on how to travel cheaply to and in Europe, and it will be up to you (and how high can you go with your budget) to find what works best for you.

From my experience, after travelling around Europe on a budget for the past 10+ years, I can tell you that you can travel cheaply in Europe. But it matters a lot where, when, for how long and how willing you are to get out of your comfort zone.

I don’t want to get your hopes high (or too low) because we all have different standards, but if you are coming from the US, chances are that you will consider Europe to be fairly cheap, with some obvious exceptions, such as Switzerland, the UK, and the Nordic countries.

There are a few others, but you get the idea.

In 2023, I managed to stay in Iceland for more than one month, with a budget of less than $6,500 for two people. I have so much experience in keeping costs low that I managed to do it even in the most expensive European destinations. Read here how I did it: The total cost for a trip for 2 in Iceland.

I will try to break down your plan to travel cheaply TO Europe and then to travel cheaply IN Europe.

One of the most important steps is to get to Europe. And this will be one of the main expenses if you want to travel to Europe.

How to travel cheaply TO Europe?

What is the cheapest place to fly to in Europe? It depends on the season, but consider checking Copenhagen, Dublin, London or Milan as your entry gate to Europe. The best time to buy plane tickets to Europe is 4 to 8 weeks in advance.

It would help to have an idea of the countries and cities you would like to visit and to try to look for flights to Europe directly to one of those countries.

Until some years ago, only big airline carriers had long-haul flights to Europe. But now we see more and more low-cost airlines offering transcontinental flights to Europe, such as Norwegian Airlines and Level (Iberia’s budget long-haul carrier). Keep an eye on these airlines.

On my last flight to the US (in 2019), I used Kiwi, and it found a unique combo of low-cost flights with different airlines. I paid $350 for a round trip from Bucharest to JFK. In December! December is one of the most expensive months to travel anywhere because… Christmas (but there are many other things to do in NYC in December).

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So cheap travel to Europe (check out these cheap countries in Europe) is possible if you keep your eyes and options open. Such cheap tickets often come with baggage restrictions and include low-cost airlines, which means you have to travel light (only carry on < 10kg) and no meals.

Some of the main airports for transcontinental flights are Dublin, London, Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. There are more, but I consider these to be some of the biggest.

Some cities have more than one airport. Pay attention to that if you plan to connect in Europe. Consider the cost of the transfer, which is not cheap. For example, it’s really cheap to fly to Brussels Charleroi Airport (the airport where low costs airlines fly), but it costs around 20 Euros to get the bus to get you to the city and it takes at least one h.

How to travel cheaply IN Europe?

After arriving in Europe, you can go anywhere, as nothing is too far away, and all the places are very well connected by planes, trains, and buses.

What’s the cheapest way to travel in Europe?

By bus. The more uncomfortable, the cheaper it is. Check out Omio.

Travelling in Europe by bus

If you want to travel in Europe for cheap, then the bus is the way to go. Europe has a very well-connected transportation infrastructure, and buses will allow you to get almost anywhere.

Cheap bus companies in Europe

I have tried and recommend FlixBus and Omio the most, but many companies are offering great deals all across Europe.

Check out Omio to find bus connections.

Although some companies are not listed, you will find most of them there.

If you’re looking for a connection that doesn’t exist there, Google the name of the origin to the name of the destination “by bus” (e.g., Paris to Amsterdam by bus), and you will probably land on the bus company’s homepage.

Be aware of hop-on-hop-off buses. There are some companies offering international routes of these buses. In my opinion, it’s too expensive, and you can do the same for less, but it’s all about the experience with them. I guess. It depends on what you want to experience.

Travelling in Europe by train

Travelling by train is one of the best travel experiences you can have in Europe. The landscape can change dramatically in just a couple of hours and let you enjoy your time, admire and be comfortable.

But train travel in Europe is also one of the most expensive forms of transportation in Europe. Don’t get me wrong! It’s totally doable, it’s amazing and getting to some places might be the only option if you don’t have a car. But it can get really pricey, especially if you don’t book your trip in advance.

Suppose you want to find the cheapest train tickets in Europe.

In that case, I recommend checking the prices of train tickets, especially if you want to plan your trip in advance (a few weeks to a month in advance, or even sooner) because you can get lucky or just find it affordable for your budget.

I am looking for the national railway company in the country I’m travelling to. So you need to Google “Train in Austria” or the name of the country you are travelling from. The page you’re looking for should be in the first three results. In the case of Austria, it is www.oebb.at ÖBB.

However, I recommend checking out RailEurope to book all train tickets for all European countries and have all railway companies in one place.

Travelling in Europe by plane

Travelling by plane is the most convenient when you travel from one country to another, especially for longer distances (more than one country away).

Europe is rather small, and most flights are around 2-3 hours. Europe has many low-cost airlines. The best time, and if you book your tickets 1 or 2 months in advance, you can easily find round trip tickets under 50 Euros for at least a few destinations.

Low-cost airlines in Europe:

• Ryanair
• WizzAir
• EasyJet
• Norwegian

There are others, as most countries have their own low-cost airline company in Europe.

I mostly use Kiwi.com to book my plane tickets. I really like them because they create connections between different airlines and offer assistance in case one of your flights is delayed/cancelled or you miss your connection because of one of those companies. Life-saving!

Colibra is the app that will claim compensation for any airline delays without hassle. All you need to do is to scan your boarding pass.  Read my blog about Colibra and how to claim flight delays with the app.

Travelling in Europe by car

As in any part of the world, travelling by car offers the greatest flexibility when you want to see as much as possible and experience as much as possible.

Travelling by car in Europe will let you explore and reach places you haven’t even thought of. If you are looking for inspiration, check out my Baltic road trip from August 2019. That road trip blew my mind away, and I can’t recommend it enough.

But travelling by car in Europe can cost you a lot. To make it worth it, I would say you have to have a travel companion to split the costs. But if you can afford it, consider renting a car in Europe.

What costs do you expect when travelling in Europe by car?

• Gas costs. The further north you go, the more expensive the gas is.
• Road tolls. Each country in Europe has its own rules regarding road tolls. For instance, some require you to buy a vignette (online or from the first gas station you see after customs) or have one on some highways you have to pay for. The most expensive are the Western countries (France and Italy are famous for their road tolls).
• Parking. Almost all European cities have paid parking in the city. You will also need to find accommodation with free parking.
• Rental costs. If you are not from Europe, chances are that you will rent a car. The good news is that you can rent a car in any country in the European Union and drive around because there are no borders between the countries. But it’s always recommended to check with the company where you can drive. While the rental costs are not high, you have to consider the 500+ Euros deposit you will have to pay for the car. Usually, you get that money back in less than two weeks.

Check out all rental companies on RentalCars and pick the best option for you.

Where to rent a car in Europe?

I would recommend renting a car in Central and Eastern Europe. There are so many beautiful sights, and public transport might not always take you where you want to go. If you’re travelling to Europe for the first time, consider this 3-week Europe itinerary that will leave you speechless.

Here are just a few examples of my road trips in Eastern Europe:

• Discovering the castles around Lviv, Ukraine: 1 -day road trip around Lviv
• 3-day Romania heritage road trip itinerary
• Romania 4-day road trip: Brancusi, Hunedoara Castle and beautiful landscapes
• 5-Day Romania Road Trip Itinerary
• A road trip to the centre of Bulgaria
• 3-Week Baltic Trip Itinerary

Cheap accommodation in Europe

The second biggest cost when travelling is accommodation.

Fortunately, most European cities have a large array of hostels, hotels, apartments to rent, and other kinds of shared accommodation.

The cheapest accommodation I know of and tried myself is Couchsurfing (free accommodation offered by someone with a spare bedroom or just a sofa in their home). Check out my Couchsurfing is more than a free accommodation post to understand how it should work.)

Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to ask friends if they have any friends living in Europe and if they are willing to host you. This is what I’ve done in my 1-month Europe trip, and this modelled my itinerary.

Hostels should be your number one option if none of the above is available. Some hostels in Europe are really lovely, and they look just like hotels but are cheaper and usually very well-located. (You can have a private room with a private bathroom in a hostel!) Check out here the best hostels in Europe.

If you are travelling in a couple or a group, it will be worth at least checking Booking.com for accommodation in Europe.

Airbnb is also worth checking out, as there are some places you will never find on other platforms. I think Airbnb is better for longer stays or for larger groups, as you can rent an entire house.

Europe trip essentials for a cheap European trip

Wondering what to pack for your Europe trip?

After deciding on the time when you will visit Europe, you can start thinking about what to pack and other Europe trip essentials for a cheap European trip.

Europe trip essentials for summer trips

Summer is the most popular time to visit Europe. This is when most places are packed with tourists, accommodations charge the most, and it’s preferred to book planes and trains at least one month in advance.

But if you are a summer person, like me, then you have to come to Europe in the summer. It’s easier to pack for summer, and your Europe trip packing list will be shorter.

You mostly need T-shirts, shorts, one pair of long pants, sunglasses, a sweater for colder nights out and your personal stuff.

It’s important to have your Europe trip itinerary before packing your Europe trip backpack. If you want to include some hiking trips in your itinerary, then you have to pack for that as well. But remember that you may always buy whatever you need, including hiking boots. That’s what I did before attempting the famous hikes in Norway.

Some countries have rainy days all year long (Irland, the UK), while others are always sunny, and the beach days seem never-ending (Greece, Spain, Italy, and everything around the Mediterranean Sea). You never know where you’re going, so bring a swimsuit, too.

Of course, you can buy essentials when you get here, so don’t despair. It’s always better to under-pack than to overpack, especially with the ever-changing cabin regulations (which are different for each airline).

Europe trip essentials for winter trips

Winter can be harsh in Europe. If you plan to stay more than a few days, you will probably need checked luggage to carry all the winter essentials with you.

Think of sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, boots, warm socks, winter pants, and jeans.

Again, it depends a lot on your itinerary and the planned activities.

Obviously, it’s different if you want to visit Vienna for the weekend (where you’ll probably spend more of your time visiting museums and cafes) than going skiing. Again, try not to overpack. I’m sure you will manage with one less sweater.

What’s the best time to travel cheaply in Europe?

Not in the high season. Think of late spring or early autumn. That’s when you have the best weather for visiting, and the prices aren’t as high as in August. And the crowds are smaller.

It depends on the country you want to visit. For instance, in October, you can swim in the sea in Malta or Cyprus but freeze in the Baltics.

If you are in Europe in July or August, I recommend visiting the Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, Finland or Norway), Sankt Petersburg, and the Baltic countries. The weather is perfect there, and the temperatures don’t exceed 30 °C. At the same time, the rest of Europe is literally melting.

I hope to have helped you design your next European trip and that my tips help you to travel cheaply in Europe.

Feel free to send me your questions about how to travel cheaply in Europe.

Happy travels!