The country guides for each individual destination contain more detailed information on how to save costs, but here are some basic suggestions:
1. Picnic - There are numerous little stores on this continent where you can buy prepared sandwiches or the ingredients to build your own. Purchase some food, enjoy it outside while observing the city and its inhabitants. It's both more fun and less expensive to eat this way.
2. Eat inexpensively and locally - Don't like picnics? Eat at neighborhood Maoz, Wok to Walks, sandwich shops, pizza joints, and outdoor street sellers. You can sample the local food for a lot less money by avoiding restaurants and dining at a lot of the neighborhood "grab n' go" establishments.
3. Stay with a local - because it can be expensive to stay in hostels. Use Couchsurfing to connect with locals who will let you stay with them for free if you don't have any friends you can stay with. It's a terrific opportunity to cut costs on lodging and get to know a local who can offer guidance and insider knowledge.
4. Camp in a garden – Campspace, which allows you to pitch a tent in someone's lawn for free or a little price, is a really good camping service that is specific to Europe (around 10-20 EUR). The services and amenities that each garden owner provides are listed in their profiles. Additionally, if you have a tent, many nations, like Sweden, permit wild camping, which can save you a ton of money.
5. Take the bus – You can travel across the continent on the cheap with low-cost bus operators like Flixbus. Although it isn't glamorous, you really can't complain when tickets start at just 5 EUR!
6. Get a Rail Pass – I have saved hundreds of dollars thanks to Eurail Passes. They are a terrific deal if you are traveling over long distances and through numerous nations.
7. Take the free city tours – One of the best things about Europe is that all of the big cities offer free walking tours. They can be a terrific way to see the city's sights, learn about its past, and become oriented without having to spend any money. Only remember to give your guide a tip at the end!
8. Plan accordingly – Plan your route through Europe to prevent going backwards. Planning ahead is important because transportation can be very expensive (and time). Travel straight or in a loop.
9. Fly cheap – Try to reserve flights early if you know where you're going and a train won't do. Many of the budget airlines in Europe, such as Ryanair or Wizz, frequently offer round-trip rates for as little as 5 EUR.
10. Drink less – Beers costing five euros add up. Decide when to party and attend happy hours. You can find inexpensive beverages at hostel bars or at the grocery store. Your bank account will be completely wiped out if you party your way across the continent.
11. Get a city tourist card – Many regional tourism offices offer a tourism card that can be used at all of their restaurants, tours, and attractions. This card entitles you access free admission and significant discounts to all of the city's tours and attractions, as well as free local public transportation (a major benefit) and special offers at a select number of restaurants and retail centers. They make huge financial savings. Invest in one of these cards if you intend to do a lot of sightseeing.
12. Rideshare – If your schedule is open, you can pay a nominal charge through the ridesharing service BlaBlaCar to catch rides with locals between cities (or nations). Similar to Airbnb but for transportation. In addition to making significant financial savings by using this service in Switzerland, I also made interesting new friends and gained insight into the way of life there. It's completely safe and drivers are certified, albeit occasionally rides don't arrive (which is why you need to be flexible).
13. Bring a water bottle – Bring a reusable water bottle so you may save money and lessen your usage of plastic since tap water is safe to drink throughout much of Europe. I usually use LifeStraw bottles since they have built-in filters that guarantee your water is always pure and safe.
Learn more about tips and guides while traveling in Europe
