How to travel Europe on a budget and enjoy the trip to the max? It’s easier than you think!
Europe is a massive and diverse continent with an unlimited assortment of things to see and do. Traveling to Europe is a true adventure! If you are planning a vacation to discover European culture, heritage, architecture, gastronomy, and stunning landscapes, get inspired with these very practical tips on how to travel Europe on a budget.
First things first, the best periods to take a budget trip to Europe are between March to May and September to October. Why? Because this is low season in Europe. During this time prices are lower, the weather is good, and the crowds are few. We know Summer is an exciting season but it’s peak season and prices of accommodation and flights inflate during this time.
Best hostels in Nice, France. Book Villa Hostels.
Choose train and gain points
For the first tip on how to travel Europe on a budget, we couldn’t leave this one out. Embarking on a train travel adventure is one of the greatest choices, especially for backpackers. Here are the reasons why:
1. It’s a more sustainable and eco-friendly form of transportation
Trains usually use 30% less energy than cars and 20% less than planes per passenger mile. In addition, the world train operators are constantly exploring ways of making traveling by train a highly sustainable form of transportation. They also produce less noise, use less energy, and are much more sustainable in terms of CO2 emissions. You can still be sustainable and travel Europe on a budget.
2. It’s more comfortable
If you have children, for example, they can move more freely than on a plane, and you’ll have the space to pack home comforts. Nearly every train you’ll come aboard boasts spacious seats, temperature-controlled cabins, and sizable spots for luggage. Plus, some trains even offer power outlets, snacks, toiletries, and complimentary WiFi. You can get up, walk along with the carriages, and often alight at stations along the way for a stroll.
3. You get to enjoy the scenery
To travel Europe on a budget, doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t get to enjoy the best of your vacation. Choose the train and enjoy natural daylight through large windows made for viewing the passing sights. No small portholes with shutters and trip lighting on trains! Furthermore, you’ll see forests, untouched lakes, mountains, and remote villages. Not only do trains explore parts of the country that don’t even have roads, but also trains give you the most authentic views around.
4. You’ll truly feel like a local
More than 240,000 kilometers (around 150,000 miles) of railroad connect Europe’s cities, villages, mountains, and countryside. Indeed, it’s no wonder rail travel remains so popular over Europe – and around the world. It’s also no surprise that traveling by train is the way to see a country like a local.
Already picturing a better image of how to travel Europe on a budget? Consider the Interrail Pass. It allows you to travel across 33 countries in Europe with the best and cheapest rail in Europe.
Pro-Tip:
Check out our Eco Wanderer campaign. You can get discounts on buses and trains and up to 20% discount on hostel stays.
Hostels are cheaper than Hotels
There are many reasons why hostels are a must-choose once you decide to travel around Europe on a budget. First of all, it gives you a more local experience, because the staff will know the best places to eat around town and they usually partner up with businesses to offer discounts for food and activities. Some even have with a kitchen, bar, and free breakfast.
Each one is unique and many of them have themes and a cool uniqueness that gives them their signature style. Apart from this, it’s the perfect environment to make friends for life – hostels usually put together activities to help guests get to know one another. But the most relevant hostel characteristic for this article specifically is that they are cheap. A dorm bed in a hostel tends to be the most affordable accommodation for a solo traveler. Some of the nicest hostels cost less than even a cheap motel. And they also have a range of accommodation options, from multi-bed dorms to ensuite private rooms.
Here you can check the list of all the famous hostels we’ve got in each destination to welcome you.
The biggest and best hostel in Nice, France
Why book direct?
First, you get a better price by booking direct. You will always avoid higher prices and fees and get the best available rate by booking your vacation directly. Secondly, prioritizing booking allows you to save more money for the rest of the travel elements. It is the best way to get the best vacation possible at the lowest rate. Thirdly, when you book your hostel through a hostel search engine, you’re actually paying more because of hidden fees that go directly to the search engine and not the hostels.
Thinking about booking directly with the best hostels in Europe?
Again, don’t forget to get extra discounts of up to 20% with your CO2 emissions savings. Here’s how you can do it!
How to meet friends on a budget travel
We don’t want to sound predictable but ‘hostels’ is part of our answer. People are not only meeting friends but also partners for life. You can read these love stories yourself. Hostels bring together people from around the world with many different stories to tell, from diverse backgrounds and cultures but with common life goals.
Social media is also a great tool. Reach out to those that you follow on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook and who also live in the destination you are traveling to. Posting a story or an update to let others know what you are up to might result in a response from another traveler who is in the same place as you. Facebook groups, for example, are very useful for meeting locals with similar interests.
You can also join small walking tours, go on a day trip, join a pub crawl, volunteer, take classes or indulge in your favorite activity with others. Just because you are solo traveling doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve got to do it all on your own.
Warsaw, Poland
Updated: November 2025
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