How Much Does it Cost to Travel Western Europe?

Last Updated: 5/22/23 | May 22nd, 2023 Europe. Prices vary greatly depending on how far north, east, south or west you travel. After all, Europe is huge with multiple visa zones and multiple currencies. For 45 EUR, you can get a private room in parts of Greece. For that same price in Paris, you may get a 16-person dorm room. You can get delicious and cheap street food in Berlin for under 10 EUR, but even a casual sit-down meal in Austria can cost around 25 EUR and it can easily double that in Norway! And one of the most asked questions I get is, “How much does it cost to travel to Europe?” Well, that always depends on where you are going. You can’t paint Europe with a huge brush. It’s a diverse place. So, today, I want to talk about traveling around Western Europe (think Eurozone countries plus Switzerland and the UK) and how much money you need to visit those destinations. Table of Contents How Much Do Things Cost? Here are some general costs for things in Europe, because as I said, prices can vary a lot depending on where you are: Accommodation – In most Western European countries, expect to pay 25–45 EUR per night for a dorm room and 75-100 EUR for a private double room in a two-star budget hotel. (Though in Greece and Portugal, you can find dorm beds for 15–20 EUR per night and private rooms in budget hotels for 40-55 EUR.) In England, prices are usually around 20–30 GBP per night for a dorm room and private rooms in two-star hotels and guesthouses for 50-60 GBP. Food – Food costs vary as widely as accommodation costs. Throughout Western Europe, you can find small shops, street food stalls, or food trucks where you can get sandwiches, gyros, kebabs, slices of pizza, or sausages for between 3-7 EUR. Cheap meals (think a fast food combo meal or takeout from a Chinese restaurant) cost 9–12 EUR, while restaurant meals at casual, traditional eateries cost around 15–25 EUR. Nicer establishments cost 30 EUR and up. A pint of beer is 2-5 EUR, a glass of wine is 2-7 EUR, a cappuccino is 2-5 EUR, and cocktails range from 6-14 EUR. You can cook your food for a week for around 45-65 EUR. Transportation – The easiest way to get around Europe is by train, as they connect every major part of Europe and can be cheap if you book them in advance. High-speed trains, though, can easily cost 85-100 EUR or more. Try to get the regional or slow trains for cheaper prices (slow domestic trains taking 4-6 hours can cost around 25-45 EUR). If you’re going to be hopping around a lot by train, consider getting a Eurail pass. The rise of cheap airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, and Transavia has made flying around Europe in a hurry really cheap. For flights, expect to pay around 30-50 EUR if you book in advance. Buses are the cheapest option for long-distance travel, with prices as low as 5 EUR if you book in advance (otherwise expect to pay 15-30 EUR for a journey of 2-3 hours). Transportation around most cities is usually only 2–5 EUR for a metro or bus ticket. Most places offer daily unlimited public transit passes for around 10 EUR. Activities – Most museums start around 10-14 EUR. Half-day tours generally cost 25-35 EUR (such as a 2–3-hour bike tour) while full-day tours (such as a wine tour) cost 65–100 EUR. Prices vary drastically per country (costs are much higher in capital and popular cities compared to smaller ones and in rural areas), so it’s hard to give a good general cost of this budget item. How to Save Money in Western Europe It’s easy for costs to add up in Western Europe, but there are lots of ways to save money there if you are strategic and mindful about your spending. This is especially true when it comes to food, drink, and transportation. You have to travel like locals live and follow in their footsteps as they navigate these high cost of living places. Here are my tips on saving money based on my eighteen years of experience: Picnic – Europe has a lot of tiny shops, farmer’s markets, and supermarkets where you can buy premade sandwiches or ingredients to make your own. Buy some food, eat outside, and watch the city go by. It’s a cheaper and more enjoyable way to eat. Eat local – Not into picnicking? That’s OK, there are other ways to save money on food. Eat at local sandwich shops, pizza parlors, Maoz, Wok to Walks, or at outdoor street vendors. Avoiding restaurants and eating at a lot of the local “grab ‘n go” places will give you a taste of the local cuisine at a much cheaper price. Stay with a local – Hostels can add up really quick in Europe. If you don’t have any friends you can stay with, consider using the service Couchsurfing, which lets you connect with locals who will let you stay with them for free. Fly Cheap – If you know where you’re going and a train won’t do, try to book flights early. You can often get 15-25 EUR fares from many of the discount airlines. Just make sure that the airport they fly into isn’t too far out of your way, as sometimes transportation

How Much Does it Cost to Travel Western Europe?