So it just depends which factor is more important to you. The search engine will then find the cheapest flights departing from South Africa. You can always browse Worldpackers hosts to find places that offer these types of work exchanges, and trust me, the Worldpackers opportunities in Europe are outstanding. Oslo is one of the most expensive cities in Europe. In this article, we share some of the best Christmas markets in Europe that you will love. It is a touristic place, so no need to worry about safety. Living the vanlife in Europe is many backpackers dream. Fast forward almost a decade later, and Ive been to Europe not once, not twice but three times. Another great resource isTrainline, Europe's leading train and coach app. My favourite sites for finding and comparing flight prices are Skyscanner and Momondo. Traveling by bus is another cheap option for traveling Europe. Solo travelers can stay in a hostel or apartment that is comparatively cheaper than hotels. Trainline works with 207 rail and coach companies and offers services to thousands of destinations in and across 45 countries in Europe. If you decide to splurge on drinks on a night out, drink what the locals drink. Val May 16, 2021 - 4:52 pm. Go for a walking city tour, explore the city canals, coloring houses and learn about the citys history and culture. You can find hostel dorm rooms for around $15 $30 USD a night, and in cheaper cities in Eastern Europe hostels can cost under $10 a night. Venice is a small city, you can walk it in several hours. Go to a free concert. Visit Riga, Latvia for amazing architecture and Sofia, Bulgaria for hearty food and friendly locals. Adventure sports like bungee jumping, hiking, and sightseeing tours can be added to the packages depending on the itinerary. My 84 tips to save money when travelling in Europe ( Updated Jan 2023 ) - BudgetTraveller Destinations Accommodation Eat + Drink Travel Tips More Stories How to plan a weekend road trip to Paris Planning a weekend roadtrip to Paris? A Fabulous Trastevere Food Tour, History and Kitsch: Visiting Luthers Germany, Solo Travel Destination: Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. And yes, the majority of my meals were some kind of pasta. The locals are generally helpful to tourists, English is widely spoken Germany just checks all of the boxes for the solo travelers. Finding cheap accommodation is quite difficult. You will find fairytale architecture throughout the city with lots of museums, monuments old clocks and bridges. Free entry to specific museums or attractions in that city. Oslo is one of the most expensive cities in Europe. Try to buy alcohol at the liquor store, rather than buying individual drinks at a bar. And I didnt have to sell everything I own or work crazy long shifts in shitty retail jobs to make it happen. Explore the mountains of Albania and Scotland in addition to the famous Alps. If youre a museum geek and you want to go to the museums that come with the card its a no-brainer. Head to the nearest supermarket, grab your favourite things and get your chef on. Potentially definitely. Sometimes you might not be anywhere near a hotel or inn when its getting dark. If you You get good exercise, you have more time to soak in the details of the world around you, and you don't need to spend any money. "Traveling from Australia to Europe is quite a long journey, so we wanted to see as ." From $3,236 $2,751 Britain and Ireland Delight (Summer, 10 Days) So the language and transport system wont be a barrier for solo travel in Vienna. Are you a fan of the Queen song Bicycle Race? Check out some of the best hostels in Prague for solo travelers. Sometimes booking through the airlines or railways own website is the cheapest option; sometimes the best deals are found on third-party websites. Lots of attractions have student discounts, so you don't want to miss out on that. I was in search of best places to visit in Europe & this seems like a great list! With most main meals costing EUR 8 and a glass of wine usually around EUR 6-7 (R 94.00 R110.00), its an excellent deal. February photo dump If youre worried about safety, only stay with hosts that have been verified by Couchsurfing and have tons of positive reviews by other surfers. A main course in a mid-range restaurant will set you back between 2,000 and 4,000 ISK. Getting a rail pass is not worth it everywhere in Europe. Venice is famous for its beautiful churches and basilicas. I would also add the Balkans to this list. Your email address will not be published. One of the most popular options for cheap bus travel is Flixbus. Thats why I think Prague is one of the best places to travel alone in Europe. Ask locals where their favorite restaurant is, and you will certainly find a hidden gem for dinner. Prices do peak again especially in countries like Germany that are famous for their Christmas markets and traditions. Reasons to travel alone. These places will usually be hidden away, far from crowded tourist attractions and without a flashy sign out front. For most South Africans, that just sounds like a bad idea. Europe is a hikers wonderland. All rights reserved. You'll save tons of money, and you can still find local drink choices at the store. Try visiting Warsaw, Poland for a quaint Old Town full of history. Ample accommodations are available there to suit any budget. Try and cook more often than eating out, as you'll save so much money on food. @valhalla.sa what an, BRB moving to Montagu If you do dine out, stay away from the overpriced, touristy restaurants where the food is more generic. Below, Ive listed the sites I use the most while travelling on a budget in Europe. Suite 403. I found one in Paris within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower, and it didnt cost my entire salary. The cheapest flights to Europe will be in December, January and February, as these winter months are colder and less desirable to tourists. Janice Waugh, solo travel expert at Solo Traveler World, considers Chile among the best countries for solo travelers. They offer simple & flexible travel insurance, and safety advice to help you travel confidently. It is the cheapest way of traveling Europe on a budget, and that too in style. Visit the imperial city, Vienna that is also the capital city of Austria. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Check. Have you experienced the phenomena of internally sobbing while typing in each digit and watching your bank account run dry? Here is how to plan a budget trip. Tartu, Estonia / one month ($1213) 2020 / partnered. Scandinavia is notoriously expensive for food, accommodation, and attractions, as are cities like London and Paris. Usually, theyre restricted to a certain region or cluster of countries, and their prices depend on which countries you want to check out. You can spend months and months in just one country, fully immersing in the culture and exploring different areas. Travel around Europe by train, also known as interrailing, is a super popular way of backpacking across Europe. Curious about how to visit Europe on a budget? The high season definitely impacted the cost of our ticket. There is a limited amount of the cheapest discount tickets for each route. Note that this is not digital hitchhiking; youll have to split travel costs with the driver and other passengers. And for transparencys sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. Trainline's aim is to bring together all rail, coach and other travel services into one experience so people can get the best prices and smart, real time travel info on the go. It's been pretty common to find $400 round-trip flights from the US to EU, score! Hop on board one of the hundreds of trains that zigzag across the region! . Save it for later on Pinterest! As a solo traveler in Portugal, you can easily take a train to Sintra on a quick day trip and explore the beautiful Pena Palace. You get good exercise, you have more time to soak in the details of the world around you, and you don't need to spend any money. Everything costs from meals onboard to even printing your boarding pass at the airport. Im currently planning my first trip to Europe and this blog has been a huge help! Love trains, but buses are probably cheaper. Learning how to travel Europe on a budget comes down to a few tricks: cook your own food, stay in hostels or couchsurf, and take advantage of free things to do (each European country has heaps!). If you buy a tourist travel card, like the Berlin Welcome Card, youll get unlimited public transportation included in the price. (Somewhere in the distance, Born to Be Wild starts playing). Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark. MegaBus. I paid EUR 50 for the shittiest dorm room in Rome thats usually less than half that price. Definitely want to spend some serious time in Vienna! Prague is a safe place in Europe for solo travelers. Taxi apps are dope for getting around cities in Europe on the cheap for sure. Yes, Switzerland is another safest country in Europe. They organise yo packing and minimise its volume too so you can pack MORE. Get the RailPlanner App. Even at night, a solo traveler wont feel insecure in this beautiful place in Europe. You can ride on a bus, boat and train with this pass. ATMs atbanks are your better option. Its so helpful and informative. The Pest side of the city is quite a popular place among solo travelers. $20 a day in Greece is not too bad if you can split that with a travel buddy. Some like the Netherlands will evaporate all your hard-earned savings in the blink of an eye. I have a detailed travel guide on Switzerland Solo Trip on a Budgetwhere I have described how I traveled 8 cities in 8 days with just $1000. With positive reviews, youll stand out to hosts and get even more benefits. Close-ish to Reykjavk. Here you can find fresh produce for cooking and unique local goods, usually for decent prices. While it did take over a month, it was a fantastic way to get a more detailed look into the life on the Spanish Northern Coast. I stayed in an Airbnb apartment during my 3-week trip to Sicily. Everything has a cost: even using a public bathroom! Czech is the official language and widely used in the country. Train travel is incredibly popular in Europe, though its affordability differs from country to country. From the delicious arancini balls in Italy to Polands famous Maczanka sandwich there are cheap eats for your taste buds to discover in every country. It doesnt mean that Amsterdam cannot be enjoyed if you are not a party lover. What about between cities? Its not out of the question to have to splash $60 for a simple cross-country ticket. The city is popular as a romantic placein Europe. Hopeing that I can get some suggestions for European destinations. Call up your bank before you leave South Africa, and unblock your card for international usage. REI members are swimming in discounts what about YOU? Don't feel like you have to participate in every activity your guidebook recommends. Home Blog How to Travel Europe Cheaply: Get Around on a Budget in 2023. Theres a few factors that influence when you should visit Europe. Its the cheapest way to feed yourself in Europe. have you ever heard of them or stayed with before? Seville is the birthplace of tapas and flamenco and is also the sunniest city in Europe. It might seem counterintuitive to spend more money to save money. Have a transformative experience and make a positive impact on the world. I took it to travel from Paris to Brussels and Amsterdam. Staying in hostels or budget hotels is a great way to save money when traveling solo in Europe. But the ultimate way to keep your transportation costs low while travelling Europe on a budget is to walk EVERYWHERE. Paying R 300 for a RETURN flight between Italy and Germany. Norway was considered the worlds happiest countryin 2017 by the United Nations. Long, well-established trails can be found almost in all countries, and many long-distance trails stretch over borders as well. Although Hungarian is the official language in Budapest, luckily most of the people can understand and speak English. With a little bit of web-surfing and research, you can easily find incredibly cheap flights to Europe. This is when the choice to travel light is really important. Enjoy your trip and remember, its totally acceptable to eat your weight in gelato while youre there. Copenhagen has plenty of hostels for visitors who travel alone. Get ready to make those snow angels, learn the lyrics to Do You Want To Build a Snowman and develop an appreciation for thermal underwear. I wanted to go on a subway, peer through the gates of Buckingham Palace, and see my favourite bands play live at Download Festival. And the scene is especially boomin and bloomin in Europe. Check comparison sites like Skyscanner or Google Flights to see the deals. This allows you to browse which dates and which airports will be the best for your budget. Cut costs and maybe make a friend on your intercity travels. Oslo, the capital city of Norway is not only popular among solo travelers, but it is also a place where you would like to visit with your friends and families. It was very much helpful. So, today Im teaching you, dear young padawans, the ins and outs of travelling around Europe on the cheap. Here are a few simple money tips to use while travelling Europe on a budget: Youll get a better rate of exchange. While traveling alone in a small city like Copenhagen, the night can be boring sometimes. With this website, you can select your departure airport, then select "cheapest month", as well as set the destination airport to "anywhere." The Danish people are very friendly to travelers and always welcome foreign travelers wholeheartedly. In order to keep your spending while abroad in Europe under control, follow a few steps before your trip as well as on the road. You can always find deals, but your best bet on dirt-cheap tickets is to book early. There are a few things that make a solo trip in Europe more comfortable and less daunting. But once you move towards the southeast, everything becomes more affordable. Have a backup plan for emergency funds, but do NOT use it unless it's an emergency. When I still lived in Finland, a return flight between my city and London was half the price of a one-way train to my hometown! All you need to do is pop in your departure and arrival destination, and the search engine will find the cheapest flights, train and bus fares. But as youve seen now, there are a lot of infrastructures that helps heaps if youre trying to watch your spending. Walkability and ease of public transportation is a must for a solo trip in Europe, especially a first time solo trip. How to Get Around Europe Unlike the states, getting around Europe is relatively easy thanks to the well-connected network of trains, buses, and budget airlines like RyanAir and EasyJet. Venture away from the cities to the hidden small towns of Portugal, Spain, and Italy to find authentic local traditions. Every country has its own set of unique traits, and every single one is worth visiting. I realize when people come to Germany, they focus on the big, famous cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, and Munich, but the smaller and middle-sized ones are the real typical German towns: Bamberg, Nrnberg, Heidelberg, Speyer, Trier etc. Most of the Norwegian people speak English and the country has an excellent public transportation system with extremely friendly locals. Occasionally, a train can actually be a lot cheaper than a bus. Ive never heard of them before, but it does look interesting if youre wanting to experience the music festivals and parties of Europe . If you are planning to start your solo travel in Europe, without any hesitation book a cheap flight to Zurich. How to Plan Bhutan Trip for 7 Days from India under INR 12000, 22 Best Christmas Markets in Europe for a Festive Winter in 2023, 10 Insanely Cheap Countries to Live in Europe in 2023, 30 Best Dream Destinations You Must Visit Once in Your Life Time (2023), Top 10 Cheapest Countries to Visit in Europe in 2023, 10 Best Belgian Chocolate Brands for Chocolate Lovers. Iceland is the perfect place to travel alone for three big reasons: it's popular so there are other solo travelers around, it is the safest country in the world, and it is probably the most beautiful country in the world too. Its an easy way to see what deals are flying around and which European destination will be the most affordable entry point. You can combine your biking adventures with camping to cut costs even more. If you are an adventure enthusiast, go for paragliding, skydiving, river rafting and many more, Hiking is another free thing to do in Interlaken. 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