6 Cheap (and Best) Ways to Travel Europe in 2023

Last Updated: 5/13/2023 | May thirteenth, 2023

Traveling round Europe could be costly. Airfare, high-speed and in a single day trains, ferries — all of them eat into your restricted (and valuable) journey finances.

Fortunately, there are alot of the way to get round Europe on a finances. The sharing financial system, new bus choices, discounted prepare passes, and many finances airways all enable you navigate Europe with out breaking the financial institution.

I’ve been touring Europe since 2006 and have seen so many issues change over that point interval. I’ve watched journey hacks come and go and costs change and alter once more. While COVID has impacted issues, I can truthfully say that it’s by no means been simpler to get round Europe as a result of there are such a lot of new low cost methods to journey the continent.

Here are the perfect methods to journey round Europe on a finances:
 

1. Travel by Bus

Taking intercity buses is likely one of the most cost-effective methods to get across the continent. The principal worldwide bus firms are Eurolines and German-based FlixBus, which expanded tremendously when it acquired Megabus and now has routes throughout the continent.

Flixbus is often the most affordable bus choice, with costs beginning as little as 5 EUR. Their buses embody Wi-Fi, electrical shops, free baggage (one carry-on and one saved below the bus), and cozy seats. (Megabus nonetheless runs within the UK.)

FlixBus shortly turned my favourite non-train method to get throughout Europe cheaply. It’s not fancy by any means nevertheless it’s the most affordable method to get round. They most of Europe. Here’s a map of their routes that will help you plan your journey!

However, there are many different regionally-specific bus firms that may get you elsewhere. For instance, Alsa is the principle supplier in Spain and its neighboring international locations.

You can use BusRadar or Get By Bus to seek out the most affordable and quickest choice in your desired route.

2. Travel by Budget Airline

By far one of many most cost-effective methods to journey long-distance in Europe is by finances airline. These airways are vastly prolific on the continent and competitors has led to extremely low cost fares. It’s not unusual to seek out flights for as little as 10 EUR! I take advantage of Skyscanner to seek for the perfect offers. They do all of the legwork!

Just do not forget that finances airways make most of their cash by means of charges. They are very strict about baggage limits or and plenty of will ding you for those who neglect to print your boarding cross. Don’t count on any complimentary drinks or meals both. But for those who observe the foundations and know what to anticipate it can save you a ton of cash!

For extra info, here’s a full information to discovering low cost flights.
 

3. Travel by Eurail Pass

I really like touring by prepare: sitting in a giant seat, stress-free with a e book, and watching the gorgeous panorama go by. It’s extra snug than a bus and far much less traumatic (and extra sustainable) than air journey. And the European rail system is likely one of the finest and most in depth on the earth.

If you’re going to journey by prepare, it’s onerous to beat them on value and comfort for brief city-to-city journey. For longer journeys (in a single day journeys, between international locations, or rides that require a high-speed line, like Paris to Bordeaux or Berlin to Munich), trains can get very costly.

If you propose to journey round Europe and don’t wish to fly, getting a rail cross is your finest money-saving journey choice. Your price per journey shall be loads decrease than for those who have been to purchase these tickets individually.

Not certain if the Eurail cross is for you? Here is a whole breakdown of Eurail passes and when they need to be used to save cash.
 

4. Travel by BlaBlaCar

The rise of the sharing financial system has allowed individuals to hitch a experience with locals going their manner, and BlaBlaCar is the reigning king of this service. It’s vastly fashionable and widespread in Europe and I’ve used this service many occasions. It enables you to rideshare with individuals who have additional area of their automotive. You discover a experience, they comply with take you, and off you go. Prices are set by the driving force and are supposed to offset the price of fuel and general put on on the car.

This is the BEST paid method to get round Europe since you get to satisfy an area, have a pleasant dialog, get monetary savings, and get to the place you’re going sooner. It’s obtainable in shut to twenty international locations in Europe.

While BlaBlaCar might not all the time be cheaper than the bus (FlixBus could be tremendous low cost!) it’s often manner sooner and far more attention-grabbing!
 

5. Travel by Rental Car/Campervan

If you’re touring round a single nation or small area of Europe and in search of flexibility, renting a automotive or campervan is perhaps definitely worth the value — particularly for those who can break up the prices with somebody. Car leases could be discovered for as little as 25 EUR per day, although needless to say fuel is dear. For the perfect offers on rental vehicles in Europe, use Discover Cars.

Campervans are notably fashionable in international locations like Iceland, Scotland, and Norway since these locations provide a variety of mountaineering and tenting alternatives. You can discover campervans for as little as 60 EUR a day — tremendous inexpensive when break up with a journey associate and when contemplating that this additionally consists of lodging! Use the app “park4night” to seek out free (and low cost) in a single day parking throughout Europe.
 
Note: Many international locations in Europe require overseas drivers to have an International Driving Permit. You can get one in your house nation earlier than you arrive for round 20 EUR. (It’s primarily only a copy of your license in different languages). Also needless to say renting an computerized vs normal transmission will often price round twice as a lot.
 

6. Travel by Hitchhiking

Hitching is sort of frequent — and loads safer than you suppose. I’ve met tons of vacationers who’ve completed it with out incident. I actually traveled this manner in Bulgaria and Iceland with none issues.

Just needless to say it’s necessary to make use of your head when hitchhiking. Always belief your intuition and use frequent sense. Keep your valuables on you in case you neglect your bag within the automotive and by no means hesitate to textual content a good friend or member of the family with the license plate earlier than you get in. Write your vacation spot on an indication and look presentable. That will enable you discover a experience sooner.

Use the web site Hitchwiki for suggestions to assist guarantee you could have a enjoyable and protected expertise.
 

The BEST and CHEAPEST Way to Travel Europe? Mix and Match Your Transportation

As you’ll be able to see, there are a variety of methods to get round Europe on a finances. But one of the simplest ways is to combine and match your transportation relying on the place you’re going and for a way lengthy. For brief journeys, I like trains and BlaBlaCar. For medium-length journeys (i.e. half a day), I’ll take a bus, BlaBlaBla automotive, or prepare. For lengthy distances, I fly or take a high-speed prepare or an in a single day bus.

Too many vacationers suppose it’s an all-or-nothing factor. Like a method is all the time higher than the opposite. That’s not true. There’s nobody method to journey round Europe. There are a ton — and you must know when to make use of which methodology.

If you could have extra time, take the slower, cheaper routes.

If you could have more cash and a shorter journey, fly and take the prepare.

If you don’t have any choice on the way you journey — and also you simply need the most affordable choice (which is often what I do) — use a web site like Rome2Rio or Omio. All it’s important to do is enter the place you’re going and these websites will combine and match the varied methods to get across the continent for the least sum of money. They will string collectively buses and trains and planes to assemble the quickest journey for the least sum of money.

Remember: nobody methodology works 100% of the time. Mix and match. Do that and also you’ll save tons of money and time!
 

Get Your In-Depth Budget Guide to Europe!

My detailed 200+ web page guidebook is made for finances vacationers such as you! It cuts out the fluff present in different guides and will get straight to the sensible info you must journey whereas in Europe. It has instructed itineraries, budgets, methods to save cash, on and off the crushed path issues to see and do, non-touristy eating places, markets, bars, security suggestions, and rather more! Click right here to be taught extra and get your copy at the moment.