Looking for tips to spend 10 days in Europe on a budget? Stop searching and keep reading this blog post to discover the ultimate tips to save money on your European vacation!
Who has never dreamt of experiencing a European summer? But as we all know, expenses in Europe can quickly add up, which makes it not accessible to everyone. Don’t worry though… After growing up and traveling around Europe, I became an expert at budgeting when traveling… And today, I am going to share with you all my best tips to spend 10 days in Europe on a budget and still enjoy the beautiful places this continent has to offer.
Ready? Start packing, you’re going to Europe soon!
This post is all about how to spend 10 days in Europe on a budget and stick to it!
CHOOSE YOUR DESTINATION WISELY
When people think about Europe they often think about France, Italy, Norway, Switzerland… The Western and Northern parts of Europe. If you want to spend 10 days in Europe on a budget, you should start considering the Eastern part of the continent. I promise your experience would still be incredible!
And there is why…
Cheaper cost of life
Life in Eastern Europe is significantly cheaper than it is in Northern and Western Europe. Typically, if you are looking into food, a meal in a restaurant in Eastern countries will cost you between 5 and €10 maximum. In Northern and Western countries, for this price, you will only find sandwiches or fast-food meals.
If you are on a really strict budget, groceries will also be significantly cheaper if you head East. That will also be the case for accommodations and life in general. To choose your destination by cost of living, take a look at this 2023 Cost of Living Index by Country.
Hidden gems
The Eastern part of Europe is full of hidden gems! Whether you are into natural places, charming little towns or historical sites, you will find what you are looking for!
Here are some of my favorites: Kotor Bay in Montenegro; Rila National Park in Bulgaria, Trogir in Croatia, Ljubljana and Bled in Slovenia… I promise, these places have nothing to envy of Paris or Milan.
Less touristic
Less touristic means less crowds and, in my opinion, a much more enjoyable experience.
There is nothing I dread more than waiting in line for hours to visit a place, or not being able to walk at my own pace in a busy city. The Eastern part of Europe is much less touristic than the Western part. However, I believe they are becoming more and more popular. So don’t wait too long, and go on your Eastern Europe Trip as soon as you can!
Friendly locals
One thing that surprised me most when I was traveling around Eastern Europe, is how much more friendly locals are in comparison with the Western part. I still haven’t traveled around Northern Europe, so I can’t speak about locals there… But from what I’ve heard, they are lovely too!
TRAVEL DURING SHOULDER SEASONS
If you are used to being a budget traveler, you probably already know that. Traveling during shoulder seasons, and especially in Europe, is the easiest way to save money. As Europe is a very popular destination, prices go up during the busiest season of the year and your wallet will suffer.
When visiting Europe during shoulder seasons, you should still be able to enjoy a nice and warm weather. Which can be much more enjoyable than the heat of European summer, believe me!
One more reason to travel during shoulder seasons that have nothing to do with your budget but still is a great reason… FEWER TOURISTS, SO FEWER CROWDS!
ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD
Accommodation and food are the biggest expenses when you go on a trip, no matter where. And that’s because they are your only real needs. So if you want to spend 10 days in Europe on a budget, they are the main expenses you have to look at.
Luckily for you, there are many ways to reduce them and still have a roof over your head and 3 meals per day.
ACCOMMODATION ON A BUDGET
The best way to reduce the cost of your accommodation is to stay in a Hostel, in a shared room. But you probably already know that. So what are the other ways to reduce the cost of your accommodation?
Well, I have two ways for you to stay somewhere for free! Couchsurfing and House sitting!
The first one is basically staying at someone’s who is on the app, and offer a bedroom, a couch… for free. It is a great way to connect with locals and meet new people. It can be scary to trust a stranger, I understand. But the app thought of everything! Check out the reviews about the hosts before booking your night!
The second one also consists in staying at someone’s house, but the owners won’t be there! People are going away and are looking for someone to look after their house or their pets. That’s where you come in! In exchange for taking care of their propriety or/and animals, you will have a roof over your head for free! Keep in mind that sometimes the owners want someone staying for longer periods of time. But it is still worth checking out if you want to spend 10 days in Europe on a budget!
FOOD
In order to save money on food, there are two things you can do. If your accommodation allows it, cook your own meals! Groceries are often cheaper than going out to eat and if you stick to a basic meal plan, you can eat for less than €5/day in most of the European countries!
However, if you want to go out to eat, because sometimes it’s nice to not cook your food, try to find the places locals go to! Avoid restaurants in touristic places and eat local food. Local food is (almost) always cheaper than exotic food.
To find these hidden restaurants, just ask locals for their favorite address. They will probably be delighted to share it with you!
Volunteering
Have you heard of Workaway or Worldpackers before? If you haven’t, let me quickly explain what this is about!
These two platforms help hosts and travelers, who want to volunteer in a certain place or in a specific area, to connect. The kind of job you can do vary from building houses, working at a hotel reception, teaching English to kids in a small community… There are so many missions in so many parts of the world!
In exchange for a few hours of work a day, your host will provide you a place to stay and food (from 1 to 3 meals per day).
It is also a great way to connect with travelers from all over the world and live a new experience!
MOVING BETWEEN YOUR DESTINATIONS
If you want to travel to Europe, but you are on a budget, here is my advice regarding your itinerary… Don’t move too much!
If you want to visit more than one place, which is totally understandable, try to visit places that are close to each other. Transportation can quickly add up to your budget. And, usually, the longer the journey, the more expensive.
If you still want to go on long journeys, here are two tips for you:
- Travel at night: If your trip is 6 or 8 hours long, travel during the night. This way, you won’t have to pay for accommodation on that specific night. Plus, you won’t lose time during the day traveling to a new place!
- Choose wisely your mean of transportation: Before buying your ticket, compare the different means of transportations. People tend to think that taking the bus will be cheaper than the train. Even though it is mostly true, in Europe sometimes you could be surprised! And if you don’t have anything against flying, sometimes it will be even cheaper than the two previous options.
To make a wise decision, here are the 3 websites I always use: Flixbus, Ouigo, Google Flights.
PRIVILEGE FREE ACTIVITIES
If you want to spend 10 days in Europe on a budget, cut down on paid activities.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t book any guided tour. But there are so many free things to do and see in Europe, that you can still make the most out of your trip without spending money on activities.
Go for a hike in nature, wander around cities and villages, visit a free museum or exposition…
PLAN YOUR BUDGET BEFOREHAND
The very best way to stick to your budget is to plan it beforehand! If you go day by day, chances are that on the few last days of your trip, you will be out of budget. Or worst, you won’t have any money left to buy food or find accommodation.
Before leaving for your trip, book your accommodations, establish a budget for food, a budget for transportation, and one for activities. Then calculate how much per day you can spend and stick to this budget while you are traveling! If you plan everything well, I promise you won’t have to worry about money during your vacation!
Oh! And don’t forget to have a budget for emergencies! You never know what could happen…