Europe: Budget Travel Guide
Europe on a budget is harder than it used to be — but it's still absolutely possible. The key is going east. While Western Europe will punish your wallet in expensive cities like Paris and Amsterdam, Eastern Europe remains a phenomenal value: Prague, Budapest, Krakow, and Belgrade offer world-class culture at a fraction of Western prices. The continent's interconnected rail network means you can move between countries cheaply, and the Schengen zone makes border crossings seamless.
Destinations
Countries in Europe
Data
Country Comparison
| Country | From/day ↑ | Hostel from | Cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | $37 | $21 | 7 |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | $41 | $15 | 2 |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | $52 | $14 | 4 |
| 🌍 Bosnia | $53 | $16 | 2 |
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | $58 | $0 | 2 |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | $65 | $0 | 5 |
| 🇷🇸 Serbia | $66 | $16 | 1 |
| 🇱🇹 Lithuania | $67 | $20 | 1 |
| 🇦🇱 Albania | $67 | $17 | 1 |
| 🇲🇪 Montenegro | $68 | $22 | 1 |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | $68 | $16 | 1 |
| 🇸🇰 Slovakia | $69 | $18 | 1 |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | $72 | $19 | 2 |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | $72 | $15 | 1 |
| 🇱🇻 Latvia | $75 | $21 | 1 |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | $78 | $19 | 4 |
| 🇪🇪 Estonia | $79 | $16 | 1 |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $84 | $25 | 7 |
| 🇸🇮 Slovenia | $89 | $22 | 2 |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $92 | $29 | 8 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $93 | $16 | 4 |
| 🇫🇷 France | $98 | $30 | 4 |
| 🇫🇮 Finland | $100 | $33 | 1 |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | $105 | $28 | 2 |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | $107 | $24 | 1 |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | $108 | $28 | 3 |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $109 | $33 | 2 |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $114 | $32 | 2 |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | $121 | $24 | 1 |
| 🇬🇧 England | $128 | $29 | 1 |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | $132 | $34 | 2 |
| 🇮🇸 Iceland | $133 | $50 | 1 |
| 🏴 Scotland | $184 | $29 | 1 |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | $193 | $56 | 2 |
Itineraries
Classic Routes
Western Europe Grand Tour
France → Netherlands → Germany → Austria → Italy
Paris → Amsterdam → Berlin → Vienna → Rome. Iconic but pricey. Hostels fill fast in summer.
Eastern Europe Budget Loop
Czech Republic → Poland → Hungary → Croatia
Prague → Krakow → Budapest → Split. Best value circuit in Europe.
Iberian Adventure
Spain → Portugal
Madrid → Lisbon → Porto → Barcelona. Excellent food and nightlife. Budget-friendly compared to Northern Europe.
Italy backpackr Route (10 Days)
Rome → Florence → Venice
Europe backpackr Route (21 Days)
London → Paris → Amsterdam → Berlin → Prague → Vienna
Entry
Visa Snapshot
90 days in any 180-day period. Counted across all Schengen countries.
No time limit. Right to live and work.
UK left Schengen. Separate entry. Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) launching 2025.
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