My 85 tips to save money when travelling in Europe ( Updated April 2025 )

Welcome to my ultimate guide to backpacking Europe on a budget. I’ve pulled together my 85 best tips to save money while travelling in Europe. This is a summary of my best posts and tips to date on BudgetTraveller, distilling 16+ years of travelling across Europe into one practical post. There are always cool new tips and budget hacks I’m still discovering, so if I’ve missed anything, I’d love your tips and feedback in the comments below. Right, let’s get into it.

Planning Your Trip to Europe

1. Find the best hostels in Europe on Hostelworld

My first port of call for searching hostels is always Hostelworld. They have the most comprehensive selection across Europe and are my go-to for booking and finding the cheapest beds.

If you are a hostel lover, I also highly recommend picking up my guide to the world’s best luxury hostels: The Grand Hostels, Luxury Hostels of the World. These are what I call premium hostels, a hybrid between a hotel and a hostel. You can book a private room and still enjoy the social magic: common rooms, bars, kitchens, and a packed social calendar. Expect swimming pools, saunas, cinemas, chef-prepared dinners with wine for as little as €10-15, and above all, incredible people. These hostels changed the way I travel. Maybe they will change yours.

2. Use Worldpackers for free accommodation and real connections

If you want to make your Eurotrip genuinely memorable, consider a work-exchange platform like Worldpackers. In exchange for a few hours of help, you save 100% on accommodation and connect with locals and fellow travellers. Beyond hostels, you will find farms, homestays, ecolodges, NGOs, and schools among 4,000+ opportunities. Join via this link and get a US$10 discount on membership.

3. Try Housesitting or Host A Sister for free stays

Housesitting is one of the most underrated ways to travel Europe almost for free. You stay in unique homes around the world in exchange for looking after people’s pets. I recommend Trusted Housesitters.

For free accommodation with a community angle, there is always Couchsurfing, and the excellent Host A Sister, which started as a Facebook group and now helps female travellers get hosted by women around the world.

4. Check my city guides for the best cheap hostels and hotels

I’ve done the research and keep these updated regularly. If you are planning a trip to any of the following cities, do read my guides:

53 free things to do in London

50 free things to do in Paris

20 best things to do in Rome on a budget

23 free and fun things to do in Lisbon on a budget

33 best free things to do in Stockholm

Plus, here are my guide to my favourite budget places to stay in London, Amsterdam, Lisbon,  Copenhagen, Berlin, Edinburgh , Venice , Prague , Oslo and Paris

5. Get off the beaten path

The main cities of Europe are overcrowded and overpriced.

For example, instead of Amsterdam consider Haarlem and staying at the boutique hostel Hello I’m Local , instead of Helsinki take a look at Tampere or head to Finnish Lapland, instead of Berlin consider Leipzig or maybe Dortmund, instead of Paris try Bordeaux, instead of Rome try Bologna, instead of Prague try Brno or Ostrava.

People always complain about how expensive Prague has become, but they tend to book their stay in the touristy Old Town and drink in bars around Charles Bridge or the Old Town square. Get off the beaten path and go local by staying at Czech Inn in Prague’s upbeat Vrsovice neighborhood or the Art Deco-inspired Sir Toby’s (legendary free barbecues in their garden) in the hip industrial district of Holesovice. Head to the working-class district of Žižkov, where you can find a pint of the excellent Pilsner Urquell in old-school pubs like U Sadu, or try a local microbrewery and sip on the Andělská 11°, a full-bodied Czech-style lager, like Andělský Pivovar in Anděl.

Plus, if you book via this link  , using the code BUDGETTRAVELLER in the promo code box , you can get 10% off your stay at any of the Bohemian hostels in Prague that include Czech Inn, Sir Toby’s, Miss Sophie

Checkout my guide on the best things to do in Prague on a budget.

6. Book flights using a VPN

You can save money by playing with the location from which you book your flight. I’ve found discounts booking from a Dutch website or Expedia Australia. The fare difference can be EUR 10-15, which adds up when booking for two.

I recommend Express VPN

Play around with the location ( Express VPN allows you to set your location to 94 different countries )

7. Use Skyscanner or Google Flights for cheap flights

Skyscanner is my go-to app for booking flights. Plug in your dates and it will find the best deals. My favourite feature is searching flights from a city to ‘everywhere’ across a whole month. If you are flexible on dates and destination, you can find genuinely remarkable prices.

Google Flights is also excellent, particularly for tracking prices and setting fare alerts. Use both and compare.

8. Book trains in advance, and seriously consider the night train

Trains booked in advance can be extraordinarily good value in Europe. When I travel from Berlin to Prague, one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world along the Elbe and through Saxon Switzerland, I often book via the Czech Railways website for up to 30% less than the German rail price, with a free seat reservation thrown in.

The big news right now is the European sleeper train revival. New operators like European Sleeper (Brussels to Prague), Nightjet (expanding rapidly across Austria, Germany and Italy), and Trenitalia’s new overnight routes mean you can now travel long distances while you sleep, skip a night’s accommodation costs, and wake up somewhere brilliant. This is budget travel at its best and I cannot recommend it enough.

Checkout my earlier guide on the best value train journeys in Europe

Also, if you are planning a trip to Switzerland to experience some of the most scenic train journeys in the world, checkout my guide on how to enjoy Switzerland on a budget

9. Use low-cost airlines and budget coaches

Thanks to easyJet and Ryanair, flying across Europe is genuinely cheap, especially over longer distances. Book far in advance, travel carry-on only, and avoid the airport fees. This guide is a comprehensive low down of all the low-cost budget airlines in Europe

Coaches are still the absolute cheapest way to travel across Europe. FlixBus in particular has revolutionised long-distance coach travel with comfortable buses and very low fares.

10. How to travel Europe for one month under GBP 182

One of my most read posts: a one-month itinerary for  backpacking Europe on a budget  for under GBP 182 / USD 250 / EUR 220. It covers which cities to visit, what to do, and how to combine bus, train, and budget flights to make it work. Bookmark it before you start planning.

I also recommend you check out Adventurous Kate’s cracking post on how she saved $13,000 in just 7 months.

11. Book tours and activities in advance to skip the queues

In most cities across Europe you will find free walking tours, with Sandeman’s New Europe being the market leader. If you enjoyed it, tip your guide EUR 5 upwards. For specific experiences and skip the line for the Eiffel Tower in Paris or  skip the queues for the London Eye.   GetYourGuide is excellent. A bit of planning goes a long way.

12. Travel off-season

Summer is genuinely the worst time to visit Europe. Prices peak, everything is booked, cities are unbearably crowded, and all the locals are on holiday. Travel in spring or autumn for the best balance of weather and value. In winter, hotel prices can drop by up to 40% and you often get cities almost to yourself. The shoulder season is one of the best-kept secrets in European travel.

Money & Practical Tips When You Arrive

13. Visit the Tourist Information point

When arriving in a new city, always stop by the tourism bureau. Free maps, discount vouchers, free events listings, and local knowledge. It takes five minutes and can save you real money.

14. Look for city passes that bundle transport and museums

If you are planning to pack in several attractions, an all-inclusive city pass almost always saves you money. The Oslo Welcome Card and Berlin Welcome Card are both excellent, including free public transport and discounts across the board. Always do the maths first based on what you actually plan to visit.

15. Get a Wise or Revolut card before you leave

This is probably the single most impactful money tip in this entire guide. Wise and Revolut both offer near-perfect exchange rates with no foreign transaction fees, which means you stop haemorrhaging money every time you tap your card or use an ATM abroad. If you are still paying your home bank’s exchange rate and ATM withdrawal fees on every transaction, you are losing a significant amount of money across a long trip. Set one of these up before you travel. It is free and takes fifteen minutes.

16. Do not buy travel currency at the airport

Airport exchange bureaux offer some of the worst rates you will find anywhere. If you need physical cash, use the Borsen App to compare the best local exchange rates in advance. Better still, use a Wise or Revolut card and withdraw from a local ATM only when needed.

17. Get an eSIM instead of a local SIM card

The era of hunting for a local SIM card in every new country is largely over. Airalo and Holafly both offer affordable eSIMs that work across multiple European countries, which you can buy and activate before you even leave home. UK travellers should note that EU roaming charges no longer apply to British passports post-Brexit, so a European data plan is now essential for most UK visitors. An eSIM is the cleanest solution.

18. Walk, or use local transport over taxis

Walk as much as you can. If you cannot, use public transport over taxis and app-based private hire. Buy 24-hour, 3-day or weekly public transport passes, which almost always work out significantly cheaper than single tickets.

19. Do as the locals do

Join local workers at pubs for happy hour. Check out local sports matches, often free or very cheap. If you see a local fair or festival advertised, go. These things provide a better window into how people actually live their lives than any visitor attraction, and most of them cost nothing.

Where to Sleep in Europe on a Budget

20. Stay at a luxury hostel

The best value sleep in Europe is still a well-chosen hostel. The new generation of design-led hostels, the ones I write about in The Grand Hostels, offer private rooms at a fraction of hotel prices alongside the social energy that makes solo travel so rewarding. These are not the party hostels of the past. Many have excellent restaurants, rooftop bars, co-working spaces and spa facilities.

21. Stay away from the city centre

In almost every major European city, prices drop significantly the moment you move away from the historic centre. One metro stop can save you 30-40% on accommodation. The walking distance or metro ride is almost always worth it.

22. Consider budget hotel chains

If you just want a clean, comfortable, no-frills sleep, budget hotel chains like Ibis or Travelodge are reliable and often excellent value, particularly when booked well in advance. Family rooms at Travelodge cost the same as a double, making them exceptional value for two people.

23. Consider staying at The Social Hub or similar hybrid hotels

There is a growing category of hybrid hotel that sits between a hostel and a boutique hotel. The Social Hub (formerly The Student Hotel) has excellent properties across Europe with stylish rooms, great communal spaces, and prices that undercut most proper hotels. Worth looking at if you want a step up from hostel dorms without paying hotel rates.

24. Try Housesitting

Housesitting remains one of the most underrated budget travel hacks. Stay for free in beautiful homes across Europe in exchange for looking after someone’s pet. Trusted Housesitters is the platform I recommend. You do need to plan ahead, but the savings are extraordinary and the experiences are often genuinely special.

25. Consider slow travel and longer stays

One of the best budget hacks that nobody talks about enough: slow down. Rather than rushing between six cities in two weeks, staying somewhere for three to four weeks dramatically cuts your costs. Weekly apartment rentals are far cheaper per night than nightly rates. You start cooking more, wasting less on impulse tourist meals, and your transport costs collapse. Slow travel is better for your wallet and, I would argue, better for your soul.

26. University rooms in summer

In summer, many universities open their residential halls to travellers at remarkably low prices. discovered University Rooms is the platform to check. In London, for example, I found a single room with breakfast in Bankside House on the Southbank, as central as London gets, for around GBP 45 per person per night in peak season. No frills, but clean and central.

27. Travel with a friend or partner

Solo travel supplements are unfortunately still a reality across European hotels. The cost of a double room is often barely more than a single. If you can travel with someone, do. If you are travelling solo, a well-chosen hostel will almost always give you better value and a much better experience than a cheap solo hotel room.

How to Eat Well on a Budget Across Europe

28. Find the budget eating formula for each country

Every country in Europe has a local eating tradition designed for people who need to eat well without spending much. Learning what it is in each country you visit is the most important cheap eats skill you can develop.

In Spain, it’s the menu del dia, a fixed price lunch of starter, main, dessert and coffee for EUR 10-13.

In Portugal, it’s the prato do dia, same concept, often EUR 7-10.

In Italy, it’s the tavola calda at lunchtime and aperitivo in the evening.

In Venice, it’s cicchetti, bite-sized bar snacks from EUR 1 upwards.

In France, look for the prix fixe lunch menu.

In Germany, Mittagstisch lunch specials.

Always eat the big meal at lunch rather than dinner. The same restaurants often charge significantly more in the evening.

29. Cook in

The best hostels have excellent kitchens. Use them. Buy ingredients at a local market, cook with your fellow travellers, and eat better for a fraction of restaurant prices. This is also one of the best ways to meet people staying at the same hostel.

30. Shop at local markets

Buy groceries at local markets and watch what the locals are buying to find the best deals. Ask the hostel receptionist where they actually shop, not where they send tourists. The difference between a tourist-facing deli and the local supermarket is enormous.

31. Picnic in the park

Europe’s public parks are free, beautiful, and almost always packed with locals. A picnic lunch from a local market, eaten in a park on a sunny afternoon, is often the best meal of the trip.

32. Aperitivo in northern Italy

In cities like Milan, Bologna and Turin, aperitivo hour (roughly 7-9pm) is one of the great budget travel traditions. You pay for a drink, typically EUR 6-8, and get access to a generous food buffet. The general rule is one plate per drink. I always go back for seconds.

33. Cicchetti in Venice

Venice is expensive if you eat at restaurants. It is surprisingly affordable if you do what locals do and eat cicchetti, Venetian-style bar snacks served in traditional bacari bars alongside a small glass of wine (an ombra). Snacks run from EUR 1 to a few euros each. My guide to the best cicchetti bars in Venice has everything you need.

34. Free tapas in Spain

The tradition of free tapas with every drink is dying out in many parts of Spain, but you can still find it if you know where to look. Your best cities are Granada (along c/Elvira), Leon (the Barrio Humedo area) and Salamanca (c/Van Dyck). A small beer here costs EUR 1-2 and comes with food. It is one of Europe’s great budget travel pleasures.

35. Empanadas and bakeries in Spain and Portugal

A panaderia in Spain or padaria in Portugal will almost always have fresh hot pasties (empanadas in Spain, rissois in Portugal) for around EUR 1-2 each, making a very good light lunch for EUR 3 or less.

36. Drink coffee standing at the bar in Italy

If you are only having a quick coffee in Italy, stand at the bar to drink it. Sitting down can triple the price. A perfect espresso standing at the bar in Rome costs around EUR 1. The same espresso at a table on the Piazza Navona will cost you EUR 4-6.

37. Check my cheap eats city guides

Love your cheap eats?

Checkout my Cheap Eats guide to London, Cheap eats guide to Lisbon, Cheap eats guide to Hamburg, 

Cheap eats guide to Bruges, Cheap Eats Guide to Tampere , Cheap eats guide to Bordeaux,

Cheap eats guide to Vienna,

38. Check the Europe Cheap Beer Index

If you make city choices partly based on how cheap the beer is (no judgement, we have all been there), check out my  Europe cheap beer index  for a city-by-city breakdown of what to expect.

39. Refill your water bottle at public fountains in Rome and Venice

Both cities have an extensive network of nasoni drinking fountains with excellent fresh spring water running freely. Carry a reusable bottle and you will never need to buy water.

Transport Across Europe

40. Take regional and local trains in Eastern Europe

In countries like Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, regional and local trains are extraordinarily cheap. A couple of hours on a regional train through the Polish countryside or along the Hungarian Danube can cost just a few euros and offer scenery that no budget airline can match.

If you can plan your Euro trip well in advance, there are some great savings to be made from booking train fares in advance.

Plan your schedules using the German D Bahn website and also check out  the excellent Voyages SNCF.  For example you have can go from Paris to Milan for €29 currently, Frankfurt to Amsterdam or Paris in less than 4 hours from just €39 or from Copenhagen to Hamburg in 4.5 hours starting at only €29. ( An epic 45 minute ferry ride included. Here’s my account of the trip )

Consider making longer connections by overnight train

41. Consider ridesharing on BlaBlaCar

Long-distance ridesharing with BlaBlaCar connects drivers with passengers on specific routes. It has moved slightly upmarket in recent years but still offers good value on many routes, especially those not well served by trains or coaches. Good for flexibility.

42. Travel by bike where possible

Travelling by bike is free, healthy, and one of the most rewarding ways to see Europe. If you are a cycle tourist, Warmshowers is the community to know about, essentially a Couchsurfing for cyclists, matching travellers with local hosts along their route. The hospitality is remarkable.

43. Book group train tickets

If you are travelling in a group, many European rail systems offer group discount tickets that make train travel astonishingly cheap. For example, the Bavaria-Bohemia day ticket costs EUR 45.60 for 2 people or EUR 77.40 for a group of 5 from Munich to Plzen. These tickets are buyable on the day of travel from the ticket machine.

On a non existent budget- How about hitchhiking?

Hitchhiking expert Amy Woodyatt shares some tips on how to hitchhike across the UK and also the do’s and don’t of hitchhiking

Museums, Culture & Entertainment

44. Free museums in the UK

Entry to state-run museums in the UK is free for everyone, of all ages at the moment. They are plans to charge non UK visitors so while they are free, do visit them on your next trip to Britain. The British Museum, National Gallery, Victoria and Albert, Natural History Museum, Tate Modern, these are world-class institutions and they cost nothing to enter.

45. Free museums and discounts across Europe

In Paris, all the main national museums are free on the first Sunday of every month. In Italy, families can take children under 18 for free to state-run museums including the Uffizi. In Berlin, the Hamburger Bahnhof museum of contemporary art is free for the last four hours on Thursdays. Always ask about student, senior and group rates before paying. Some discounts are not prominently advertised.

46. Free museums in Berlin

Berlin has an exceptional number of permanently free museums and memorials including the Deutscher Dom, the Berlin Wall Memorial, the Holocaust Memorial Information Centre, the Allied Museum, Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen, the German-Russian Museum, and several others. Plus rotating free days and hours at institutions like the Deutsche Guggenheim (free every Monday) and the Markisches Museum (free first Wednesday of every month). Checkout this guide to the best free things to do in Berlin.

47. Try a free walking tour

Free walking tours on a tips-only basis are available in almost every major city in Europe. Sandeman’s New Europe is the market leader and covers all the main cities. A 1-2 hour tour is well worth EUR 5-10 as a tip and is a brilliant way to orientate yourself when you first arrive somewhere.

Or checkout my self guided walking tour of Berlin Mitte and my self guided walking tour of Edinburgh

48. Look for free open-air film festivals

In summer, cities across Europe run free open-air film festivals. Amsterdam has Pluk de Nacht. Bologna runs the Sotto le Stelle del Cinema from late June through July in the Piazza Maggiore. Check local listings when you arrive.

49. Go to a free concert

Amsterdam’s Vondelpark runs free concerts from June to August on Thursdays through Sundays. Berlin Philharmonic has free lunchtime chamber concerts. Free music is everywhere in Europe in summer if you look for it.

50. The Edinburgh Free Fringe

The Free Fringe in Edinburgh in August is one of the great events in European travel and remains one of the world’s best-kept secrets. Over 4,000 performances, 365 shows, dozens of four and five-star productions, all completely free. You tip what you can at the end. It runs alongside the main Edinburgh Fringe in August and is, in my opinion, often better.

Best Value Destinations in Europe

51. Visit Portugal

Despite its popularity, Portugal one of the best value destination in Western Europe, full stop. The food is extraordinary and very cheap: grilled limpets in Madeira for €10,  charcoal sardines or fish soup with a glass of vinho verde for €10 total at one of Lisbon’s century-old kiosks. The cities are beautiful, the people are warm, and the pasteis de nata alone are worth the trip.

Do not miss Porto: one of the most underrated cities in Europe, with a stunning location on the Douro, phenomenal architecture, and a food and wine scene in Porto that punches well above its weight.

52. Go to the Czech Republic

Czech Republic remains one of the best value for money destinations in Europe. There’s fairytale castle, lovely locals, the best beer in the world, fantastic wine too plus great culture- Czech Republic has it all.

Checkout my guides to Prague, Brno , České Budějovice, Olomouc  and Cesky Krumlov

53. Consider Sarajevo

Sarajevo is one of the most fascinating and most underrated cities in Europe. There is so much to see, do and eat, with a complex and important history that rewards curious travellers. Stay with a local family through a home-stay for a genuinely immersive experience. Still very affordable.

54. Visit Berlin

Berlin is probably the best value capital city in Western Europe. An extraordinary range of affordable accommodation, an almost unlimited supply of free things to do, from the East Side Gallery to free lunchtime concerts at the Berlin Philharmonic to the Reichstag to simply walking Unter den Linden, and street food that is in a league of its own. The kebabs at Mustafa’s in Kreuzberg remain one of Europe’s great cheap food experiences. Currywurst at Curry 61 with fries: EUR 3.20.

55. Visit Latvia and Riga

Latvia remains one of my favourite budget travel discoveries in Europe. Great concentration of hip bars, genuinely excellent and affordable food, superb value hostels, lively nightlife, and easy access to the Baltic coastline and forests just a short bus ride away. Riga is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities and still feels like a proper secret.

56. Visit Malta and Gozo

Contrary to popular belief, Malta and Gozo are budget-friendly destinations, particularly outside peak summer. One-way Ryanair fares from southern Europe can be very cheap and the island rewards slow exploration. My 21 things to do in Malta & Gozo piece has the full picture.

Planning & Saving Before You Go

57. Travel with carry-on luggage only

Checking a bag on low-cost airlines can cost as much as the flight itself. Pack light, use carry-on only, and you will save money on almost every flight you take. The Ryanair and easyJet carry-on rules differ slightly so check my carry on Ryanair guide before you pack.

59. Book the big attractions in advance

For anything with a genuine queue risk, book online in advance. Skip-the-line tickets for the Colosseum, Uffizi, Sagrada Familia and similar major attractions save you hours and often cost no more than standard entry. Some, like the Vatican Museums, are almost impossible to enjoy without pre-booking.

60. Download the right apps before you leave

The apps worth having before you land: Wise or Revolut (money), GigSky (eSIM), Google Maps with offline areas downloaded, Hostelworld (accommodation), Skyscanner (flights), FlixBus (coaches), Trainline or Omio (trains), and the local public transport app for each city you visit.

61. Learn a few words of the local language

This costs nothing and pays dividends. Even basic pleasantries in the local language open doors, get you treated better in markets and restaurants, and occasionally unlock deals that the tourist trail never sees. The effort is respected everywhere.

62. Check the Tourism Bureau website before you travel

National and city tourism websites often have downloadable discount cards, free museum passes, and seasonal offers that are not widely advertised elsewhere. Five minutes of research before you land can save you real money.

63 Cheapest trip to Europe!

Here is a list of movies that have hugely inspired my travels in Europe-maybe they will inspire you too.

64. Drink at the market, not at the bar

In almost every European city, the central market has a wine bar or a drinks stall attached. A glass of wine at a market in Barcelona, Florence or Lisbon costs a fraction of what a bar on the tourist strip charges and the quality is often better.

65. Sleep at the airport on long layovers

If you have a very early morning flight or a long layover, sleeping at the airport can save you a night’s accommodation. Sleepinginairports.net is the resource to check. Some airports are excellent for this. Some are grim. Research in advance.

Extra Tips and Inspiration

66. Athens on a budget

Savvas and O Thanasis are two of the best gyros and souvlaki joints in Athens, both on Monastiraki Square directly across from the Metro. Around €4 for one of the best fast food experiences in Europe. Checkout my guide to the best cheap eats in Athens

67. The best menu del dia in Madrid

La Sanabresa, just off Plaza Santa Ana, does a no-nonsense EUR 10 menu del dia that is one of the genuinely great budget lunches in Spain. The kind of place you walk past twice before you go in and then go back the next day. Checkout my guide to the best cheap eats in Madrid

68. Free tapas in Granada

All along c/Elvira in Granada you can find traditional bars still serving free tapas with every drink. A cana (small beer) costs EUR 1-2 and comes with food. This is one of Spain’s great remaining free traditions.

69. Cheap island hopping from Athens

Take the Athens metro down to Piraeus and hop on a ferry for a day trip to one of the Saronic Gulf Islands: Hydra, Poros, or Aegina. A beautiful, affordable, and very local alternative to the more expensive Cyclades.

70. 2 days in Paris on EUR 100

Yes, it is possible. My guide to 48 hours in Paris on EUR 100 covers exactly how to do it, including where to eat, what to skip, and where to find the city’s best free experiences.

71. Oystercard for London transport

Always use an Oystercard (or contactless) for London transport. Cash fares on the Tube and buses are significantly more expensive and there is simply no reason to pay them.

72. In Rome, Zurich and Venice: refill your water bottle

All 3 cities have extensive networks of public drinking fountains with fresh spring water. Carry a reusable bottle and you will never need to pay for water.

73. Visit university towns

University towns across Europe, places like Bologna, Salamanca, Coimbra, Leuven, Tartu and Krakow, tend to be significantly cheaper than capital cities, have excellent food and nightlife scenes fuelled by student economies, and are often genuinely more interesting than the main tourist cities.

74. Use Rome and other Italian cities in August

In August, Italians traditionally leave the cities for the coast. This means hotel prices in Rome and other Italian cities drop significantly. The heat is intense but the crowds thin and the deals are real.

75. Free art in Madrid

The Espacio Conde Duque contemporary art museum has three galleries with quality exhibitions and special events, most of them free. One of Madrid’s best-kept secrets.

76. Consider a digital nomad visa for extended stays

If you are working remotely, an increasing number of European countries now offer digital nomad visas for stays of one to twelve months. Portugal, Spain, Greece, Croatia and Estonia all have programmes. A longer stay in one place dramatically reduces your daily costs compared to constant movement.

77. Walk cities by night

Walking a European city at night costs nothing and reveals a completely different version of it. Paris by night on foot along the Seine, Rome’s streets after 11pm when the tourists have gone, Lisbon’s miradouros at dusk. Some of the best experiences in European travel are free.

78. Czech Republic beer trails

The lesser-known Bavaria-Bohemia day ticket covers rail travel from Munich to Plzen, the home of Pilsner beer, €45.60 for two or €77.40 for a group of five. Can be purchased on the day from the ticket machine. One of Europe’s great budget rail deals.

79. Bologna: cinema, food and almost no tourists

Bologna is one of Europe’s most underrated cities and one of the best-value food cities on the continent. Visit from late June to late July for the Sotto le Stelle del Cinema, a free open-air film festival held in the magnificent Piazza Maggiore. Check my 48 Hours in Bologna guide for the full picture.

80. Eat at the bakery in Italy

Italian bakeries prepare fresh, economical food daily and support the local economy. A focaccia slice or a panino from a local forno (bakery) costs a fraction of a sit-down meal and is often better. Seek them out in every Italian city you visit.

81. Use Airbnb Experiences for authentic local activities

Airbnb Experiences can be excellent value for activities that would cost far more through a tour operator, particularly food tours, cooking classes, and craft workshops run by genuine locals. Filter by price and read the reviews carefully.

82. Check Resident Advisor and local listings for free events

Resident Advisor and local city event sites list free and cheap club nights, gallery openings, outdoor concerts, and cultural events across European cities. The best nights in Berlin, Amsterdam and Lisbon are often not the ones that advertise heavily.

83. Travel by bus through the Balkans

The Balkans, including Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania, remain some of Europe’s best value destinations. Local bus networks are cheap, reliable enough, and take you through scenery that most travellers never see. This is frontier budget travel in the best sense.

84. Ask at the hostel

The single best source of current, on-the-ground budget travel intelligence is the staff at a good hostel. They know which restaurants are genuinely local, which bars have the best happy hours, which free events are happening this week, and which tourist traps to avoid. Use them.

85. Write it down and share it

The budget travel community runs on shared knowledge. If you discover a great cheap eat, a brilliant cheap hostel, a free event nobody knows about, or a travel hack that saved you real money, share it. Leave a review, write a blog post, tell the person in the next bunk. This whole guide exists because travellers shared what they knew. Pay it forward.