How Much Does it Cost to go to Europe?
Whether you’re seeking budget-friendly hostels or premium hotels, Europe is great for travellers of all budgets. The key to a successful trip lies in understanding that costs vary significantly based on your choices in accommodation, dining, transportation, and the specific regions you explore.
A two-week timeframe works well for those new to European travel, providing enough time to experience local culture without constantly rushing between locations. Rather than attempting to visit numerous countries, concentrating your itinerary on two or three destinations allows for a more relaxed pace and deeper engagement with each place. Your total expenses will reflect decisions about travel style, where you stay, and which countries make your final list.
Airfare Expenses
Setting aside approximately $750 for your transatlantic ticket provides a reasonable baseline for planning purposes. Your actual costs will depend on your departure point and the European city you choose as your arrival point.
Certain destinations consistently offer more competitive pricing. Amsterdam and Dublin often offer lower fares than major hubs such as London or Paris. Maintaining flexibility in your travel arrangements creates numerous opportunities to reduce costs.
Cost-saving approaches worth considering:
- Purchase multi-city tickets that allow you to arrive in one location and depart from another
- Utilize budget carriers such as Ryanair, easyJet, or Wizz Air for intra-European travel
- Explore airlines offering complimentary stopovers, like Swiss in Zurich or Turkish in Istanbul
Several factors influence ticket pricing:
- Seasonal demand patterns
- Your city of departure
- Your chosen destination
- Current airline promotions
Advance planning combined with date flexibility typically yields better pricing options. Monitor sales and be prepared to purchase when attractive rates appear. However, avoid excessive time spent hunting for minimal savings. Dedicating ten hours to research for a $100 reduction isn’t practical when you could save that amount more efficiently elsewhere in your budget.
Accommodations
The cost of your European trip will vary greatly depending on your style and where you visit. I recommend budgeting $200 a night for your hotel, which works out to $2,800 for 14 nights. However, if you’re a budget traveller, you should be able to find cheaper accommodations.
Budget-Friendly Hostels
Hostels remain the most cost-effective option for travellers on a budget. Nightly rates generally range from $25 to $45, though some premium hostels charge higher rates.
Newer hostels often offer amenities that rival those of traditional European hotels and private rentals. Many now offer private rooms in addition to standard dormitory options.
Consider these well-regarded hostels:
- YHA Central in London
- Ashfield Hostel in Dublin
- The Flying Pig Uptown in Amsterdam
- Goodmorning Hostel in Lisbon
Moderate Hotels
Moderate hotels in Europe deliver comfortable stays without high costs. While $200 per night may seem high, hotel rates have risen considerably in recent years.
Rates differ substantially between countries and cities. Research your specific destinations to understand local pricing patterns.
Try these mid-range options:
- Alhambra Hotel in London
- Stauntons on the Green in Dublin
- Hotel Nicolaas Witsen in Amsterdam
- Hotel Excelsior in Lisbon
Premium Properties
Premium hotels in Europe offer exceptional experiences with top-tier service and amenities. Plan to add $200 to $300 per night to your budget for these upscale stays.
Your overall trip expenses will rise considerably. However, the elevated service and facilities can justify the investment.
Indulge in these luxury properties:
- The Langham in London
- Clontarf Castle in Dublin
- Amsterdam Marriott Hotel
- Iberostar Lisboa in Lisbon
Private Rentals
Private rental properties work well for families or groups travelling together. Apartments in desirable areas typically range from $250 to $300 nightly.
These rentals may exceed hotel costs but offer additional space and homelike features. You’ll gain access to kitchens, separate living areas, and, in many cases, multiple bedrooms.
Key considerations for all accommodation types:
- Book early to secure favourable rates
- Flexibility with travel dates can reduce costs
- Properties outside city centres typically charge less
- Compare amenities to ensure value for money
Your accommodation selection significantly affects your travel budget. Europe offers a wide range of options across all price points, from basic hostels to elegant hotels and spacious private rentals. Match your choice to your specific needs, group size, and spending limits.
Getting Around
Public transit systems in major European cities offer reliable and budget-friendly options for travellers. You can expect to pay €2 to €3 for individual bus or metro tickets, while full-day passes typically range from €7 to €10. Taxis start at €3 to €5 plus €1 to €2 per kilometre, making them a more expensive choice.
Rail travel remains one of the most practical ways to move between cities across the continent. You should book your tickets early to lock in lower prices and ensure seat availability. Train travel within Europe typically costs €50 to €100 for journeys between major destinations, though prices vary by distance and service type.
Airport transfers require planning ahead. Budget €20 to €30 for public transit options or €40 to €60 for taxi services in each direction. A Eurail pass might suit your needs if you plan multiple train journeys. Vehicle rentals seem convenient, but you need to factor in parking fees and congestion in city centres before committing to this option.
Popular Sights and Activities
Europe presents an impressive array of attractions that cater to diverse interests and budgets. Iconic landmarks draw millions of visitors each year, offering glimpses into the continent’s rich cultural heritage.
The continent’s most recognizable monuments often come with admission fees. Paris’s Eiffel Tower charges between €20 and €50 based on which level you choose to visit. Rome’s Colosseum requires €16 for adult entry, allowing you to walk through one of history’s most remarkable structures.
Museum passes provide excellent value for culture enthusiasts:
- Paris Museum Pass covers 60+ venues for €78 (6 days)
- Berlin Welcome Card includes transport and attraction discounts for €46 (72 hours)
Numerous attractions in European cities are free for visitors. London’s British Museum showcases historical treasures without charging admission. Barcelona’s Park Güell features Gaudí’s distinctive architectural style, though certain sections require paid entry.
Free walking tours operate in most major cities on a tip-based model. These guided experiences reveal local history and lesser-known spots that guidebooks might overlook.
Urban parks offer peaceful retreats without impacting your budget. Hyde Park in London and Amsterdam’s Vondelpark provide green spaces ideal for relaxation or outdoor meals. Nature lovers can explore these areas freely while experiencing local life.
Smart strategies for attraction planning:
- Research free admission days at major museums
- Book tickets through advance platforms for discounts and queue-skipping
- Check services like Klook for pre-purchase options
- Plan countryside day trips to experience regional landscapes
Several renowned museums waive entrance fees during specific times. The Louvre is free for visitors on the first Saturday evening of each month, from 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
Purchasing tickets in advance typically offers two benefits: lower prices and expedited entry. This advance planning proves particularly valuable during peak tourist seasons when queues stretch considerably.
Food and Drink
Planning your daily food expenses in Europe requires setting aside approximately $55 USD per day. A typical breakdown includes $7 for breakfast, $18 for lunch, and $30 for dinner.
Reducing costs becomes easier when you alternate between restaurant dining and buying groceries or street food. Supermarket chains such as Carrefour, Lidl, and Tesco offer affordable options ideal for breakfast supplies or assembling picnic meals.
Sampling regional specialties adds flavour to your travels without excessive spending. Croissants in France typically cost $2, while Italian gelato ranges from $3 to $5. German currywurst averages $5 per serving, and Greek souvlaki costs around $8.
Local markets and street food stalls offer authentic cuisine at reasonable rates. These venues often provide better value than tourist-focused restaurants whilst delivering genuine regional flavours.
Budget-saving strategies include:
- Shopping at local grocery stores for breakfast and snacks
- Eating your main meal at lunch when prices are lower
- Choosing street food vendors for quick, affordable options
- Reserving restaurant visits for special occasions
Balancing economical choices with occasional splurges allows you to experience Europe’s culinary scene whilst maintaining financial control throughout your trip.
Shopping and Souvenirs
Setting aside money for purchases during your European journey is essential. A reasonable budget for mementos and gifts is around $200 CAD.
Your destination influences what you might buy. Italian cities are known for leather goods, while French markets offer distinctive items. Research what your chosen location is famous for and plan accordingly.
Mementos range from small trinkets to handcrafted items. Local artisan products make meaningful keepsakes that remind you of your travels. What seems unusual at the time of purchase often becomes a valued memory later.
This budget serves a dual purpose beyond shopping. It provides flexibility for unplanned activities or additional attractions you discover while exploring. Having extra funds available lets you take advantage of opportunities without financial worry.
Consider who you want to bring gifts to before departing. Making a list helps prevent overspending and ensures you don’t forget anyone important.
Final Thoughts
A two-week European journey requires careful financial planning, and you can expect to spend around $5,000. Your actual costs will fluctuate based on where you travel and how you choose to spend.
Budget-conscious travellers can explore Europe for approximately $2,500, while those seeking premium experiences might invest $8,000 or more for two people. The key lies in understanding what matters most to you.
Consider these factors when finalizing your budget:
- Destination choices significantly impact costs
- Eastern European countries offer better value than Western nations
- Your accommodation preferences affect daily spending
- Dining habits and activity selections shape overall expenses
Countries like Croatia and Malta provide excellent experiences without the hefty price tags of Paris or London. Your willingness to adapt and research alternatives will determine how far your money stretches.
Smart planning doesn’t mean sacrificing quality. It means making informed decisions about where to splurge and where to save. With proper preparation, you’ll create memorable experiences while staying within your financial comfort zone.
For more European inspiration, check out my guides to Scotland, Italy, Croatia, Austria, Malta, Greece, and Amsterdam on a budget.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Europe on a budget?
Yes, you can explore Europe without breaking the bank. The key is careful planning and choosing your destinations wisely. Eastern European countries like Romania, Poland, and Croatia tend to be more affordable than Western European hotspots. Even in pricier cities, you can find ways to save. Try staying in hostels, using public transport, and eating at local markets. With smart choices, you’ll stretch your dollars further and see more of Europe.
Can You Backpack Safely Across Europe?
Backpacking through Europe is generally secure for travellers. European cities such as Munich, Berlin, and Zagreb welcome backpackers and maintain good safety standards. You should exercise standard precautions wherever you travel.
Avoid leaving belongings unattended and avoid questionable areas after dark. Trust your judgment in unfamiliar situations. Group tours provide additional security if you feel concerned about travelling alone, though they typically cost more than independent travel.
Are European rail passes worth the Investment?
Rail pass value varies based on your specific itinerary and travel pace. These passes offer flexibility and convenience but come with substantial upfront costs. You’ll likely benefit from a rail pass if you plan to visit multiple countries quickly.
Purchasing individual tickets or opting for bus transportation may be more economical for slower-paced journeys or trips with fewer destinations. Compare costs for your planned route before committing to a rail pass. Several European countries maintain excellent bus networks that cost less than rail travel.
What are some top places to visit in Europe?
Europe offers a wealth of diverse destinations to suit every interest. History buffs might love exploring the ancient ruins of Rome or Athens. Art lovers could spend days in Paris’s world-class museums. For stunning natural beauty, consider the fjords of Norway or the beaches of Croatia. Cities like Prague and Budapest offer a mix of history, culture, and nightlife. Don’t miss iconic landmarks, but also leave room in your itinerary for lesser-known gems.
Here’s a quick list of popular attractions:
- Eiffel Tower, Paris
- Colosseum, Rome
- Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
- Acropolis, Athens
- Northern Lights, Iceland
What Season Offers Optimal European Travel?
The best time to visit Europe is typically spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October). These shoulder seasons provide comfortable temperatures and reduced tourist crowds. Accommodation and flight costs often decrease compared to peak summer periods.
Winter brings charm through Christmas markets and skiing opportunities, though many regions experience cold conditions. Summer offers longer daylight and festivals but entails higher costs and crowded attractions.
How long can you stay in Europe?
Your permitted stay depends on your citizenship and the countries you are visiting. Canadian and American visitors may remain in Schengen Zone countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa. The Schengen Zone encompasses most Western European nations, including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
This 90-day limit applies cumulatively across all Schengen territories, not individually per country. Extended stays require visa applications or time spent in non-Schengen countries such as the United Kingdom or Ireland.
Great post. Our vacation plans for this year is to go to Denmark and Sweden. I heard that Scandinavia is really expensive. I found airline tickets for $1,600 for 2 people. Still looking for accommodations at Airbnb. My plan is not to go over our budget of $5k for our 11 day trip.
Hey Virna,
I’ve actually heard Scandinavia is expensive so let me know what the real costs are after. The good thing is, flights to Scandinavia have never been cheaper. You can get cheap flights if you fly via Iceland and I’ve also seen cheap airfare on Noreweigian.
Hi Barry! I’m planning an all girls trip (around 6 girls) to Europe from Pakistan. Which countries/cities would you recommend? Also we all have a budget of $2500 per person. Do you think it would cost less on accommodation as the cost would split? And would love if you can give some tips?
Hey Maham,
So I recommend talking to your girlfriends and asking what cities/countries they’re most interested in first. From there, you can try to figure out logistics. Your flights will be the biggest expenses. If you fly into one city and out of another, you won’t need to backtrack. E.g. fly into Paris and out of London.
As for accommodations, since there are 6 of you, you could look for a hostel that has rooms for 6 – 8 with a private room. If you buy out every bed in the room, you’ll have the entire place to yourself. That will likely be cheaper than getting 2-3 hotel rooms each night. You could also look for an Airbnb that accommodates 6, but that might be tough.
$2,500 a person is doable (depending on the destinations) and how long you go for, but I always recommend budgeting extra. This sounds like a really fun trip for you and your friends, the last thing you want is to be watching your budget the entire time you’re there.
Hi I’m from south Africa and I’m looking to travel to barcelona for 2 weeks.
I’m a student so I’m looking for as cheap as possible but I dont want to miss out on anything.
I have a friend living in barcelona so accommodation is already paid for which is a big expense luckily.
We are looking to travel to Greece and Amsterdam during this time.
Was wondering if I take 2000 euros if that would be enough for the two weeks.
Kind regards Jonathan
Jonathan,
Hi Jonathan, if you’re staying at hostels or inexpensive accommodations when you’re in Greece and Amsterdam, that should be enough. I’m assuming your flight isn’t part of that 2000 Euro budget.
Nice post but the airfare costs seem to have gone up from your estimates.
Lowest price to Germany from Toronto was $1000 and that was a deal where you are estimating $850 CDN. Plus $200 travel insurance.
Hey Heather,
Yes flight prices have gone up this summer. I expect them to drop during the fall, but I haven’t researched it thoroughly yet.
Thanks, Barry! You always have the best budget/travel advice 🙂
[…] is one of few places that actually has a decent choice of accommodations that won’t burst your travel budget. Hostels are always a favourite among solo travellers, and there are plenty to be found around the […]
I know this is a little old of a thread. I was able to backpack europe with a friend, and only staying in Airbnb. 980$ is what was spent on lodging. We were gone for 4 weeks. The total trip was $5,000 which included souvenirs, trains, rental cars, ferries to the Greek Islands and 4 flights. Two were one way tickets from JFK to Paris, then London to JFK. One of the flights was also $400 from Croatia to Greece. Some of the trains and ferries were accidentally booked first class (which after doing so, I recommend).
Hey Julie,
Thanks for sharing. Europe can definitely be cheaper if you want it to be. My prices were rough estimates with hotels in mind instead of Airbnb. I love how travellers can see Europe on any budget and as you mentioned, they may still get the luxury experience unintentionally.
Thanks for putting this site togehter. Im planning for a trip to Budapest and Athens, 1 week each, the first 2 weeks of October. Is it still tourist season at this time? Some say prices only drop mid way or end of October. Can you confirm or deny this?
JC,
October tends to be slower for Budapest, but depending on where you go in Greece, parts may still be busy since it’s now cruising season in Europe
Thanks for the rapid response, I’m planning on Athens since I’m greatly interested in the historic sites. Not going to any islands like Crete, Rhodes etc. Also out of interest a question if you don’t mind: do you think the recent economy stabilisation (although it probably won’t last long) will change the price of visiting Greece?
Hi J.C,
Generally speaking, October is the lower season, but since Athens is so popular, it’s not like you’ll see NO tourists, it’ll still be busy. As for their economic situation, I don’t there will be much change as their economy has been tanking for years without prices at hotels or restaurants falling.
I am planning a Euro trip from Canada. I am intending to visit Croatia, Amsterdam and France if possible London. My budget for me and my wife is 7000 USD.
Any advise is much appreciated. Such as where to start and end must visit places and best time to go.
Hi Muhib,
With that budget, you should have no problems seeing those countries. London, Amsterdam, and Paris are quick train rides away from each other. Although Amsterdam and London can be a bit pricier, during the fall, you shouldn’t have many issues finding a reasonably priced hotel. Paris can be inexpensive if you choose a hotel outside of the main areas, just find a place near the metro.
Adding Croatia gets a bit tricky since it’s not really close to the other countries. THat being said, you can find discount air carriers from London, Amsterdam, or Paris to get there. Most people who visit Croatia see more than just one city which is why you need to decide how much of the country you want to see when planning your trip.
Hello! I’m planning out a ways (gives me something to look forward to) for Europe in spring, 2021. We’ll start at a friend’s relative’s in the Black Forest, then on to Paris by train, then Italy by train. Goals are Rome, Florence and Venice. I’m very excited, as I’ve never been to Europe. With staying free the first few nights in Germany, and then four of us sharing AirBnbs, I’m thinking (depending on airfair) that we might be able to do this for around $2,500 each. That’s the goal. I love the idea of looking for special food everywhere we go. In Puerto Rico, we ate the fried plantains, and I enjoyed those. Not sure what tapas is, but hope you get to go back and eat it!
Anne,
That sounds like a reasonable budget since you have some of your accommodations covered. As for tapas, it’s basically small plates meant for sharing. I actually went back to Barcelona earlier this year and splurged on tapas this time around. It was worth it!
Good for you. Thanks for the tips.
Anne
Hi there, I’ll be visiting Europe for 9 days in Feb-Mar flying directly from Newark to Rome, from there to Paris and end the trip in Madrid. On airfare I spent USD 500, in lodging thru AirBnb and hotels a total of 225. I was wondering how much money should I expect to spend on attractions and food?
Note: the amount mention above is per person and we are going to be 6 people in total.
Note 2: thank you for reminding me to have a category of random expenses!
Hi Hector,
How much you spend on food is really up to you. Generally speaking in Rome you can get takeaway pizza, sandwiches, or pasta for 5 – 7 Euros per person. Sit down places will probably cost you 10 – 15 Euros per person. I rented an apartment when I was in Rome last and saved a bunch by stocking up on water, drinks, and alcohol from the grocery store. That being said, food in Rome is EXCELLENT so you could easily end up spending more if you want to try more things. I ate gelato twice a day because it was so good there. I wasn’t even hungry, I just wanted it! I STRONGLY advise checking yelp or tripadvisor before dining at any restaurant as the quality can vary quite a bit. Be sure to ask your host for recommendations.
The costs in Paris will likely be similar to Rome, probably a little cheaper (wine is cheaper than water). I haven’t been to Madrid so I can’t comment there, but I would suggest splurging on tapas one day.
Random expenses ALWAYS come up which is why I always budget a little more.
Planning a 10-11 day vacation for family of three( two adults one 7year old) in July 2019 to London, Amsterdam and Paris planning for a 7000 budget. Does this seem reasonable? Round trip from lax to Heathrow are about 2400 planning on doing Airbnb and we are not shoppers. Most likely spend on food, drinks and attractions. First time big vacation so exited!!!!!! Any feedback would be appreciated
Hi Liz,
That sounds more than reasonable assuming you’re not staying at hotels that cost you $1,000 per night =D. In Paris, it’s easy to find cheaper accommodations. London hotels can be pricey, but there area areas that are more reasonable. Amsterdam tends to be expensive in general unless you stay in Amsterdam SOuth and the take the train into the main areas. That being said, with your budget, you can likely find hotels in good locations.
We are going to Budapest, Kiev, Chisinau, and a couple stops in western Europe (Paris and somewhere else) in June, 2019, for about 23 days. International tickets aside, and with free lodging in Kiev, do you think $50 per person per day is reasonable? Two adults and one 17 ye old are our ages. We are not backpacking and we feel too old to sleep on someone’s couch for three weeks. Thanks for your input.
Emilie,
Does that $50 a day include accommodations? If not, that’s probably way low for an estimate. Food alone will cost you $50 if not more per day. You also need to factor in local transportation, attractions, and any souvenirs you may buy.
Hi!
Thank you for this article. I am planning an European vacation for next year during the summer, Our trip can be any time between the months of July and August, there will be three of us, myself and my two daughters, 18 and 12. My budget is about 20,000 USD, I´m going to try to make it as long as I can stretch it, maybe 3 weeks, could it be stretched to 4?. I am not sure where exactly to go, I am thinking England, Paris, Italy for now, but that might change depending on where we can fly in and out of the cheapest. I guess my questions are, given that summer is the most expensive time to travel, which cities would you recommend traveling into and out of? I´m in the east coast. Also, I have read about hostels and I’m aprehensive about using them with my daughters, what is your take on them? Another concern of mine is traveling with my daughters, with me being a woman, are there any cities I should stay clear off because of crime? Any help, guidance is greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Hi! Im playing on going on a 16 day eastern european trip to several countries with a budget of around $2500-2700. I plan to save a lot by going to grocery stores and using airbnb. However, I will be going in the wintertime when the world junior ice hockey championship is so the tickets of a couple games might cost $50-100. Is this a reasonable budget for 1 person?
Hey Evan,
It can be done, but your flights and accommodations will eat up a lot of your costs. It also depends on how many countries you plan on going to. If you’re going to do Airbnb, try renting a private room as opposed to a private apartment since they’re cheaper.
Is it reasonable to expect to find a ticket to Greece or Italy for the $650 estimated price if we book now for July? I haven’t flown much so not sure, but looking at prices from US on Google seem to be more in the $1000-1500 range. Do I just not no where to go for a reasonable deal on a ticket? Any help is appreciated.
Marty,
July is the summer so prices tend to be higher. For whatever reason, it’s usually a bit more expensive to fly into Greece as opposed to other destinations within Europe. It might be cheaper to fly into a major hub such as London or Amsterdam and then catching a discount carrier from there.
Thank you for this article. I am planning an European vacation for next year during the summer, Our trip can be any time between the months of July and August, there will be three of us, myself and my two daughters, 18 and 12. My budget is about 20,000 USD, I´m going to try to make it as long as I can stretch it, maybe 3 weeks, could it be stretched to 4?. I am not sure where exactly to go, I am thinking England, Paris, Italy for now, but that might change depending on where we can fly in and out of the cheapest. I guess my questions are, given that summer is the most expensive time to travel, which cities would you recommend traveling into and out of? I´m in the east coast. Also, I have read about hostels and I’m aprehensive about using them with my daughters, what is your take on them? Another concern of mine is traveling with my daughters, with me being a woman, are there any cities I should stay clear off because of crime? Any help, guidance is greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Note, sorry, I just realized I commented on the wrong place before. I apologize.
Hi Denice,
That budget is pretty healthy so I think you’ll do alright. Here are some things to consider. Have you talked to your daughters about where they want to go? It may be worth letting each daughter choose one destination or country ad then you pick one. That will give you three spots to build your itinerary around. I do believe you could stretch our your itinerary to 4 weeks as long as you don’t go all out on everything. That being said, even at $250 USD per night for hotels, you’d only spend $7,000 for 28 nights.
Figure out your destinations first and then you can work out flights. Getting to Europe will be more expensive in the summer, but getting around once you’re there is realtively inexpensive due to discount carriers.
Hostels can be okay to save money, but again, your budget is quote high so you’d be better off getting a hotel. ALternatively, Airbnb can be a great option for 3 people. That being said, some hostels have private rooms that sleep 4 and have their own bathroom so they might be worth considering. I just think it would be better to use Airbnb.
As for crime. I don’t think it’s fair to say one city is more dangerous than the other. You should obviously do some research about local scams and find out if certain areas are less safe than others, but use common sense when you travel e.g. don’t show off valuables, don’t walk down dark streets alone.
Hi Barry,
Thank you for your quick response! I will definitely ask my daughters to pick a city/country they want to visit, and then go from there. I´ll also be reading more of your posts to help me along, and will be asking you questions as well,
Hi, I am trying to plan a 15 day trip (not counting 3 days for travel to and from the United States). We want to spend 3 days in Amsterdam, take a night sleeper train to Munich on night 3. Spend maybe a half day exploring Munich before heading to Italy for 5-6 days. From Italy we want to travel to France for 2 days. From France we will travel to Spain for the last few days and fly home from there. Its myself, my husband and our teenage children. I will probably only have between $10,000-$11,000 for our trip, our flights would not be coming out of that. Normally when we travel, we do bananas and oranges for breakfast to save money but we’ve only traveled in the US so I’m not sure how that would work. Is a trip like this doable on that budget?
Natalee,
It’s probably doable on that budget, but I think you’re packing in too much. You have 15 days and you want to go to the following:
Amsterdam
Munich
Italy (where I assume you’ll go to more than one place)
France
Spain
You’ll essentially be on the road every 3 days which is crazy busy. Based on your itinerary, Munich seems like the easiest destination to drop. I’d also even consider dropping Spain so you can spend more time in Italy and France.
There are plenty of grocery stores in Europe so you can eat for cheap for breakfast if you like.
Hi Berry, thank you for your reply. Originally my plan was Amsterdam, Italy and Spain but the sleeper train from Amsterdam to Germany makes since so we can sleep while traveling so we aren’t really losing time there and my husband wants to see France over Spain and its closer to Italy so I guess Spain is out. Yes in Italy we want to do Venice and Rome.
ALthough you would save on accommodations and technically travel, you’re still adding another destination. Right now you’re looking at:
Amsterdam
Munich
Rome
Venice
France
This is all in two weeks. Are you going to skip Florence? How much of France are you planning on doing?
Hello Barry!
My husband and I are planning a trip to Europe this summer around July for two weeks. We’re budgeting about $4000 (or a bit over depending) each person and want to visit at least 4 cities while we are there. Our top picks are London, Amsterdam, Paris, and somewhere in Italy! Is it doable with our budget? And will we have enough time in each city? We’re flying out from LA and wondering where we should start first. I think a lot of people fly out to UK and start there. Would that be the best course? And flights look most expensive in July and August. Will we be able to plan something in June or is that too soon?? (It’s almost April already) sorry I just bombarded you with so many questions.
Any help is appreciated!! We’re super excited and want to make sure we get the best scenario for our trip!
Hi Barry,
I second this question from Gloria please!
We have 14-15 days and right now thinking spain, italy, france. Leaning towards warmer time of year where we can maybe go to a couple beaches. However we are open to weather in 60s or above. How soon in advance should we be booking this trip?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Yikes, I don’t know how I missed Gloria’s question last year.
With 14-15 days, I personally would stick to three locations at max with maybe a few day trips on the site. You could easily spend 14-15 days in each of the three countries you’ve listed. I personally recommend going with what your top priorities are. If you want beaches, Spain and France are probably your best bets. Maybe start in PAris, head to southern France and then make your way to Barcelona where you can fly home? I would save Italy for another trip where you do that country on its own.
Hello! My boyfriend and I are leaving May 9th and returning on June 5th (27 days). We are going to London (staying with family), Brussels, Bruges, Munich, Vienna, Salzburg, Interlaken, Milan, Barcelona & Madrid. We booked all of our hostels & aribnbs, bought the eurail pass and paid for our flights. How much should we bring with us for food, attractions, etc for those 27 days?
Audrey,
It really depends on how many attractions you want to see and if you’re foodies or not. Many attractions (especially in London are free), but you could also spend 10 – 20 Euros per museum which adds up quickly. Be sure to do your research to see what’s free and pick one attraction in each city that you’re willing to pay for. Food can be cheap if you visit the grocery store your entire trip and make sandwiches, but that gets boring fast. Between the two of you, you could spend $20 – $100 a day depending on what you like to eat. That being said, many hostels offer free or cheap breakfast so you won’t need to buy every meal.
I think we planned on doing a grocery store breakfast, street food for lunch, and a sit-down/casual meal for dinner. Naturally, we are trying to stick to free attractions. We both enjoy doing things on our own but definitely will at some point pay to get in.
I think we were each planning to bring $3,000 for 27 days ($6,000 total). This would be for food, miscellaneous transportation & attractions. Do you think this is enough? We don’t plan on living lavishly but also not living like “bums” 🙂
I truly appreciate your reply. I have been reading your articles and you are fantastic. Thank you for your advice!
Hey Audrey,
I think that’s a great budget and you’re being smart about your meals. One piece of advice, don’t save just for the sake of saving while there. Enjoy this month with your boyfriend. I personally would rather save money at home where I skip coffee/snack breaks and pack more lunches. You should be able to enjoy as much gelato as you want in Italy guilt free.
Don’t forget to factor in spending on things such as local transportation and souvenirs. You won’t spend a ton on that stuff, but it’s something many people forget to account for.
Hi, i’m planing to travel to Europe next year around Easter time with my teenage son for 2 weeks, our plans are to visit Barcelona, Madrid (soccer game) Paris and Italy, i estimated $6000 for our budget , planning on using Airbnb and trains and lot of walk , which it could be the more economic order to visit those countries?
Hi Alexandra,
Booking an award flight for 4 persons is challenging.
Hawaii being a popular vacation destination, finding award seats can be difficult. I would suggest to set up price alerts for Hawaii flights as this is a very competitive route. It’s often a better value to pay for the flight than using miles.
As for Asia, the biggest challenge is to find the transpacific flights. But if you book well in advance and are flexible on your dates you can find 4 award seats in business class on Air Canada to several destinations in Asia. You can also often find availability on Air China if you don’t mind a layover in China. United could also be a solution for some routes via one of their major hubs like Chicago, Houston, Washington or San Francisco. Finally, you can be lucky and find flights on EVA directly to Taiwan as they fly to Toronto, Vancouver and several US cities.
Once in Asia, you will have more options since there are more Star Alliance airlines to choose from including Asiana, Singapore Airlines, Air Nippon and Thai Airways. Finding availability is also easier since there are more flights and some airlines like Singapore Airline releases more business class award seats for short hauls than they release for long international flights.
Note that since Aeroplan search engine has limited capacity for long and complicated itineraries, you will have to search for each leg one by one as one-ways to see if there is availability.
In conclusion, it is possible to make such a trip for 4 people in business class, but it will require a fair amount of preparation and luck!
Alexandra,
It depends on where you’re flying from and what direct routes you have available. Paris, Rome, and Barcelona are all major hubs so it might not be that difficult to figure out a route. You also need to factor in if there’s a certain date you need to be in Madrid for the soccer game.
Hi there! I came across this post while trying to research info about traveling to Europe. My 2 friends and I are trying to plan a trip to France, UK, and possibly Austria within 8-10 days in mid-December. We’re trying to figure out about how much the trip might cost for each of us if we are able to stay with people we know at these destinations. We threw around the number $2000-2500 USD, but I was wondering if you even thought this would be possible (esp so close to the holidays)? We are planning on taking in the sites as much as we can, and want to experience the culture of each of these places, yet we want to do it on a tight budget! Would love to know your thoughts and any advice you might have.
Annie,
It’s possible, but your flight alone would eat up a fair amount of your budget. You also need to factor in the train and flights when you’re in Europe. Food can be cheap, but it can add up unless you’re just eating fast food or getting groceries. Many attractions are free, but there will be ones you want to pay for.
I think it would be tight, not impossible, but I’d personally budget a little more.
Thank you for a quick response! We’ll see what we can do – hopefully the trip will all work out!
My husband and I are planning a trip to Europe this summer around July for two weeks. We’re budgeting about $4000 (or a bit over depending) each person and want to visit at least 4 cities while we are there. Our top picks are London, Amsterdam, Paris, and somewhere in Italy! Is it doable with our budget? And will we have enough time in each city? We’re flying out from LA and wondering where we should start first. I think a lot of people fly out to UK and start there. Would that be the best course? And flights look most expensive in July and August. Will we be able to plan something in June or is that too soon?? (It’s almost April already) sorry I just bombarded you with so many questions.
Any help is appreciated!! We’re super excited and want to make sure we get the best scenario for our trip!
Hi Jae,
I think it’s doable but just note that you’re choosing 4 expensive destinations. In Paris and Italy, you can likely find reasonable accommodations but London and Amsterdam are a bit on the more expensive side.
For two weeks, I think 4 cities is the maximum you can do. If you need to drop one, drop Italy as that country deserves a trip on its own. London, Paris, and Amsterdam are all within train distance which will make your life easier. Where you start and begin depends on what direct routes you have available to you and prices. Once you’re on the ground, it’s easy to get around. Heck a flight from London to Amsterdam might only cost you $110 USD one-way.
June is a great time to go, those cities don’t require too much planning.
Thank you so much Barry! We are so excited! 🙂
I will be in England, France & Scotland for 2 weeks in June. Thankfully, I will be staying with a friend. I’m not into buying tons of souvenirs, and I don’t expect we’ll be eating out much. Planning to go to lots of free museums & walks in London. We will take train into London & Paris. I’ve been reading every bit of advice I can. Thank you for your helpful articles!
Hi Barry,
Im planning to go Europe trip 2 weeks.What 3 -4 cities can you suggest.Mostly do sightseeing, eat from grocery stores, staying at budget Airbnb or hostels, Do free stuff as possible.How much should be the cost.Including air fare.i will be going with my husband as our wedding anniversary.
Thanks
Jessica,
My article gives you a good estimate of costs with some recommended cities. If you’re trying to do things cheap, you should look at eastern Europe. You also need to consider what flights you have available to you e.g. is it cheaper for you to fly direct to say Paris or Rome? There are so many variables in play that I can’t just give you a blanket statement or estimate.
Hi Barry
Thanks for getting back to me.
We plan to start from Paris then 1 day in Prague then Rome Italy to finish.I want to visit Amsterdam but this city is a bit pricey.I hope 2 weeks is enough to cover major attractions, try food and wander around.
Jessica,
Paris, Prague, and Rome aren’t close together but you can get to each one by taking discount carriers. You should probably restrict your itinerary to 4 cities at max or 3 with day trips. Every city can be affordable if you stay outside of the major tourist areas and use public transit.
Helpful site! But you don’t say where you are based out of, when you mention airfare costs. Info please! And thanks.
Hey Catherine,
I’m based out of Canada, but with flight prices, I tend to give an average from North America.
Where in North America? Big difference between east and west coast!
The east coast.
Hi Barry,
So glad I stumbled upon this article, very useful info and helpful advice. Thank you!
I am planning a trip to Europe perhaps end 2020 for my family of 6 (3 adults, 2 teenagers & a 11yo) for 2 weeks or max 3 from Malaysia/Singapore. 1st trip.
Staying with friends in Manchester, hope to take a trip to London. Also visit friends in Geneva.
What other cities would you recommend? possible for a budget of usd15k? Mainly Airbnb, groceries, some eating outs, buying food stuff home, minimal souvenirs, mainly doing free stuff if possible.
Thanks Barry.
Matt,
If you’re staying in Manchester and you plan on going to Geneva too, I would just look for another stop in between the two via a discount carrier. Paris and Amsterdam are likely cities that fit your route.
I think your budget is pretty reasonable. It’s the flights that will cost you the most.
Hi Barry,
We are currently living in Dubai. We (with my boyfriend) are planning to do a Europe Tour. Which country would you recommend most? Planning for a 3-4 week vacation. Would love to see Paris,Rome, Amsterdam, London, Norway,and Prague. What do you think? Any recommendations for perfect destination for us? And propose budget for both of us?
Josephine,
If you have 3-4 weeks, you can do quite a lot, but I would recommend to sticking to a route that’s logical and limits the amount of time you’re on sitting on trains. Right now you’ve listed all the major cities but Norway is sort of out of the way. If you’re going to Rome, you should probably check out Florence too.
I would recommend choosing 3-4 MUST SEE destinations first and then building your itinerary from there. I can’t recommend you the perfect destination as I don’t know what type of traveller you are or the type of person you are.
Thanks Barry, appreciate your input.
Me and my husband are planning to visit to Amsterdam, paris and swiss by the end of August 2019 from India. we have no clue how to plan a budget travel as we never been there in europe. please give your input to plan our budget travel. thanks in advance 🙂
Kavita,
Just start researching everything. Look up the cost of flights from India first then start looking at hotels or Airbnb in the destinations you want to go to. AMsterdam and Paris are a quick train ride away from each other, but if you want to go to Switzerland, you may need to fly. Switzerland can be quite expensive.
Hi Barry,
I am glad I stumbled across your website. I have not travelled much at all and never internationally, but I want to take my daughter, who just graduated from high school to France and possibly Germany in the next couple of months.Can you recommend what cities or areas we should see, definitely Paris, but I wasn’t sure if I should consider other areas? I was planning on probably 8-10 days in Europe. We love history and museums and music (my daughter is a cellist and singer). Also, since it’s just the 2 of us and we don’t have any international travel experience, do you think it would be better for us to stay at hotels or Airbnb?
Thank you for all your great suggestions!
Hi Stefanie,
If this is your first time travelling to Europe, you should ask your daughter what city she wants to see most and build around that. 8-10 days will give you enough time to see two cities with maybe one day trip. If she’s a cellist and singer, perhaps Vienna will appeal to her? Hotels or AIrbnb likely wouldn’t make a difference. Just go with what fits your budget.
Hey Barry!
Im planning a 2 and a half month, Western Europe trip in summer of ’21 and was wondering, if I am backpacking through France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Czechia, Austria, Italy and Switzerland could I reasonably get by with 10,000? Airfare and a eurorail pass to get around wouldn’t be included. Just wanted to know if I am out of my mind or if thats a reasonable price if Im spending 100 a day, on hostels and food and then would have around 2.5 for a little bit of wiggle room. Just wanted someone who has done this before to get their opinion on it please!
Hi Liam,
If you’re slow travelling and staying in hostels, that amount will likely be more than enough. Some countries will cost more than others but everything should balance in the end.
This was great and gave me better idea’s on a visit to Europe, thank you very much. I’m a 68 year young woman and thinking about going to see my friend in Portsmouth. I don’t have a clue on budget. I’ve never been to Europe so I thought on a budget of $2000.
I could possibly do this for 7 to 10 days staying with my friend of course. I’d like to see a couple of places, Rome and Paris.
Pamela,
That budget is tight and likely wouldn’t leave you much wiggle room. Even though you’ll stay with your friend in Portsmouth, you’ll need to get there first which may eat a lot of your budget depending on where you’re flying from. You’ll then need to factor in flights and hotels in Rome and Paris. There’s also food and attractions to consider.
Hi! I’m looking to plan a trip with a friend from LAX to Switzerland. I found round trip tickets to Zurich for $550 and definitely want to go to Grindelwald (we’re both hikers and Harry’s potter fans). It looks like accommodation in Grindelwald can work out to about $100 per day, so $50 per person. Is that a reasonable budget for Zurich as well? We’re not looking at hotels but Airbnb and hostels. We plan to eat maybe 1 meal a day at a restaurant and definitely breakfast at the hostel or Airbnb. Does a budget of about $1,000 per person for one week sounds reasonable to you? I was surprised while pricing it out that accommodation, travel etc. basically double the cost of the trip. Any recommendations for Switzerland (specifically near the Zurich and Grindelwald areas)?
The above $1,000 is for 6-7 days.
Hey Kay,
If you’re able to keep your accommodation costs down it’s doable, but note that Switzerland, in general, is expensive. You’ll also need to budget for food, transportation and attractions which can add up quickly.
Hi Barry,
Really a great article. I need your suggestion on my itenary and budget. I am from India and planning a first time trip to Europe covering 14 countries stating from Turkey to Greece (10 days), Italy(10 days), Paris (only) 5 days, Swizterland(4days), Luxembourg 3days, Belgium 4 days, Netherlands 4 days, Austria 7 days, Budapest 3 days, Prague 3 days, Denmark 3 days, Sweden 3 days, Norway 5 days and finally 10 days in Iceland. A total of 75 days in Schengen Area. and 5 days in Turkey. Me and my wife and our 1yr old son will be doing this trip and I plan to start in March 2020. My budget is 13000 Euros. I am planning on getting a EU global pass most of my europe travel will be in trains apart from a few places like India to Paris, Iceland to India and Athens to Venice, etc and staying at airbnb everywhere I go. I also want to do food cheap apart from eating/tasting local delicacies once per city, Only going to free attractions or buying citypasses.
Is this doable? what are your suggestions and comments?
Hi Shankar,
Thanks for reaching out. I think your budget is reasonable, but I think you’re being a bit ambitious with your itinerary. You could likely do it if it was just your wife and you, but with a 1 year old, it’ll be torture.
Train travel sounds easy with a 1 year old, but your son will be on your lap the entire time. Every time he gets adjusted to a new spot (don’t forget about jetlag), you’ll be on the move again.
When I traveller with my wife and 9 month old, we originally planned to do Copenhagen, Stockholm, Amsterdam and Brussels in about 21 days. We realized that we didn’t want to be on the move so much so we ended up doing Rome for 7 days and Amsterdam for 14 days. This made travelling and the experience much easier.
If I were you, I would personally cut back on locations quite a bit.
Thank you Barry. Will do and what locations should I remove If I reduce it to say 45 days If I start in March 2020. What would be my must see locations around March/May timeline.
Really appreciate the quick turn around and please help me with your suggestion
Shankar,
I think you and wife should just choose the locations you want to see most and work from there. I personally quite enjoyed Turkey and it’s not that expensive compared to some other cities. Italy is a bit more expensive but I loved it. March is still a bit cold in England and Scandanavia so maybe start from the east and make your way west?
With 45 days, you’ll still have LOTS of time. It’ll also allow you to enjoy cities more. I mentioned I did 15 days in Amsterdam, that’s considered long since the city doesn’t have much to see, but we enjoyed just going for walks and living like locals.
I’m going to Scotland and Ireland for 10 days in early September. Right now the budget is at $3870 per person. We booked a guided tour which includes all of our accomodations, bus transportation, tours and 19 meals. Plane tickets were $645 per person round trip from North America. Does that seem expensive? My significant other thinks that $387 a day is expensive for Europe. Some meals are not included based on the nature of the tour so we will be on our own.
Lori,
It definitely seems on the higher side compared to if you booked things on your own, but it’s not an apples to apples comparison. As you mentioned, just about everything is included in your tour including a guide which is why prices are likely higher.
You could do Ireland and Scotland on your own for cheaper, but then you need to figure out all the logistics on your own.
Hi
We(4 members) are planning for Europe trip next year. Can i know best time to travel and what is the avg budget during that season. Do also have any travel tips and places to visit for sure. My trip will be 2 weeks period.
Hello I am planning for a family vacation to europe: paris, london, rome, for 4 adults, 2 kids, and 1 infant with budget of $10k which include ticket, hotel, for 10 days on january. Any thought. Do u think that is enough budget.. Is it doable for three places to go. Thanks
How and where can I get best deal for airline tickets
Hi Fatima,
That budget is going to be tough as you’ll need 6 flights and probably two hotel rooms in each location. With just 10 days, doing 3 different locations is likely too much. I would personally stick to two or just one country. As for the best deal for airline websites, I like using Google Flights or KAYAK.
Hi, first thank you for your site and information! I’m planning a solo trip to Europe but not sure how much I should save. I’m flying from NYC and as of today the tickets to my top 3 destinations (Italy, Spain, Greece) are only $350 or less RT. I’ll only be going to only one of the countries and will only have 6-7 days to work with. I’d like to stay in a 3-4 star hotel. What are your thoughts on budget? Should I consider multiple destinations? I honestly don’t want to go over $2k-$3k but I want to pull the plug since the tickets are so cheap.
I know this is vague :/. Thank you so much for your help!
HI
I am planning a trip to Germany – 4 nights, Austria 2 nights and Slovenia – 4 nights. With hotels, flights and innercity transfer its about $2200. I expect my total trip to cost around 3,400 after food, souvenirs, day trips etc Is that good for a solo travel or can i cut it down a bit?
Hi Jes,
I think that budget is fine. You’ve budgeted a lot for food, souvenirs and day trips, but I don’t think you’ll spend that much.
Hi! Do you have any suggestions for traveling with a wheelchair? We are planning a trip to Europe this summer, July, for 5 people including my son (mobile but in a wheelchair for any distance) and my 82 year old father. Do you have any suggestions? We have a little over two weeks and the only must do is Paris (and Disney). We don’t have a set budget yet but probably about 10,000 not including flights from US.
Kristi,
Unfortunately, as I’ve never travelled with a wheelchair, I can’t really comment. All I can really say is that many cities have quick a few stone roads e.g. Rome and Amsterdam where it may be slightly difficult with a wheelchair.
Hi Barry
What is the most cheapest month to travel France? I’ll travel 20 days to France, specifically Le Havre, and the planned date to trip is October 2020.
Anibal,
I find October and April to be the cheapest but since you’re going to be in a smaller town, prices don’t tend to go down that much.
Hello Bary ,
so i’m from Egypt anyways yet I’m planning for an European round tour for around 15 days as max.
( Greece, Italy , Spain , France, Germany , Netherlands , Amsterdam ) with a plan of 2 days per city ,
The thing is this is my first solo trip abroad and also this is my first ever trip abroad and i am a bit scared from where to go and so on and also i don’t know how much money i should keep on me and how much should i expect to pay like on airplanes and hostels or even coach serving , i am also aware that this trip would be perfect if i made it on September or October so if you could help that would be awesome and highly appreciated , Thank you so much .
I’m Actually a bit torn between what i just mention and South Korea round tour as it’s my dream country anyways ! ♥
Hi Selwan,
I just flew through Egypt. DO NOT try to do 6 countries in 15 days. Think about what you just said. 2 days per city and you’re not factoring in transit times. Each country also has multiple cities. You will NOT enjoy it. I recommend 4 cities at max in 15 days even that’s rushing things. 3 is safer with day trips when you can.
Hostels and airfare will be paid in advance. You can easily find out costs before you depart. Daily costs on food and attractions are up to you. Credit cards are widely accepted and you can just withdraw cash as you need it from ATMs.
If South Korea is your dream destination, I would personally go there first. If you want to do a tour, just look for a good tour operator. G Adventures is one of the best.
https://www.gadventures.com/destinations/asia/south-korea/
Hi Barry! I will be going to Europe for 12 days in March. (London, Paris, Switzerland and Italy). I have already paid for flights, hotels, transportation and breakfast. It was all a total of about $3,800. Now I have to focus on saving up for lunches, dinners, and little miscellaneous things (gondola rides, the louvre tickets, souvenirs, etc.) and that’s pretty much it. I have $5,000 saved up. Do you think that’s enough or should I save up more?
Thanks!!!
Leslie,
If all your flights, hotels, transportation and breakfast is covered, $5,000 is more than enough unless you like to eat and shop A LOT.
Hello!
me and my friend are planning to follow an artist on tour through Europe and see him around ten times in maybe 2 months, how much would we have to save up for this trip? we’re both from the Netherlands which means we don’t need plane tickets to fly over from another continent.
i calculated it might be around €5000 euros each including food, hotels, concert tickets, random spendings and train/plane tickets.
also, would you advice going by train or by car?
Esmee,
I think your estimate is decent, but it shouldn’t be hard to get an accurate estimate since you know where the artist is playing. Just look at the tour dates and start figuring out when it makes sense to train and fly.
This is best budget and good information for travelling Europe. I want to travel Europe then I find best Europe Tour Packages from USA.
Hi Barry !
I am planning for 6 nights trip to europe for 2 of us in mid Feb 2021 flying from Canada
Want to visit Paris, London, Rome, Santorini and also Iceland(if possible)
Will appreciate your advice for budget including transportation (trains or car rentals) and accommodations for 6 nights in different cities.
Nav,
It is impossible to do 5 destinations in 6 nights. If you only have 6 nights, I would choose two destinations at max. A better idea would be to choose 1 spot and then do day trips. Once you narrow down your choices, I can help you out.
Hi barry, priceless article and info you have here. im planning a trip starting with st. petersburg and entering the eu at helsinki. i want to do stockholm, malmo, copenhagen with a side trip to ystad somewhere and then iceland. We are a family of 2 adults, a 14 yr old and an 8 yr old. We will be staying in airbnbs. We are ok with budget food options, take away food, fast food and such. how much should we budget for a month, excluding airfare and accomodation? Thanks.
Fernando,
I haven’t been to those areas, but from what I hear, Scandanavia is much more expensive compared to western Europe.
That said, if you’re not factoring in flights and accommodations, your food costs will likely be similar, or maybe to your monthly grocery / eating out budget at home. I assume you’ll cook some meals, but enjoy yourself at the same time.
Local transportation also needs to be factored in, but it shouldn’t be crazy expensive.
I appreciate these messages, questions and answers. We plan to go to Europe next year, considering the status of the CoronaVirus. We live in Texas. We know that travel from the East coast is much more convenient and less expensive. Would you suggest flying from Texas? Or would you travel in some other way to the East coast? I assume the flight or a train or car would take us to the East coast from which we would fly to England.
Can you also give us a guestimate of the cost of traveling to England from Texas?
Thank you. S. Briggs
Sandy,
All you need to do is just check the flight prices from where you live to London. That way you have an accurate estimate of flights. Once you do the search you can see if it’s cheaper to fly direct or via a connection.
All the other estimates in my article would still apply.
Hi Barry, thank you very much for all this information! I’m planning on doing and Europe trip next year for two weeks (preferably on the cheapest months I can find ex: September November I think?)
So how much do you think I would need if I only plan on doing Italy (Rome and/or Venice if possible) and part of Switzerland in two weeks since it’s close and I would love to do the train trip to Switzerland, it’s only for One person and I can adjust to anything.
Would you say $2500 is enough? Or how much would you say is a safer bet? Don’t wasn’t to be having second thoughts about having enough money for the whole trip while being there but I can definitely accommodate my expenses, would be my first trip to Europe specially 2 countries in 2 week but would love to know more from someone with much more experience!
Thanks in advance.
Alejandro,
Italy can be done on a budget, but Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in Europe. I’m not sure where you’re coming from, but your airfare could eat up a fair amount of your budget. I personally recommend budgeting more and not trying to do Europe super cheap. I made that mistake the first time and I regretted it.
You can save money by staying at hostels or in cheaper parts of the city. You could also do Airbnb. Saving money on food is easy if you go to grocery stores. But, why go all the way to Italy and not try the local cuisine?
Here are some guides on Italy and Switzerland.
https://www.moneywehave.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-go-to-italy/
https://www.moneywehave.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-go-to-switzerland/
Thanks for your comments, I was just thinking if it would be possible to do a quick trip for Switzerland but spend most of the two weeks in Italy, I was more interested in the train trip to switz and watching some natural landscape anywhere in the country than actually visiting through the whole country, not sure if that would still be out of budget, but I’m thinking about what other train trips I can think of near Italy that go into the budget, do you have any recommendations if Switzerland if way out of budget even for a very quick trip? (Not sure about France since I’m not sure it would be as interesting) But I’ll have to keep an eye out for other train alternatives, thanks again!
Italy is big enough that you could spend two weeks, but if you’re looking to just cross the border since you’re nearby, it’s not a terrible idea. I would just prioritize what you want to see first.
I personally would only do Switzerland if you’re flying in or out of it. E.g. fly into Zurich, make your way down to Italy, fly out of Rome.
Hi Barry,
I loved reading this article and the comments. For the last 6 years we have been traveling internationally as a family of five. We were unable to travel in 2020 due to Covid. We have been to 15 countries so far (six of them twice). We tend to go to 2-4 cities/ countries each trip. We stay in AirBNB’s, eat out 1-2 times per day nothing too fancy and we eat fruit for breakfast. I splurge on guides and museums. I like to book through AirBNB Experiences. We usually travel 15-17 days. I usually spend $12,000 total for five people. This year we are traveling 26 days through Egypt- Spain- Turkey and we are spending $18,000 which feels very expensive to me. Our travels have meant the world to me as we have gotten to share so many amazing experiences with our children, however it’s not friendly on the wallet. If you have any suggestions of how I can do things cheaper please let me know. We take public transport, use miles for our tickets most of the time (not this coming trip) and eat breakfast at the AirBNB. I can’t give up the guides, day trips, and museums. I love history and want my family to have an appreciation for the history of other cultures and the guides truly bring everything to life and make everything so much more interesting (my children tend to listen to them intently). We did not have guides on our first trip through Japan and we missed out on so much. Interestingly enough I found out on our second trip to Japan how reasonable guides are in Japan compared to other countries. Please let me know how you think we are coming in on our budget.
I wish someone would write an article on traveling through Turkey and The Czech Republic because they are so affordable and interesting. I have truly enjoyed every country that we have been to. Thank you again for writing such a great article.
Hey Lizzie,
When you’re travelling as a family of 5, it’s hard to cut back on costs. I think you’ve already established your priorities and you’re spending accordingly.
The thing I would suggest (and you may already be doing this), is to try to save money when you’re not travelling. Any funds you save can be put towards your travel budget.
I personally try not to eat out much when I’m home. When I’m travelling, I have no problem splurging.
Also, you’re right about Turkey, it’s one of the cheaper places I’ve been. Egypt was cheap too relatively speaking. Jordan is a another destination that’s budget friendly. I enjoyed Jordan more than I did Egypt.
I am wanting to go to Jordan! We went to Israel and loved it. I feel like if we weren’t going to Egypt and Turkey this year we would be spending a lot more than 18k for our 26 day adventure. My children’s favorite country is Turkey. They loved all of the stray cats. I would love to see someone write an article on traveling on the cheap’s most yucky experiences 🙂 When we went to Turkey five years ago I rented an AirBNB that was VERY inexpensive ($60 a night for five people) there were slugs coming up through the wet bathroom drain….my husband dealt with that. The funny thing is my children loved that AirBNB more than any other and want to return to it because of the stray cats that snuck in through the open windows (we were on the third floor) in the middle of the night. They loved waking up with cats cuddling them hahaha. I hope that you write more articles I enjoyed reading this one very much 🙂
Hey Lizzie,
Ha, Airbnb is still great for families, but it’s getting pretty expensive in some destinations. I remember booking an Airbnb in Manhattan for $90 USD a night before Airbnb was a household name. Now it would be triple that price, plus cleaning fees.
As for other articles, I actually have a ton on different countries and cities – https://www.moneywehave.com/?s=how+much
Fabulous!! I am excited to read these articles 🙂 My husband doesn’t like AirBNB as much as I do. I like that all of our children can have their own beds and that we are all in the same apartment. I have splurged on maybe two AirBNB’s that had amazing views (France and Santorini) I am a sucker for a good view. I feel like one thing that has been really important to us enjoying our trips is staying within walking distance to the attractions, restaurants, and shopping areas. My children love to window shop, or “lick the windows” as they say in France. In Santorini we stayed out in the middle of nowhere. My family felt like they missed staying out late (9-10pm) walking around and people watching after dinner. I am going to have a great time reading your articles!! Thanks again 🙂
Hi. Planning to do trip in June. It’s a honeymoon trip and we are planning to cover Amsterdam, Switzerland, & Berlin. We are travelling for the first time. Can you please tell how much it will cost to us? We will be taking bus or train, plus hostels. Our trip is of 11 days. And we are coming from India. Please share your feedback of cost plus what places should be visit
Deepti,
These articles should give you a rough idea of costs. Note that 11 days for 3 cities for your honeymoon is A LOT. You’d be rushing many things and may not enjoy yourself.
https://www.moneywehave.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-go-to-amsterdam/
https://www.moneywehave.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-go-to-switzerland/
https://www.moneywehave.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-go-to-germany/
Hi, We. are planning a trip next year November 2023, for 12 days, there’s 6 of us. Is Euro trail a good idea to hit just main capital in 10 days? From Paris, France, Amsterdam, Netherland, Berlin, Germany? Our budget would be $3000 each not including airfare.
Hey Ellene,
3 cities in 12 days is doable. I think a budget of $3,000 each is pretty good.
Hi Barry. Great information. Summer of 2024 I would like to take my family of four (Wife, myself and two kids). We would like to visit a few countries in Europe including England, France, Germany, Austria, and Italy. We would like to go for three weeks to a month.
We live in Vancouver. What city should we fly in to and what city should we fly out of? We really have no idea about traveling in Europe. Thanks for any insight.
Jon
Hey Jon,
So first I’d consider the age of your kids and determine how much they can handle. Three to four weeks is a lot of time in Europe so you could easily see quite a few places. That said, I would probably stick to 3-4 destinations and then do some day trips.
Try to figure out which is the top place you want to go to and make that your priority. You’ll then base your decisions around that. Alternatively, you could try to find the cheapest flights to Europe first and then determine where you want to go from there.
Generally, the earlier you book, the better chance you have at finding flights for a reasonable price. Google flights is a good way to quickly see the cheapest way for you to get to Europe.
We are planning a trip to Strasbourg for a wedding in August. We have our accommodations for 3 nights at the venue but we have contacted a travel agent to plan a 10 day trip. We will fly to Munich from Green Bay, WI. USA. Spend 3 nights. One day hopping on and off site seeing on own. One full day on the Romantic road trip. Then by train we go to Strasbourg and we have our hotel for 3 nights. She did book an optional wine tasting? We want to spend one day going to tourist sites and the other 2 with the wedding festivities. We are still trying to find out if there is a way to get around Strasbourg similar to the hop on and off like Munich. Our hotel is about .8 of a mile from some tram? The last leg of our trip takes us to Innsbruck via train thru Switzerland. Here we spend 3 nights and have 2 gondola excursions one goes up to the 007 Element. We wanted something where we get see the Alps not so much the Bond experience. We then go back to Munich for the night and fly home. Our cost is coming in around 5000.00 per person. Does this seem about average or high?
Hi Amy,
Considering where you’re flying to and from, plus everything else included, that sounds like a pretty reasonable cost.