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How to plan a Europe trip on a budget!

 

Here comes a post about the question I am asked time and again by friends and family – how to plan a Europe trip from India (without overshooting your earned leaves or your budget)? We did a lot of research, on some hundred sites/blogs for hotels, trips, and itinerary while planning our first Euro trip. I want this article (and the Part2 with more budget hacks for Euro Trip since it was getting too long) to serve as a one-stop DIY guide for backpacking in Europe. But before that a quick background-story as usual. I’m sure a lot of you will relate to this, especially if you are from India.

Taking up a low-travel desk job and not settling abroad was a conscious decision that my husband and I took so that we could live close to our parents. However, I’d be lying if I say that I never envied the friends working abroad posting #wanderlust photos of Grand Canyon and  Niagara falls every other week while we couldn’t even make time for Goa. We travel a lot on weekends but the Europe trip was our first real vacation together, outside India. It was also the first 2-week-long paid leave we both took not to visit our parents in Kolkata but to go and see the world.

We planned our Euro-trip for almost a year and finally came up with a fully packed 15-day itinerary covering 6 cities with a complete estimate of what the middle-class me was most worried about – Budget! Here’s an account of our planning a European vacation for the first time. 

 

Step1 – WHEN AND WHERE TO GO IN EUROPE

The two most important questions to answer in any vacation planning- when and where? Europe is great at any time of the year, but for working couples and families there are many factors to consider.

When to visit Europe?

Since both of us work, and are fairly frequent at switching jobs, getting leaves at a common time is crucial.
Another important factor for tropical people who are used to mufflers and monkey caps at 15 degrees, is the weather.
The third factor is, of course, the availability and price of flights. Each of these factors conflicts with each other. For most of us working in multi-national companies, December is the easiest time to get vacations sanctioned but we don’t want to risk bronchitis on our long-planned holiday; again summer would be perfect, but it is also the peak season with airfares soaring high.
Winters in Europe is cheaper and less crowded, but you need to be prepared for the sub-zero temperatures. As first-timers, we thought to play it safe and visit in spring.

I include affiliate links for the tours, hotels and products I recommend. This means if you make any purchase through the links in the post, I may get a commission without any additional cost to you. While I strive to help you make the most of your trips, this income helps support the expenses for running this site.

Where to visit in Europe? Draft a 15-day itinerary of Western Europe

Drafting a 15-day Europe trip itinerary is the most important and challenging part. Western Europe is beautiful but expensive, while central and Eastern are cheaper but slightly arguably less accessible (fewer flights). Now that we had decided on the season, the choice of one place was simple – Amsterdam, the land of tulips (and canals among other things). We booked a round-trip flight from Bangalore to Amsterdam for Rs. 38000 (€477) per person on a Friday night through a  MakeMyTrip offer – a great deal in the season I’d say.
 
FYI: Now we have daily flights from Bangalore to Amsterdam on Jet Airways
 
Always book air tickets well in advance and make sure you compare several sites on Aviasales

The second question is “where else?”. The answer to this question depends on the first question we answered – When? It also depends on your budget, your travel intent (slow travel, backpacking, tourist-ing, or a mix of both) and the number of places you want to visit.

Covering like 10 cities in 15 days can be a tempting idea, but it’s silly. It just makes the tour more expensive and gives you no time to explore anything properly. Now when you have just 15 days there are two ways to go about planning- get your bucket list and tick the top places you always wanted to see, or just choose the one indispensable place and then find the places that can be covered in succession from there. Going by the second method this is what we planned :

Amsterdam –> Antwerp–>De Haan –>Paris–> Barcelona –> Madrid

Other awesome Europe itinerary ideas

Well, that was my dream trip so I would call it the best plan in the world😉, but here are some other ideas for Europe itinerary planner for you.

If you want (or dare) to visit in the colder months of October to March, you would not want to miss the sighting of Northern lights, in which case you should include Norway or Iceland in your plan although they are quite expensive. 
If you go by the cost of living, the cities we selected are just below the creamy layer of Nordic countries and Switzerland (which is another itinerary if you are willing to splurge – an all Scandinavian trip, or just insert Switzerland somewhere in your itinerary). 

If you are on a slightly tighter budget than ours (Rs.3 lakhs for two), I’d suggest replacing some of the cities above with Vienna (Austria), Prague or Salzburg (Czech Republic), Warsaw (Poland), Budapest (Hungary).

Quick fact- Budapest also hosts a beautiful Tulip festival in Spring, a cheaper alternative to Keukenhof.

How to plan a budget trip to Europe | a DIY guide to part-time travelers
 

STEP 2- HOW LONG IN EACH CITY IN EUROPE?

Based on the points of interest and weather forecast, we decided to keep seven days for Spain- the joyous country in the Iberian peninsula known for great food and warm weather. We stayed three days in Amsterdam, one day at Antwerp, one day at De Haan, three days in Paris, four days in Barcelona and three days in Madrid from where we returned to Bangalore via Amsterdam.

The choice of 1 day each at Antwerp and De Haan may surprise many. Most of you may have heard of the world’s diamond capital Antwerp but may have never heard of this place called De Haan in Belgium. We decided to stay 1 night at Antwerp because it would be on our way to Bruges and the arrival time at the stop would be ideal. Hence the slightly off-beat stopover at Antwerp, a historically significant city where we did a self-guided walking tour. The next stop was supposed to be Bruges – Europe’s cultural capital as it is known to be; but how we ended up spending a night at the countryside of De Haan instead, is a story better saved for another day.

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How to plan Europe trip in Budget. What’s the best time to visit Europe? How to create a 15-day Europe trip itinerary? How to book cheap flights to Europe from India. How to find cheap accommodation in Europe? Hotel versus airbnb versus hostel -what’s the best for you? What to pack and what not to? How to save money while traveling in Europe? Get all your questions answered in this one single DIY guide to planning an europe trip itinerary. #europetrip #planyourtrip #diyeurope

 

STEP 3 – ACCOMMODATION IN EUROPE

Hotels versus Hostels versus Airbnb

This is where you are just spoiled for choices- there is a large number of youth hostels, hotels, Airbnb homes, hotels, and resorts everywhere in Europe- you just need to choose based on your priorities. Most budget travelers like us go for hostels located in the city center, which are affordable, has good living conditions and are usually located within walking distance from the most important places. However, in most top-rated hostels in the city center, the single rooms are pretty expensive, more than some budget hotels, so people usually go for dorms. Common dorms are a great option for budget stays but have a few inherent cons that you should be aware of-
  1. lack of privacy and peaceful sleep, with people going out or coming into the room throughout the day (and night);
  2. accessibility of common restrooms
If you are a seasoned solo traveler, these are nothing compared to the joy of meeting people and making new friends on the go, but if you are not used to it, you may consider a budget hotel. We researched online on all the well-known travel sites and found that a budget IBIS hotel costs around Rs. 5000- Rs.6000 (€60-€75)per night including breakfast in peak season, which is the same as any standard dorm arrangement would cost the two of us.
 
Browse hostels around the world on Hostelworld.com. For friends traveling in groups Airbnb is a great option to explore apart from the hostels, but for couples or family, budget hotels come at the same price with more convenience. 

Few important tips about booking accommodation in Europe

  • Do your due diligence while booking hotels. Compare prices on Booking.com and also check on individual hotel websites for better information. We have tried several aggregator sites like Trivago but have always found the best prices on Booking.com followed by MakeMyTrip.com. For Indian hotels or hotels in Asia, Agoda is a great website to check prices.
  • Hotels near the airport are cheap but avoid them since these are mostly far away from the city center and the transport to and from the hotel is often not covered under the travel cards

 

Except for Antwerp, we stayed in IBIS hotels in all other cities – IBIS budget and IBIS style. My review of their hotel rooms, hospitality and breakfast are pretty good for all- the budget rooms are very minimalist but are 100/100 in terms of maintenance and cleanliness.

 

STEP 4   – GETTING VISA TO EUROPE

I found the visa process for Europe fairly simple and hassle-free. You can get your visas from any embassy of any country in Europe, provided the country is included in your itinerary. We got our visa from the French Embassy in Bangalore with no assistance at all. Just go to the website, fill in the form carefully, book an appointment, have your documents ready and appear at the office on time for verification! If you make any mistake in the form, you will not be able to edit it once confirmed and will have to fill in a new form all over again. No money is deducted for refilling, but just a small hiccup in the process.

On weekdays if you don’t book a priority slot with extra money, you’d need to take a leave, because, from the crowd that I saw, it would easily take 4-5 hours. We booked a slot on Saturday morning (after we returned from the weekday slot) and the entire process took 30-40 minutes. We got the visa within five days.

Travel insurance is a must for getting Schenzen Visa. We got ours using the Policybazaar website.

 

 

 STEP 5 –TRAVEL & SIGHTSEEING

Travel cards as tools for saving in Europe trip

Travel-cards and city-passes are great tools to save both time and money in the expensive west European cities. Since most of the hotels we booked were away from the crowded tourist destinations. It was important to save on the frequent intra-city transportation we had to take. We booked the Iamsterdam card, the Paris Pass, and the Barcelona card online after much research and price comparison. For Madrid, we bought a transport card from the railway station. It gave us free access to the public transport network in Madrid.

Commuting within European cities

No matter how good public transport is, you can’t avoid walking if you really want to explore the city. In fact, walking is actually fun in the European weather, on the clean cobbled streets, the picturesque bridges of Antwerp and DeHaan where we stayed for one night each, we just explored the entire place on foot.
Take comfortable shoes and be ready to walk an average of 10 km a day!
 
We loved riding the open hooded hop-on-hop-off bus for a guided tour of the city and all places of interest at Paris and Barcelona. We got one day tour on Hop-on-hop-off for free with the Paris pass. In Barcelona, we bought it at a discounted price for two days using our Barcelona card. Personally, I love these audio guided tours of the city on open-hooded bus or cruises. It feels like literally walking into the world of a NatGeo documentary of the place.
 
In Amsterdam, I’d recommend the hop-on-hop-off canal cruises instead because the canals are such an integral part of the city. We took a 1-hour audio-guided canal cruise at Amsterdam which had the same experience, except the flexibility to hop off and hop on whenever you want to 😃
 
The other popular way to explore cities is by taking paid or free guided walking tours, wherein the end of the trip you might be expected to pay a tip. We mostly could guide ourselves through all the major cities with the help of maps except on a day-trip to Toledo, for which we booked a package with bus-transfer + walking tour. It was amazing and I’m glad that we booked that😊

If you love cycling Europe is the place to be. All the cities we visited had special lanes for cyclists, including the small coastal town of DeHaan. You can rent bikes (that’s what they call bicycles) at low cost and explore the cities and countryside of Europe. I am not sure if the same is true for Eastern Europe, so if you have visited any of those countries, please educate me in the comments section. I just wish, we had such cycle lanes in Indian cities, and we could see more of those “bikes” than the motorbikes here.

How to plan transport between European cities

For transport between cities, we used a combination of all possible means based on budget, timing, and place of departure. This includes the following-
  • Flix bus
  • Eurorail train
  • Economy flights

We booked the Flix bus from Amsterdam to Antwerp, and from Bruges station to Paris. This private bus transport network is amazing in terms of comfortable seating, large leg space, timeliness, and speed. We flew from Paris to Barcelona on economy flight Air France. You can call it the French Indigo 😜 except that they offered one complimentary soft drink. If you have time and love to see the countryside you can take the Euro rail pass, but using flight we saved at least six hours. We got our first class Euro rail experience when we traveled from Barcelona to Madrid.

Plan and book intercity transport in advance, online. It will save you your precious time and the stress of booking last minute tickets at the kiosk. If lucky, it can save you a lot of money as well. We got our first-class ticket at a price lower than the normal second class 😁

 

FINAL STAGE – PACKING FOR YOUR EUROPE TRIP

No matter what season you choose to go to Europe carry some warm clothes and a rain-jacket or umbrella. Pack those shorts and florals for great photos, but always carry a jacket wherever you go. If you plan to stay in just one or two cities, you can get a big rucksack. However, if you want to travel to multiple places, I’d recommend a trolley suitcase and a small backpack.
 
Carry only the bare essentials like a water-bottle, a scarf, a jacket and your passports in a small backpack every day. The roads were great, so we never had a problem dragging along the trolleys from one city to another. Rucksacks would have caused severe back-pain given the long distances we had to walk during these transfers.
 

Packing Checklist for Europe Trip – the must-haves

Well, you have bought all the tickets online, booked hotels and created a rough itinerary now. The only thing left now in planning your Europe trip is packing! Don’t forget to pin this list and check it all off before you leave. You can find all of these in any European city, but it would cost more.

  • Europe universal travel adapter which must be compatible with EU (read product description) for charging. This is a MUST!
  •  Make sure you have at least a 64 GB Memory card to bring back all the pictures your family demands to see 😀
  • Raincoat/umbrella/hooded windcheater 
  • Light woolens, thermals, stockings, and scarf for the cold
  • A good Moisturizer or cold cream to combat the dry weather
  • Comfortable walking shoes. This one is non-negotiable as the best way to explore European cities is on foot. Our top recommendation is Nike Air Zoom range – Pegasus 33,34 or 35. You can check our simple guide on how to select the best travel shoes in India. Some of these tips are universal.
  • A sim-card with sufficient internet for GPS on the go. All hotels and hostels, even major stations and city centers have free wifi. However, when traveling on your own, using public transport in foreign countries, it is imprudent to depend entirely on WiFi.
  • Melinda listed some great apps that can be your best friend during Euro-trip. But you definitely need that sim-card with internet for accessing all that.

The weather in April-May is very erratic with alternating sunny and overcast days, with the wind being a constant companion. While the sunshine is most welcome you must be prepared with a sunscreen lotion to not return home charred. Europeans have a great dressing sense, so even the fashion unconscious girl like me wanted to look a tad-bit fashionable. 

 

ALMOST THERE – CASH vs CARD

We exchanged €600 for cash before we left for the vacation. Do get sufficient cash through online booking, instead of waiting till the airport. The cash card usually has a lower exchange rate but we were afraid of its acceptance. We rarely used credit cards on our trip, but when we did, the interchange fee was higher than the cash exchange rate.

The all-inclusive cost of this 15-day western Europe trip was little over Rs.3 lakhs for two, which is Rs.1.5 lakhs (€1850) per person. Apart from all basic stuff like flights hotels and sightseeing it also includes special experiences. These are the Tulip festival in Amsterdam, Barcelona Football Club stadium and a Flamenco show. The ticket Barcelona Football Club stadium was the most expensive of all special experiences. You can do this trip at a cheaper cost if you follow the tips in this article. Read what we did on our Europe trip for a more detailed cost-benefit analysis so you can make an informed decision on what you want to do and where you want to cut your expenses.

So here’s my Europe travel planning story – was it any helpful? Anything I missed or could have done better? What was your travel story? If you have any questions, or suggestions for improving the blog please write in the comment section. I hope that this helps you plan a budget European tour with ease and serves as a solid Euro-trip guide.

In the next part, we discuss free tips on how to make the best use of your travel card. You will also find a detailed review of the hotel’s transport options and a food guide. Bookmark it for your Europe Trip.

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How to plan Europe trip in Budget. When is the Best time to visit Europe from India? How to create a Europe trip itinerary for 15 days? How to book cheap flights to Europe from India. How to find cheap accommodation in Europe? How to choose between hotel versus airbnb versus hostel in Europe? How to save money and see most while traveling in Europe? What are the must-pack things when packing for Europe. Get the answer to all your questions in this one single DIY guide to planning an europe trip itinerary. #europetrip #planyourtrip #diyeurope
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Sinjana Ghosh

Sinjana Ghosh is a full-time business professional with a penchant for writing and travel planning. Backpack & Explore is a journal of her travel stories and tips she collected from her experience. She is the author of the travel book “Postcards from India” which is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notionpress.com

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78 Comments

  1. Leah Officer Travels July 14, 2018

    Great tips! Warm layers are always important in Europe! In some places, it gets chilly quick once the sun goes down!

    Reply
  2. anshul July 15, 2018

    So awesome that you made it and experienced the best out of Europe. I would do a trip sometime in future I just dunno when. I will certainly take tips from your blog.

    Reply
  3. Koushik.K July 15, 2018

    Inspiring post, this would definitely be a one stop destinstion for people planning to Europe. Informative one.

    Reply
  4. Being Tazim July 15, 2018

    I've never been to the cities you went to on your trip – but I love your advice and appreciate you explaining why you chose to stay in Antwerp for just a day.

    Reply
  5. Mohana Das July 15, 2018

    I'm returning to India after two years in the US for pretty much the same reasons except that I've to find a job once I'm home. Thanks for the guide! We'll possibly plan a Eurotrip in the near future and I'll bookmark this post. What was your budget for the trip?

    Reply
  6. Backpacking Series July 15, 2018

    Those are amazing tips to plan a trip to Europe. There is so much to see and all the tips you have shared about being budget friendly will definitely help us. Thanks.

    Reply
  7. Rawan July 16, 2018

    That's amazing. These are great tips I can use this for my trip next year!

    Reply
  8. Supriya Bhardwaj July 16, 2018

    Your story seems to be relatable. We are also longing to explore Europe. Your post will help us in our exploration for sure. Thanks for sharing your story.

    Reply
  9. Beyond Horizon September 24, 2018

    Great budget tips for Europe trip. Hope we get to enjoy like you, within the budget.

    Reply
  10. dysfunctionalmind September 24, 2018

    You have such amazing tips! And since I anyway want to visit Budapest and Austria, hopefully it should be a tad cheaper for me.

    Reply
  11. Sinjana .Ghosh September 24, 2018

    You will surely enjoy your trip.Glad to be of help

    Reply
  12. Sinjana .Ghosh September 24, 2018

    True. Both the places are fascinating and cheaper than the ones I visited this time

    Reply
  13. Unknown September 29, 2018

    I love these budgeting tips. I know its something I wanted to get better at. Thank you for sharing!!

    Reply
  14. Sinjana .Ghosh September 29, 2018

    Thanks Monidipa! Hope it helps everyone

    Reply
  15. Monidipa Dutta September 29, 2018

    I must say you have really had it well planned. Everything step by step. A great guide for indian traveller planning to explore europe.

    Reply
  16. An Indian Traveler September 29, 2018

    This is such a detailed post. I have been to Europe twice and can concur with all the advice given. Very helpful for first time travelers.

    Reply
  17. Ekenechukwu September 29, 2018

    Planning a trip have got to be the hardest part of a trip.

    It takes so much mental effort to get everything done.

    You have a wonderful outline here for those planning on a trip to Europe.

    Reply
  18. Joanna Davis September 29, 2018

    I remember my first Interail trip around Europe, which was on a very tight budget but on a very ambitious itinerary. I have visited Norway and Sweden. Because of the Interail, the transport was almost free, but because I was on a budget the supermarket was my friend. I used to cook pasta in the hostel kitchen almost every night in the Nordic countries.

    Reply
  19. Mahmud Moti September 29, 2018

    Great trips and tips as well, it was well planned. thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  20. Angelica September 29, 2018

    European girl here! These are all useful and important tips.

    Reply
  21. HilLesha O'Nan September 29, 2018

    I have never been to Europe, but I'd love to visit someday. Thank you for sharing these wonderful, budget-friendly tips!

    Reply
  22. Sinjana .Ghosh September 29, 2018

    Thanks for sharing your experience. First trips are always so memorable

    Reply
  23. Sinjana .Ghosh September 29, 2018

    Thank you so much for your kind words

    Reply
  24. Sinjana .Ghosh September 29, 2018

    Thanks 🙂

    Reply
  25. Sinjana .Ghosh September 29, 2018

    Thanks. Hope this helps. Check our part 2 also and feel free to reach out to me for any questions

    Reply
  26. Ashley Rice Blogs September 30, 2018

    Amazing tips! My husband and I want to make a trip to Europe before we start to have kids but have been worried about being able to afford it! 🙂

    Reply
  27. aisasami September 30, 2018

    Great tips for those who are not only beginning to travel in Europe but also the world. Sadly, I don't have any plans to travel to Europe in the future (Just have no desire to travel right now). But if I would, I would plan lightly as I let my feet lead the exploration of a place.

    But congrats on achieving your goals and being able to fulfill your dreams of visiting big places in Europe.

    Reply
  28. Nancie McKinnon September 30, 2018

    This is a great guide for first timers to Europe. I can see that you spend lots of time doing research. Personally, I would never carry that much cash. I've traveled in Asia and Europe solo for the past 20 years, and my bank card and the airport ATM is my best friend. I've also used bank ATMs throughout Asia and Europe without any issues. My choice for accommodation is Airbnb. I spend a lot of time checking out the listings before I make a booking.

    Reply
  29. Sinjana .Ghosh September 30, 2018

    Thanks Nancie for your insights. Well, we did use credit card to avoid queues in Amsterdam and the interchange came out to be a bomb. Maybe it varies from one country to another, and given the nosedive of Indian Rupee I feel lucky that I carried that much cash :D.. I am going to try Airbnb some time just for the experience

    Reply
  30. Sinjana .Ghosh September 30, 2018

    Hi Ashley. Thanks for your comments. You are the people I wrote this blog for in the first place. You see even in the peak season, we managed to do it in budget while staying in standard hotels. It is doable :). Use the travel cards wisely and you can save a lot.

    Reply
  31. Lyosha Varezhkina September 30, 2018

    Great tips! I always follow the budget during my trips especially the short ones, the trips we use to become refreshed in a flash. Your tips are very nice to follow

    Reply
  32. Sinjana .Ghosh September 30, 2018

    Thanks Lyosha!

    Reply
  33. Preet September 30, 2018

    I never really thought about going to Europe before, it looks beautiful though. May need to save money anp plan a trip on a budget 🙂

    Reply
  34. Rachael Eberhardt September 30, 2018

    I have never been in Europe but I know how beautiful and how expensive to plan a trip in this place. You gave us a great tips that we can use not only in our future Europe trip but also in any possible trips that we can do.

    Reply
  35. Corina October 1, 2018

    Your photos are fabulous. your tips for the trip in budget are really helpful for everyone. Thanks for sharing here.

    Reply
  36. Elisha Elyssa October 1, 2018

    Booking in advance is very important. Also, I love Air B'n'Bs instead of hotels. They are awesome.

    Reply
  37. Nicole Anderson October 10, 2018

    This was such an enjoyable and comprehensive post. I think you have just about thought of everything that someone would need to know when they are planning a European trip. I found this information very timely as my fiance's family live in Europe and they have arranged a family reunion to happen in Norway. So I am starting to do my own planning now as I have heard that Norway is quite expensive as a holiday destination – but at the same time offers some of the world's most beautiful nature. Thank you for the fabulous tips here to help start me on my way!

    Reply
  38. Soumya October 11, 2018

    This is a great post Sinjana and definitely a very inspiring one for first-time travelers to Europe. I have almost always traveled to Europe on budget and it does makes sense to plan right as you has said. And ofcourse pack right. Europe can get really cold for us East Coast Indians. 😀

    Reply
  39. Kavey October 11, 2018

    I can imagine how hard it is to see those photos from far flung friends who are settled around the world but I think you will never regret making your family a priority, and being close enough to spend quality time with them as often as you can. But I can also see how much you must have anticipated this first big trip. Great job on tips to adhere to a tight budget!

    Reply
  40. Daniel Kiteski October 12, 2018

    You have such amazing tips! This is a great and inspiring post for first-time travelers to Europe. I think you have just about thought of everything that someone would need to know when they are planning a European trip. Thank you for sharing

    Reply
  41. Annick Lenoir-Peek October 12, 2018

    Great tips on budgeting and planning a Europe trip and condensing it in one spot. I was a little scared when I read “backpacking” trip near the beginning (I’m just not a fan) but I was glad to see that you had wheeled bags and just meant you weren’t renting a car. I always debate buying the city cards but you’ve used them really well on this trip. And I’m one of those that tries to see too many cities at once so this was a great reminder to enjoy the trip rather than move too quickly. Great tips!

    Reply
  42. Meenakshi J October 13, 2018

    I am yet to plan a trip to Europe.And, it has always been an issue with the budget and leave factor. I prefer slow travel hence will actually check with you when planning a trip..and this post is wonderful and helpful for first-timers to Europe and is being bookmarked 🙂

    Reply
  43. amar singh October 13, 2018

    Wow what a great post and a must read for anyone looking to travel and doing it without spending a fortune. I personally travel within Europe a lot but do find it pocket pinching . The tips are very useful and the air tickets in advance is one of the greatest tips you can get for travelling. Travelling by train within Europe I find is very convenient and can save you a fortune. Thanks for this post

    Reply
  44. Judy Morris October 20, 2018

    Hey thanks for this post we are planning to travel in New Year and chirstmas weeks to the Paris-Italy-greece-croatia-swiss & maybe Prague. I have a question where did you keep your baggaes while travelling intercity? Do buses or train allow or they have restriction of some sort?

    Reply
  45. Navita November 26, 2018

    Those are some great tips for planning a Europe trip on a budget. Thanks for also sharing some itinerary ideas. Think this covers all aspects well as ticket booking, accommodation, visa and packing too! Would be a great reference guide for anyone planning a Euro trip.

    Reply
  46. Abhijit December 3, 2018

    Very exhaustive and helpful blog. You have done a detailed planning and touched all important points. Thank you for writing this.

    Reply
    1. Sinjana Ghosh December 3, 2018

      Thank you so much for your kind words. I am glad to be of help

      Reply
  47. Germany Visa December 14, 2018

    Amazing tips! And beautiful Images. Last year My Wife and I booked my visa for Germany and explore the amazing places. This year we’ll surely visit other places.

    Reply
  48. Carrie Ann Karstunen January 24, 2019

    Wow, this post really shows how with careful planning and research, you can do a Europe trip on a strict budget. I love all the tips you included; this was really a comprehensive article. I agree that taking a fair amount of cash with you is a smart idea. Those foreign transaction fees can really add up on some credit cards, and ATMs can have hefty fees. I noticed that some smaller shops don’t take credit cards, and even if they do, using a card is often discouraged for smaller purchases.

    Reply
  49. Medha Verma January 24, 2019

    Amsterdam was the first ever place we also visited in Europe! And a great choice it was. I completely agree with, the best hotel prices I find are on booking.com for Europe/ Americas and Agoda in Asia. Also, completely agree with you that it is silly to cover too many cities in a short span of time as it doesn’t give you enough time in any of the cities ultimately.

    Reply
  50. Jane Dempster-Smith January 24, 2019

    Great tips especially for first time travellers. I love travelling through Europe, the architecture, the history, the food and the culture. Just getting lost and wandering down side streets is a fun way to really see a city. Your itinerary was perfect in timing, it would certainly be an itinerary that I would do.

    Reply
    1. Sinjana Ghosh January 25, 2019

      Thanks a lot Jane. Good to know we did well as firt-timers

      Reply
  51. Clarice / Camping for Women January 24, 2019

    This is the most complete and detailed post I have read about a Europe Trip. Super appreciate you sharing all these valuable information. It is really helpful and timely for our upcoming family vacation. Thank you for this. Also your photos are beautiful. Love it.

    Reply
    1. Sinjana Ghosh January 25, 2019

      Thanks a lot Clarice! Hope you have an amazing family trip.

      Reply
  52. Shreya Saha January 26, 2019

    Your blog is surely helpful for many Indians who have been planning to go for the Eurotrip since long… You have nice summarized all what one needs to do before making their Eurotrip plan.

    Reply
  53. Lisa January 26, 2019

    Being European, it’s always interesting for me to read these kinds of posts. It looks like you planned well, and others from your country will be prepared. You have a good checklist too.

    Reply
    1. Sinjana Ghosh January 26, 2019

      Thank you so much.I try to provide a perspective from an outsider

      Reply
  54. Bhushavali N January 27, 2019

    I can totally relate to this! Getting a God damn visa is such a pain. Getting all the documents right for the visa is a huge thing…
    38k is really a very good deal. I’ve never seen one below 42k on a normal day!
    Ibis budget is definitely a blessing for us. The price looks decent when you convert euro to inr!

    Reply
  55. Archana Singh January 28, 2019

    Covering 6 cities in 15-days???? That would have been a lot of running around. I would usually spend all 15 days in max two cities. However, I do agree with your carrying cash tip. Especially, if you go into interiors of Europe. BTW Rs.3 lakhs for two is a damn good budget.

    Reply
    1. Sinjana Ghosh January 28, 2019

      Thanks. I would also love to spend more time in each of the cities, but its not every day that you manage to get a 15-day vacation for travel.

      Reply
  56. Diana Chen January 28, 2019

    All really great tips for traveling Europe on a budget! Being able to travel during the off season definitely helps, but like you said, if you’re not used to the cold, that might not be an option for you. Luckily being from Chicago, there aren’t many places in the world that feel too cold for me, so I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Iceland a couple of times in the winter! Flights from the US to Iceland in the winter months can be as low as $100 roundtrip. I love Ibis hotels too for budget + privacy. Great tips for a first timer to Europe!

    Reply
  57. Nina Out and About February 3, 2019

    This is a really informative post for visitors to Europe. I think the getting around part is especially useful, as many people think they have to fly. I took trains across Europe for 8 months last year and saved TONS.

    Reply
  58. administratie February 14, 2019

    I needed to thank you for this fantastic read!!
    I definitely enjoyed every bit of it. I have you saved as a favorite to look at new stuff you post…

    Reply
  59. Seymour June 15, 2019

    I like the helpful info you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly.
    I am quite certain I will learn many new stuff right here!
    Good luck for the next!

    Reply
  60. I am genuinely thankful to the owner of this site who has shared this impressive piece of writing at at this place.|

    Reply
  61. Amitava Chatterjee July 12, 2019

    such a nice blog your blog definitely helpful for travellers of India who wanted to travel in Europe….. In India there are also many beautiful places to see like lakshdweep and The Great Himalayan…

    Reply
    1. Sinjana Ghosh July 12, 2019

      Thanks Amitava.

      Reply
  62. Nancy Hann December 13, 2019

    Wow! Thanks for all the great tips. Having spent a week in France and a week in Germany, I want to plan a year for my next trip to Europe. 🙂 Wouldn’t that be amazing? I pinned this post to refer back later. Thanks!

    Reply
  63. Asley Carovski January 6, 2020

    Interested in more information. How can I contact you?

    Reply
    1. Sinjana Ghosh January 9, 2020

      Hi Asley, feel free to comment here with your question or mail me at backpacknxplore@gmail.com

      Reply
  64. Anthony January 14, 2020

    Hiya very nice blog!! Man .. Beautiful ..

    Amazing .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds
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    Reply
  65. Annalisa January 24, 2020

    I live in Europe and avoid traveling to west Europe as much as I can! I find it expensive. Walking is actually the best way to see European cities in the right season, and I agree with you that taking guided walking tour sometimes is the right way to go. It’s cool to hang out with locals!

    Reply
  66. Teresa January 30, 2020

    Amazing blog thanks!

    Reply
  67. Demi June 20, 2020

    Great tips, planning a trip to Europe is always hard because there are so many cities that people may want to visit, but you are right not to try to do too many!

    Reply
  68. Arunabha Chakraborty October 6, 2021

    Hi Sinjana! This is the most complete and detailed post I have ever read about a Europe Trip. I’d like to appreciate you sharing all these valuable information. It’s going to be very helpful for those who are planning their first trip to Europe. Are you going to write anything about Italy?

    Reply
    1. Sinjana Ghosh October 10, 2021

      Thanks Arunabha.glad u found it useful. I haven’t visited Italy but my sister recently took a short 5 day trip -the classic Venice, Rome, Florence itinerary. Will try to get a detailed post from her on the same.

      Reply
  69. Madhu January 15, 2022

    Wow that’s a very informative post and will be helpful in planning a Europe trip.thanks for sharing

    Reply
  70. These are some amazing tips for budget travelling in Europe! I visited Europe for the first time in November and definitely could have used some of these tips before going haha. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

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