If you are planning an Europe backpacking trip and you are on my blog, then you are probably wondering about the cheapest way to travel Europe. 

Luckily for you, I consider myself a savvy traveler, especially when it comes to how to backpack Europe cheap. I studied abroad in Rome during college and have returned to Europe four times since then.

Starting in 2007, my European travels have spanned 3 separate U.S. Presidents (wow, does that make me feel old), I’ve seen the value of the GBP drop drastically since Brexit (making it more affordable for Americans to travel to London / the UK!) and have seen the increase in extra security precautions at notable tourist attractions.

That’s all a long way of saying, I have picked up a few savvy tips along the way that I am going to share so that you know how to backpack Europe cheap!

Related: Read about 4 European cities to visit for under $40/day!

Cheapest Way to Travel Europe | Use Carry-on Luggage

No need for an actual backpack, but do limit your luggage to a carry-on suitcase

So there is this very common practice when backpacking across Europe that involves packing everything you need into a 40 liter backpack. I’ve done it and while it was fine, I’ve come to realize that it’s not necessary and it’s fairly inconvenient. Think about it: carrying around a backpack that can hold up to 40 liters of stuff through airports or train stations is a pain, and not to mention past those pesky gate agents at the low-budget airlines like Ryan Air & Easy Jet who may try to charge you because your carry-on is too big.

Selecting a Carry-On Suitcase

Easy way to avoid all that? Use a rolling carry-on suitcase. Transitioning from a massive backpack to a rolling suitcase made a noticeable difference on my recent Europe backpacking trips. Just be sure to stick with a carry-on size so you don’t have to check your bag! The chances of your checked baggage not making it to your final destination and not having your belongings for the first part of your trip isn’t worth the convenience of checking it. Besides, those low-budget airlines that I mentioned above are going to charge outrageous baggage check fees, so to keep costs low, stick with a carry on.

Away Carry-On Recommendation: I was recently in need of a new carry-on suitcase and decided to invest in a piece of Away luggage for my future travels. While it costs more than I typically spend on a carry on, it’s under warranty for life so I won’t be replacing it every year or two like I’ve historically had to do with more “budget-friendly” carry on’s.

Besides it comes with a built in charger for your cell phone or charger. Plus, and it comes with a 100 trial period! If, for any reason, I use my luggage and don’t love it, I can return it (no questions asked!) within 100 days and they will even send me a pre-paid shipping label!

Use my referral link for $20 off your first purchase of Away luggage!

Packing a Carry-On for Cheap Europe Travel

The issue with a carry on, or even a large 40-liter backpack, is that there is not going to be room for you to pack enough clothes & toiletries for the entirety of your trip. Unless you are only going for less than say, 5 nights, or you don’t mind being the smelly tourist who wears the same wrinkled clothes the entire trip. I recommend reading my Minimalist Travel Packing Tips, which includes a printable packing list, to prepare for your Europe backpacking trip.

A minimalist travel packing strategy makes it essential to find accommodations with access to laundry services and that leads me to….

The Cheapest Way to Travel Europe | Low-Budget Accommodations

Research the best low-budget accommodations available in a desirable location of the city you are visiting

Ok, that was a mouthful. But seriously, the cost of accommodations can quickly add up to be the most expensive part of your trip. But reality check: it shouldn’t be! You really only need a place to sleep at night because you should be spending your time out and about and not in your hotel room.

I’ve stayed in hostels and didn’t mind it at that time in my life (ie: early 20s & traveling with friends) but I am now married and too old for hostels, which is unfortunate because I really like their price!

Research Desirable Locations

I’ve found that when looking for somewhere to stay in Europe, or anywhere internationally, I start my search by determining desirable locations to stay within a city. This primarily means, looking for areas that are close to public transportation (ex: tube stations in London, metro stations in Paris, etc.) and are within walking distance of some tourist attractions and restaurants/bars. Generally, accommodations in these types of areas are more expensive, so that’s why I look for either an Airbnb in the area or I do a Google search using the keyword “affordable hotel in (desired location).” It’s really as easy as that.

Consider Airbnb

I love staying in Airbnbs; I have stayed in them in multiple countries across the world and have always had a good experience. Granted, I will only stay in places where we have the entire place to ourselves because the idea of staying in a shared space reminds me a little too much of my hostel-staying days.

There are a lot of benefits to staying in an Airbnb — you typically have more space than a hotel room and you can filter for amenities like a kitchen and washing machines (which is important due to tip #1!). I highly recommend booking an Airbnb with a washing machine, preferably during the middle of the trip, so that you can wash your dirty clothes.

Tip: If you are new to Airbnb: sign up here to receive a $40 travel credit on your first stay!

Affordable Hotel Options

If Airbnb’s are not your thing, then starting with a Booking.com search can generate a lot of options. I spend a ridiculous amount of time researching the different “affordable” hotel options by looking at their reviews, be it on Booking.com, Trip Advisor or even Google. When looking at reviews, I avoid places that have complaints of being dirty, in a sketchy neighborhood (i.e.: comments like “avoid walking alone at night!”) or has spotty WiFi (it’s 2019, if you can’t get WiFi right, you probably can’t get much of anything else right either).

I try to take other types of negative reviews — “the continental breakfast has much to be desired” or “the beds are uncomfortable” — with a grain of salt because I am not traveling Europe to eat hotel continental breakfasts and as long as there is a bed for me to sleep on, I can sleep anywhere. I am really looking for reviews that focus on its great location, how easy it is to get around (walking or public transportation), and nearby attractions like restaurants, bars, and coffee shops.

The Cheapest Way to Travel Europe | Affordable Transportation

Maximize your travel by using points/miles, scheduling your trips outside the tourist season, and taking advantage of various modes of transportation.

My husband and I traveled Europe for two weeks in late April 2017. We visited London, Paris, Rome, and Amsterdam and spent less than $2800 on accommodation and all transportation to and from Europe and between the cities we visited. How did we keep our costs so low and backpack Europe cheap? Well, I’ve already talked about accommodations, so the next large travel expense to discuss is transportation.

Related One Savvy Wanderer post: Airfare Hacks for the Savvy Traveler!

The Cheapest Way to Travel Europe | Use Mileage Rewards Flights

For starters, we spent $75 each for our round-trip flight from Spokane, Washington, to Europe. Our itinerary flew into London and departed from Amsterdam back to Spokane. We were able to get this low-cost flight because we used credit card airline miles.

Related: Amsterdam Travel Guide

My husband and I both have credit cards that have very generous mileage rewards for Europe so we use them to pay for everything (with the exception of things like our mortgage) and we pay off their balances each month. As a result, we consider using credit card airline miles one of our secrets to budget travel to keep our expenses low.

If you are responsible (and by that, I mean, can religiously pay off your credit card statement every month) and are not using a credit card for mileage/travel rewards, it is time for you to start reaping the benefits on the everyday purchases that you are making. I recommend The Points Guy to help you research which credit card is right for you.

Related: For a step-by-step guide on how to use airline miles to avoid high airfare costs, check out fellow travel-blogger Back Again Cait’s blog post! 

Travel Outside of the Tourist Season

Another way to backpack Europe cheap by keeping transportation costs low is to plan your trip for outside the busiest tourist season of the year: summer. Airfare is going to be more expensive during the summer months because that is when everyone is traveling to Europe and the airlines can get away with higher prices.

Not only is airfare more expensive during the summer months, but so are accommodations, and the lines to get into popular tourist activities are crazy long. Oh, and by the way, summers in Europe are hot and most places don’t have air conditioning. So, between the lines, the heat, and the higher airfare/hotel costs, it’s hard to pinpoint what is attractive about traveling there in the summer. (Trust me on this, I spent a summer in Prague and it was slightly miserable!)

Utilize Multiple Modes of Transportation

My final piece of advice on how to backpack Europe cheap is to utilize multiple modes of transportation between European cities. I’ve heard of lots of people who have purchased a “Eurorail pass” to travel Europe, and while I do like traveling via train, and in many cases, it is more convenient and time efficient than flying (especially on a high-speed train), the price of a rail pass can be pretty expensive.

Let me break it down for you: during our April 2017 trip, my husband and I traveled from London -> Paris -> Rome -> Amsterdam and we would have spent over $900 for 2 Eurorail passes. Which does not even include any additional reservation fees or the special passholder fare required for travel between London and Paris!

Related: check out relaxing things to do in Paris!

Instead, we spent $560 by purchasing a one-way train fare from London to Paris, then we purchased a one-way fare on a high-speed, overnight train from Paris to Milan with a transfer, in Venice, on to Rome, and then took a direct flight from Rome to Amsterdam. The mixture of using both rail and air to travel kept our costs low and maximized our time spent in the cities, ensuring we weren’t spending a significant amount of time on our trip en route to our next destination.

So, there you have it. My tips on the cheapest way to travel Europe. Share your favorite ways to backpack Europe cheap by leaving a comment below! And until next time – cheers!

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