Already In Europe? Here's How You Can Travel To 12 Countries With Just S$5,000

What is the cheapest way to see Europe?

For many, going to Europe is a long-standing item on their bucket list.

Yet, with high costs and a hefty plane ticket price to boot, going to Europe remains a far-fetched dream to many.

That was how I felt before going to Europe myself a year ago.

But fast forward one year and 12 countries later, I realised that with the right budget and a little planning, it is possible to travel to Europe at a relatively affordable price!

Here’s a breakdown of my budget, as well as some useful hacks you can use while travelling around Europe.

TL;DR: Here’s How You Can Travel To 12 Countries With Just S$5,000

#TravelHacks For A Budget Trip To Europe:

1. Skip overrated locations and popular cities
2. Explore Eastern Europe
3. Go solo
4. Look for student-run eateries and bring your student card for discounts!
5. Stay with locals if possible, if not, hostels!
6. Look for cheap transport and accommodation alternatives

A Breakdown Of My Expenses

Of course, not everyone’s travelling style is the same. And how your budget works out really depends on the different situations you’re in.

Travelling around with your family? You will probably need to cater more for bigger, safer transportation.

Going with a “high maintenance” friend? You might need to set aside additional expenses for better accommodation.

Before delving into my expenses, here’s a bit of context as to how I managed to pull this off:

• I travelled to these countries while on my exchange programme in Berlin, which means that
  • I had to travel as and when my school’s schedule allowed, which explains the short duration spent in each country
  • Not all of these places are travelled to consecutively (one after another), and
  • I was already in Europe and was travelling to and from Berlin, Germany

Note: For those who want to factor in the plane tickets to and from Singapore to Berlin, simply add S$1,100 to the expenses as that’s what I paid for my return flight.

• I also have friends scattered across Europe. Some are Singaporeans, some of whom were locals I’ve met. This meant that in certain countries where I’m not in a hostel or an Airbnb, I’m sleeping on their couch (hence $0 for some accommodations)
• The exchange rate at that time was 1 Euro = S$1.65, so this will be the exchange rate which I will base my currency conversion on

I understand that having connections in a foreign land is a privilege and not many have the luxury of staying in their friends’ homes.

If you do not have friends in a country that you’re visiting, a good alternative is to try couchsurfing. It’s a platform which allows you to meet and interact with locals while having a place to crash after a long day!

*Transportation costs refer to buses, trains, and flights that bring you from city to city. Regular transport costs accounted for within the city is covered under ‘Expenses’ 

With an S$5,000 budget spread over 12 countries, this means a budget of S$416.70 a country, including transport, accommodation, food and expenses. This amount varies across countries depending on the duration of stay, cost of living in that country, etc.

Tips And Tricks When Travelling Europe With A Budget

1. Skip ‘Overrated’ And Popular Cities

On hindsight, if I were to do this all over again, I would choose to skip cities such as Copenhagen, Paris, and London, which racks up a relatively huge portion of my budget.

My expenses for a mere two days in London racked up to 161.2 Euros (~S$265.98) largely due to high transportation costs.

Eating out in Paris is pretty expensive too as it costs an average of 25 Euros (~S$40) a meal. For someone who’s a cheapo like me, S$40 a meal is quite a stretch – even on a holiday.

I tried keeping to my budget by walking a lot instead of taking local transportation. And I saved on accommodation by staying in shared hostels.

2. Explore Eastern Europe

There is a common misconception that Eastern Europe is unsafe and dangerous, which is probably why this part of the world is relatively unexplored by the common tourist.

Having been to these countries myself, I would like to emphasise that this is far from the truth.

Countries in Eastern Europe like Hungary and Poland are not only safe and clean. They are also appealing in more ways than one. Plus they only cost a fraction of what you would spend in big cities like London, Paris or Rome.

3. Going Solo May Save You More $$$

It’s nice travelling with friends, but looking at it economically, you will save a lot more when you choose to travel alone!

Personally, I loved travelling alone and settling on my own transport and accommodation before arranging to meet my friends who are going to the same city!

While it is true that splitting the costs of accommodation for a huge Airbnb may also be economical, it’s easier to control your expenses when travelling solo as compared to travelling with people with different spending habits.

Travelling with people entails compromises, and for some, that may mean opting for more expensive accommodation that is beyond your initial budget or a travel itinerary that’s filled with shopping trips – which might not be what you’re willing to spend on.

So you have to factor those into consideration when budgeting, and say no for things that you are not willing to spend on!

4. Look For Student-Run Eateries And Remember To Bring Your Student Card For Discounts!

Europe is a friendly destination for travelling students.

More often than not, you will get discounts and student prices for entry to museums, palaces, castles and certain touristy spots. So do remember to bring your NRIC or passport, as well as your student card to enjoy these perks!

For places where eating out is expensive, you can keep a lookout for student-run restaurants. Some of these places serve quality, local food at a fraction of the price.

A great example of this was my last meal in Paris which was at a student-run restaurant on a boat (pictured above). Unlike the usual 20 to 25 Euros you’d have to spend on a meal, this lunch was only 3 Euros. And it even came with a nice ambience and view!

Also, always stand at the bar in cafes. Especially in places like Italy where cafes have additional charges for sitting down. This is common knowledge amongst locals, so the disclaimer is not put on the menu.

If you’re looking for a quick coffee or breakfast, stand at the bar to avoid paying for these unnecessary costs.

5. Stay With Locals. If Not, Hostels Are Great Alternatives.

There’s no better way to get to know a city other than interacting with locals who would know the city inside out! What’s more, by living with locals through couch surfing or staying in a hostel with other travellers, you get to go on very different adventures and form different perspectives with people of different cultural backdrops.

My fondest memories from my travels include climbing the Alps with my Swedish friend, Jasmine. And cycling through the snow in Austria, back to my friend’s house in Graz, where his family cooked a hearty meal of zucchini soup, bread, and the best apricot cake.

Cheap Accommodation Options In Europe

The secret to an affordable trip is to find cheap and good accommodation.

While you can easily get a room via Airbnb or Booking.com, here are other unique alternatives which you can try:

Cheap Transport Options To Consider When In Europe

Getting around Europe isn’t expensive, here are some cheap options to get from country to country for your consideration:

Travelling In Europe

At the end of the day, while it is good to be frugal with your money, you have to remember that you are on holiday.

So don’t compromise on having fun, spend on things that make you happy, and remember to stay safe! 🙂

If you’re going on an exchange programme like I did, find out if you have enough travel insurance coverage before you leave!

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• Best Travel Insurance in Singapore