How Much Does It Cost To Travel Europe?

Everyone who has ever dreamed of visiting Paris, London, Rome, Barcelona, and other great European cities has had the same question—how much does it cost to travel to Europe?

Trying to wrap your head around all the travel costs is daunting, so that’s why I’ve analyzed the average food, accommodation, transportation, entertainment, and other prices from many of Europe’s top destinations to help you more accurately budget your travel expenses.

I’ve also factored in other common travel costs you might forget like pre-departure spending, airfare, train tickets, rail passes, travel gear, and more.

And since many of you have different travel styles, I’ve been sure to include the price breakdowns for backpacker-style travel, budget-conscious travel, and mid-level/higher-end travel — since that will obviously greatly affect your budgeting and spending.

Quick Look At Daily Europe Travel Costs By Travel Style

Before we dive deep into the costs of visiting Europe, let’s take a high-level look at typical day-to-day travel costs broken down by travel style.

Note: I’ve gone much more in-depth into these travel costs further on in this article — the prices in this section are ballpark figures.

Backpacker-Style Travel Costs: €45-€90/Day ($50-$100/day)

THIS IS YOU IF YOU’RE staying in hostels, eating cheap meals, or making your own food. You’re only drinking in dive/local bars, during happy hour, or buying alcohol from the grocery store. You’ll seek out cheap/free entertainment options. For transportation, you’ll use a rail pass or carefully pre-booking train tickets. You don’t mind foregoing creature comforts in the name of saving money.

In short, you’re looking to travel as cheaply as you can.

Average “Backpacker” Travel Cost Breakdown:

• Hostel Prices: A cheap bed in a quality hostel will cost anywhere from €15-€45/night. However, I’ve seen hostels run as high as €50-€75/night and as low as €10-€15/night depending on location, time of year, inventory, and room configuration. Check out Hostelworld to see hostel prices.
• Meals and Food Prices: Eating on a backpacker’s budget isn’t glamorous but it’s not too difficult — assuming you have self-discipline. Here are some average food prices:
  • Breakfast: I typically budget €3-€5/day for breakfast. This won’t get you much but it’s usually enough for a coffee and a croissant/pastry + maybe a piece of fruit. Sometimes hostels will provide a free breakfast.
  • Lunch: If eating out, I budget anywhere from €6-€12 for lunch. This will get you a simple takeaway meal but you can cut this cost down if you make your own meal from a grocery store.
  • Dinner: As with lunch, a takeaway meal will cost around €7-€10 but a meal at a cheap sit-down restaurant will cost around €8-€17. Obviously making your own meal will be a cheaper alternative.
• Alcohol, Coffee, Treats, Etc.:
  • Alcohol: Beer and wine are cheap in grocery stores — a decent bottle of wine is €5-€6 and a 6-pack of beer is €5-€8. In bars/restaurants, a glass of wine is typically €3-€6 and beer is around €3.5-€7.
  • Coffee: I budget €1-€1.5 for an espresso for a cheap caffeine fix.
  • Desserts and Treats: I have a sweet tooth so I budget €2-€3 for random goodies.
• Attraction and Sightseeing Prices: I’m a big fan of free walking tours and I typically tip around €5-€8. Many museums have free days/times so that’s a good way to save — otherwise, museum tickets are typically €8-€20.
• Public Transportation: I tend to mostly walk so many days I don’t spend anything on transportation. Otherwise, I recommend budgeting €3-€5/day for the subway/buses.

Budget-Conscious Travel Costs: €90-€200/Day ($100-$220/day)

THIS IS YOU IF YOU’RE staying in affordable rental apartments, budget hotels, or you might get a private hostel room. You’re happy to spend €15-€25 on a meal now and then and you’ll splurge on a few treats as you explore. You don’t mind paying for experiences, and you’re happy to travel via train without booking weeks early to save a few dollars.

In short, you’re smart with your money but you don’t mind spending money on good values.

Average “Budget-Conscious” Travel Cost Breakdown:

• Budget Hotels, Rental Apartments, and Private Hostel Rooms: Accommodation prices are all over the place and constantly changing based on multiple factors. Obviously, traveling with other people will lower the per-person travel costs if you’re sharing a room/apartment.
  • Rental Apartments: Airbnb is huge in Europe so it’s easy to find an affordable place in just about any city. A basic studio/1br will typically cost €60-€180/night.
  • Budget Hotels: You can typically find a basic, yet clean and comfortable hotel for around €80-€120/night. I mainly use Booking.com when traveling in Europe.
  • Private Hostel Rooms: Most hostels have private rooms that are about the same quality as a budget hotel — which is a nice option if you like the social vibe found in hostels. Expect to pay €60-€100/night for a private room.
• Meals and Food Prices: Most budget-conscious travelers eat a combination of cheap takeaway meals and budget-friendly restaurants.
  • Breakfast: I typically budget €5-€6/day for breakfast since I need energy as I walk around all day. Different countries have different breakfast traditions so I tend to eat what the locals eat — which rarely tops €6. But, at the minimum, most cafes will have breakfast deals that include espresso and a pastry for around €3.
  • Lunch: A cheap takeaway meal will set you back €5-€7. I try to seek out fixed-price lunch specials which typically run €9-€13.
  • Dinner: A quality meal at a budget-friendly restaurant will set you back around €12-€20.
  • Alcohol, Coffee, Treats, Etc.: Beer and wine are cheap in grocery stores — a decent bottle of wine is €5-€6 and a 6-pack of beer is €5-€8. In bars/restaurants, a glass of wine is typically €3-€6, and beer is around €3.5-€7. Cocktails can set you back €6-€12+.
  • Coffee: I budget €1-€1.5 for an espresso. A cappuccino might cost anywhere from €1.50-€3.50.
  • Desserts and Treats: I have a sweet tooth so I budget €3-€5 for random goodies like gelato and pastries.
• Attraction and Sightseeing Prices: Even as a budget traveler, I’m still a fan of free walking tours so I typically tip around €5-€8 for those — but a paid walking tour starts around €15-€20/person. Museum tickets are typically €8-€20.
• Public Transportation: I tend to walk everywhere but I still recommend budgeting €3-€6/day for the subway/buses.

Mid-Level Travel Costs: €150-€300/Day ($170-$340/day)

THIS IS YOU IF YOU’RE staying in nice (but not luxury) hotels or rental apartments. You’re not dining in high-end restaurants but dropping €25-€35 on a random meal isn’t that big a deal. You’re perfectly fine spending a little extra on train tickets for convenience and flexibility. You’re happy to visit all the museums/attractions without fear of busting your budget. You might even book a few “experiences” like a paid walking tour or a cooking class.

In short, you’re not “living large” but you’re comfortable spending a little extra here and there to enhance your experience and get the most from your travels.

Average “Mid-Level” Travel Cost Breakdown:

Budget Hotels, Rental Apartments, and Private Hostel Rooms: Accommodation prices are all over the place and constantly changing based on multiple factors. Obviously, traveling with other people will lower the per-person travel costs if you’re sharing a room/apartment.

• Rental Apartments: Airbnb is huge in Europe so finding a nice rental apartment isn’t difficult. A nice studio/1br will typically cost €120-€200/night.
• Hotels: A nice, but not fancy, hotel in a good location will typically cost €120-€180/night. I mainly use Booking.com when traveling in Europe.
• Meals and Food Prices: Most budget-conscious travelers eat a combination of cheap takeaway meals and budget-friendly restaurants.
  • Breakfast: I typically budget around €6/day for a basic breakfast but a heartier one will be closer to €10.
  • Lunch: A cheap takeaway meal will set you back €5-€7. I try to seek out fixed-price lunch specials which typically run €9-€13.
  • Dinner: A quality meal at a budget-friendly restaurant will set you back around €12-€20. A slightly nicer meal will be around €20-€30.
• Alcohol, Coffee, Treats, Etc.:
  • Alcohol: In bars/restaurants, a glass of wine is typically €3-€6 and beer is around €3.5-€7. Cocktails can set you back €6-€12+.
  • Coffee: Espresso starts around €1 and fancier drinks are €2.50-€4.
  • Desserts and Treats: I have a sweet tooth so I budget €3-€5 for random goodies like gelato, pastries, and other sweet treats.
• Attraction and Sightseeing Prices: Museum tickets are typically €8-€20 each. Paid walking tours are anywhere from €15-€35. I enjoy cooking classes and those are anywhere from €45-€100+.
• Public Transportation: I tend to walk everywhere but I still recommend budgeting €3-€6/day for the subway/buses.

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Pre-Departure Europe Travel Costs

Alright, let’s start doing a deeper dive into discovering how much it costs to go to Europe. We’ll start with pre-travel costs that should be factored into your budget.

High-Speed Mobile Data: $3-$10/Day

You can survive traveling to Europe without having mobile data on your phone but I don’t recommend it.

Your current mobile provider likely has their own international plan which will be around $10-$15/day. Or you can buy a European SIM or eSIM data plan that will cost under $5/day—for example, eSIM data plans from Orange or Holafly will cost you around $2-$4/day.

You can learn more on The Savvy Backpacker’s guide to the best eSIM for Europe and my guide to Data Plans and Smartphone Phones in Europe.

Travel Insurance: $30/Week

Travel insurance can really save your butt financially, so I build it into my travel budget. It’s usually fairly cheap and it might save you thousands of dollars in medical and travel costs. I use and recommend World Nomads for most travelers but there are a handful of other travel insurance companies.

As a rule of thumb, plan on spending around $30/week on travel insurance.

Luggage and Travel Gear: $0-$500+

In many cases, you might already have a suitcase or travel backpack so you may not even need to buy any special clothing for your trip to Europe.

But many people still choose to buy travel gear and/or clothing to help make their trip easier. Obviously, the amount you spend on this stuff can be $0 or it can easily top $500.

I’ve created a few packing lists and gear guides to help guide you:

My Most-Recommended Travel Gear

Here are some things I never travel without (but see the guides above for more in-depth gear recommendations).

• Portable Phone Charger: I use my iPhone a ton when traveling and this kills the battery. That’s why I carry a small charger everywhere I go. You can find many options for $20-$30. Check Out Prices/Selection On Amazon
• Comfortable Day Pack: A small backpack to carry around as you sightsee is essential.
  • I prefer carrying a stylish bag that doesn’t scream “tourist” — like something from Fajallraven, Herschel, and Aer. These bags range from $50-$90.
• Comfortable Shoes: A nice cool pair of comfortable sneakers will be your best friend when you’re traveling around Europe. Here is an article I wrote about wearing sneakers in Europe.
• Quality Socks: Treat your feet well and they’ll reward you with comfortable travel. I stick with socks from Smartwool and Darn Tough. A nice pair of socks will be $8-$14.
• Guide Books: Call me old-fashioned but I’m still a big can of guidebooks. For budget travel, I prefer Rick Steves and Lonely Planet. Check Amazon as they have a great selection of Europe guidebooks. Most guidebooks are around $20.
• Packable Rain Jacket: I hate umbrellas so I always pack a lightweight rain jacket that’s easy to store away in my daypack. The Patagonia Houdini weighs in at a crazy light 3.6oz and can be found online for $75-$99 (Available via REI and Amazon).
• Apple AirPods: I love my AirPods. They make listening to music and watching movies on my iPad so much more convenient — especially on planes/trains. They’re cheaper on Amazon than from Apple.

Passport: $110+

It will cost you around $135 if you need a passport. Be sure to apply early because it will cost you another $60+ if you need one in less than 4-6 weeks. Passport photos will cost you about an extra $10 or you can print your own for free at ePassportPhoto.

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Airfare Prices To Europe ($750-$1200)

It’s hard to nail down how much you’ll spend on your flight to Europe. Prices fluctuate wildly based on your location, the time of year, what days you’re traveling, where you’re flying to, how early you’re booking your flights, your flexibility, etc.

I’ve paid as little as $280 for a ticket from NYC to Copenhagen and I’ve paid $1,200+ for other flights to Europe. That said, I recommend budgeting at least $750-$1100 for your flight — hopefully, you’ll be able to find cheaper flights but this is a pretty good ballpark figure.

I use Google Flights and Momondo to look for flights. I also subscribe to Scott’s Cheap Flights newsletter which sends out daily cheap flight deals.

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Estimating Transportation Costs Within Europe

Another large travel cost will be transportation — i.e. how much you’ll spend physically traveling around Europe.

There are generally four main modes of transportation:

• Train: My favorite travel option. It’s generally fast, convenient, comfortable, and affordable (if you book in advance). Train travel is also the most romantic way to travel around Europe.
• Plane: For long distances, I prefer flying as there are plenty of very cheap flights throughout Europe.
• Car: Driving can be a nice option if you’re traveling in a group as the cost gets spread out between multiple people. And you can visit smaller destinations more easily with a car (although just about every town in Europe is accessible via train). That said, I’d avoid driving in any major European city if possible.
• Bus: I’ve never like traveling via bus but it can be a very cheap way to travel.

Europe Train Ticket Prices

Each country prices its train tickets differently — some charge via distance traveled (€/mile) but most have dynamic pricing that fluctuates based on demand (i.e. similar to how airlines price their tickets). For this section, we’ll focus on high-speed trains as that’s what most travelers will use to travel between major cities.

For more information, read our Complete Guide To Train Travel In Europe.

Example High-Speed Train Prices For Popular European Routes

Note: I used Omio to find these train ticket prices — I’ve been using Omio to book all my European train tickets for the past few years. I love that their tickets are mostly digital/mobile (via their App) so no more standing in line to buy/collect tickets.

• London To Paris
  • Booked a few weeks before departure: €66-€100
  • Booked two or three days before departure: €190-€250
• Paris To Amsterdam
  • Booked a few weeks before departure: €70-€100
  • Booked two or three days before departure: €135-€155
• Rome to Florence
  • Booked a few weeks before departure: €13-€22
  • Booked two or three days before departure: €20-€40
• Barcelona to Madrid
  • Booked a few weeks before departure: €45-€75
  • Booked two or three days before departure: €45-€75
• Amsterdam to Berlin
  • Booked a few weeks before departure: €45-€70
  • Booked two or three days before departure: €45-€70
• Berlin to Munich
  • Booked a few weeks before departure: €24-€43
  • Booked two or three days before departure: €24-€60
• Berlin to Prague
  • Booked a few weeks before departure: €25-€35
  • Booked two or three days before departure: €25-€35
• London to Edinburgh
  • Booked a few weeks before departure: €91-€100
  • Booked two or three days before departure: €91-€100
• Prague to Vienna
  • Booked a few weeks before departure: €14-€30
  • Booked two or three days before departure: €20-€35
• Paris to Barcelona
  • Booked a few weeks before departure: €99-€120
  • Booked two or three days before departure: €133-€145
• Paris to Lyon
  • Booked a few weeks before departure: €35-€45
  • Booked two or three days before departure: €45-€75

Source: Omio

Eurail Pass Prices

If you want flexibility then you might consider picking up a Eurail Pass. These passes aren’t dirt cheap like they were in the past, but for many travelers, this is still an affordable way to travel. There are dozens of Eurail passes available to suit almost any need. Prices range from about $100 for a super basic pass to $2000 for a 3-month unlimited pass.

For more info, read our Guide To Rail Passes in Europe.

Airfare Prices Within Europe

Many first-time travelers are amazed at the number of budget carriers offering crazy low airfare within Europe — we’re talking €20 flights from London to Amsterdam and €35 from Paris to Rome. I’ve even seen flights for under €10.

That said, you can essentially fly between any two major European cities for less than €70 — but don’t forget to budget extra cash for transportation to/from the airport (train, taxi, Uber) bag fees, etc.

Quick Note About Budget Carriers and Cheap Fares: Budget carriers offer the bare minimum in terms of service and everything costs extra (bags, seat assignment, drinks, etc.). Also, many budget airlines fly out of smaller airports that are outside the cities they represent — for example, the Paris-Beauvais airport is more than an hour away from Paris so that’s an extra cost and inconvenience.

Example Cheap Airfare Prices For Popular European Routes

Note: These example fares are for one-way tickets—I suggest checking Momondo for your exact travel dates since prices constantly fluctuate.

• London To Paris: €32-€52
• Paris to Rome: €32-€100
• London to Rome: €60-€100
• Rome to Lisbon: €35-€45
• Paris to Lisbon: €70-€120
• Amsterdam to Berlin: €32-€45
• Madrid to Lisbon: €45-€70
• Paris to Barcelona: €25-€35
• Paris to Lyon: €50-€85
• Copenhagen to Paris: €65-€100

Cost To Rent A Car In Europe

Renting a car can be a reasonably affordable way to travel Europe — especially if you’re traveling in a group of three or more.

I just did a search for a weeklong rental in France for a compact car and it was around €200 total. However, there are other costs associated with driving in Europe:

• Gas ($6-$8/gallon)
• Tolls (I’ve seen €3-€30 per toll)
• Random taxes
• Extra insurance ($10-$20/day)
• Parking (€40+/day in major cities)
• Extra random fees

Here is our guide to renting a car in Europe that goes into more in-depth detail.

Cost of Coach/Bus Travel In Europe

Taking long-distance buses is probably the cheapest way to travel in Europe but it’s also the slowest and arguably the most uncomfortable. Personally, I won’t even consider the bus if the trip is more than a few hours as 8 hours on a bus sounds terrible. Either way, I use Omio to find and book bus tickets.

Example Long-Distance Bus Prices For Popular European Routes

• Paris to Strasburg: €17-€20
• Munich to Berlin: €22-€24
• Rome to Florence: €22-€30
• Barcelona to Madrid: €36-€38
• Munich to Salzburg: €17

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Accommodation Costs For Traveling Europe

For most travelers, accommodation will be the largest expense so it’s important to know how much you should budget. Let’s dive into how much you’ll spend on accommodation (hotels, hostels, and rental apartments) while you’re traveling in Europe.

Average Hostel Prices in Europe

Here’s a look at the average nightly hostel price for Europe’s most popular cities. These prices reflect the cheapest option in well-rated hostels during a late June booking. These prices are from Hostelworld (my preferred hostel booking website).

• London: €30-€65/night
• Paris: €33-€65/night
• Dublin: €30-€60/night
• Amsterdam: €30-€60/night
• Munich: €35-€65/night
• Berlin: €20-€39/night
• Krakow: €14-€25/night
• Budapest: €16-€25/night
• Barcelona: €25-€45/night
• Rome: €23-€50/night

Source: Hostelworld

Average Hotel Prices in Europe

Here’s a look at the average nightly hotel price for Europe’s most popular cities.

Note: These prices reflect the cheapest option in well-rated hostels during a late June booking. These prices are from Booking.com (my preferred hotel search engine).

Nightly Price For A Budget Hotel in Europe

The prices on this list reflect budget hotels that are small, no-frills, and a little “rough around the edges” but they should be clean, comfortable, and located within the city. They get good ratings from past guests so these aren’t the bottom-of-the-barrel options.

• London: €80-€115/night
• Paris: €90-€110/night
• Dublin: €115-€140/night
• Amsterdam: €125-€145/night
• Munich: €90-€115/night
• Berlin: €85-€100/night
• Krakow: €50-€95/night
• Budapest: €50-€93/night
• Barcelona: €75-€100/night
• Rome: €80-€105/night

Source: Booking.com

Nightly Price For A Mid-Level Hotel in Europe

I consider a mid-level hotel to be clean, comfortable, fairly modern, and centrally located. The rooms will still be small and there might not be many “frills” but the hotel will be a noticeable step above the “budget” level.

• London: €140-€180/night
• Paris: €135-€190/night
• Dublin: €135-€195/night
• Amsterdam: €165-€200/night
• Munich: €110-€175/night
• Berlin: €110-€180/night
• Krakow: €75-€120/night
• Budapest: €125-€170/night
• Barcelona: €110-€160/night
• Rome: €110-€175/night

Source: Booking.com

Average Rental Apartment Prices in Europe

Short-term rental apartments are plentiful and often affordable in Europe, so it’s one of my favorite accommodation options when I travel.

Note: I’ve listed rental apartments from a price range for well-rated, and centrally located studio/1br Airbnb rentals that get solid reviews from former guests — I also tried to only include Superhosts to ensure a high level of service. You’ll be able to find cheaper options if you’re less picky.

• London: €190-€280/night
• Paris: €105-€160/night
• Amsterdam: €220-€300/night
• Munich: €110-€175/night
• Berlin: €93-€160/night
• Krakow: €50-€85/night
• Budapest: €70-€105/night
• Barcelona: €140-€190/night
• Rome: €120-€165/night

Source: Airbnb—check out my guide to Airbnb Alternatives for more options.

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Food & Alcohol Costs in Europe

Food, meals, and alcohol are other major costs that are difficult to estimate since there is a huge variation in prices. In general, I recommend budgeting higher than you think since it’s easy to go over budget without even realizing it.

To help give you an accurate idea of food prices, I’ve searched through actual menus from restaurants that span multiple price points. I’ve broken this list down by city to help you more accurately predict your potential food expenses.

Note: These prices come from well-rated restaurants that are recommended by locals. I’ve also linked to their restaurant’s Google listing.

Paris Food Prices

• Breakfast:
  • Croissant: €2
  • Cafe au lait: €3
  • Espresso: €1-€1.50
• Lunch:
• Dinner:
• Alcohol:
  • A glass of wine: €3-€5
  • A glass of beer: €4-€7

Note: See our guide to the best budget restaurants in Paris.

London Food Prices

• Breakfast:
  • Cappuccino from Kaffeine: £3.10
  • A standard cup of coffee: £2.50
• Lunch:
• Dinner:
• Alcohol:
  • A pint of beer: £4.50-£6.50
  • A glass of wine: £5.50-£7
  • Mixed drink and cocktails: £8-£14+

Rome Food Prices

• Breakfast:
• Lunch:
• Dinner:
• Alcohol:
  • A glass of wine: €4-€6
  • A pint of beer: €4-€6

Berlin Food Prices

• Breakfast:
• Lunch:
• Dinner:
• Alcohol:
  • A pint of beer: €2.50-€3.50

Amsterdam Food Prices

• Breakfast:
  • Omelets and breakfast sandwiches from Omelegg: €6-€10
  • Dutch and American pancakes and breakfast options from Prins Heerlijk: €4-€10
  • Breakfast and lunch toasted sandwiches from Toastable Nieuwendijk: €5-€10
  • Assorted pastries from Bakhuys: €3-€6
  • Espresso and pour-over coffee from Bocca Coffee: €2.5 & €4
• Lunch:
• Dinner:
• Alcohol:
  • A pint of beer: €3.50-€6.50

Barcelona Food Prices

• Breakfast:
• Lunch:
• Dinner:
• Alcohol:
  • Beer (small glass): €1-€1.30
  • Beer (bottle): €1.40-€3
  • A glass of wine: €2.50-€4
  • Glass of vermouth from Quimet & Quimet: €2.80

Madrid Food Prices

• Breakfast:
• Lunch:
• Dinner:
• Alcohol:
  • Beer (small glass): €1-€1.30
  • Beer (bottle): €1.40-€3
  • A glass of wine: €2.50-€4
  • Glass of vermouth from Bodegas Ricla: €1.50

Lisbon Food Prices

• Breakfast:
• Lunch:
• Dinner:
  • Traditional Portuguese dishes from husband and wife team at Crisfama: €9-€15
  • Traditional Portuguese tavern favorites from Tasca Zé dos Cornos: €9-€13
  • Large portions (enough for two) of traditional local dishes from Zé da Mouraria: €17-€22
• Alcohol:
  • Beer at a bar or restaurant: €1.50-€3
  • Beer at a grocery runs about €1.10
  • A bottle of wine is around €4.50

Copenhagen Food Prices

• Breakfast:
• Lunch:
• Dinner:
• Alcohol:
  • High-End Cocktail from Ruby:  $16.75-$20+ (110-120+ DKK)
  • Craft Beer from Mikkeller Bar: $6.80-$10 (45-65 DKK)

Prague Food Prices

• Breakfast:
  • Fancy pancakes from DEN NOC: Pancakes start under $5-$7.50
  • Coffee from Cafe Ebel: $2-$4.50
  • Gourmet doughnuts from Donuterie: $2.50/each
  • Hot chocolate, waffles, and sweet treats from Chocafé: $3 (hot chocolate), $3.5 (waffles), $1.50-$3 (treats)
  • Pancakes and coffee from Cafe No 3: $2 (coffee) and $6 (pancakes)
  • Traditional open face sandwiches from Sisters Bistro v Dlouhé: $2-$3
• Lunch&Dinner:
• Alcohol:
  • A pint of standard beer at the bar: $1.00-$2.00
  • Pint of beer from a grocery store: $.65

Budapest Food Prices

• Breakfast:
  • Cappuccino and espresso from 9BAR: $1.50-170
• Lunch & Dinner:
• Alcohol:
  • A pint of standard beer at a bar: $1.30
  • A pint of beer from a grocery store: $.85
  • Bottle of (drinkable) wine from the grocery store: $4.75

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Day-To-Day Travel Costs For Europe

As you travel you’ll run into various daily costs that you should take into account when you’re estimating your travel budget. Here are a few of the most common things you’ll spend money on when traveling.

Museums, Sightseeing, and Entertainment Costs

While you may not do something that requires an admission fee every day, we suggest budgeting $15-$20. Below is a list of admissions prices at some popular attractions in Europe so you can get a feel for how much things cost:

• Louvre Museum (Paris): $19.50
• Sagrada Familia: $19
• Centre Pompidou Museum (Paris): $17
• Tower of London: $35
• Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam): $22
• Prague Castle: $3.50
• Neuschwanstein Castle: $15
• Acropolis: $12
• Colosseum: $15
• Szechenyi Baths in Budapest: $18
• Walking Tours: Free (guides work on tips) or $15-$35 for paid tours
• Bike Tours: $30-$60
• Food Walking Tours: $50-$100+
• Cooking Classes: $50-200+
• Venice Gondola Ride: $90-$110

Note: Many museums offer discounted or free tickets to students and/or people under the age of 26.

Alcohol

I briefly mentioned alcohol in the food section but I wanted to highlight it again since many travelers end up spending way more on alcohol than they anticipate — after all, one drink tends to lead to a few more.

Listed below are some sample alcohol prices from around Europe:

• London (pint of beer): $3.20-$8.50 but expect to pay more at trendy clubs/pubs.
• Paris (wine): $7-$15 for a cheap bottle of good wine from the store.
• Prague (pint of beer): $2 at a restaurant and around $.70 from a grocery store.
• Budapest (pint of beer): $2-$4 at a bar.
• Munich (beer): $10 for a huge mug at a beer garden and around $1.25 for a liter of beer from the store.
• Copenhagen (pint of beer): $9-$14 for a pint of craft beer from a bar.

Public Transportation, Taxis & Airport Transfers

Public transportation in most European cities is cheap and reliable. In general, you probably won’t spend more than $4-$6/day taking subways and buses.

However, taking taxis and Ubers can quickly become expensive. This is especially true when you’re going to/from the airport — which many travelers forget to factor into their budgets.

For reference, here are some taxi fares from major airports to the city center:

• Paris/CDG Airport: €50-€55
• London/Heathrow Airport: £45–£70
• Rome/Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport: €48
• Amsterdam/Schiphol Airport: €39
• Milan/Malpensa Airport: €90
• Lisbon/Lisbon Portela Airport: €20
• Copenhagen/Copenhagen Kastrup Airport: 300 DDK ($45)

Snacks and Treats

I have a sweet tooth so I always know that things like ice cream, chocolate, pastries, and other random treats I see in store windows will catch my eye. That’s why I give myself a few extra Euros each day to be safe.

Souvenirs and Shopping

Don’t forget to put aside some cash for souvenirs and other shopping that you might do as you travel. I know I always end up buying a bunch of random things along the way. You might also end up spending money on random toiletries.

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Conclusion

I hope this Europe price guide helped give you a better grasp of how to budget your trip to Europe. Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions!