How to plan a European city break on a budget

Saving on your European city adventures

Planning a European city break on a budget is possible with plenty of places to visit. By investing time in doing some research, you can explore some of Europe's most vibrant cities. Here are some tips to help you save money both when planning your trip and while you're away enjoying your destination. 

Planning your trip 

1. Find out where’s cheap to visit  

Although flights to some European destinations may be cheap, the city itself might be expensive on arrival. A good place to start researching is the annual Post Office Travel Money City Costs Barometer. It pulls together the cost of everything from transport to food in major cities on the continent, ranking them from cheapest to most expensive.  

Choosing to visit alternative places other than popular tourist hotspots can be another way to avoid the inflated prices and find the best value city breaks.  

Always check the official travel guidelines and advice on when and where it’s safe to travel. 

2. Be flexible about when you fly 

If you’re looking for cheap city breaks in Europe, it pays to be flexible about both flight times and the days on which you’ll start and end your trip. Flying during a weekday, especially on a Tuesday usually cost less than flying over the weekend or on a Friday. Also, it means your destination might be quieter during the week, meaning less queues and crowds.   

Using sites like Skyscanner will give you a list of the cheapest flights to various destinations for specific dates. Often flying late at night or early in the morning will work out less than peak times. Just bear in mind this may mean you have to catch taxis to where you’re staying on arrival if public transport isn’t running at that hour, which will usually be more expensive.  

3. Keep your options open on trip length 

Think about taking shorter trips each time you go, like visiting somewhere for two days rather than three or four. You can get a flavour of the place but avoid the cost of an extra night’s stay and expenses while you’re there. Going for shorter periods may also mean you can fit in more trips more often. 

4. Be versatile about how you travel 

Flying is usually a more affordable way of getting to Europe. But keep an eye open for train deals on the Eurostar who travel to Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Lille and Rotterdam. These sometimes offer great value as well as being a more fun and unique experience. If you don't mind taking a little longer to reach your destination, then travelling by coach can mean serious savings too. 

5. Book your city break in advance 

As a rule, prices go up the closer to the travel dates you want to try to book. This could mean they’re more expensive within just a few days or weeks of your preferred dates. If you know when you’d ideally like to get away a few months in advance you can get the best prices on flights and hotel stays. 

Last-minute deals are available, but they’re usually reductions on more expensive trips or places you’re not keen on. If you’re hoping to travel to a European city on a budget, they might not offer you the best value. 

6. Use search engines cleverly 

When searching for flights or hotels, websites will often work out what you're doing and gradually increase prices beyond the original quote. But you can prevent your browser from retaining your search history, making it harder for websites to present you with higher prices. 

This is done by turning on a function in your browser window, it’s called ‘incognito’ in Google Chrome. If using Microsoft Edge, go to settings > privacy > clear browsing data. 

Accommodation and activities

1. Stay in an Airbnb or hostel

Staying in an Airbnb is often a great way of saving money compared to staying in a hotel. They’re usually in great locations and, because they're normally someone's residence or property, they often have a more personal touch than hotels. If you’re concerned about the safety of such accommodation.

Read our guide to whether Airbnb is safe.

Staying in hostels is another way to make trips more budget-friendly. Options in your preferred destinations may include shared dorm rooms or private and family rooms, which can still be more affordable than hotel rooms.

2. Research where’s best to stay

Find out whether you’d be better booking accommodation that’s central, so you can walk to and between attractions easily, or stay in a more affordable out-of-town area and use public transport. 

Staying in an area that isn’t so central with good transport links might mean you get more for your money as well as an authentic experience of the area you’re visiting.

3. Check best time to book activities

Booking online in advance can sometimes cost the same as booking on the day, but it’s worth checking upfront to see if attractions offer discounts for early bookings. It may still be cheaper to book tours when you’re there, so check other travellers’ reviews and tips on reputable sites and forums. 

4. Buy currency before you travel

If you know where you’re going, you can use our currency converter to keep track of how the value of the euro or other currencies compare against the pound. It’s easy to order the currency you need in advance online or at selected Post Office branches.

Buying and loading a Post Office Travel Money Card is a safe and easy alternative to carrying cash. You can also top it up via the free travel app during your city break.

Read more: what is a prepaid travel card?

5. Prepare against unexpected costs

All travel comes with risks that could be costly if you don’t take necessary steps to protect yourself. Make sure you have or apply for a free Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic). It gives UK travellers access to low-cost and sometimes even free emergency medical treatment in EU countries. Don’t forget the Ghic card won’t cover everything and isn’t a replacement for travel insurance. Get Post Office Travel Insurance to help with unexpected expenses like emergency medical support, transport, lost, stolen or damaged belongings like luggage, and even cancelling or cutting short your trip.

6. Pack light

Putting luggage in the hold is a guaranteed way to increase your spend. Lots of bags are available that fit within the maximum size allowance for hand luggage and are surprisingly roomy. Just make sure you check what you can take into the plane cabin as well as your airline’s baggage allowances so you aren’t stung with excess charges.

If you do need to take hold luggage, read more in our packing guide. There’s also a checklist of travel essentials and items to consider taking, including for city breaks.

Ways to save money during your trip

1. Walk or take public transport

Often the best way to see a place is to on foot, and lots of European city destinations are very walkable with beautiful streets to explore. They’re also cheaper than a bus tour and gives you more freedom to go at your own pace.

Other than on foot, the most cost-effective way to get around is almost always public transport. While it might be a bit daunting to navigate bus networks and metro systems in a new city, it can save you money.

If you do catch taxis, make sure it’s with a reputable firm, agree a price upfront with drivers if you can, be clear on how much to tip in that country. Remember, taxis to and from the airport and around towns and cities can be costly, especially when you’re visiting a tourist hotspot.

2. Eat like a local

Restaurants and cafés in tourist areas and main squares are usually expensive. Often walking just a few minutes or some streets away from the main area will reveal options that are better priced and potentially more authentic, varied and enjoyable. 

In many places, local and street food is one of the main attractions and can be more budget friendly. Ask for recommendations to suit your tastes and budget or check review websites like TripAdvisor to see where other traveller's recommend.

3. Buy food in the supermarkets 

If you’ve got the facilities at your accommodation to make an easy meal, buying food at a supermarket will almost always save you money compared to eating out. 

You can pick up something for breakfast from local bakeries. Try your hand at cooking local dishes and regional food for a fraction of the price of a restaurant. Or make yourself a packed lunch or picnic for the next day. 

4. Shop around when booking tours

If you’re booking tours and excursions when you’re there, don’t book with the first provider you find. Look into the different tour agencies in the area. Also, ask for recommendations at your accommodation’s reception so you can compare a few prices to help keep your European city break on a budget.

5. Buy an eSim for your phone 

A travel eSim can help you save money on your roaming charges when you travel. This digital SIM card connects you to local networks so you can use your favourite apps and mobile data just like at home. It’s virtual, with no need to install a physical SIM. You just adjust your phone settings.

Whether it’s a European city break or a long-haul adventure, an eSIM will help you stay connected without paying expensive roaming fees.

Need more cost-saving holiday tips?

Read our travel hacks and tips to save you money on holiday.

Key takeaways

• Planning a European city break on a budget requires careful research around travel, accommodation, food and activity costs. Our City Costs Barometer is a useful tool to help you decide what destination could work for your budget
• Flying during the week, packing light luggage, staying in an Airbnb or hostels, using public transport and eating local street food are great budget travel tips to make your European city break more affordable
• Make sure you get travel insurance, bring or apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic), buy a travel eSim and put currency on a Post Office Travel Money Card ahead of your trip

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