If you're wondering how much a trip to Europe costs, I can tell you that it can be surprisingly expensive and unexpectedly affordable at the same time. I once booked a one-night stay in Budapest for only 6 euros by booking in advance and comparing prices trickily, but I brought a bottle of water for 20 euros in a restaurant when I could get tap water on the street. Budget assumptions don’t always survive contact with reality, and packing decisions made at home often feel very different once you’re dragging a suitcase across cobblestones.
In this article, I want to talk honestly about the cost of traveling in Europe and what to pack for Europe. If you’re trying to travel with fewer surprises and less stress, let's process.
Budgeting for Europe: Make Everything More Clear
Unlike single-country trips, Europe doesn’t follow one pricing logic. Costs shift by city, by neighborhood, and by how you structure your route. Our goal isn’t to land on a perfect number but to understand the forces that shape your daily spending so you’re not constantly second-guessing yourself.
A disclaimer: Europe is a big place with different cultures, costs, and customs. But these are general rules that apply pretty much everywhere and help first-time travelers avoid the most common budget mistakes.
Daily Budget Reality: Ranges, Not One Number
To eat well, for a proper sit-down breakfast, you will still be around 7-15 euros. Then 30-50 euros for each lunch and dinner (At least 20 euros per person). I mean, most main courses will be beyond 20€ already. With around 8 euros/Pint for a beer, or a few glasses of wine per day, you need to up your budget. It's roughly 90€ a day for food. If you want a total budget travel, it can be only 10 euros for a meal by buying food in the supermarket and cook yourself.
In terms of the price of hotels and flights, they actually vary a lot depending on the time of year. But I can tell If you stay in a youth hostel, it will be about 50 euros per night, as long as it is not the peak season. Inter-city transportation can take Flexbus, and overnight buses are cheap and can save one night's accommodation fees, but you need to buy tickets in advance and pay attention to your luggage.
| Travel Style | Typical Daily Range (Per Person) | What This Usually Covers |
| Budget-focused | €60–€90 | Shared or simple stays, public transport, casual meals, limited paid attractions |
| Mid-range / balanced | €100–€160 | Well-located hotels or private rooms, mix of dining styles, paid attractions |
| Comfort-first | €180–€260+ | Central accommodations, fewer transfers, dining flexibility, convenience-driven choices |
City Cost Gaps You Can’t Ignore
Not all European cities treat your wallet the same way. High-cost cities like Paris, Swiss cities, and parts of Northern Europe demand more daily spending, almost no matter how careful you are. Accommodation, dining, and even casual expenses add up quickly.
On the other hand, places like Portugal, parts of Spain, and much of Eastern Europe are noticeably gentler on budgets. That doesn’t mean they’re “cheap,” but your money stretches further with fewer trade-offs.
Route design matters. Spending more days in fewer, well-chosen cities is often cheaper and more enjoyable than constantly moving.
The Hidden Costs That Slowly Eat Your Budget
Everyone plans for flights and hotels, but completely misses the hidden costs that add 30% to their trip. Here are the points:
- ATM and foreign transaction fees are brutal. Withdraw $100, lose $5-8 per transaction. Use your card incorrectly, and another 3% on every purchase. That's $100-200 on a two-week trip just vanishing. It's better to get a card with no foreign transaction fees before you even book the flight.
- Getting to and from airports is something everyone forgets. You budget the flight but forget the $40 Uber on each end. That's almost a $100 round trip. Remember to research public transport before booking. Sometimes the train is literally half the price.
- Food costs more than you think. Even eating cheap, three meals a day for two weeks is probably $500-700 minimum, not the $300 people budget.
- Phone and data are another hidden cost. Either international plan fees or buying local SIMs. Another $50-100. You can get an eSIM before leaving or grab a local SIM at the airport.
- Tour and activity costs add up fast. Budget for the full price of tours and activities. Some guided tours may suggest gratuities, but this varies a lot depending on where you are and what kind of tour it is.
My main advice is to add 25-30% to whatever you budgeted. If you think you need $2000, bring $2500. The extra buffer keeps you from stressing when these pop up.
Chloe
Packing for Europe: Smarter Trade-Offs
What to pack for Europe is rarely about logic. It’s about fear. Fear of being cold, uncomfortable, or unprepared. Overpacking usually comes from “just in case” thinking. Underuse comes from reality moving faster than plans.
What Actually Deserves Space in Your Bag
Under no circumstances, go for a bag that is larger than 45 liters. Bring "one wash, one to wear, one to spare" and do laundry every 7-10 days. The massive bags will be troublesome, and they also make you look like such a mark; you will be an easy target for scams, pickpocketing, etc. Here are some practical recommendations about how to pack for Europe:
- Try to keep to two pairs of shoes and maybe flip flops. Shoes are both bulky and heavy. For each pair of shoes, you can pack 2-3 more pieces of clothing. Bring more underwear and fewer clothes. Hair dryers are the most unnecessary.
- Feel free to bring a foldable daypack or tote, but pack that into the main pack.
- There is no need for you to bring too much cash. But make sure you have 10 euros bill and when you get there, exchange it for 10 coins to pay for bathrooms.
- To pack, you can roll your clothes and underwear/socks into a large gallon ziploc with all of the air pushed out, then hang stuff up when you get to my destination. It's a good way to save space.
- A little awkward but very genius way to save space in the bag Iis that put the clothes into the U-shaped pillow, and then hang the U-shaped pillow around the neck to get on the plane(I‘ve tried to put those beautiful dresses in it).
That said, there are 44 countries in Europe. Which three countries you're going to will determine what you should pack.
| Category | Worth Packing | Often Packed but Rarely Used |
| Clothing | Comfortable walking shoes, layered basics, weather-resistant outerwear | Multiple “nice” outfits, heavy single-purpose items |
| Gear | Universal adapter, portable charger, compact day bag | Bulky electronics, duplicate chargers |
| Health & Personal | Daily medications, basic pain relief, blister care | Full-size toiletries, “just in case” items |
| Mindset | Flexibility, patience, realistic expectations | Overplanning every day, fear-based packing |
Climate Reality Check
One of the most common packing mistakes I see is assuming Europe behaves like a postcard. Blue skies, light jackets, perfect walking weather. However, Europe’s climate changes quickly, even within the same trip. A warm afternoon can turn into a chill, windy evening. A city that felt dry yesterday might surprise you with sudden rain today.
What works better is packing for layers. A light base, something insulating, and a weather-resistant outer layer will carry you through far more situations than multiple complete changes of clothes.
Another misconception is season-based certainty. Summer doesn’t guarantee warmth, and shoulder seasons don’t mean constant chill. In many parts of Europe, especially coastal or northern regions, wind is just as important as temperature. A thin but wind-resistant jacket often matters more than a thick coat.
Real Experiences
On one of my trips through Western Europe, I planned a tight route that looked great on paper: Paris, then Switzerland, then Northern Italy in about ten days. I thought I was being efficient. What I didn’t account for was how quickly the friction would add up.
Moving every two or three days meant constant packing, luggage storage fees, and higher transportation costs. In Switzerland, especially, even small conveniences like short train rides, quick meals, and bottled water added up fast. By the fifth day, I wasn’t overspending on purpose, but my daily costs were consistently higher than expected, and I felt rushed most of the time.
I also packed for the “ideal” version of the trip. I brought outfits for evenings out that never happened and underestimated how much walking I’d actually do. A pair of shoes that felt fine at home became a daily problem.
What helped on later trips was learning from that experience. I started staying longer in fewer cities and packing with flexibility in mind. That single change reduced both my expenses and my stress. The trip didn’t feel smaller. On the contrary, it felt more manageable and ultimately.
Chloe
Final Thoughts
Europe doesn’t need to be cheaper to be enjoyable. It needs to be understood more clearly. Realistic budgeting protects freedom rather than limits it. Plus, Smarter packing doesn’t reduce options but reduces friction. When expectations align with reality, anxiety fades, and experience improves.
A good trip is built on clarity. And that clarity starts long before you zip your suitcase or check your balance at the airport.
Plan your Europe trip with clearer expectations and fewer surprises using a planner that helps you balance budget routes and real world constraints.
