Traveling around Europe was the best thing I did in college. Once you are in Europe, prices to travel around like public transportation and attractions, are cheaper when you’re a student. If you can pack light you’ll also find flights between countries are much cheaper as well. If you’re a student looking to experience Europe, check out my tips below.
How to Travel Europe on a Student Budget:
Watch for Budget Carrier Flight Deals
Budget airlines are airlines without frills that offer cheap fares. Some budget airlines are EasyJet and Ryanair. Ryanair runs New Years’ flight deals starting at €9.99. These flight deals can take you all over Europe. Gather a couple of friends and plan out a few trips at the start of the year.
Pack Light
Pack everything in a backpack. The budget airlines will give you a hefty fee for bringing a rolling bag as your carry-on. Get a good backpack and learn to pack less.
Bring your Student ID Everywhere
Take your student ID everywhere. You can get free or discounted entry to museums and sites. You can also look for places with student discounts.
Look for Museum Days
Museum days are usually organized by the city or the museum. Museum days usually occur once a month and they are free entry days to museums. Do your research beforehand and you could save so much money on admissions. The Louvre in Paris hosts museum days and they also extend their hours for students.
Side Note: Museums in Europe are usually closed on Mondays. So if you’re thinking of extending a weekend trip, keep this in mind.
Use Public Transportation
It’s the cheapest way to get around. If you use uber the whole time you’ll be spending significantly more on your trip. The public transportation systems can be a little confusing at first but if you take some time on the first day to figure it out you should be a pro by the end of your trip.
Eat One Meal per Day from a Local Grocery Store
Trust me on this one! Going out to eat all the time will get expensive quickly. When you get to your destination, find a local grocery store and buy some snacks and a couple of light meals to last the duration of your stay. The best part about going to a local grocery store is you get to check out what locals like to eat and buy. Prices at local grocery stores will also be significantly cheaper. If you do one thing while you travel Europe as a student, this should be it!
Bring a Water Bottle
Water at restaurants in Europe is not free. You’ll be paying for it if you sit down for a meal and get water. If you have a water bottle, you can use public fountains to refill it. Cities like Paris and Barcelona have these fountains around the city to ensure everyone has access to clean drinking water.
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